Father’s Day Troll
The day was cold, rain soaked, and glorious. Our annual Father’s day fishing trip has been a tradition ever since my Uncle made the trip up from Arizona with his boys in 2009.
It started with booking a charter boat out of Manistee, Michigan and fishing the big lake for salmon and steelhead. Those trips are still some of by favorite. Our adventures have progressed and varied over the years: Following our Lake Michigan trip, the next year we headed out to Lake Erie in Ohio waters (again with assistance from a charter service) to target the always delicious walleye.
I was lucky growing up where I did, when I did, and how I did. My dad always took us fishing when we were young. We fished mostly with spinning rods from shore, but for a few years even had a boat of our own that my parents bought used.
Shortly after moving to the Metro Detroit area I was introduced to a completely different kind of fishing; trolling with planer boards. The combination of the multi-line spread and success it more than often yields, left me fish smitten. Eventually this would translate into the purchase a modest, modified-V. A Ranger RT188 (18’ welded aluminum).
We took the Jon Boat out on Father’s Day for several years, starting with inland lakes, and eventually working up the courage to brave the likes of the Lake St. Clair shipping channel. Mostly after walleye, knowing that the lake is an incredible hatchery and you are bound to catch any number of species ranging from pike and musky to perch, giant smallmouth, and freshwater drum (sheephead) to name a few.
These days we’ve traded up. That modified-V is now an 1850 Ranger Reata. 2,250 lbs of fiberglass and 8 ½ foot-wide cockpit designed to fish and play. This past Father’s Day was our first in the Reata. We scrambled to install the tandem port and starboard gimbal mount rod holders and the dash and stern Lowrance electronics necessary to complete the program, and the day didn’t disappoint. Hours of fun on the water and a bucket of fish to cook for dinner to boot.
Although we haven’t always fished the same lakes for the same target species, we do always have a blast, notwithstanding the occasional impending storm cell. You grin and bear it and all the weather fades to the background when you put a rod in your nephew’s hand, focus on detaching boards and netting fish, and he lands his first musky.
Happy fish and Tight lines. Welcome to the Evolution,
Article written by Mike (Fish Mitts) Hiller
