Dan Nealy's Fishing Buddies
Dan Nealy's Fishing Buddies
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Explore Michigan’s top rivers with Dan Nealy’s Fishing Buddies! Captain Dan brings unmatched experience, positive energy, and a true passion for the water. Whether you’re a beginner or seasoned angler, Dan loves teaching new techniques, helping you improve skills, and guiding you to success on Michigan’s best fisheries.
Your trip takes place aboard a 16 ft Hyde Drift Boat that comfortably seats two anglers. Dan rows while you relax, take in the scenery, or fish from the boat. Two leg locks allow secure fishing while drifting, and wading is always an option. This slow, scenic float helps you cover more water and target more fish.
Fly fishing is our preferred technique, but spin gear is also available — including TFO rods and Pflueger President reels. You’ll use top‑quality equipment, often including flies tied by Dan himself. No technique is wrong if it helps us catch fish.
Depending on the season, you’ll be targeting Steelhead, Salmon, Trout, and Smallmouth Bass. Full‑day trips include grilled lunch (weather permitting), water, and snacks. Half‑day trips include water and snacks. Please remember your Michigan fishing license.
We fish several great Michigan rivers, including the Muskegon River (Newaygo), Tittabawassee & Chippewa Rivers (Midland), and The Pine River (Gratiot County). Join Captain Dan for a relaxing, educational, and unforgettable day on the water.
Explore Michigan’s top rivers with Dan Nealy’s Fishing Buddies! Captain Dan brings unmatched experience, positive energy, and a true passion for the water. Whether you’re a beginner or seasoned angler, Dan loves teaching new techniques, helping you improve skills, and guiding you to success on Michigan’s best fisheries.
Your trip takes place aboard a 16 ft Hyde Drift Boat that comfortably seats two anglers. Dan rows while you relax, take in the scenery, or fish from the boat. Two leg locks allow secure fishing while drifting, and wading is always an option. This slow, scenic float helps you cover more water and target more fish.
Fly fishing is our preferred technique, but spin gear is also available — including TFO rods and Pflueger President reels. You’ll use top‑quality equipment, often including flies tied by Dan himself. No technique is wrong if it helps us catch fish.
Depending on the season, you’ll be targeting Steelhead, Salmon, Trout, and Smallmouth Bass. Full‑day trips include grilled lunch (weather permitting), water, and snacks. Half‑day trips include water and snacks. Please remember your Michigan fishing license.
We fish several great Michigan rivers, including the Muskegon River (Newaygo), Tittabawassee & Chippewa Rivers (Midland), and The Pine River (Gratiot County). Join Captain Dan for a relaxing, educational, and unforgettable day on the water.
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Trip availability and prices
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Customer reviews
Rating
Anglers' gallery (94)
What anglers say
Reviews (50)
Jason RossRepeat angler•
Michigan, US•Member since 20263 trips5.0VerifiedBring Sunscreen
7 Hour Trip – Bass, Pike & Trout on July 19, 2026 • 2 adultsSeriously my only regret today was not packing sunscreen. My girlfriend and I had a blast. Captain Dan is very easy to get along with and cooks one hell of a meal. He put us on largemouth, he put us on small mouth, he put us on pike, and bowfin (dogfish). What more is there to say other than thank you to the captain!
Joseph WillettRepeat angler•Indiana, US•Member since 20253 trips5.0VerifiedNewRelaxing and effective fishing experience
5 Hour Trip – Bass, Pike & Trout on September 24, 2026 • 1 adultcaught large smallmouth and large pike. Captain Dan was awesome! well worth it!
Todd Hamlin•Colorado, USMember since 20265.0VerifiedDan is the man!
5 Hour Trip – Bass, Pike & Trout on July 3, 2026 • 2 adultsMy son and I had a great time with Dan. He was very accommodating bringing both spin and fly fishing gear for me to use. We caught trout and bass on a variety of rigs. I would absolutely float with him again!
Emily Erndteman•Michigan, USMember since 20265.0VerifiedGreat Trip!
5 Hour Trip – Bass, Pike & Trout on July 11, 2026 • 2 adultsWe had a great trip! Caught about 15 fish between the two of use over the corse of 5hrs. None of them were large enough to keep but still a fun time!
Dusty Young•Indiana, USMember since 20245.0VerifiedDay on the Muskegon
5 Hour Trip – Salmon or Steelhead on April 13, 2024 • 2 adultsI recently took my nephew on a fishing trip with Dan to catch some Steelhead. Even though the Steelhead season has been extremely slow, Dan managed to put us on some and my nephew even caught him a decent one. The experience was great and we learned some techniques that will definitely help us pick right up where we left off next time we come up. Dan is knowledgeable of both the river and the fishing techniques. We would definitely recommend him to anyone looking to book a charter in the area .
Declan Laffoon•Indiana, USMember since 20255.0VerifiedHighly recommend!
5 Hour Trip – Salmon or Steelhead on May 17, 2025 • 2 adultsCaptian Dan is very smart with fishing, and the water he guides on. The weather didnt make it easy, but we still caught a lot of fish. Dan was very patient and is a great captian to fish with if you haven't ever casted a rod, or are experienced. We hope to fish with captian Dan for years to come!
Matt Knight•Indiana, USMember since 20255.0VerifiedGreat knowledge of the river
SUMMER SPECIAL August 5 hour Trips on August 18, 2025 • 1 adultDan was great at knowing the rivers ups and downs. Was great at having poles ready for quick change out of lures and bait. He stays on top of weather reports and keeps in touch on his options on if time changes are needed and goes the extra hr mile providing best experience.
Deborah Van Den Berg-KeddyRepeat angler•Michigan, US•Member since 20213 trips5.0VerifiedSteelhead Adventure
5 Hour Trip – Salmon or Steelhead on November 20, 2024 • 2 adultsWe experienced it all …peace, beauty, the fresh mist, learning the rhythm of cast, shiny fish jewelry and then the snag leading to the fight of acrobatics to finally meet a Steelhead….pink, green with opaque transparency. Dan is a excellent fisherman and guide…also With much patience for newbies like myself…. We will do it again!
Daniel MikowskiRepeat angler•Michigan, US•Member since 20244 trips5.0VerifiedGreat trip!
7 Hour – Salmon & Steelhead (Boat) on May 26, 2024 • 2 adultsVery knowledgeable with plenty of equipment and options. Family friendly and even let me bring my dog on the trip. Will be booking more trips soon.
Champ Earwood•Texas, USMember since 20245.0VerifiedBeautiful day on the river
5 Hour Trip – Bass, Pike & Trout on July 16, 2024 • 2 adultsCapt. Dan did a great job. He knows the river well and put me on the fish. Caught a mixed bag of trout, smallmouth bass and rock bass.
Rating
Anglers' gallery (94)
What anglers say
All reviews (50)
My wife and I had a great October day fishing on the Muskegon River thanks to Dan Healy, who is all you could ever want in a fishing guide. The water was crystal clear, and fish were visibly abundant...everywhere. Dan knows the river like the back of his hand. He located us over Chinook redds along an entire four-mile stretch of water. There is technique involved presenting yarn lures to fish holding their positions against the current over their spawning beds. Dan was a patient and encouraging teacher. We landed several large Chinook. The river and sunshine were beautiful, and Dan did his best to make it a memorable experience for us both. The pace was relaxing fishing from a drift boat. You will have a great time booking a trip with this captain who I recommend highly.
Seriously my only regret today was not packing sunscreen. My girlfriend and I had a blast. Captain Dan is very easy to get along with and cooks one hell of a meal. He put us on largemouth, he put us on small mouth, he put us on pike, and bowfin (dogfish). What more is there to say other than thank you to the captain!
caught large smallmouth and large pike. Captain Dan was awesome! well worth it!
Beautiful weather. Great day fishing! Guide was knowledgeable and fun!
Thank you!
My son and I had a great time with Dan. He was very accommodating bringing both spin and fly fishing gear for me to use. We caught trout and bass on a variety of rigs. I would absolutely float with him again!
THANK YOU!!!
FAQs about Dan Nealy's Fishing Buddies
- US $235 per group, additional US $35 per person after 1 guest - 4 Hour Trip - PIKE Fishing (4 hours)
- US $250 per group, additional US $25 per person after 1 guest - SUMMER SPECIAL August 5 hour Trips (5 hours)
- US $280 per group, additional US $55 per person after 1 guest - 5 Hour Trip – Bass, Pike & Trout (5 hours)
- US $300 per group, additional US $50 per person after 1 guest - 5 Hour Trip – Salmon or Steelhead (5 hours)
- US $325 per group, additional US $60 per person after 1 guest - 6 Hour Trip – Bass, Pike & Trout (6 hours)
- US $325 per group - Kids fish for FREE in August 6 hrs (6 hours)
- US $350 per group, additional US $60 per person after 1 guest - 6 Hour – Salmon & Steelhead (Boat) (6 hours)
- US $375 per group, additional US $60 per person after 1 guest - 7 Hour Trip – Bass, Pike & Trout (7 hours)
- US $390 per group, additional US $70 per person after 1 guest - 7 Hour – Salmon & Steelhead (Boat) (7 hours)
- US $600 per group, additional US $125 per person after 1 guest - 2 Days - 2 Different Rivers - 6 hrs (6 hours)
- US $825 per day per group, additional US $175 per person after 1 guest - Float and Camp - 2 day & 1 Night (2 days)
- Rods, reels & tackle
- Live bait (The only live bait we'll ever use are wax worms and crawlers. )
- Lures
- Catch cleaning & filleting (Can clean salmon, steelhead and trout)
- Snacks (I always have snacks on board like Trail Mix, Uncrustables, Fruit, and a variety of other snack bars. )
- Drinks (I provide water for each trip. Customers are welcome to bring their own beverages. )
- Lunch (For my 7-hour trips, I provide a grilled meal. Please communicate with me any food dislikes or food allergies. My menu staples are Chicken Thighs, Brats, Hot Dogs, Pork Chops, Steaks, Hamburgers, Sloppy Joes, Smoked Wings or Chicken Thighs and multiple ty)
- Fly fishing equipment
- River fishing (Muskegon River (Newaygo), Pine River (Alma),)
- Light tackle
- Spinning
- Jigging
- Fly fishing (Provides flies for guest. )
- Bass (Largemouth)
- Bass (Smallmouth)
- Brown Trout
- Pike (Northern)
- Rainbow Trout (Steelhead)
- Salmon (Chinook)
- Salmon (Coho)
Your captain
Newaygo, Michigan, United States
I grew up in Jackson, Michigan which is in the southern part of the state. I grew up bass and pike fishing up ponds and lakes. I had limited fishing opportunities and I was always looking to get someone to take me out to fish. I couldn't ever get enough. After high school I ended up going to Central Michigan University in Mt. Pleasant to study Sports Management. While at school, I fell in love with fishing Smallmouth Bass in the Chippewa River that runs through Mt. Pleasant. During this time, I started coaching travel basketball. One of my athletes' fathers was a river captain. He invited me to come with him to fly fish late spring steelhead the Pere Marquette. I had never been in a drift boat or used a fly rod to this point… I fought numerous Steelhead that day, and landed a trophy brown trout. From that point on, my passion grew for learning and fishing Michigan rivers. I currently live in Alma, Michigan. I live with my wife (Aleisha) and my three dogs (Berkley, Caddis and Stella) and my two cats (Orvis & River). I also organize youth basketball tournaments, travel teams and officiate basketball in the winter.
Real catches by this captain
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How cancellations work
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.
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Pay online in full through FishingBooker and save on credit card fees at the dock.
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When the captain confirms your trip, FishingBooker charges your credit card a 20% 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:
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