Willie Blog
Driven by Purpose, She Runs Willie Boats and North River, the Most Trusted Boats on the Water
When it comes to guiding life, every decision matters, especially the boat you run. For professional fishing guide Brianna “Bree” Bruce, owner and operator of Livin’ Life Adventures, guided fishing in Washington State, the choice wasn’t either-or. It was both a North River and a Willie Boat. With the versatility and performance of both trusted names in the industry, Bree is equipped to handle whatever the water throws her way. With over a decade of guiding under her belt, Bree’s story is as much about passion and purpose as it is about boats and rivers.
Bree’s path to guiding began in a place of deep emotion and transformation. Just as she was graduating high school, her aunt, a woman she describes as her best friend, was diagnosed with late-stage colon cancer. Doctors gave her just three months, but she defied the odds and made it nearly a year and a half longer. One of her final wishes? A big family trip.
That trip took Bree and her family to Alaska’s Kenai Peninsula, where they stayed in Soldotna and explored the region through guided fishing trips. It was Bree’s first experience with professional guides, and it lit a fire in her that hasn’t gone out since.
“I’ve been on a boat since I was six weeks old,” Bree shares, “but I had never realized that guiding was more than just taking people fishing. There was a depth to it, creating memories, helping people connect with nature, and being part of something bigger.”
She returned home from that trip and immediately got her guide license. Thirteen years later, she’s still doing what she loves full-time. When Bree was first searching for a boat, she had one brand in mind: Willie Boats. “I was dead set on getting a Willie,” she says. “I’ve always really loved the craftsmanship. They’re tanks. Built super well, incredibly dependable.”
Her first boat? A Willie Predator 18.5’ the boat she ran while gaining experience on rivers throughout Washington. But her perspective shifted after spending time on a mentor’s North River. “That boat changed the game,” Bree says. “The craftsmanship, the quality, the way it handles on rivers it’s almost like autopilot when I’m running it on the Cowlitz. I almost don’t have to drive it. It just glides.”
Now, Bree runs both brands: a North River Scout, a 18.5’ Willie Predator and a 26’ Willie Raptor, which holds a special place in her heart. The Raptor once belonged to her late friend and fellow guide Sam Baird a legend in the region. It was his dream boat, and now, it’s hers too.
“I’ve loved the Raptor since it first came out,” Bree says. “It’s wide, it’s comfortable, and it’s built like a dream. Every time someone new steps into it, they notice how stable and spacious it is. That matters when you’re guiding people want to feel safe and comfortable.”
Whether she’s running her North River Scout or her Willie Raptor or Willie Predator, Bree trusts her boats to do what they were built to do: perform, every time.
“The build and design of a North River or Willie Boats is going to last you forever,” she says. “Aluminum doesn’t rot. You don’t need a new boat every couple of years if you invest in one that’s built right. That’s why I only run North River and Willie Boats because they’re the best boats in the industry. Period.”
And for someone whose business and lifestyle depends on being on the water day in and day out, that’s not just a preference. It’s a requirement.
Today, Bree is a respected guide, a business owner, and an inspiration to countless others chasing a life on the water. Her boats, both North River and Willie Boats, are more than just tools; they’re part of the legacy she’s building. And it all started with a single guided trip in Alaska that showed her what was possible.
Follow Bree’s journey or book your next fishing trip with her at Livin’ Life Adventures and experience the difference that comes with riding in a boat built to last, whether it’s a North River or a Willie.
