9-21-05

Fishing with Captain “Snap”

By Paul Grube

In the small town of Sturgeon Bay Wisconsin Lake Michigan is known as “The Big Lake”.  Our morning began well before the sun rose over the choppy 1-2 ½ foot swells on Lake Michigan.  My dad Curt, Kevin and I looked forward to the fishing action.  At the boat ramp we met with our United States Coast Guard (USCG) licensed professional guide Captain David “Snap-it” Peterson.  After we boarded his 24-foot Thompson he briefed us on the safety equipment and the electronic fish-detecting device.  Next, he instructed us on the tools and techniques used to catch some of the most delicious freshwater fish you have ever tasted. 

Once we reached a depth of 180 feet “Snap” rigged the downriggers with our poles and baited them with flies and spoons.  We fished in waters ranging from 180-420 feet and trolled our bait at depths of 35-95 feet.  We caught fish on flies named “Little Boy Blue", “Mistake Green”, “Double Aqua” and “Aqua Glow” trailing white or silver dodgers. 

With all the responsibility and varied tasks involved in captaining the boat and catching fish many charters have 2 or more crew (e.g. a captain and “first mate”).  It was remarkable to watch our captain steer the boat with a computerized “cruise control” based on compass headings, rig poles, operate downriggers, set hooks, and net fish all at the same time!   Despite the peak-fishing season (June-August) being long over we caught our limit of 20 fish (16 salmon and 4 rainbow trout).  When we returned to dock “Snap” cleaned and filleted the fish with surgical precision.  Other fisherman stopped in their tracks to marvel at both the number of fish we caught and “Snap’s” filleting skill.  Many of our fillets were vacuum sealed and frozen immediately, while others were smoked in the nearby town of Algoma.

To book your charter fishing trip contact USCG licensed Captain David “Snap-it” Peterson call (920)743-7363 or (920)495-7363

Click here for a photo gallery of the trip.