We booked a half-day guided trip while we were in the Minocqua area, and Steve was everything you hope a fishing guide will be. We were targeting musky, and before we ever made a cast, he spent nearly an hour driving us to the area he felt gave us the best opportunity. Along the way he explained fish behavior, water conditions, answered every question we had, and shared stories that made the drive fly by.

Once we got on the water, he didn’t just put rods in our hands and start fishing. He took the time to teach each of us how to use a baitcasting reel, making sure everyone was comfortable before we ever started. Then he walked us through lure selection, casting angles, lure presentation, retrieval speed, and each person’s role on the boat so we all understood exactly what we were trying to accomplish.

Throughout the day Steve was patient, encouraging, and constantly coaching. Whether it was correcting technique, untangling bird’s nests, fixing crossed lines, or helping my 8-year-old son and 18-year-old nephew, he never made anyone feel rushed or frustrated. He genuinely wanted us to learn and enjoy the experience.

We landed one beautiful 34-inch musky, but honestly the fish wasn’t what made the trip special. Steve turned it into an experience we’ll remember for years. We booked a four-hour trip, but between the drive and the extra time he spent with us, he gave us far more than we expected.

My son and nephew talked about Steve, the musky, and the day on the water for the rest of our vacation. I’m confident this is one of those memories our family will still be telling stories about 20 years from now.

If you’re looking for someone who is extremely knowledgeable, patient, personable, and truly invested in giving you a great day on the water—not just catching fish—I can’t recommend Steve highly enough. We’ll absolutely book with him again the next time we’re in the Minocqua area.

Capt. Steve is really knowledgeable and very friendly. Made a really nice day in the water!

Steve was a great guy and we had great conversations, and along with that we got to go fishing. Even though we didn’t get the exact job we wanted to get done it was still a great time.

Well, the captain was kind. He threw everyone off by requiring $25 for bait, which isn’t mentioned anywhere. Some fish were caught but it was disappointing that they werent big enough to keep. Thats not the captain’s fault of course, its the law. However it did seem odd that he was also fishing while our family was in the boat, usually the captain doesjt do that. Seems like a good gig, fishing while you earn $100 an hour. I’m glad we didnt leave a tip on this trip!