Reel Addiction Charters

     Kathy and I had a very busy Memorial Day weekend in Door County.  We did a lot of cleaning and opening everything up for the summer.  I did take a short break to get the boat on the water Sunday afternoon just to make sure everything was working.  I was out for about an hour checking riggers, electronic, and the rods.  Everything check out and is ready to go! 
     For those that are interested, the water is still pretty cold with surface temps in the mid-40's.  I marked a few fish on the sonar but didn't do much fishing for them.  Some salmon are starting to show up in Sturgeon Bay waters.  So it won't be long until they reach northern Door County.  We will be opening on June 19th for the season.  Hope to see you in Door County in a couple weeks.

     It was another great inland fishing opener for me and my family this year.  The weather was actually nice for the first time this spring!  Things are about 2 weeks behind in Northern Wisconsin so the walleye were just finished spawning.  With water temps in the low to mid 40's, they weren't the most active but we did find a few willing to bite including this nice one I caught Sunday.  After the photo she was released.
     Kathy and I will be chasing walleye for the next two weekends.  Then we will be back to Door County over Memorial Day to make final preperations for the summer salmon season.  I am really getting excited for another great year on the big water!
     With the cool spring I don't expect salmon fishing to start this year in northern Door County until mid-June.  If you are still thinking about booking a trip, July and early August are your best bets.  Hope to see you on the water in a month!  

     Kathy and I spend the last few days in Door County.  We opened up the camper, cleaned, and got the Reel Addiction out of winter storage.  We gave it a wax and a thorough cleaning inside and out.  That took an entire day!
     After attending mass, calling family and going out for Easter brunch we spent the afternoon on the water. It was a beautiful day and I am happy to report all is working well and the boat is ready for another great season.  We even tried to catch a brown trout but with no wind and bluebird skies they didn't want to bite.
     The Lake Michigan is down a least a foot from last year.  It also seem clearer.  When testing downriggers I could see the bottom in 45 feet of water!  Probably another reason why the browns weren't interested today. 
     We won't be back to Door County until Memorial Day weekend.  We spend the next few weekends chasing walleye in Northern Wisconsin.  Happy Easter everyone!

     I went ice fishing one last time yesterday.  The ice is going fast in northern Wisconsin with open water about a week away.  I kept 11 crappies and I am looking forward to a fish fry in the next day or two.
     Kathy and I will be heading to Door County over Easter vacation to open up the camper and to get the Reel Addiction out of winter storage.  It is definitely time to get ready for the open water season.  I hope to get on the water and try for brown trout during vacation also. 
     Thank you to all who have booked a trip for the summer already.  I will be getting out confirmation letters by email or mail in the next month or so.  If you haven't booked yet there is still time to get in on hot July salmon fishing.  Check out the reservations link at the top of this page to see available dates.  Hope to see you on the water!

     After another winter season, spring is on the way. In between ice fishing, spending evenings at school for sporting events, and doing a little remodeling in the basement, I have been taking inventory, cleaning reels and ordering new spoons to get ready for the upcoming season.  Thank you to all of the returning and new clients who have booked already for the upcoming season.  As usual, July is filling nicely.  Lets hope for a little better weather this season than we experienced last summer. 
     Some of you have asked if I am raising prices this year.  The answer is no.  I haven't raised them since Kathy and I bought the business.  With the 4-stroke motors, $4 gas prices don't hit me quite as hard as those captains running on diesel.  Three, four or five hours of salmon fishing will still be deal aboard the Reel Addiction this summer!  See you in a few months! 

     With the coldest temperatures of the season upon us, it is really hard to believe that in just 4 months we will be fishing on open water again.  Kathy and I have been keeping ourselves busy with school related activities and weekend ice fishing excursions.
     We did get away on a family vacation to Isla Mujeres, Mexico over Christmas vacation.  The white sand beaches, coral reefs, and multitudes of fish were a pleasant break from the snow, hard water and tip ups of Northern Wisconsin.
     I would like to thank all of the returning clients that have booked trips for the 2011 season already.  July, as always is filling up nicely.  There are plenty of spots left for those looking for the best fishing of the summer.  Just give me a call or book right online if you would like to reserve a trip.
     Hope everyone is staying warm and...sorry MN and IL clients but...Go Packers! 

     Due to several clients that have contacted me about fishing trips next summer, I have opened the 2011 season calendar for booking on December 1st.  If you take a look at it you will notice a late start to the season for me this year.  Kathy and I are taking a trip to Alaska during the first part of June so we will not be over to Door County until June 17th or 18th this summer.  If you are interested in a trip the first part of June send me an email and I will contact Capt. Denny, to see if he is available.
    If you are interested in a July fishing date, book soon.  July is always the first month to fill up because it is prime salmon fishing time in Door County.  Also for those that are interested, the K-D Salmon Tournament is July 23-31 this summer.  Fishing pressure and boat traffic is always heavier during that time.

     With deer hunting in full swing in Northern Wisconsin and Thanksgiving on the way it is a great time of year to reconnect with family.  To the hunters out there, best of luck to you.  I need a little more as I haven't seen any bucks so far this gun hunting season. 
     To all of those traveling to see family this week, please drive safely, roads in the Midwest are suppose to get slick.  Enjoy the time with friends and family reminiscing about the great times you had fishing this past summer and start making plans to visit us again next summer.   My calendar opens for bookings in January.  

     Our last trip of the year was run on Saturday night.  After a couple weeks of warm water and few fish, I was really surprise to find feeding salmon in 90-120 fow.  The group landed 10 fish in our 3 hour trip, all coming on flasher flies from 6 to 8pm.  It was a nice way to end an inconsistent season.  Check out their photo below.
     The following morning I made a personal run with a friend to try to put a few more salmon in our freezer for the winter.  The fish were not there like the night before.  We landed only a few in our 3 hour trip but it was better than nothing.  After cleaning fish, I pulled the boat for the season and spent the rest of the day cleaning it. 
    In a few weeks I will send out my fall newsletter with a season recap.  You can also find it on the website under the newsletter link.  Have a great fall everyone.  Thanks for a great season!

     Well the final weekend of the season for me is off to a fitting start...a cancellation due to thunderstorms.  Bad weather has been the story of the summer.  I do have a couple more trips this weekend.  Then, on Sunday I am pulling the boat, washing and winterizing it.  School starts for my wife and me on Aug. 30...where did summer go?
     I was out of town for the last 2 days so yesterday I made a trip out by myself from 3 to 6:30 and the fishing was slow.  I was doing more scouting than fishing, trying to find bait and fish but there wasn't much out there.  The warm water has moved back in to the area with 60 degrees at 120 feet.  I guess we are paying for the great May and June weather earlier this year.