One of the first people I met when I came to Trout Unlimited was Capt. Ben Wolfe, the owner of Wolfe Outfitters. It was clear from the get-go that he was the real deal. Capt. Ben caught his first fish at the ripe old age of four on his grandfather’s fly rod. He’s been fishing since then for any fish he can – saltwater or fresh – he loves them all. He’s a native son of the great state of Michigan, and he’s been fishing for smallmouth and salmon there his entire life. He’s a fully licensed U.S. Coast Guard captain and a certified IGFA captain. But what sets this guy apart is his love for teaching people to fish. A lifelong angling learner himself, Capt. Ben continues to learn every day. When you fish with Wolfe Outfitters, you’ll have a great time, and you’ll walk away a better angler.
This full-service fishing outfitter is perfectly located to provide a great experience in northwestern Michigan. They offer trips on local rivers, inland lakes, even the big water of Lake Michigan. Their friendly, knowledgeable guides make every trip a fun and memorable experience in a relaxed atmosphere tailored to each individual’s needs. It’s all about options here: They offer guided walk-in wade fishing trips. They offer trips in drift boats, river jet boats and even a large custom-built center console boat for fishing big water. All their guides are fully licensed and insured, with experience and expertise in making sure you have a great day on the water.
And the water – oh, the water – they fish the best, the fabled waters of northern Michigan. They fish the Manistee River, the Betsie River, the Platte River, the Pere Marquette and the iconic Au Sable River. These are the rivers of legend in the heartland of America. You can fish flat water as well, in Betsie Bay, Crystal Lake, Platte Lake and Grand Traverse Bay. Wolfe Outfitters has the only guide-outfitter permit to fish inside the Sleeping Bear Dunes National Lakeshore on Platte Bay, a world-class fishery in one of the most beautiful settings in America. Here, the Wolfe Outfitters guides can put you on lake trout, smallmouth bass, carp, and of course king and coho salmon. It is this very setting, sight fishing for coho salmon in September, that has had Capt. Ben featured on five different television shows that aired nationally.
This is a great time to book a late winter or spring steelhead trip with Wolfe Outfitters. Steelhead provide exciting winter and spring fishing trips in northern Michigan. Late winter steelhead guided fishing trips are a terrific way to enjoy the beauty and serenity of Michigan’s rivers. This is a different experience than fishing for fall or spring steelhead. They wait in slower, deeper holding water to conserve energy. For fly anglers, simple and highly effective beads or leach patterns are a preferred choice for Wolfe Outfitters guides. Additionally, fly anglers can use stone fly nymphs for steelhead holding by gravel. Stoneflies are a proven way to tempt steelhead during their long winters. Also, fly anglers have the option of using two-handed rods for switch rod or spey techniques, fishing the waters through the use of cross-current drift. The beautifully colored flies used can yield heart-stopping strikes.
No matter when you come, no matter what fish you target, you’ll always be glad you fished with Wolfe Outfitters.
Wolfe Outfitters (O, G, L)
Capt. Ben Wolfe
Beulah, MI 49617
(231) 883-4265
(877) 442-4294