Pure Angling – Trolling or Jig/Cast 

5.0
(230 reviews)
 Cedar Street, Elk Rapids, MI 49629, United States–

Pure Angling – Trolling or Jig/Cast 

Elk Rapids, MI, United States
–
28 ft
6
5.0
(230 reviews)

Welcome to Pure Angling! We are fortunate to operate our fishing charters here on the beautiful Grand Traverse Bay. The bay is 32 miles long and is separated by an East and West bay with a depth over 620'! With fishing in the bay, we are protected on 3 sides from the wind and have calmer waters compared to most ports.

Tactics to catch fish: Trolling or Jigging/Casting

What is trolling?
Trolling is a relaxed fishing trip where the boat moves at 2-2.5 mph. We set the lines, and you reel in the fish. It’s the most popular choice for families (90% of our charters), offering an easy and fun experience targeting cisco, lake trout, and salmon.

Jigging & Casting (more advanced & hands-on)
Casting: May & June targeting lake trout & cisco
Jigging: Late June - September

On a casting trip, we'll be near the shoreline or shallow sunken islands casting and retrieving jigs back to the boat. For vertical jigging we drop a lure straight down into deeper waters (80-120') and move it up and down to attract fish. This casting/jigging fishing trip is for novice to experienced anglers that want to be more hands-on (best for 1-4 people)

When is the best bite?
Lake trout: great all season
Cisco: April - June 15th & October
Salmon: August 15th - September 20th

The boat:
2016 Cobia 28' Center Console with twin 200 HP 4 stroke engines. The boat has all the latest and greatest technologies that help us find and stay on fish. We also have a flushable toilet and sink inside the console

All bait, gear, and fish cleaning is included on every fishing trip

What should you bring? All guest 17 and older will need a valid Michigan fishing license by the time we meet, snacks, drinks (alcohol permitted, but in moderation), sunglasses, rain gear, a cooler to take your bagged catch home, and dress in layers.

If you have any questions, don't hesitate to send a message. We look forward to having you!

Welcome to Pure Angling! We are fortunate to operate our fishing charters here on the beautiful Grand Traverse Bay. The bay is 32 miles long and is separated by an East and West bay with a depth over 620'! With fishing in the bay, we are protected on 3 sides from the wind and have calmer waters compared to most ports.

Tactics to catch fish: Trolling or Jigging/Casting

What is trolling?
Trolling is a relaxed fishing trip where the boat moves at 2-2.5 mph. We set the lines, and you reel in the fish. It’s the most popular choice for families (90% of our charters), offering an easy and fun experience targeting cisco, lake trout, and salmon.

Jigging & Casting (more advanced & hands-on)
Casting: May & June targeting lake trout & cisco
Jigging: Late June - September

On a casting trip, we'll be near the shoreline or shallow sunken islands casting and retrieving jigs back to the boat. For vertical jigging we drop a lure straight down into deeper waters (80-120') and move it up and down to attract fish. This casting/jigging fishing trip is for novice to experienced anglers that want to be more hands-on (best for 1-4 people)

When is the best bite?
Lake trout: great all season
Cisco: April - June 15th & October
Salmon: August 15th - September 20th

The boat:
2016 Cobia 28' Center Console with twin 200 HP 4 stroke engines. The boat has all the latest and greatest technologies that help us find and stay on fish. We also have a flushable toilet and sink inside the console

All bait, gear, and fish cleaning is included on every fishing trip

What should you bring? All guest 17 and older will need a valid Michigan fishing license by the time we meet, snacks, drinks (alcohol permitted, but in moderation), sunglasses, rain gear, a cooler to take your bagged catch home, and dress in layers.

If you have any questions, don't hesitate to send a message. We look forward to having you!

Tyler Smith
Captain
Tyler Smith
14 years of experience
ID & credentials verified

Select date to see availability

Trip availability and prices

Trip date:
Group Size:
October 2026
SuMoTuWeThFrSa
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Group Size
2 adults • 0 children
Change
Almost there...
6 AM - Trolling, GT Bay
FREE Cancellation 7 days notice
4 hour trip starts at 6:00 AM
Seasonal trip
Apr 15 - Sep 30
Lake Trout
Whitefish (Lake)
Salmon (Chinook)
US $550
Entire boat: 2 people
October - Cisco Trolling - GT Bay
FREE Cancellation 7 days notice
4 hour trip multiple starting times (8:00 AM, 2:00 PM)
Seasonal trip
Oct 1 - Oct 31
Whitefish (Lake)
US $550
Entire boat: 2 people
12 PM - Trolling, GT Bay
FREE Cancellation 7 days notice
4 hour trip starts at 11:30 AM
Seasonal trip
Apr 15 - Sep 30
Salmon
Lake Trout
Whitefish (Lake)
Rainbow Trout (Steelhead)
+4
US $550
Entire boat: 2 people
5 PM - Trolling, GT Bay
FREE Cancellation 7 days notice
4 hour trip starts at 5:00 PM
Seasonal trip
Apr 15 - Sep 30
Salmon
Lake Trout
Whitefish (Lake)
Rainbow Trout (Steelhead)
+4
US $550
Entire boat: 2 people
Jigging/Casting - Trout & Cisco
FREE Cancellation 7 days notice
4 hour trip starts at 6:00 AM
Seasonal trip
Apr 15 - Sep 30
Burbot
Lake Trout
Whitefish (Lake)
Bass (Smallmouth)
US $650
Entire boat: 2 people
There are 3 people looking at this charter.

Customer reviews

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Rating

5.0
230 reviews
5.0
Boat & equipment
5.0
Captain & crew
5.0
Fishing Experience

Anglers' gallery (360)

What anglers say

99%
Great experience
99%
Family friendly
100%
Friendly captain
100%
Good boat
99%
Recommended
99%
Caught fish

Reviews (230)

  • Jakob Cummins
    Jakob Cummins
    Repeat angler
    us
    Indiana, US
    Member since 2025
    2 trips
    5.0
    Verified

    Truly one of the best charters out there, if you're on the fence just go for it!

    5 PM - Trolling, GT Bay on August 7, 2026 • 2 adults

    Captain Tyler was phenomenal, he was very professional and definitely knew his stuff. He made the trip very fun and was able to get us on some amazing fishing spots. My wife and mother-in-law had very little fishing experience and he was able to make the experience one they won't forget. We started out fishing over one area and after learning the fish were only biting when traveling a certain direction he adjusted accordingly and was able to catch us our limit for the day. If you are on the fence about going out with this charter, dont be. You will make great memories and have a wonderful time enjoying the waters out in Traverse Bay.

  • Jeremy Mckean
    Jeremy Mckean
    Repeat angler
    us
    Illinois, US
    Member since 2026
    2 trips
    5.0
    Verified

    Great trip with Tyler Smith of Pure Angling!

    6 AM - Trolling, GT Bay on June 26, 2026 • 2 adults

    We had a great experience with Tyler/Pure Angling. Before booking, I reached out with a few questions and he gave a thorough response. Booking was easy, and the communication between time of booking and the morning of the trip was very clear and helpful. Tyler provided suggestions on a few tweaks to our plans (recommended jigging/casting instead of the trolling trip I'd originally selected), he gave extremely clear directions to the dock, and helped with a few questions we had about keeping the fish nice and fresh for the couple days we had to keep them before heading home. The day of the charter, we arrived about 5 mins early and Tyler already had the boat in the water at the dock, ready to go. The boat and all of his equipment was in great shape (my wife appreciated that there was a private head to use, and that it was very clean). He did a very good job at giving tips and suggestions for jigging and casting, as most of the guided fishing we've done has been trolling on the ocean. This was our first time going for Lake Trout, and he did a great job of explaining the proper techniques for using the lures most ideal for catching them. After a slightly slow start, he switched up the lures and location, and we were on Lake Trout hot and heavy in about an hour. In fact, the second spot and second lure type was so successful that we were getting fish, or at least strong hits on the lure, every second or third cast. Among the Lake Trout we caught was a 31" hog, and another very nice 28" fish, along with several others slightly smaller than that. Throughout the day Tyler did a great job of giving us background info on the water we were fishing, the fish in the area, and was just generally easy to be around for the day. Once we were limited out, he cleaned the fish for us, and gave us several great suggestions for how to prepare them. Great trip, and would definitely book with him again!

  • Rachel And Jake Robertson
    Rachel And Jake Robertson
    us
    Michigan, US
    Member since 2025
    5.0
    Verified

    Tyler was awesome!

    October - Cisco Trolling - GT Bay on October 22, 2025 • 2 adults

    We went on a fishing charter with Tyler and he was great! He called us the day before to make sure we had everything we needed and to answer any questions we had. He was prepared and ready on the boat, even with a bathroom on the boat! The whole time the fish were biting and Tyler had so much knowledge about the area and the fish trends. He cleaned and fillet’ed our fish and bagged them so they are ready to eat! He even gave us tips on how to prepare the fish! Great conversations between catching fish, and would highly recommend. We had the best luck on his charter than any other we’ve done in the past. Overall great experience and can’t wait to do another charter with him!

  • Steven Corbett
    Steven Corbett
    Repeat angler
    us
    Florida, US
    Member since 2022
    3 trips
    5.0
    Verified

    Amazing captain Tyler l

    6 AM - Trolling, GT Bay on September 2, 2026 • 3 adults

    Spectacular day on the water. Boat and equipment are phenomenal. Tyler had us on the fish within 15 minutes of leaving shore. Caught our limit of lake trout in 1 1/2 hours, including a few monster fish. Also caught a 15 pound king salmon. Tyler was a great host….knowledgeable, gracious and helpful. All we had to do was keep “reeling ‘em in”!

  • Melissa Florian
    Melissa Florian
    us
    Indiana, US
    Member since 2026
    5.0
    Verified

    Amazing first charter with the kids!

    12 PM - Trolling, GT Bay on June 4, 2026 • 5 adults • 3 children

    Captain Tyler was an absolute treat! He was exceptionally patient with our boys (one of which is AudHd), the other absolutely yapped his ear off and asked a million and two questions, and the youngest was just happy to be there. We caught some HUGE lake trout! Captain Tyler worked hard to get us those fish. Utterly amazing experience. 10/10. Will book again!

  • Joshua Sutin
    Joshua Sutin
    us
    Texas, US
    Member since 2026
    5.0
    Verified

    Maxed out

    12 PM - Trolling, GT Bay on July 31, 2026 • 6 adults

    5 Texans and 1 CA novices. Captain T, made us feel comfortable, did all the work, and Dad walked away with biggest catch of the trip. Pretty sure Tyler knew how to get best tip and hooked Dad up to be the hero on many levels. Book this guide for great trip.

  • Rick Lantz
    Rick Lantz
    us
    California, US
    Member since 2024
    5.0
    Verified
    New

    AMAZING EXPERIENCE!

    12 PM - Trolling, GT Bay on September 24, 2026 • 1 adult

    Best fishing experience of my life. You will not be disappointed. 10 outta 10!

  • Tammie Borgardt
    Tammie Borgardt
    us
    Wisconsin, US
    Member since 2026
    5.0
    Verified

    Amazing Trip!

    12 PM - Trolling, GT Bay on July 6, 2026 • 2 adults

    Could not believe how quickly the fish started biting after we got out. Ended up catching six really nice looking lake trout. Tyler fileted and packaged them up for us before we even got off the boat. Would highly recommend this boat charter!!!!

  • Tony Mccuistion
    Tony Mccuistion
    us
    Ohio, US
    Member since 2026
    5.0
    Verified

    Captain Tyler was exceptional!

    12 PM - Trolling, GT Bay on August 2, 2026 • 6 adults • 2 children

    Incredible!!! Captain Tyler was exceptional! he was Captains you read about! 6 of of us.a 7 year old and a 9year and we limited out and we all jad a blast! would recommend him 1000 percent! awesome noat and rigs!

  • Leo Pasch
    Leo Pasch
    us
    Michigan, US
    Member since 2026
    5.0
    Verified

    great trip. Tyler did a great job with my 2 grandsons. patient and explained everything. remained calm throughout the trip

    6 AM - Trolling, GT Bay on July 6, 2026 • 4 adults • 1 child

    caught our limit of Lake Trout in less than 2 hours. Got what we expected for this time of year. Captain was excellent. Nice job that he bled the fish and cleaned them. Good trip for family and friends.

Rating

5.0
230 reviews
5.0
Boat & equipment
5.0
Captain & crew
5.0
Fishing Experience

Anglers' gallery (360)

What anglers say

99%
Great experience
99%
Family friendly
100%
Friendly captain
100%
Good boat
99%
Recommended
99%
Caught fish

All reviews (230)

Frequently mentioned
Showing 1 – 5 of 230 reviews
Jakob Cummins
Jakob Cummins
Repeat angler
us
Indiana, US
Member since 2025
2 trips
5.0
Verified
Truly one of the best charters out there, if you're on the fence just go for it!
5 PM - Trolling, GT Bay on August 7, 2026 • 2 adults

Captain Tyler was phenomenal, he was very professional and definitely knew his stuff. He made the trip very fun and was able to get us on some amazing fishing spots. My wife and mother-in-law had very little fishing experience and he was able to make the experience one they won't forget. We started out fishing over one area and after learning the fish were only biting when traveling a certain direction he adjusted accordingly and was able to catch us our limit for the day. If you are on the fence about going out with this charter, dont be. You will make great memories and have a wonderful time enjoying the waters out in Traverse Bay.

Jeremy Mckean
Jeremy Mckean
Repeat angler
us
Illinois, US
Member since 2026
2 trips
5.0
Verified
Great trip with Tyler Smith of Pure Angling!
6 AM - Trolling, GT Bay on June 26, 2026 • 2 adults

We had a great experience with Tyler/Pure Angling. Before booking, I reached out with a few questions and he gave a thorough response. Booking was easy, and the communication between time of booking and the morning of the trip was very clear and helpful. Tyler provided suggestions on a few tweaks to our plans (recommended jigging/casting instead of the trolling trip I'd originally selected), he gave extremely clear directions to the dock, and helped with a few questions we had about keeping the fish nice and fresh for the couple days we had to keep them before heading home. The day of the charter, we arrived about 5 mins early and Tyler already had the boat in the water at the dock, ready to go. The boat and all of his equipment was in great shape (my wife appreciated that there was a private head to use, and that it was very clean). He did a very good job at giving tips and suggestions for jigging and casting, as most of the guided fishing we've done has been trolling on the ocean. This was our first time going for Lake Trout, and he did a great job of explaining the proper techniques for using the lures most ideal for catching them. After a slightly slow start, he switched up the lures and location, and we were on Lake Trout hot and heavy in about an hour. In fact, the second spot and second lure type was so successful that we were getting fish, or at least strong hits on the lure, every second or third cast. Among the Lake Trout we caught was a 31" hog, and another very nice 28" fish, along with several others slightly smaller than that. Throughout the day Tyler did a great job of giving us background info on the water we were fishing, the fish in the area, and was just generally easy to be around for the day. Once we were limited out, he cleaned the fish for us, and gave us several great suggestions for how to prepare them. Great trip, and would definitely book with him again!

Reported catch:
Lake Trout
Jake Robertson
Jake Robertson
us
Michigan, US
Member since 2025
5.0
Verified
Tyler was awesome!
October - Cisco Trolling - GT Bay on October 22, 2025 • 2 adults

We went on a fishing charter with Tyler and he was great! He called us the day before to make sure we had everything we needed and to answer any questions we had. He was prepared and ready on the boat, even with a bathroom on the boat! The whole time the fish were biting and Tyler had so much knowledge about the area and the fish trends. He cleaned and fillet’ed our fish and bagged them so they are ready to eat! He even gave us tips on how to prepare the fish! Great conversations between catching fish, and would highly recommend. We had the best luck on his charter than any other we’ve done in the past. Overall great experience and can’t wait to do another charter with him!

Reported catch:
Lake Whitefish
Steven Corbett
Steven Corbett
Repeat angler
us
Florida, US
Member since 2022
3 trips
5.0
Verified
Amazing captain Tyler l
6 AM - Trolling, GT Bay on September 2, 2026 • 3 adults

Spectacular day on the water. Boat and equipment are phenomenal. Tyler had us on the fish within 15 minutes of leaving shore. Caught our limit of lake trout in 1 1/2 hours, including a few monster fish. Also caught a 15 pound king salmon. Tyler was a great host….knowledgeable, gracious and helpful. All we had to do was keep “reeling ‘em in”!

Reported catch:
Lake Trout
Melissa Florian
Melissa Florian
us
Indiana, US
Member since 2026
5.0
Verified
Amazing first charter with the kids!
12 PM - Trolling, GT Bay on June 4, 2026 • 2 adults • 3 children

Captain Tyler was an absolute treat! He was exceptionally patient with our boys (one of which is AudHd), the other absolutely yapped his ear off and asked a million and two questions, and the youngest was just happy to be there. We caught some HUGE lake trout! Captain Tyler worked hard to get us those fish. Utterly amazing experience. 10/10. Will book again!

Reported catch:
Lake Trout

FAQs about Pure Angling – Trolling or Jig/Cast

Pure Angling – Trolling or Jig/Cast offers the following trips to customers:
  • US $550 per group, additional US $50 per person after 2 guests - 12 PM - Trolling, GT Bay (4 hours)
  • US $550 per group, additional US $50 per person after 2 guests - 5 PM - Trolling, GT Bay (4 hours)
  • US $550 per group, additional US $50 per person after 2 guests - 6 AM - Trolling, GT Bay (4 hours)
  • US $550 per group, additional US $50 per person after 2 guests - October - Cisco Trolling - GT Bay (4 hours)
  • US $550 per group, additional US $50 per person after 2 guests - October - Cisco Trolling - GT Bay - 2:00 PM (4 hours)
  • US $650 per group, additional US $50 per person after 2 guests - Jigging/Casting - Trout & Cisco (4 hours)
When you book a trip with Pure Angling – Trolling or Jig/Cast, you can expect the following amenities onboard:
  • Toilet With sink
  • GPS
  • Fishfinder Humminbird Solix 15" at helm & 10" at the bow
  • Live bait well
  • Multimedia system FM radio w/ Bluetooth capability to connect phones
  • Wireless trolling motor Minnkota 72' 36v lithium powered
Trips booked with Pure Angling – Trolling or Jig/Cast include:
  • Rods, reels & tackle
  • Live bait
  • Lures
  • Catch cleaning & filleting
Pure Angling – Trolling or Jig/Cast offers the following type of fishing:
  • Lake fishing
Pure Angling – Trolling or Jig/Cast offers the following fishing techniques:
  • Light tackle
  • Heavy tackle
  • Bottom fishing
  • Trolling
  • Spinning
  • Jigging
  • Drift fishing
Top targeted fish species with Pure Angling – Trolling or Jig/Cast include:
  • Bass (Smallmouth)
  • Brown Trout
  • Burbot
  • Lake Trout
  • Perch (Yellow)
  • Rainbow Trout (Steelhead)
  • Salmon
  • Salmon (Atlantic)
  • Salmon (Chinook)
  • Salmon (Coho)
  • Walleye
  • Whitefish (Lake)

Your captain

Tyler Smith
Tyler Smith

Elk Rapids, Michigan, United States

2 Fishing Reports
ID & license verified
230 Customer reviews
Typical response within 1 hour
Member since July 2022

Captain Tyler Smith here and I am a Northern Michigan native. With a river running through my back yard, I basically learned how to walk, talk, and fish at the same time. This childhood hobby later became a way to have income while attending college. I worked as a first mate for another charter here in Traverse City during the summer months, but it was time to venture out and start a charter business of my own. I started out here on Grand Traverse Bay running charters during the warmer months with success, but a few people have been asking about ice fishing as well. I'm happy to say that we can now offer fishing trips year round here in Northern Michigan! Let's go fishing and make a life long memorable experience with your friends and family!

Tyler Smith
Tyler Smith
Fully verified
2
reports
230
reviews
2022
member since
~1h
response
Captain Tyler Smith here and I am a Northern Michigan native. With a river running through my back yard, I basically learned how to walk, talk, and fish at the same time. This childhood hobby later became a way to have income while attending college. I worked as a first mate for another charter here in Traverse City during the summer months, but it was time to venture out and start a charter business of my own. I started out here on Grand Traverse Bay running charters during the warmer months with success, but a few people have been asking about ice fishing as well. I'm happy to say that we can now offer fishing trips year round here in Northern Michigan! Let's go fishing and make a life long memorable experience with your friends and family!

The fish you can target

Smallmouth Bass
Smallmouth Bass
Brown Trout
Brown Trout
Burbot
Burbot
Lake Trout
Lake Trout
Yellow Perch
Yellow Perch
Rainbow Trout (Steelhead)
Rainbow Trout (Steelhead)
Salmon
Salmon
Atlantic Salmon
Atlantic Salmon
Chinook Salmon
Chinook Salmon
Coho Salmon
Coho Salmon
Walleye
Walleye
Lake Whitefish
Lake Whitefish
Smallmouth Bass
Smallmouth Bass
Brown Trout
Brown Trout
Burbot
Burbot
Lake Trout
Lake Trout
Yellow Perch
Yellow Perch

Real catches by this captain

  • AMAZING EXPERIENCE!
    Rick L.
    Rick L.
  • Amazing captain Tyler l
    Steven C.
    Steven C.
  • Truly one of the best charters out there, if you're on the fence just go for it!
    Jakob C.
    Jakob C.
  • Captain Tyler was exceptional!
    Tony M.
    Tony M.
  • Maxed out
    Joshua S.
    Joshua S.
  • Perfect Trip
    Bradley H.
    Bradley H.
  • Amazing Trip!
    Tammie B.
    Tammie B.
  • Great trip with Tyler Smith of Pure Angling!
    Jeremy M.
    Jeremy M.
  • We caught Big Fish
    Brian R.
    Brian R.
  • Amazing first charter with the kids!
    Melissa F.
    Melissa F.

What is the boat like?

Boat image
Boat category
Center console boats
Capacity
6 persons
Boat length
28 ft
Year built
2016
Boat manufacturer
Cobia
Boat type
Center console
Engine model
Yamaha
Powered by
2 x 200HP
Max cruising speed
50 knots

What kind of fishing will you do?

Lake Fishing

Which fishing techniques you can try

Light Tackle
Heavy Tackle
Bottom Fishing
Trolling
Spinning
Jigging
Drift Fishing

Which amenities are available onboard

Toilet
With sink
GPS
Fishfinder
Humminbird Solix 15" at helm & 10" at the bow
Live bait well
Multimedia system
FM radio w/ Bluetooth capability to connect phones
Wireless trolling motor
Minnkota 72' 36v lithium powered
What's included in the trip price
Rods, reels & tackle
Live bait
Lures
Catch cleaning & filleting

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
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

 Visa

 Mastercard

 PayPal

When paying the remaining balance with a credit card, an additional 3% charge will apply.

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