Splake is the subject of the day here. Last Saturday, in Copper Harbor, there was a meeting of the Keweenaw Splake Anglers – a small group of people helping to protect and continue Splake plants in Copper Harbor.
We're quite a catch!
– 3-time client, MikeMike and his crew after their day on the water. One Coho and lots of lake trout.
Thanks for the great charter. Will try to do again next year. Thanks to (deckhand) Doug as well.
– JimJim’s gang after the first day of fishing.
Brian – most appreciation from our entire family of fishers for the fine service and great experience. Max’s 8 pounder was exciting, but so was every smaller fish! You are a quality guy. Jack ain’t bad, either! Best regards to you and family
– Dane
Thank you! We loved our trip – more importantly, the groom loved the trip!
Back in the heat of Texas now, though
Missing that cool breeze off the top of Lake Superior.
– BobBob’s son with a nice Lake Trout. He later caught a small mouth bass in Lac La Belle.
Thanks so much for your time on Friday with my family giving them a great fishing experience. In my job role I work very closely with our safety department so I was very impressed with your safety orientation and explanation of all the safety features on the boat.
– Scott
Janice, Kathryn, and I truly enjoyed our fishing experience aboard the “Fishin Mission”. Definitely one of the highlights of our vacation. The salmon were great on the grill that evening.
– TimTim and Sharon with their limit of 10 fish for the day from Stannard Rock
Hi Brian! We had such a great time fishing last summer! Tim and I are looking ahead at our schedule and hoping to be able to book another trip with you! Sharon and I had one of the best times we have had for awhile. I shipped 30lbs of lake trout home and though they were frozen everyone had enjoyed some fantastic lake Superior lake trout. We have recommended your service to anyone who has been interested.
– RobPat and Rob with their catch
Just wanted to let you know I drove back a day early to use my day off to smoke the fish. I used a pickling spice brine overnight, let dry, and smoked at 180 deg. for 7 hours. An old captain in Grand Haven suggested a light brush of maple syrup just before done. The fish was fantastic! I can’t wait to share at work.
– CindyCindy’s Mother Helen with the biggest catch of the day… 13 pounds
We all enjoyed the time we spent out on the water. The fish tasted great and your son and you both were very enjoyable to be with. We will surely see you again next time we are up that way.
– Susan and MartinSusan Fighting a Laker
Great trip, hope to get back one of these years!
– Dan Langford (and his wife Ann who planned the surprise) - Pinckney, MichiganWow! What a way to celebrate my birthday! Couldn’t ask for better weather or a better fishing experience out at Stannard Rock. Not only did I catch the fish of a lifetime with that thirty-pound Laker, but diving off the boat at the lighthouse was the icing on the cake. Your pleasant personality, knowledge of the sport and the surrounding area, and many fish stories all helped to make the trip enjoyable – oh and I don’t want to forget the delicious smoked Lake Trout snack.
(more…)
“Thanks Brian – for a great day of late September lake trout fishing. If you ordered the weather it could not have been better. Sunny skies and calm winds made for some comfortable time on the water. The Fishin’ Mission is a great boat to get out on Superior in and the lake trout were biting pretty good with several over 6 pounds. Mike was delighted with the catch – for him a first!
If you want an enjoyable fishing trip with a great guy, give Sand Point Charters a call and schedule some time with Captain Brian! Thanks again from both of us!”
Steve Williams
“Fat” Lake Trout Myths
Yes, lake trout have more fat than walleye, crappie, white fish, salmon and others, but the lean lake trout that we catch have a 10% to 15% fat content. The other lake trout species, Siscowet – the deep “fats” – have over 50% fat content, but we rarely catch them, because we don’t fish that deep. Also, the fats in fish aren’t artery clogging saturated fats, but are the good, heart healthy omega-3 fats that are essential for growth.
Using Stackers with Downrigger Trolling to Increase Catch Rate
Here is a video about a stacker… a device that I use on my boats when trolling with down-riggers or dipsy divers for salmon and lake trout.
The video covers most of it, but here are some key points to review: (see the video first.)
“Fish-Eye-Views” of Trolling Spoons – Underwater
Well, it’s still snowing here in the Keweenaw and we have over 4 feet of ice on the lakes, but I’m having fun in my basement, testing and researching in order to improve next summers’ fishing on Lake Superior. I’ll be taking a boatload out to Stannard Rock on Memorial weekend and many more charters […]
Testing, and Teaching How Different Weight Hooks Affect Lure Action
Lately, my line of work (pun intended and not a bad, “4 letter word” in my line, it’s having fun) in by basement, testing and experimenting with lures and hook weights.
Ice Fishing Up-date on Keweenaw Bay for Lake Trout
The last few weeks have gone by lickity split. For those not familiar with the term, “lickity split” just means “very quickly” or “fast.” (So what else is new? Time always goes fast when you’re having fun, right?) On the ice, the fishing has been decent, but I’ve had a skunk-day and a few slow […]
Ice Fishing for Lake Trout on Lake Superior – Pequaming
I finally got to try out my new Echotail bladebait made by Vibrations Tackle, LLC on some lake trout! It was a great success, too! Saturday started off VERY cold (at least for us Yoopers) at 5 below F, so I wasn’t in a hurry to get out on the ice. There are lots […]
Improve your Terminal Tackle Selection
In preparing for the summer trolling for lake trout on Lake Superior, your tackle needs to be properly prepared. Get the proper sized snaps, bead swivels or bearing swivels to match your lures so that the action isn’t negatively affected. I’ve seen lots of “wrong-sized” and cheap, ineffective terminations over the years and using the […]
Fishing Show in Novi
Recently, Margie, Bruce and myself traveled to the Detroit area to attend the annual fishing show in the Novi Showplace. As always, it was great… if you like fishing, that is. Margie, Bruce, brother Karl and nephews Dwight and Zack only spent a couple hours there, but I spent the entire day and could have […]
Re-cap of the Summer
Who is this rough-looking, dejected fisherman? Read on to get the story behind it. Thanks to all of you who have hired me to take you fishing or sightseeing. It’s been a really enjoyable summer for me and you helped to make it so. You are helping me pursue my passion while you have fun […]
Contact Captain Brian
Brian Helminen
Call (906) 370-2257
brian @ sandpointcharters.com
Mail to:
Sand Point Charters, LLC
22950 Airpark Boulevard
Calumet, MI 49913
Stay at Keystone Cottage, walk out the back door to the boat dock. Click for more details.
Follow along on our journey on the Yooper Looper! Click to see more.