Ludington Fishing Guides

Although Traverse City is known for its Salmon and Steelhead fishing, this area is also prime territory for Smallmouth Bass! Captain Butch has decades of experiences hooking wallhangers in the Bay and on the nearby inland lakes, and he excels in putting his clients on big fish. Smallmouth Bass offer a great experience to all levels of anglers. These fish hit both baits and lures, and you can expect massive topwater takes in addition to big bites when you're jigging off the bottom. Captain Butch is happy to give you some expert advice so that you can improve your cast, perfect your retrieve, and hit a personal best! On your fishing adventure, you will be fishing aboard a 21' Ranger skiff. She's ideal for fishing the shallow waters where big Smallies like to hang out, and she's powered by a 250-HP Yamaha outboard so you'll get out there in a hurry. Captain Butch will bring everything you need for an awesome trip, including all the rods, reels, and tackle. Just bring weather-appropriate clothing, your MI fishing licenses, and some sun protection, and you'll be ready to whack some big ones! Read More

For some reason, many people don't seem to know that the Great Lakes are home to some of the biggest, baddest freshwater sportfish in the USA. The stocks include Chinook (King) Salmon, Coho Salmon, Lake Trout, and Steelhead, all of which are powerful fighters and excellent table fare. If you've been looking for a top-tier sportfishing trip on Lake Michigan—America's third-largest lake and the fifth-largest in the world—then you're in the right place. Captain Terry is a pro when it comes to fishing the lake, and has been running successful trips out of Whitehall, MI for many years. Captain Terry runs his trips aboard a 31' Tiara cuddy cabin. She has a spacious deck for fishing, and sports Crusader engines to get you out there fast. Plus, she has a full cabin to keep you out of the sun and the wind. This vessel is built to cut smoothly through choppy water, so you should be trolling with the utmost comfort. She also features a full kit of electronics, and an ice box for your keepers. You'll chase bites using a variety of baits and lures on trolling gear. All of the Salmonids—the family that includes Salmon and Trout—love to hit fast-moving targets, and when one of these fish takes the hook, you'll feel it! Salmon and Trout both have fast runs and big jumps, so these fights are nothing short of spectacular! After you pull in a monster, you can store it in the icebox so it stays fresh during the remainder of your voyage. Back at the dock, Captain Terry will clean and bag your catch, so you can take home a delicious dinner. Captain Terry provides all the equipment needed for a successful day of fishing, including rods, reels, bait, and tackle. You should bring food and drinks so you don’t get worn-out, plus appropriate clothing, some sunglasses, and sunscreen. Other than that, your captain has got you covered! The only question is, when are you coming up? Read More

If you've been wanted to get after some major fish on the world's fifth-largest lake, this trip with Captain Chris just might be your ticket! He's been a pro guide on this water for years, and knows how to show you the freshwater sportfishing trip of a lifetime. On this trip, you'll chase classic Lake Michigan sportfish including King Salmon, Coho Salmon, Steelhead, and Lake Trout. These fish get big, and they love to fight! They're a blast to catch, and they're even better seared on the grill afterwards. You'll primarily be trolling for these fish, putting bait and lures at different depths to hook them up. Captain Chris runs a 33' Trojan 10 meter, powered by twin Crusader engines with a total of 700 horsepower. She'll get you on the fish comfortably and quickly, so you can spend more time fishing and less time cruising! The boat is also equipped with trolling equipment, standard electronics, and a full cabin for your comfort. Chris provides you with all the rods and tackle you will need, but be sure to have your fishing license upon arrival. Be sure to dress accordingly with some rain gear, hat, and sunglasses so you can stay comfortable on the water. The only other thing you'll need is an ice chest to take home your fresh catch! Read More

Get ready for an exciting day of Salmon fishing on Lake Michigan with Captain Fred! Lake Michigan is the third-largest of the Great Lakes and the fifth-largest lake in the world, with just over 22,000 square miles of surface area. It's loaded with fish, including famous sportfish species such as Steelhead, King Salmon, Coho Salmon, and Lake Trout—all of which you can target on this trip with Captain Fred. These fish are a blast to catch and are even better to cook up with friends and family! Fred captains a 31' Tiara sportfisher custom-built in Michigan. It can comfortably fit up to 6 fishermen, so call some buddies for this trip! She's powered by two 385-HP Crusader engines, so this boat will get you to the fish in a hurry. With outriggers, a GPS navigation system, and fishfinder, Fred's sportfisher is perfect for putting you on the fish and haulin' em' in! As an added bonus the onboard bathroom will keep in you in the action for the entirety of the trip. Fred provides you with all the rods and tackle you will need, but be sure to have your fishing license upon arrival. Be sure to dress accordingly with some rain gear, hat, and sunglasses so you can stay comfortable on the water. The only other thing you'll need is an ice chest to take home your fresh catch! Read More

If you're an angler who thinks you've done it all, go no further. This nighttime mousing trip with Casey is a truly exceptional fly-fishing experience that shouldn't be missed—especially if you're on the hunt for a trophy Brown! This is not your average nymphing or dry-fly trip, so come prepared to go after trophy Trout in a truly unique way! Casey guides these trips for one purpose: hooking the single biggest, most predacious Trout in a given river system. You'll fish for these giants on abnormally large mouse and rat patterns, looking for the most aggressive fish out there. With Casey as your guide, you'll be mousing up absolutely massive Browns, and fishing at a time when they have no fear of predators and are just waiting to whack prey. Where most guides aim to put their clients on as many fish as possible, Casey does the opposite; he's looking to create just one or two opportunities for his clients to score a personal best fish, a true monster. In order to accomplish that goal, you'll fish the fastest, most technical, and least-crowded rivers—and there are no guarantees! You'll be fishing from a 16' Stealthcraft drift boat, which is perfect for maneuvering in shallow water. She's powered by a 40 HP Mercury, so you'll have no trouble getting where the fish are. Casey will supply everything you need for an awesome nighttime trip, including rods, reels, and flies. Bring proper clothing, a Michigan fishing license, and some bug spray, and you'll be ready to bag some personal records! Read More

If you've gotten used to nymphing and dry-fly fishing, try this streamer trip with Casey on for size! This trip is a perfect way to expand your fly-fishing repertoire while going after some absolutely massive Trout on the rivers of northern Michigan. Brown Trout in particular love to hit fast-moving streamers, and if you want to hook a personal best, this trip is for you. Casey is an extremely knowledgeable and experienced guide when it come to fishing streamers, especially large ones. He's obsessed with catching trophy Browns, and will put you on the fish like none other! Fishing streamers is quite different from other types of fly fishing, because instead of looking for a perfect surface drift or trying to imitate a worm washing downstream, you're trying to match the action of a small baitfish or other prey item moving across or even against the current. You'll practice stripping in line and setting effectively on this trip, and you'll walk away a better angler with some epic memories and amazing pictures to boot! You'll be fishing the deck of Casey's 16' Stealthcraft jet boat, which is ideal for maneuvering on the river. She's powered by a 40 HP Mercury, so you'll have no trouble getting where the fish are. A half day trip does not include lunch, but on a full day Casey will put together a great midday meal. Casey will supply everything you need for an awesome trip, including rods, reels, tackle, and flies. Just bring a good attitude, a Michigan fishing license, and some sun protection and you'll be good to go! Read More