Reel Knockoffs Guide Service 

4.9/5 (68 reviews)
 North Service Road 711, Hamilton, ON L8E 5W6, Canada

Reel Knockoffs Guide Service 

Hamilton, ON, Canada
23 ft
3
4.9/5 (68 reviews)

Reel Knockoffs Guide Service provides and teaches fishing techniques for anglers of all skill levels. Captain Matt Bowman and his team specialize in family-friendly trips and give their best with smaller groups on board. They depart from Stoney Creek, ON, where you can find them from April to October.

Capt. Matt invites you to join him on his 23' Wellcraft boat. This offshore vessel accommodates up to three guests, including kids over six years old. The boat features a powerful 200 HP Yamaha engine, which enables the boat to reach the maximum speed of 40 knots. Besides navigational electronics, the boat also has a live bait tank, downriggers, and a cooler.

Trolling for Salmon is what Reel Knockoffs are the masters of! With them, you can go trolling after Chinook, Coho, and Atlantic Salmon. Lake Ontario also holds an impressive number of Steelhead, Lake, and Brown Trout. You can release them back once you catch them, or keep them if you're aiming for a delicious meal after the trip.

All fishing gear is provided. All you need to bring is a valid Ontario fishing license, proper clothing, and your snacks.

If you've never done it before, this is the right time to learn how to catch and clean fish. Come to battle some Lake Ontario monsters and have a great time on the water!

Reel Knockoffs Guide Service provides and teaches fishing techniques for anglers of all skill levels. Captain Matt Bowman and his team specialize in family-friendly trips and give their best with smaller groups on board. They depart from Stoney Creek, ON, where you can find them from April to October.

Capt. Matt invites you to join him on his 23' Wellcraft boat. This offshore vessel accommodates up to three guests, including kids over six years old. The boat features a powerful 200 HP Yamaha engine, which enables the boat to reach the maximum speed of 40 knots. Besides navigational electronics, the boat also has a live bait tank, downriggers, and a cooler.

Trolling for Salmon is what Reel Knockoffs are the masters of! With them, you can go trolling after Chinook, Coho, and Atlantic Salmon. Lake Ontario also holds an impressive number of Steelhead, Lake, and Brown Trout. You can release them back once you catch them, or keep them if you're aiming for a delicious meal after the trip.

All fishing gear is provided. All you need to bring is a valid Ontario fishing license, proper clothing, and your snacks.

If you've never done it before, this is the right time to learn how to catch and clean fish. Come to battle some Lake Ontario monsters and have a great time on the water!

Matt Bowman
Captain
Matt Bowman
21 years of experience
ID & credentials verified
responds within an hour

Trip availability and prices

Trip Date:
Group Size:
Select date to see availability
July 2026
SuMoTuWeThFrSa
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Number of days
1
Group Size
2 adults • 0 children
Change
Almost there...
Quick morning trip
FREE Cancellation 7 days notice
4 hour trip starts at 6:00 AM
Seasonal trip
Apr 1 - Oct 31
Lake Trout
Rainbow Trout (Steelhead)
Brown Trout
Salmon (Chinook)
+2
US $321
Entire boat: up to 3 people
Evening Trip
FREE Cancellation 7 days notice
4 hour trip starts at 4:00 PM
Seasonal trip
Apr 1 - Oct 31
Lake Trout
Rainbow Trout (Steelhead)
Brown Trout
Salmon (Chinook)
+2
US $321
Entire boat: up to 3 people
5 Hour Trip (AM)
FREE Cancellation 7 days notice
5 hour trip starts at 6:00 AM
Seasonal trip
Apr 1 - Oct 31
Lake Trout
Rainbow Trout (Steelhead)
Salmon (Chinook)
Salmon (Coho)
US $428
Entire boat: up to 3 people
5 Hour Trip (PM)
In high demand Last booked: 3 days ago
FREE Cancellation 7 days notice
5 hour trip starts at 3:00 PM
Seasonal trip
Apr 1 - Oct 31
Lake Trout
Rainbow Trout (Steelhead)
Brown Trout
Salmon (Chinook)
+2
US $428
Entire boat: up to 3 people
There are 7 people looking at this charter.

Customer reviews

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Rating

4.9
68 reviews
4.9
Boat & equipment
5.0
Captain & crew
4.9
Fishing Experience

Anglers' gallery (134)

What anglers say

98%
Great experience
93%
Family friendly
100%
Friendly captain
100%
Good boat
100%
Recommended
95%
Caught fish

All reviews (68)

Frequently mentioned
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Showing 15 of 68 reviews
Matthew Greenhalgh
Matthew Greenhalgh
ca
Ontario, Canada
Member since 2025
5.0
Verified
Great Trip
Evening Trip on August 3, 20253 adults

I'm not much for leaving reviews but for this one I had to. At first we were rescheduled because the lake was choppy. I'm glad we did though we got out a couple days later and had a great time which could have easily been ruined. Thanks again for recommended we wait to get out! The captain has a pretty good handle on the lake and knows where to find the fish and what's working to catch them. I have and will continue to recommend Reel Knockoffs for any small groups that want to go out.

Matt Bowman
Response from Captain

Thanks for the kind words. It was a pleasure having you guys out.

Emma Littlewood
Emma Littlewood
ca
Ontario, Canada
Member since 2026
5.0
Verified
great 30th birthday!
5 Hour Trip (AM) on June 7, 20263 adults

Matt was an awesome host, we had a fabulous time out on the water and were kept busy with lots of big catches! I cant recommed this experience enough, we had all different levels of experience in the party and everyone had a blast. Were looking forward to getting out on the water again soon!

Reported catch:
Lake Trout
Coho Salmon
Chinook Salmon
Rainbow Trout (Steelhead)
Matt Bowman
Response from Captain

Thanks for coming out guys! it sure was a busy morning

Felicia Bowman
Felicia Bowman
us
West Virginia, US
Member since 2025
5.0
Verified
Good morning on the water.
5 Hour Trip (AM) on September 1, 20252 adults

We arrived early, and captain Matt was already there getting the boat ready to go, and was very friendly also his first mate was nice too. We were able to joke and have a great time while waiting for the next fish to bite. This West Virginia hillbilly had a great time and has a few more great fish stories to tell. Thank you captain Matt Bowman for the great memories.

Reported catch:
Rainbow Trout (Steelhead)
Chinook Salmon
Matt Bowman
Response from Captain

Thanks for coming out guys! Hope you enjoyed your short Canadian vacation. It was nice to meet my southern "cousin" lol

James Chappell
James Chappell
us
Texas, US
Member since 2026
5.0
Verified
fun trip
Quick morning trip on June 16, 20262 adults

had a great time, captain knew his stuff. really cool boat, had everything we needed. great people to deal with, definitely recommend to anyone looking for a fun day

Matt Bowman
Response from Captain

Thanks for thenkind words. it was a pleasure having you guys out. Hope you enjoy the rest of your anniversary vacation!

David Downey
David Downey
us
Virginia, US
Member since 2026
5.0
Verified
Great guide!! Great trip!!
Evening Trip on June 7, 20262 adults1 child

Matt was a great guide!!! If your looking to have fun on Lake Ontario he's the man!! We had constant action the whole trip!! If we ever come back to Ontario, we will be repeat customers!!

Reported catch:
Lake Trout
Matt Bowman
Response from Captain

Thanks for choosing us to be a part of your vacation! hope you guys enjoy the rest of your trip.

FAQs about Reel Knockoffs Guide Service

Reel Knockoffs Guide Service offers the following trips to customers:
  • CA $450 per group - Evening Trip (4 hours)
  • CA $450 per group - Quick morning trip (4 hours)
  • CA $600 per group - 5 Hour Trip (AM) (5 hours)
  • CA $600 per group - 5 Hour Trip (PM) (5 hours)
When you book a trip with Reel Knockoffs Guide Service, you can expect the following amenities onboard:
  • Toilet Flushable 'camping' toilet
  • GPS
  • Fishfinder
  • Live bait well
  • Ice box
Trips booked with Reel Knockoffs Guide Service include:
  • Rods, reels & tackle (Shimano telora rods and Shimano tekota reels)
  • Live bait (Bait strips prepared before the trip)
  • Lures
  • Catch cleaning & filleting (Ziplock bags provided, fillet if lake is safe)
Reel Knockoffs Guide Service offers the following types of fishing:
  • Lake fishing
  • Nearshore fishing
  • Offshore fishing (We go where the fish are. Sometimes within a mile offshore to 20 miles off shore. If the weather is clear, we can always see land. )
Reel Knockoffs Guide Service offers the following fishing techniques:
  • Heavy tackle
  • Trolling
Top targeted fish species with Reel Knockoffs Guide Service include:
  • Brown Trout
  • Lake Trout
  • Rainbow Trout (Steelhead)
  • Salmon (Atlantic)
  • Salmon (Chinook)
  • Salmon (Coho)

Your captain

Matt Bowman
Matt Bowman
Matt Bowman

Hamilton, Ontario, Canada

4 Fishing Reports
ID & license verified
68 Customer reviews
Typical response within an hour
Member since February 2020
Angler's Choice

The Angler's Choice Award is given to listings that consistently deliver a high-quality service and earn great reviews from customers.

I began fishing when I was 3 and haven't stopped since. I have always dreamed of fishing for a living because it's my greatest passion and I love getting other people involved. Seeing my guests smile when they catch their first fish is priceless. But it's not just about catching fish – we're also creating memories together!

4 Fishing Reports
ID & license verified
68 Customer reviews
Typical response within an hour
Member since February 2020
Angler's Choice

The Angler's Choice Award is given to listings that consistently deliver a high-quality service and earn great reviews from customers.

I began fishing when I was 3 and haven't stopped since. I have always dreamed of fishing for a living because it's my greatest passion and I love getting other people involved. Seeing my guests smile when they catch their first fish is priceless. But it's not just about catching fish – we're also creating memories together!

The fish you can target

Brown Trout
Brown Trout
Lake Trout
Lake Trout
Rainbow Trout (Steelhead)
Rainbow Trout (Steelhead)
Atlantic Salmon
Atlantic Salmon
Chinook Salmon
Chinook Salmon
Coho Salmon
Coho Salmon
Brown Trout
Brown Trout
Lake Trout
Lake Trout
Rainbow Trout (Steelhead)
Rainbow Trout (Steelhead)
Atlantic Salmon
Atlantic Salmon
Chinook Salmon
Chinook Salmon

What is the boat like?

Boat image
Boat category
Sportfishing boats
Capacity
3 persons
Boat length
23 ft
Year built
1989
Restored in
2018
Boat manufacturer
Wellcraft 210 Coastal
Boat type
Sportfishing
Engine model
Yamaha
Powered by
1 x 200HP
Max cruising speed
40 knots

What kind of fishing will you do?

Lake Fishing
Nearshore Fishing
Offshore Fishing
We go where the fish are. Sometimes within a mile offshore to 20 miles off shore. If the weather is clear, we can always see land.

Which fishing techniques you can try

Heavy Tackle
Trolling

Which amenities are available onboard

Toilet
Flushable 'camping' toilet
GPS
Fishfinder
Live bait well
Ice box

What's included in the trip price

Rods, reels & tackle
Shimano telora rods and Shimano tekota reels
Live bait
Bait strips prepared before the trip
Lures
Catch cleaning & filleting
Ziplock bags provided, fillet if lake is safe

How cancellations work

Free cancellation up to 7 days prior to trip

You can cancel or modify your booking up to 7 days before the trip date, free of charge. If you cancel or modify your booking later, or fail to show up, you'll forfeit 100% of what you've paid.

More details

What the listing policies are

Pickup not included

Transfer to/from departure site is not included in trip rates.

Child friendly
At least 6 years old. Life jackets 30–90 pounds
No alcohol
You keep catch
Catch and release allowed

How you can pay

Book with 10% deposit, pay rest to captain

When the captain confirms your trip, FishingBooker charges your credit card a 10% deposit to guarantee your reservation.

The remaining balance is to be paid directly to the charter operator on or prior to your trip date in one of the following payment methods:

 Cash

 Bank transfer

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Current
Reel Knockoffs Guide Service
Reel Knockoffs Guide Service
4.9
(68)
23 ft
Group size 1 - 3
1 - 3
Fish 1
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+4
4 hour trip • 3 persons
US $320