#22 A River Runs Near It

In the early 1970s, Don Wisner learned how to flyfish. It was around this time that his life began to parallel a certain flyfishing story. When Don’s son, Stephen, came of age, the two spent hours together fishing the brook trout streams of Western Wisconsin. As the men grew in both age and skill, their interests took them in separate directions – Stephen wandered the world while Don embraced religion. But whenever the two were in the same place, they always made sure to spend an afternoon on the water, and this part of their relationship kept them close.

These days, Don and Stephen live in the same town and are fortunate enough to share a love of the same river. “I’m at an age right now, I’m 77 years old, and I can’t cast all day anymore. But I can still row the boat. And to be able to row for somebody that can really fish it’s kind of an intimate thing. You have to know somebody to be able to do that well. To be able to read their mind and we kind of function that way together.” -Rev. Don Wisner

Many thanks to Yellow Dog Flyfishing Adventures and Scott Fly Rods for their continued support of The DrakeCast.

For more information on this episode, as well as Stephen’s guide business, Eau Claire Anglers, check out our website: www.drakemag.com/drakecast/1875-the-drakecast-fly-fishing-podcast-22-a-river-runs-near-it.html