The five Great Lakes – Ontario, Erie, Huron, Michigan and Superior – afford anglers some of the best freshwater fishing in the world. Finding the fish, though, isn’t always an easy proposition. Whether you are an occasional angler seeking out new waters, someone with your own boat looking for a short-cut to learn the program for an area, or someone brand new to the fishing scene, hiring a U.S. Coast Guard-licensed charter captain is the way to go. But, who do you go with?
Charter captains are the true ambassadors to the Great Lakes, carrying the torch to promote the angling resources for an area. But all captains are not created equal and prospective customers should do their homework before they lay down a deposit for a trip on the water. Here’s some tips that might be able to help you make that final decision:
- Don’t shop by price alone. With many charter operations, you get what you pay for.
- Don’t be afraid to ask questions. Find out if they are full time or part time; how big is the boat and is there a head (lavatory) that works (if a head is important, such as if there are ladies involved); what other services do they provide (such as fish cleaning). Is the price for fish cleaning included?
- It’s not unusual to ask for references. Make a call or two to see if the experiences jive with whatever stories you’ve been told.
- If you are trolling, ask how many hook-ups or releases you might experience for a particular time of year. Getting the fish into the boat is your job.
- All fishing experiences are different, depending on the species and the time of year. Find out how they fish and what you might expect on a typical day. Bottom line, it’s still fishing.
- Ask them what you need to bring. Usually a cooler, camera and rain gear are all good things to have. Don’t forget sunglasses and sunscreen. Bug repellant can also work when there isn’t any wind to help keep gnats away. Bring some drinks and snacks.
- Ask about the weather and what constitutes a blow-off day or cancellation. What happens with the deposit money and how much is it?
- Is there a first mate? Is he included in the charter fee?
- Talk to the captain. See if you are comfortable with him or her. First impressions can mean a lot.
- How long is the trip? How many hours of fishing time is there and how long do you need to run to a fishing spot?
That should help to get you in the ballpark, and many of these questions will also work for you no matter where you are fishing, even if it’s outside of the Great Lakes Basin.
The most important thing is to have a good time. You can tell when a skipper is working hard for you and the number of fish you bring to the boat is only a small part of the experience.
Now go out there and chase some fish!