My first interest in Musky fishing started about 1967. I read an article about Wisconsin’s most famous fishing guide. I was bass fishing a large pond in the city limits of Whitewater, Wisconsin.
My fishing partner agreed that we should go to Boulder Junction and fish with the best, a few weeks later we headed North to Boulder Junction.
We stopped at the Northern Highland Sports Shop and asked Jim Ashley directions to Porter Dean’s residence. We were directed to Porter’s around the corner.
We pulled up to the house, I got out and went up the steps to the house and knocked on the door. Soon the big window exploded with 3-4 huskies in the window.
A very large man came from the back of the residence with a 2×4 in his hands. My partner yelled, “someone’s coming from the back of the house”. The man was barefooted and had bib overhauls on and carried a 2×4.
It was Porter Dean, he yelled out, “who the hell are you guys and what do you want?” I answered “we’re looking for Porter Dean, we want to fish with him, I am Dale Poeppel from Whitewater.”
He responded, “I’m Porter come on in.”
He told us not to be afraid of his dog Polar Bear. The dog was all white and the largest dog I ever saw. Porter told us to let him smell us.
We Were invited to sit at Porter’s table, which was a very large tree trunk, with milk crates as seats. He invited us to join him in a cup of Boone Farm wine. The conversation turned to fishing and Porter said he would take us fishing when the weather was better. The sun forces muskies to go deep seeking shade, this would be an inactive time. He told us what lakes to fish. We caught a few fish on Lost Canoe and Boulder Lake.
Porter shared that he guided Gypsy Rose Lee, Ted Williams, General Eisenhower, and several Governors.
Porter took us fishing on White Sand, he rowed us all over the lake, we fished on weed beds. He pointed out a Musky following my bait, but just not interested in striking.
We said our good byes and left the next day. I returned many times to fish the Boulder Junction Area, over the next ten years. I caught many fish due to Porter’s advice. He allowed us to use his boat. Over the years many friends accompanied me to fish in Boulder Junction.
When we came to Boulder Junction we would stay at Gasper’s Cabins. Porter was guiding less, Porter and I had many conversations, we became friends.
He heated with wood and as long as you saw smoke from his chimney, you knew Porter was OK, then one day no more smoke. He was a kind man and a good friend.