West Michigan Guide Service 

5.0/5 (10 reviews)
 Main Street 7842, Newaygo, MI 49337, United States
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West Michigan Guide Service is located in Newaygo and offers to show you a memorable time in these waters. A day on the water with Capt. Nate starts early (the early bird gets the worm).  You will get on a nice 18’ Tracy’s Custom riverboat that can safely take up to 3 anglers and the captain will put a high-end rod and reel in your hand. His knowledge of the water will be shown immediately. He will teach you the proper techniques to maximize your fishing experience. You will have lots of laughs throughout your day, as rule number 1 is – have fun.

Capt. Nate offers 4 to 6-hour trips, mainly fishing for Brown Trout, Bass, Rainbow Trout, Salmon, and Walleye, depending on the season and conditions on the day. On these trips, you can expect to use techniques such as light tackle, fly fishing, drift fishing, and spinning.

Please make sure to buy a valid fishing license ahead of time. The crew will clean and fillet your catch for you to take home at the end of the trip. The boat will be supplied with snacks and drinks for your pleasure, be sure to let the captain know if you have any questions or want to bring your own.

By the end of your trip, you will be saying that the captain worked his tail off for you to put and keep you on fish. At West Michigan Guide Service, they have a borderline unhealthy passion for what they do and strive every day to be at their best.

Having been guiding for 20 years and fishing much longer than that, Capt. Nate looks forward to having you on the boat for a fun day catching fish.

Nate Wellman

Captain

Nate Wellman

24 years of experience

Most popular features:

 Live Bait
 You Keep Catch
 Catch cleaning & filleting
 Drinks
 Child Friendly
 Rods, reels & tackle
 Food (Snacks)

Trip availability and prices

Trip Date:
Days:
Group Size:
Almost there...
4 Hour Trip (AM) MAX 3
FREE Cancellation 7 days notice
4 Hour Trip, starts at 7:00 AM
Price for 2 people
US $350 
4 Hour Trip (PM) MAX 3
FREE Cancellation 7 days notice
4 Hour Trip, starts at 4:00 PM
Price for 2 people
US $350 
6 Hour Trip (AM) MAX 3
FREE Cancellation 7 days notice
6 Hour Trip, starts at 7:00 AM
Price for 2 people
US $450 

Customer reviews

Rating summary

5.0/5
out of 5 stars from 10 reviews
Boat
5.0/5
Crew
5.0/5
Experience
4.9/5

Photos & videos by reviewers (7)

Excellent trip!
Excellent trip!
Fall Steelhead trip
+4

Angler rating

10
0
0
0
0

Anglers claimed

Good experience

100%

Appropriate for children

75%

Friendly captain

100%

Satisfied with the boat

100%

Recommend this charter

100%

Caught fish

100%

Showing 1 - 5 of 10 reviews
Terry W.
Terry W.
5.0/5

Experience:

5.0/5

Boat

5.0/5

Crew

5.0/5

Overall

West Michigan Guide Service

VERIFIED

4 Hour Trip (PM) MAX 3 on April 14, 2025

Great trip! Captain Joe was very knowledgeable and extremely courteous. Had a wonderful time catching steelhead.

Great trip! Captain Joe was very knowledgeable and extremely courteous. Had a wonderful time catching steelhead.  

 Terry W. recommends West Michigan Guide Service
Nate Wellman
Nate Wellman (The Captain)
Replied on April 15, 2025
Thank you very much for fishing with us it was a fun afternoon

Jeff W.
Jeff W.
5.0/5

Experience:

5.0/5

Boat

5.0/5

Crew

5.0/5

Overall

Excellent trip!

VERIFIED

4 Hour Trip (AM) MAX 3 on March 19, 2025

Captain Nate is knowledgeable, personable, and patient. Fishing for steelies was a blast!

Captain Nate is knowledgeable, personable, and patient. Fishing for steelies was a blast!  

 Jeff W. recommends West Michigan Guide Service
1 person finds this review helpful
Nate Wellman
Nate Wellman (The Captain)
Replied on March 20, 2025
Thank you very much for coming it was a very fun morning on the river!!! Safe travels home
Review media 0
Review media 1

John P.
John P.
5.0/5

Experience:

5.0/5

Boat

5.0/5

Crew

5.0/5

Overall

Captain Joe put us on fish and did an excellent job

VERIFIED

6 Hour Trip (AM) MAX 3 on April 5, 2025

 

 John P. recommends West Michigan Guide Service

Tom H.
Tom H.
5.0/5

Experience:

5.0/5

Boat

5.0/5

Crew

5.0/5

Overall

Great trip!

VERIFIED

4 Hour Trip (PM) MAX 3 on October 15, 2023

I took my teenaged son salmon fishing for the first time with Capt. Joe. He put us on a ton of fish, and my son landed this first salmon! We had a great experience with Joe. He is very knowledgeable and was a great (and patient) teacher. We will definitely be taking more trips with West Michigan Guide Services!

I took my teenaged son salmon fishing for the first time with Capt. Joe. He put us on a ton of fish, and my son landed this first salmon! We had a great experience with Joe. He is very knowledgeable and was a great (and patient) teacher. We will definitely be taking more trips with West Michigan Guide Services!  

Review media 0
Review media 1
 Tom H. recommends West Michigan Guide Service
1 person finds this review helpful

Tom H.
Tom H.
5.0/5

Experience:

5.0/5

Boat

5.0/5

Crew

5.0/5

Overall

Fall Steelhead trip

VERIFIED

6 Hour Trip (AM) MAX 3 on October 23, 2023

I brought my son and nephew, who had never fish salmon or steelhead. Although the steelhead weren’t hungry today, we had a great trip with Capt Joe. A lot of laughs, learned much about the river and the fish. We did get to pull on a few kings along the way. Thanks Nate and Joe for a great time.

I brought my son and nephew, who had never fish salmon or steelhead. Although the steelhead weren’t hungry today, we had a great trip with Capt Joe. A lot of laughs, learned much about the river and the fish. We did get to pull on a few kings along the way. Thanks Nate and Joe for a great time.  

Review media 0
 Tom H. recommends West Michigan Guide Service
1 person finds this review helpful
Nate Wellman
Nate Wellman (The Captain)
Replied on October 24, 2023
Thank you for fishing with us it was a fun day on the river.

FAQs about West Michigan Guide Service

What are the trip rates for West Michigan Guide Service?

West Michigan Guide Service offers the following trips to customers:

  • US $350 per group, additional US $150 per person after 2 guests - 4 Hour Trip (AM) MAX 3 (4 hours)
  • US $350 per group, additional US $150 per person after 2 guests - 4 Hour Trip (PM) MAX 3 (4 hours)
  • US $450 per group, additional US $150 per person after 2 guests - 6 Hour Trip (AM) MAX 3 (6 hours)
Which amenities are available onboard with West Michigan Guide Service?

When you book a trip with West Michigan Guide Service, you can expect the following amenities onboard:

  • GPS
  • Fishfinder
  • Live Bait Well
What's included in the trip price with West Michigan Guide Service?

Trips booked with West Michigan Guide Service include:

  • Rods, reels & tackle
  • Live Bait (We have all bait needed and ready when you get on the boat.)
  • Lures
  • Catch cleaning & filleting (All fish cleaning is included also we bag them for you.)
  • Snacks (We traditionally have some waters and small snacks on the boats. We do encourage customers to bring what they want to eat and drink with them. Alcohol is allowed)
  • Drinks (We normally have water and possibly a few sodas on the boat. We encourage customers to bring what they want to drink. )
  • Fly Fishing Equipment
What types of fishing does West Michigan Guide Service offer?

West Michigan Guide Service offers the following type of fishing:

  • River Fishing (We primarily guide on the Muskegon River but also bounce around to the Grand,Manistee,White and Pere Marquette rivers if we need to for better fishing.)
What fishing techniques does West Michigan Guide Service offer?

West Michigan Guide Service offers the following fishing techniques:

  • Light Tackle
  • Spinning
  • Fly Fishing
  • Drift Fishing
Which fish species can I catch with West Michigan Guide Service?

Top targeted fish species with West Michigan Guide Service include:

  • Bass (Smallmouth)
  • Brown Trout
  • Rainbow Trout (Steelhead)
  • Salmon (Chinook)
  • Walleye

Your captain

Nate Wellman

Newaygo, Michigan, United States

5 Fishing Reports
17 Customer reviews
Response time 5 hours
Member since March 2022

Capt. Nate Wellman grew up fishing with his dad every chance they could, that is where the captain's love for fishing started. He looked at his dad when he was 10 and told him he wants to fish every day for the rest of his life. Capt. Nate has never looked back from there.

The fish you can target

Smallmouth Bass
Smallmouth Bass
Brown Trout
Brown Trout
Rainbow Trout (Steelhead)
Rainbow Trout (Steelhead)
Chinook Salmon
Chinook Salmon
Walleye
Walleye

What is the boat like?

Boat Image
Boat category
Skiffs and flats boats
Capacity
3 persons
Boat length
18 ft
Year built
2019
Boat manufacturer
Tracy's Custom Riverboats
Boat type
Aluminum fishing

Engine model
Yamaha
Powered by
1 x 150HP
Max cruising speed
20 knots

What kind of fishing will you do?

River Fishing

We primarily guide on the Muskegon River but also bounce around to the Grand,Manistee,White and Pere Marquette rivers if we need to for better fishing.

Which fishing techniques you can try

Light Tackle

Spinning

Fly Fishing

Drift Fishing

Which amenities are available onboard

GPS

Fishfinder

Live Bait Well

What’s included in the trip price

Rods, reels & tackle

Live Bait

We have all bait needed and ready when you get on the boat.

Lures

Catch cleaning & filleting

All fish cleaning is included also we bag them for you.

Snacks

We traditionally have some waters and small snacks on the boats. We do encourage customers to bring what they want to eat and drink with them. Alcohol is allowed

Drinks

We normally have water and possibly a few sodas on the boat. We encourage customers to bring what they want to drink.

Fly Fishing Equipment

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.

What the listing policies are

Pickup not included

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

Child Friendly

We absolutely love to have kids on the boat truly my favorite trips to take!!!

You Keep Catch

Catch and Release Allowed

How you can pay

Book with 25% deposit, pay rest to captain

When the captain confirms your trip, FishingBooker charges your credit card a 25% 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

 Visa

 Mastercard

 American Express

 PayPal

 Checks

When paying the remaining balance with a credit card, an additional 5% charge will apply.