True Blue Charters 

5.0
(98 reviews)
 U.S. 31, Williamsburg, MI 49690, United States–

True Blue Charters 

Williamsburg, MI, United States
–
31 ft
6
5.0
(98 reviews)

True Blue Charters offers fantastic days out fishing Lake Michigan’s East Grand Traverse Bay for huge Salmon and Lake Trout. Lake Michigan needs no introduction when it comes to Salmon and Trout fishing, with its clear still waters packed with awesome fish, and the crew hits nothing but the very best fishing spots based on where the catch has been good recently.

The vessel you will be fishing aboard is a 35’ Tiara motor yacht with room aboard for up to 6 guests. It is powered by twin 350 HP Crusader engines, and cruises at an impressive 35 knots – not that you’ll have to travel far to find great fish! The boat comes equipped with GPS, fishfinder, downriggers, and everything you will need for your day on the water, as well as a head for extra comfort and convenience.

The crew knows that your day out is about two things – having fun and catching fish! They fish some awesome spots near to the shore in order to make sure you get the maximum fishing time while on board, and provide high-quality fishing tackle which can be set up for either jigging or trolling, depending on your preference.

Captain Brian Springstead and his skilled first mate work tirelessly on every trip to make sure you have a great time on your day with them. They will clean and fillet anything you catch at the end of the day ready for you to take home and eat.

Book a trip with True Blue Charters and explore the waters of Lake Michigan for an unforgettable fishing experience!

True Blue Charters offers fantastic days out fishing Lake Michigan’s East Grand Traverse Bay for huge Salmon and Lake Trout. Lake Michigan needs no introduction when it comes to Salmon and Trout fishing, with its clear still waters packed with awesome fish, and the crew hits nothing but the very best fishing spots based on where the catch has been good recently.

The vessel you will be fishing aboard is a 35’ Tiara motor yacht with room aboard for up to 6 guests. It is powered by twin 350 HP Crusader engines, and cruises at an impressive 35 knots – not that you’ll have to travel far to find great fish! The boat comes equipped with GPS, fishfinder, downriggers, and everything you will need for your day on the water, as well as a head for extra comfort and convenience.

The crew knows that your day out is about two things – having fun and catching fish! They fish some awesome spots near to the shore in order to make sure you get the maximum fishing time while on board, and provide high-quality fishing tackle which can be set up for either jigging or trolling, depending on your preference.

Captain Brian Springstead and his skilled first mate work tirelessly on every trip to make sure you have a great time on your day with them. They will clean and fillet anything you catch at the end of the day ready for you to take home and eat.

Book a trip with True Blue Charters and explore the waters of Lake Michigan for an unforgettable fishing experience!

Brian Springstead
Captain
Brian Springstead
42 years of experience
ID & credentials verified
responds within an hour

Select date to see availability

Trip date:
Group Size:
November 2026
SuMoTuWeThFrSa
Group Size
2 adults • 0 children
Change
Half day trip (AM)
FREE Cancellation 7 days notice
4 hour trip starts at 6:00 AM
Seasonal trip
May 16 - Sep 25
Lake Trout
Salmon (Chinook)
US $600
Entire boat: up to 4 people
Half day trip (PM)
FREE Cancellation 7 days notice
4 hour trip starts at 4:00 PM
Seasonal trip
May 16 - Sep 15
Lake Trout
Salmon (Chinook)
US $600
Entire boat: up to 4 people

Customer reviews

Loading...

Rating

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

Anglers' gallery (155)

What anglers say

98%
Great experience
99%
Family friendly
100%
Friendly captain
100%
Good boat
100%
Recommended
98%
Caught fish

Reviews (98)

  • Kyle Hecht
    Kyle Hecht
    us
    Michigan, US
    Member since 2026
    5.0
    Verified

    Memories

    Half day trip (AM) on August 18, 2026 • 2 adults

    We had a great half-day fishing trip with True Blue Charter while visiting Traverse City with my wife and our two kids. We caught 11 fish, including 5 kings and several lake trout, and had fishing action the entire trip. Luke and Troy were both true professionals, with years of experience growing up charter fishing in the Traverse City area. Communication leading up to the trip was excellent, and they were incredibly patient with our 6-year-old son and 3-year-old daughter. Our son especially loved catching his first king salmon—some of the kings were nearly as big as he was! I would highly recommend True Blue to anyone looking for a professional, family-friendly fishing charter in Traverse City. We’ll definitely be back!

  • Mason Boomershine
    Mason Boomershine
    us
    Missouri, US
    Member since 2026
    5.0
    Verified

    Great fishing trip and great service!

    Half day trip (AM) on June 30, 2026 • 6 adults • 2 children

    We did a half day morning trip with True Blue and Captain Luke. Couldn’t be happier with the trip and service. The boat was nice - well maintained and plenty of room for our party of 6. Luke is everything you’d want as a captain of a fishing charter. Extremely experienced, friendly, hard worker, and great instructor for the kids (and adults) on the trip. I’m convinced that we wouldn’t have done as well with someone who didn’t work as hard as Luke did. We caught a bunch of really nice lake trout, and everyone in our group got in on the action. We had a blast! I highly recommend True Blue Fishing Charters!

  • Kris Goracke
    Kris Goracke
    us
    Minnesota, US
    Member since 2026
    5.0
    Verified

    Great time

    Half day trip (AM) on August 15, 2026 • 6 adults • 1 child

    Perfect for anyone who wants to fish. A short boat ride to fishing spot and shelter waters so not huge waves. We had great luck with Luke and Troy. Friendly. Knowledgeable and very kind and patient with children. Our 8 year old grandson went two days in a row and loved every minute

  • Amber Maurey
    Amber Maurey
    us
    Kentucky, US
    Member since 2026
    5.0
    Verified

    Best trip out on the lake!

    Half day trip (AM) on September 8, 2026 • 2 adults

    We caught King Salmon, lake trout and a coho salmon. My husband and I had the BEST time on our morning trip with Captain Luke and his mate. The weather was perfect, the sunrise was beautiful and we caught our limit. We will definitely come back every year!

  • Charles Lancaster
    Charles Lancaster
    us
    Wisconsin, US
    Member since 2026
    5.0
    Verified

    charter first time hiring a charter

    Half day trip (AM) on July 29, 2026 • 5 adults

    we caught our limit of Lake trout and a big king salmon and a smaller one. both the captain and the first mate couldn’t have done a better job. we pulled in with two other charters behind us and they were all looking over are catch. maybe lucky or just a good guide!

  • Jeff O'dell
    Jeff O'dell
    us
    Virginia, US
    Member since 2026
    5.0
    Verified

    Excellent trip

    Half day trip (AM) on July 12, 2026 • 6 adults

    The captain and mate did a great job. I have fished for years but not here in the north so I had a lot of questions which they happily answered. We all caught fish 2 large lake trout and even a salmon although it was early in the season.

  • David Tibbe
    David Tibbe
    us
    Michigan, US
    Member since 2026
    5.0
    Verified

    Captain Luke was awesome!

    Half day trip (PM) on July 25, 2026 • 4 adults

    Caught our 4 person limit of Lake Trout in the 1st 2 hours and continued fish g and switching up baits in hopes of finding some early salmon. Just before dark we landed a very nice king which was the highlight of our trip!

  • Tyler King
    Tyler King
    us
    Michigan, US
    Member since 2026
    5.0
    Verified

    Highly Recommend True-Blue Charters

    Half day trip (AM) on July 13, 2026 • 6 adults • 4 children

    We had a great time fishing in the East Bay with Captain Luke. We were on the fish within the first 30 minutes. Kids and adults all had a great time. Our best catch was a 14lb Laker! Super fun and worth every penny.

  • Michael Keoleian
    Michael Keoleian
    us
    Michigan, US
    Member since 2023
    5.0
    Verified

    Unbelievable experience

    Half day trip (AM) on June 14, 2026 • 4 adults

    Captain Brian and the true blue crew were the best! Great sense of humor and an endless depth of knowledge. We launched early AM to jig for lakers and hit our limit within the first hour of fishing!!

  • Clint Knepper
    Clint Knepper
    us
    Indiana, US
    Member since 2026
    5.0
    Verified

    Highly Recommend

    Half day trip (AM) on July 21, 2026 • 6 adults

    We had a group of 6 go out and Captain Luke got us our limit of lake trout and into some salmon. Crew was very friendly and knowledgeable. We will definitely book with them again.

FAQs about True Blue Charters

True Blue Charters offers the following trips to customers:
  • US $600 per group, additional US $45 per person after 4 guests - Half day trip (AM) (4 hours)
  • US $600 per group, additional US $45 per person after 4 guests - Half day trip (PM) (4 hours)
When you book a trip with True Blue Charters, you can expect the following amenities onboard:
  • Toilet Enclosed, private bathroom with electric flush.
  • GPS
  • Fishfinder
  • Radar
Trips booked with True Blue Charters include:
  • Rods, reels & tackle
  • Lures
  • Catch cleaning & filleting (We clean and package (zip locks provided) your catch at no extra charge. Please tell us if you want to keep fish at the start of the trip. We will do catch and release if you do not want to keep fish. If you want to keep fish bring a cooler.)
  • First mate (We have multiple mates that help set the lines and clean the boat and clean your catch. Aaron is our primary mate. These young people always appreciate a tip for their work. A typical tip is $100, but anything is appreciated. )
True Blue Charters offers the following type of fishing:
  • Lake fishing (East Grand Traverse Bay – Lake Michigan)
True Blue Charters offers the following fishing techniques:
  • Trolling
  • Jigging
Top targeted fish species with True Blue Charters include:
  • Lake Trout
  • Salmon (Chinook)

Your captain

Brian Springstead
Brian Springstead
Williamsburg, Michigan, United States
18 Fishing Reports
ID & license verified
98 Customer reviews
Typical response within an hour
Member since February 2017
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.
Captain Brian Springstead has over 35 years of experience fishing Lake Michigan and it is still his favorite place in the world to be. He loves welcoming new friends onto his boat, and takes pride in going the extra mile, working tirelessly to make sure his clients get exactly what they're after on every trip.
Brian Springstead
Brian Springstead
Fully verified
Angler's Choice
18
reports
98
reviews
2017
member since
~1h
response
Captain Brian Springstead has over 35 years of experience fishing Lake Michigan and it is still his favorite place in the world to be. He loves welcoming new friends onto his boat, and takes pride in going the extra mile, working tirelessly to make sure his clients get exactly what they're after on every trip.

The fish you can target

Lake Trout
Lake Trout
Chinook Salmon
Chinook Salmon
Lake Trout
Lake Trout
Chinook Salmon
Chinook Salmon

Real catches by this captain

  • A group of four anglers proudly displaying their catch of several trout on a board at East Bay Harbor Marina.
    Fish 1
    Lake Trout
    Matthew P.
    Matthew P.
    Captain Luke and Troy were fantastic! First time lake fishing for our group and we all caught fish…we had a great time!
  • Two adult anglers proudly display two salmon on the deck of a fishing boat over open water.
    Fish 1
    Fish 2
    Lake Trout
    Mike H.
    Mike H.
    Luke was our captain and he did a really good job! We caught King salmon, coho, lake trout and ciscoes! He did a great job explaining what he was using and why!
  • A young angler proudly displaying a large fish while fishing on a boat, showcasing a successful day on the water.
    Fish 1
    Fish 2
    Chinook Salmon
    Teresa C.
    Teresa C.
    Crew was kind and calm. Helped us catch and prepare fish to take home. We would definitely recommend.
  • Two anglers proudly displaying their catches of Lake Trout while fishing on a charter boat.
    Fish 1
    Chinook Salmon
    Amber M.
    Amber M.
    We caught King Salmon, lake trout and a coho salmon. My husband and I had the BEST time on our morning trip with Captain Luke and his mate. The weather was perfect, the sunrise was beautiful and we caught our limit. We will definitely come back every year!
  • Angler standing behind a marina catch board displaying a large collection of striped bass at East Bay Harbor Marina.
    Fish 1
    Fish 2
    +1
    Lake Trout
    Rick G.
    Rick G.
    we caught five king 4, Lake trout and one coho and the crew was excellent. Definitely would go again.
  • Angler proudly displaying a large Salmon while fishing on a boat, showcasing a successful day on the water.
    Fish 1
    Fish 2
    Chinook Salmon
    Justin W.
    Justin W.
    Luke and Troy did an incredible job!
  • A young angler proudly displaying a large salmon on a fishing boat during a sunset outing.
    Fish 1
    Fish 2
    Chinook Salmon
    Kyle H.
    Kyle H.
    We had a great half-day fishing trip with True Blue Charter while visiting Traverse City with my wife and our two kids. We caught 11 fish, including 5 kings and several lake trout, and had fishing action the entire trip. Luke and Troy were both true professionals, with years of experience growing up charter fishing in the Traverse City area. Communication leading up to the trip was excellent, and they were incredibly patient with our 6-year-old son and 3-year-old daughter. Our son especially loved catching his first king salmon—some of the kings were nearly as big as he was! I would highly recommend True Blue to anyone looking for a professional, family-friendly fishing charter in Traverse City. We’ll definitely be back!
  • An angler proudly displaying a large Lake Trout while fishing at sunset on a boat.
    Fish 1
    Fish 2
    Lake Trout
    Kris G.
    Kris G.
    Perfect for anyone who wants to fish. A short boat ride to fishing spot and shelter waters so not huge waves. We had great luck with Luke and Troy. Friendly. Knowledgeable and very kind and patient with children. Our 8 year old grandson went two days in a row and loved every minute
  • A group of four anglers proudly displaying their catch of Lake Trout at East Bay Harbor Marina, showcasing a successful fishing trip.
    Fish 1
    Lake Trout
    Ryan L.
    Ryan L.
  • Angler proudly displaying a large Salmon while fishing on a boat, showcasing a successful day on the water.
    Fish 1
    Fish 2
    Chinook Salmon
    Charles L.
    Charles L.
    we caught our limit of Lake trout and a big king salmon and a smaller one. both the captain and the first mate couldn’t have done a better job. we pulled in with two other charters behind us and they were all looking over are catch. maybe lucky or just a good guide!

What is the boat like?

Boat image
Boat category
Yachts
Capacity
6 persons
Boat length
31 ft
Year built
1984
Boat manufacturer
Tiara
Boat type
Motor yacht
Engine model
Crusader
Powered by
2 x 350HP
Max cruising speed
35 knots

What kind of fishing will you do?

Lake Fishing

Which fishing techniques you can try

Trolling
Jigging

Which amenities are available onboard

Toilet
Enclosed, private bathroom with electric flush.
GPS
Fishfinder
Radar
What's included in the trip price
Rods, reels & tackle
Lures
Catch cleaning & filleting
We clean and package (zip locks provided) your catch at no extra charge. Please tell us if you want to keep fish at the start of the trip. We will do catch and release if you do not want to keep fish. If you want to keep fish bring a cooler.
First mate
We have multiple mates that help set the lines and clean the boat and clean your catch. Aaron is our primary mate. These young people always appreciate a tip for their work. A typical tip is $100, but anything is appreciated.

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
All kids are welcome, please note that children 6 and under must wear a life jacket the entire time. We have children's life vests but if you have one they are comfortable with, please bring that one.
You keep catch
Catch and release allowed

How you can pay

Book with 15% deposit, pay rest to captain
When the captain confirms your trip, FishingBooker charges your credit card a 15% 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
 Checks
When paying the remaining balance with a credit card, an additional 2% charge will apply.

Compare similar fishing charters

Current
True Blue Charters
True Blue Charters
5.0
(98)
31 ft
Group size 1 - 6
1 - 6
Fish 1
Fish 2
4 hour trip • 6 persons
US $600