Captain's Blog


Winter ice fishing in the Grand Rapids – Holland area.

A great day on Groundhog day 2012

What a day on a lake 20 miles north of GR. The ice continues to be minimal with above freezing temperatures in the day and night. I hope it will hold at the 5 inches we have now until colder weather.

Winter Update 2011-2012

catch and release bass fishing after Jan 1st.

50 on inland lakes is the perch limit

Late ice perch

Lots of lakes with good bluegill populations in west Michigan

2 of the 4 walleye for the day.

18 lbs on a tipup

Fish on!

One of my "homes away from home" in the winter.

A beautiful start to a winter's day on the ice in Michigan.


Winter ice fishing is a great way to spend the day in a heated shanty. I have been an ice fisherman as long as I can remember. My Dad, Grandfather and Uncle would take me and my brother and cousin to Lake Muskegon and we fished for panfish and perch back in the early 60′s. I still like ice fishing as much as any other fishing that I do because it is good excercise, good company with other fishing groups on the ice, and a great way to gather fresh fish for eating in the winter. I freeze a good bunch of panfish to eat during the summer when I am too busy charter fishing to fish on our inland lakes. To book a trip on the ice for up to 4 person with shanties, bait and equipment please give me a call at 616-550-6248 or drop me an e-mail at jdcharters@rocketmail.com.

2011 Season Recap

Time to wrap up the season and get ready to hunt and ice fish. My thanks to all of you that spent a day on the water with me. Your business is much appreciated and I hope to see you again in 2012. Have a good off season and I’ll talk to you after the new year.

Just a Scouting Run


Ran out with my brother to scout and fished from 2:00 – 4:00pm on 9-1-11. We went 4 for 4 in 130 FOW with 2 kings and 2 cohos.

Great year class of King Salmon

After last fall’s disappointing no show of big salmon some thought due to an extremely warm summer, this year is making up for lost time. Great fishing continues from the Holland and Saugatuck area with the biggest one at 24lbs 2 oz for these happy anglers.

All in the Family


Grandfather, Grandsons, and Son-in-laws all caught nice king salmon with the biggest going to the eldest at 22 lbs. Well done!

August Update


Two good days for big kings for my group from Iowa and a father and 3 sons from the East side of the state out on their first charter. Way to go!

Super Slam – 5 Great Lakes Species in a day

Great Fun - Great Group

Perfect weather after a good amount of wind the day before gave this group the rare opportunity to catch all 5 species of fish common in this part of Lake Michigan on a single outting. We released a 6 lb. Lake Trout earlier in the day. Well Done!

Showing his Grandmother the Catch

I had the pleasure of taking this young angler and his Grandfather out for the day. He was very excited to show his Grandmother one of the trout we caught and she was kind enough to snap this great shot and send it my way. Thank you so much!

Summer slam

A comfortable day with some welcome wind to cool our record heat. A one man salmon limit and a couple of Steelies with one Laker = A Lake Michigan Slam ( 3 species in one day). Well done and they went 6 for 6.