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Posts: 114
| I am getting hitched in October and my Dad offered to spring for a muskie charter for a small group of us guys as a family bachelor party of sorts. I am looking for some suggestions on a St. Clair guide, July or August, who can hold a decent amount of guys (at least 6). Anyone have any suggestions at this time? |
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Posts: 76
| Heatwave charters |
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Posts: 717
Location: Grand Rapids, MI | Fins n Grins Muskie Charters. Jason Quintano gets the job done with 1650 muskies, and over 120 of them over 50" in the past 3 seasons.
http://www.finsandgrinsmuskiecharters.com/ |
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Posts: 944
| Muskiemania Sportsfishing charters with captain Mike Pittiglio 586-260-4068
or muskiemaniacharters.com
Heatwave with Captain Craig Miller is good also
There is a Canadian charter that is very good also- Rampage Sports Fishing with Captain Terry Vandewauwer 519-354-1901 www.muskie.name
I have fished with all three and are all top notch
Jeff Hanson
madisonmuskyguide.com
Edited by Jeff Hanson 6/25/2013 1:47 PM
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Posts: 114
| Thank you all very much I am looking into each and booking up a family trip for my Uncle and Brother-in-Law. Can't wait for them to get their first fish. |
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Posts: 719
| Two of the better known boats on the Ontario side with a good rep is Rampage with Terry and another fellow named Jim Fleming. Lots of experience... |
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| Rampage with Terry. |
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Posts: 1106
Location: Muskegon Michigan | Heatwave, Craig is real good. |
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Posts: 360
Location: Algonac, MI | All suggested guides are great captains to book with, and all have nice platforms to fish from.
FYI - many of these guides, and others not listed, work together and are willing to set up party trips. "At least 6" .....becomes a very large group of guys. (add in Captain and 1st mate)
Food for thought.
Instead of booking a single full day trip (8-10hrs), cramming a pile of guys on one boat. Think about breaking your party up into two groups, and booking two boats, for evening outing (6hr trip). This sets up a little competition in your party, and I am certain the guides would be willing to do it.
Makes it much more comfortable on the boat for everyone.
Edited by Contender 6/26/2013 2:32 PM
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Posts: 1405
Location: Detroit River | Fins n Grins Muskie Charters. Jason knows his chit & has put countless 50's in the boat the past few years. http://www.finsandgrinsmuskiecharters.com/ |
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| Fins and Grins |
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| No doubt in my mind that Fins and Grins is the best charter on St. Clair by a long shot... I have fished with them a couple times and a couple other charters and none of them even compare. Now I plan on booking multiple trips a year with these guys. Counting down the days till I go back out with them in July. They catch fish, VERY big fish, there very knowledgeable.. and an absolute blast to fish with...
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=lOsPFW4ml_k
Video speaks for itself...
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Posts: 92
| Fins and Grins for sure. Top notch guys, great personalities, great gear, and numbers of fish to prove they really know the waters. Tell them Custom X sent you.
Chuck DiVito
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Posts: 1828
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I thought you weren't supposed to pull fish into the boat. They do in every single clip in that video. I guess it's a non-issue if their clients are keeping those big ones. |
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Posts: 717
Location: Grand Rapids, MI | Every big boat on St. Clair pulls the fish into the boat. Remember, the bottoms of these boats are not carpet, like a bass boat, so they don't wear off slime. But, more importantly, the bigger fish always get put into the Fish ThANKS livewell where they are fed oxygen rich water until they can go back safely. |
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Posts: 1828
| JimtenHaaf - 6/27/2013 4:48 PM
Every big boat on St. Clair pulls the fish into the boat. Remember, the bottoms of these boats are not carpet, like a bass boat, so they don't wear off slime. But, more importantly, the bigger fish always get put into the Fish ThANKS livewell where they are fed oxygen rich water until they can go back safely.
Very interesting. Thanks for clarifying. |
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Posts: 1106
Location: Muskegon Michigan | Here is my 53.5 in the Fish Tank Live well. Note the bubbles around her head.
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 livewell53.5.JPG (13KB - 130 downloads)
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Posts: 1106
Location: Muskegon Michigan | Ever since These tanks came into use all the tournaments have been catch and release and I know every Charter boat but one has a tank. Craig Miller (Heatwave) gave us a 13 fish day with a 51 and 55 all released fine. His tank is 60 inches and runs constant while the boat is trolling. Mike |
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Posts: 1901
Location: MN | Do they still nosedive em over the side to release them? |
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Posts: 1106
Location: Muskegon Michigan | Most guys slide them in now off the swim platforms on the transom. One guy takes the fish out of the live well and hands it down the to another guy. Many still nose dive them but now its after they revive the fish in the tanks. The tanks really have saved thousands of Muskies since they started using them. Best improvement EVER on St. Clair. This on my Buddy Cooper's boat. Me with a 53.5. See the tank behind me. Its a great set up.
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mike53.5.JPG (32KB - 129 downloads)
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| Propster - 6/29/2013 12:59 PM
Do they still nosedive em over the side to release them?
i trust more than technique instead a livewell,imho it's way less stressful. |
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Posts: 1901
Location: MN | Do you mean "I trust more in that technique than I do in a livewell"? Hard to tell what you are saying from the way it is written. And if so that's what I was wondering, whether torpedoing them into the water and the boat keeps going, if you really have an idea if that fish makes it. Seems reviving them in the livewell before doing so makes sense. I was more curious than anything. |
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| TORPEDO release is a proven way to release fish,imho it's less stressful than keeping one in the livewell,specially when the water is hot |
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Posts: 360
Location: Algonac, MI | Guest - 6/30/2013 9:27 PM
TORPEDO release is a proven way to release fish,imho it's less stressful than keeping one in the livewell,specially when the water is hot
"Guest" - I presume you have never used a Fish Thanks type resuscitation tank/system, or been present when one is being used. They are not a typical livewell/deadwell on a boat.
When put in one of these tanks, the fish actually calm down. I would almost equate it to giving a bottle or a plug to a baby. The fish actually act sedated or soothed. You can watch the stress disappear as they revive. Their fins and body color improve ten fold, compared to after fight stress colors. Most just sit there, calm as a cucumber, levitating in the tank using their pec fins, facing the water inlet.
Water is pulled from deep beneath the boat with a freshwater washdown, and is not hot by any means. It is also has continuous flow, and is oxygenated.
The torpedo release works well for smaller fish. We do use it on larger fish too, but usually from the swim platform. Not so much a true torpedo, but more, a good directional shove down to deeper/cooler waters, once the fish has been carefully placed in the water after its time in the Fish Tank.
Edited by Contender 7/1/2013 12:33 PM
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| As of the last several years, I would wager to say that there are more personal best captured muskies on LSC than on any other body of water in the established muskie range. Hail & Salute LSC!!
As a client, I can attest to the efficiency of the fish ThANKS system and the efforts Captains & crew employ to release troll caught fish. But also, I think there is room for improvement for hook removal techniques as I believe the shock process is exacerbated by duration and reliance on removal of hooks *INTACT wherever the fish may be hooked on or within the mouth, *(you've GOT to have wire cutters)! That's where bigger fish can get into survival trouble (and of course for the possibility of an unfortunate hooking accident of a client).
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Posts: 1901
Location: MN | I'm glad to see and hear that this process has been so widely accepted and implemented. I remember when I saw fish landed and released back in the day. Seemed kind of sketchy to believe you could hoist em in and lay em in the bottom of the boat, then torpedo them and hope for/expect a really high rate of successful release. But it's what you had at the time. Always room for improvement and glad you found it. Seems like the results are speaking for themselves so kudos. |
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Posts: 1023
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TORPEDO release is a proven way to release fish,imho it's less stressful than keeping one in the livewell,specially when the water is hot
That is hilarious! It may work some or most of the time but that is not good enough IMO.
How do u know they survived. I hate it when people torpedo muskie.
It is disrespectful to a great fish again IMO. But who am I to talk, I stab them in the face with hooks. Lol.
Landry
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Posts: 415
| I've heard multiple big name guides talk about having to revive countless fish that had been torpedo'd behind one of the big trolling charters. The tanks are a huge improvement. |
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| I am familiar with a term "plunging", which I've heard from the Georgian Bay area and seems an acceptable method of release IF accomplished correctly. That cooler layer of water is anywhere from a foot to three feet below the surface and as long as the head of the fish is headed downwards, she should revive quickly there.
Certainly, it could fail too, should wave action bend the fish and keep it up or within the surface and you've just lost control of an stressed fish in the warmest layer of water. Same goes for people, after having your butt kicked, where would you prefer to recover? Get me into the shade and the freshest air!
Edited by krunchbait 7/2/2013 2:54 PM
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Posts: 360
Location: Algonac, MI | krunchbait - .......there is room for improvement for hook removal techniques as I believe the shock process is exacerbated by duration and reliance on removal of hooks *INTACT wherever the fish may be hooked on or within the mouth, *(you've GOT to have wire cutters)! That's where bigger fish can get into survival trouble (and of course for the possibility of an unfortunate hooking accident of a client).
Can't speak for all LSC boats, but I keep 2 pair of knipex cutters, 2 pair of 11" bent needle nose, and XL jaw spreaders within arms reach after landing. Most I know, or fish with, do the same.
Hooks are cheap to replace. Much butter to cut out, and get the fish back in the water, or tank. Also, lessens chance of an ER trip, being prepared for hook removal. |
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