Slipknot Charters 

4.9
(67 reviews)
 308 river hokenson camera shop, Manistee, MI, United States–

Slipknot Charters 

Manistee, MI, United States
–
31 ft
6
4.9
(67 reviews)

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Head out on a fishing adventure in Manistee, Michigan with 'Slipknot Charters!' These waters have some of the best catch rates for King (Chinook) Salmon in the US, and Captain Lenny Vaughan leads you to the best spots!

Hop aboard his 31' Tiara express cruiser, ideal for up to 6 guests. She's equipped with top-notch navigational equipment including GPS and Fish Finder to keep you on top of your targets, as well as downriggers and a live well to reel them in with ease. On top of that, she also features an onboard toilet for your comfort.

It's all about trolling for your limits with Capt. Lenny. Depending on the time of year, you're looking to reel in plenty of the most sought-after freshwater fish, including Steelhead, Chinook Salmon, and Lake Trout.

Capt. Lenny brings along everything you need for a successful trip, including rods, reels, tackle, live bait, and lures. At the end of the day, he'll clean and fillet your delicious catch to take home for dinner. Just be sure you bring along a cooler for easy transport.

Feel free to bring along any drinks and snacks you'd like to enjoy and, most importantly, don't forget to pick up a fishing license beforehand. Capt. Lenny takes pride in the fact that 90% of his customers come back for another adventure. Head out with Slipknot Charters and see why!

Head out on a fishing adventure in Manistee, Michigan with 'Slipknot Charters!' These waters have some of the best catch rates for King (Chinook) Salmon in the US, and Captain Lenny Vaughan leads you to the best spots!

Hop aboard his 31' Tiara express cruiser, ideal for up to 6 guests. She's equipped with top-notch navigational equipment including GPS and Fish Finder to keep you on top of your targets, as well as downriggers and a live well to reel them in with ease. On top of that, she also features an onboard toilet for your comfort.

It's all about trolling for your limits with Capt. Lenny. Depending on the time of year, you're looking to reel in plenty of the most sought-after freshwater fish, including Steelhead, Chinook Salmon, and Lake Trout.

Capt. Lenny brings along everything you need for a successful trip, including rods, reels, tackle, live bait, and lures. At the end of the day, he'll clean and fillet your delicious catch to take home for dinner. Just be sure you bring along a cooler for easy transport.

Feel free to bring along any drinks and snacks you'd like to enjoy and, most importantly, don't forget to pick up a fishing license beforehand. Capt. Lenny takes pride in the fact that 90% of his customers come back for another adventure. Head out with Slipknot Charters and see why!

Lenny Vaughan
Captain
Lenny Vaughan
14 years of experience
ID & credentials verified
responds within an hour

Select date to see availability

Trip availability and prices

Trip date:
Group Size:
October 2026
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Group Size
2 adults • 0 children
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Half Day Trip (AM)
FREE Cancellation 7 days notice
6 hour trip starts at 5:00 AM
Seasonal trip
Apr 1 - Nov 1
Salmon (Chinook)
US $750
Entire boat: up to 4 people
Half Day Trip (PM)
FREE Cancellation 7 days notice
6 hour trip starts at 3:30 PM
Seasonal trip
Apr 1 - Nov 1
Salmon (Chinook)
US $750
Entire boat: up to 4 people
Full Day Trip
FREE Cancellation 7 days notice
8 hour trip starts at 5:00 AM
Seasonal trip
Apr 1 - Nov 1
Salmon (Chinook)
US $900
Entire boat: up to 5 people
There is 1 person looking at this charter.

Customer reviews

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Rating

4.9
67 reviews
4.8
Boat & equipment
5.0
Captain & crew
4.8
Fishing Experience

Anglers' gallery (43)

What anglers say

98%
Great experience
94%
Family friendly
100%
Friendly captain
96%
Good boat
90%
Recommended
90%
Caught fish

Reviews (67)

  • Brenda Dufresne
    Brenda Dufresne
    us
    Michigan, US
    Member since 2024
    5.0
    Verified

    Best Charter Ever

    Half Day Trip (AM) on September 4, 2024 • 2 adults

    Morning trip out of Manistee with Captain Lenny right after Labor Day 2024 produced plenty of action with 9 out of 10 fish being around 20# !! Cap Lenny is the most skilled charter captain we have ever fished with and a lot of fun to boot - when he is not working his butt off. Highly recommend booking on Slip Knot!

  • Bryan Op't Holt
    Bryan Op't Holt
    Repeat angler
    us
    Pennsylvania, US
    Member since 2022
    10 trips
    5.0
    Verified

    Big fish, even in tough conditions

    Half Day Trip (AM) on June 2, 2025 • 3 adults • 1 child

    Cold water? Wind? No problem! Capt Lenny worked hard to put us on the fish and we brought them in!

  • Dylan Dixson
    Dylan Dixson
    us
    Michigan, US
    Member since 2022
    5.0
    Verified

    Full day trip

    Full Day Trip on September 12, 2022 • 4 adults

    We went out for a full day trip with Captain Lenny and ended up filling up the cooler before noon. Had a great time and a great experience. I highly recommend Slipknot Charters (Captain Lenny) to everyone looking to catch some awesome kings.

  • James Allen
    James Allen
    Repeat angler
    us
    Ohio, US
    Member since 2018
    3 trips
    5.0
    Verified

    Amazing Day Out Fishing

    Full Day Trip on June 24, 2020 • 6 adults • 1 child

    We had a great time fishing with Captain Lenny, he is friendly and very patient with kids. This was a great opportunity for my daughter to experience first fishing trip and he helped her reel in her first fish and took pictures. I would highly recommend Captain Lenny and Slipknot Charters.

  • Amy Higley
    Amy Higley
    us
    Michigan, US
    Member since 2020
    5.0
    Verified

    Half Day Trip with Captain Lenny

    Half Day Trip (PM) on June 20, 2020 • 6 adults

    I gifted my husband a charter trip with Lenny for his birthday with 4 other buddies and they had a great time! Very relaxing and fun. They said he’s very knowledgeable and overall a great captain to hang with. They’re already talking about scheduling another trip for some king salmon later this summer.

  • George Cornell
    George Cornell
    Repeat angler
    us
    Indiana, US
    Member since 2020
    3 trips
    4.0
    Verified

    June fishing trip

    Half Day Trip (PM) on June 4, 2020 • 6 adults • 2 children

    We meet Captain Lenny at the dock and after brief introductions we were off. The Captain knew right were to take us and took the time to explain everything he was doing in great detail, from instrument readings, the tackle that was being used and his set ups. Shortly after everything was ready we had our first hit, a nice size king, during the15 minute fight Mr Murphy decided to show up. The fish managed to tangle up several lines. After landing the big king, Captain Lenny went to work detangling and resetting the poles, but Mr. Murphy’s would have none of it, the wire harness to the fuel pump shorted and blew a fuse. After several attempts to get the boat back into fishable service, Captain Lenny decided it would be safer to Limp Back in. The fishing trip, although very short, wasn’t a total loss, Captain Lenny is a very contentious person who put safety first, its hard to give a poor rating, the boat was immaculate and the engine was as clean as any I had ever seen.... just a bit of bad luck. I will be back in the good Captains hands soon

  • Nicholas  Rowley
    Nicholas Rowley
    Repeat angler
    us
    Michigan, US
    Member since 2020
    4 trips
    5.0
    Verified

    Fishing with Lenny

    Half Day Trip (PM) on May 15, 2021 • 6 adults • 2 children
  • Stephen Wilczewski
    Stephen Wilczewski
    us
    Michigan, US
    Member since 2019
    5.0
    Verified

    Half Day Trip with Captain Lenny Vaughan

    Half Day Trip (PM) on June 21, 2019 • 4 adults

    Great Fishing Trip! It was more like going fishing with a good friend. Captain Vaughan was very professional, we caught nine fish. He was also very helpful, did not mind all the questions and he was witty. All of my friends had a great time and are now looking forward to our next trip. Steve W. Cedar, MI

  • Dennis Good
    Dennis Good
    us
    Michigan, US
    Member since 2017
    5.0
    Verified

    Afternoon trip with Capt. Lenny

    Half Day Trip (PM) on July 21, 2017 • 4 adults

    Had a terrific trip. Capt. Lenny assured me that my Grandson from Tennessee would get into some big fish and he was right. Had action from the very start till the end of trip. Largest was approx. 21 lbs. with at least 5 others topping 15 lbs. Capt. Lenny treated us with respect and was extremely helpful to my grandson and one other member of our party who had never been big water fishing. If you want a knowledgeable, polite, and patient Captain who knows where the fish are....you need to book with Slipknot Charters and Capt. Lenny. We ended up 13 catches out of 19 hookups. Great trip.

  • Toni Balistreri
    Toni Balistreri
    us
    Michigan, US
    Member since 2017
    5.0
    Verified

    When only perfection will do

    Full Day Trip on May 27, 2017 • 5 adults

    Went out for an evening charter with Captain Lenny and we cannot express how much of a good time we had. Five of us went out and got to catch huge beautiful salmon and a lake trout. We each got on the fish thanks to Captain Lenny. He is the best charter captain we have ever had. He is super friendly, crazy knowledgeable, easy going, very patient and made sure we had smiles, photos of each of us with our catches and a safe trip with a ton of salmon fillets. Slipknot charters is the top charter in Manistee. Thank you Captain Lenny for creating such a memorable experience, see you in the fall/ winter for some river fishing!

Rating

4.9
67 reviews
4.8
Boat & equipment
5.0
Captain & crew
4.8
Fishing Experience

Anglers' gallery (43)

What anglers say

98%
Great experience
94%
Family friendly
100%
Friendly captain
96%
Good boat
90%
Recommended
90%
Caught fish

All reviews (67)

Frequently mentioned
Showing 1 – 5 of 69 reviews
Brenda Dufresne
Brenda Dufresne
us
Michigan, US
Member since 2024
5.0
Verified
Best Charter Ever
Half Day Trip (AM) on September 4, 2024 • 2 adults

Morning trip out of Manistee with Captain Lenny right after Labor Day 2024 produced plenty of action with 9 out of 10 fish being around 20# !! Cap Lenny is the most skilled charter captain we have ever fished with and a lot of fun to boot - when he is not working his butt off. Highly recommend booking on Slip Knot!

Reported catch:
Chinook Salmon
Bryan Op't Holt
Bryan Op't Holt
Repeat angler
us
Pennsylvania, US
Member since 2022
10 trips
5.0
Verified
Big fish, even in tough conditions
Half Day Trip (AM) on June 2, 2025 • 2 adults • 1 child

Cold water? Wind? No problem! Capt Lenny worked hard to put us on the fish and we brought them in!

John Gautz
John Gautz
us
Maryland, US
Member since 2022
5.0
Verified
evening trip with Captain Lenny
Half Day Trip (PM) on June 1, 2022 • 3 adults

My daughter and son-in-law planned a trip from Maryland to visit me here. They are both fishing enthusiasts and they wanted to fish on Lake Michigan. I asked around for a good and reliable charter. Captain Lenny, I was told, knew where to find fish. This turned out to be absolutely true. He accurately predicted when and where we would catch salmon. We caught a whole large cooler full of King Salmon. We were all delighted! It was a perfect outing! We are planning to do this again next year.

Dylan Dixson
Dylan Dixson
us
Michigan, US
Member since 2022
5.0
Verified
Full day trip
Full Day Trip on September 12, 2022 • 4 adults

We went out for a full day trip with Captain Lenny and ended up filling up the cooler before noon. Had a great time and a great experience. I highly recommend Slipknot Charters (Captain Lenny) to everyone looking to catch some awesome kings.

Logan Elkins
Logan Elkins
Repeat angler
us
Ohio, US
Member since 2024
2 trips
The captain canceled
September 26, 2026

The charter operator canceled 25 days prior to the trip date. This is an automated posting.

FAQs about Slipknot Charters

Slipknot Charters offers the following trips to customers:
  • US $750 per group, additional US $50 per person after 4 guests - Half Day Trip (AM) (6 hours)
  • US $750 per group, additional US $50 per person after 4 guests - Half Day Trip (PM) (6 hours)
  • US $900 per group, additional US $50 per person after 5 guests - Full Day Trip (8 hours)
When you book a trip with Slipknot Charters, you can expect the following amenities onboard:
  • Toilet
  • GPS
  • Fishfinder
  • Kitchen
  • Refrigerator
  • Ice box
  • Radar
Trips booked with Slipknot Charters include:
  • Rods, reels & tackle
  • Live bait
  • Lures
  • Catch cleaning & filleting
Slipknot Charters offers the following types of fishing:
  • River fishing (Steelhead)
  • Offshore fishing (Salmon, Steelhead, Lake Trout)
Slipknot Charters offers the following fishing techniques:
  • Light tackle
  • Trolling
Top targeted fish species with Slipknot Charters include:
  • Lake Trout
  • Rainbow Trout (Steelhead)
  • Salmon (Chinook)

Your captain

Lenny Vaughan
Lenny Vaughan
Manistee, Michigan, United States
6 Fishing Reports
100 Customer reviews
Typical response within an hour
Member since January 2017
Captain Lenny Vaughan is an avid angler with thousands of hours of experience on the water. He is passionate about fishing and putting his friends and guests on fish. Lenny is especially great with kids, sharing his knowledge with them and helping them land their first fish. He was featured in the 'Wilderness Journal Show' and has taken part in various tournaments.
Lenny Vaughan
Lenny Vaughan
6
reports
100
reviews
2017
member since
~1h
response
Captain Lenny Vaughan is an avid angler with thousands of hours of experience on the water. He is passionate about fishing and putting his friends and guests on fish. Lenny is especially great with kids, sharing his knowledge with them and helping them land their first fish. He was featured in the 'Wilderness Journal Show' and has taken part in various tournaments.

The fish you can target

Lake Trout
Lake Trout
Rainbow Trout (Steelhead)
Rainbow Trout (Steelhead)
Chinook Salmon
Chinook Salmon
Lake Trout
Lake Trout
Rainbow Trout (Steelhead)
Rainbow Trout (Steelhead)
Chinook Salmon
Chinook Salmon

Real catches by this captain

  • Big fish, even in tough conditions
    Bryan O.
    Bryan O.
  • Best Charter Ever
    Brenda D.
    Brenda D.
  • Full day trip
    Dylan D.
    Dylan D.
  • Half-day trip
    Brian B.
    Brian B.
  • Half day trip with Captain Lenny
    Gary K.
    Gary K.
  • Half day trip with Lenny
    Harry T.
    Harry T.
  • Afternoon trip with Capt. Lenny
    Dennis G.
    Dennis G.

What is the boat like?

Boat image
Boat category
Yachts
Capacity
6 persons
Boat length
31 ft
Year built
2004
Boat manufacturer
Tiara Open
Boat type
Cruiser
Engine model
454 Crusader
Powered by
2 x 400HP
Max cruising speed
30 knots

What kind of fishing will you do?

River Fishing
Offshore Fishing

Which fishing techniques you can try

Light Tackle
Trolling

Which amenities are available onboard

Toilet
GPS
Fishfinder
Kitchen
Refrigerator
Ice box
Radar
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 agreed upon reservation
Transfer to/from departure site may be available and included in price depending on your location and distance from the dock.
Child friendly
You keep catch
Catch and release allowed
Disabled accessible

How you can pay

Pay online in full
Pay online in full through FishingBooker and save on credit card fees at the dock.
No additional fees.
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
 PayPal
 Checks
When paying the remaining balance with a credit card, an additional 3.5% charge will apply.

What’s biting in Manistee right now

Lake TroutLake Trout
Rainbow Trout (Steelhead)Rainbow Trout (Steelhead)
Salmon (Chinook)Salmon (Chinook)

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Current
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(67)
31 ft
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US $750