Hayward Fly Fishing Company

The Namekagon is floated as a full day, at least eight hours on the water, and the guide who fishes it most for the shop calls it the finest of the four river systems on the card. It is a fly-only proposition for smallmouth and musky, run catch and release, taking one or two anglers at a time. The season opens in early May and runs to November, with musky season itself starting on the last Saturday in May, so the early weeks are a smallmouth fishery before the big fish become legal. All the fly fishing equipment, flies, lunch, beverages and snacks are supplied, with rods from Sage, St Croix and Winston, and dietary requirements accommodated on request. Anglers bring a Wisconsin licence, a hat, polarised glasses, a camera and clothing for the day.