Lake Erie Walleye/Steelhead Fishing
USCG Licensed
Fully insured and Licensed Ohio Guide
We fish from Port Clinton to Conneaut, OH
We are a blue collar owned and family operated charter dedicated to giving customers the best fishing experience at the “Walleye Capital of the World”
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For Booking or Questions Text or Call (724) 552-6262
For Booking or Questions Text or Call (724) 552-6262
About Captain Sam
My passion for fishing began as a child at Pymatuning Lake with my grandfather. I can still remember catching my first walleye below the dam on a small piece of nightcrawler while fishing for bluegill. It was from that moment I was hooked! I purchased my first boat as soon as I was able to and the rest is history. In late 2024 I decided it was time to share the experience with others so we started REEL Craft Fishing. Why “REEL Craft” and why the pipe wrench and torch logo? In addition to being a walleye fanatic I am also a Journeyman Industrial Mechanic and Welder. Most importantly, I am a husband and a father to two wonderful daughters who also share the same passion for the outdoors. I have 20 years of experience fishing Lake Erie and prioritize safety above all! We look forward to making your fishing experience on Lake Erie a memorable one.
Your Boat
-2025 North River Seahawk Hard Top 27 feet powered by a 300HP Mercury with 15HP kicker for trolling
-Equipped with the latest Lowrance, Garmin, and Uniden Electronics
-Autopilot and Troll Smarter throttle control
-Cisco rod holders and planer board mast
-Cannon Downriggers
-Okuma Rods and Linecounter Reels
-ALL USCG safety equipment including Type 1 PFDs and ship to shore radio
What Should I bring?
-All Bait and Tackle is provided
-A small cooler for drinks and snacks to bring on the boat NO GLASS BOTTLES, HARD LIQUOR OR ILLEGAL DRUGS OF ANY KIND. NO EXCEPTIONS! IF YOU APPEAR TO BE INTOXICATED OR UNDER THE INFLUENCE WE WILL RETURN TO THE DOCK AND ALL FUNDS WILL BE FORFEITED
-A cooler for your catch to be left in your vehicle
-Motion Sickness remedies are highly recommended. (dramamine, bonine, scopolamine patches, etc.) If you’re not sure if you get seasick don’t risk it and ruin your trip! We have found that if you take one dose the night before your trip and again the day of its more effective. CHUMMING MAY BE A GREAT TACTIC ON THE OCEAN, BUT IT JUST RUINS THE LAKE ERIE EXPERIENCE!
-Sunscreen and Sunglasses
-A valid OHIO Fishing License and Valid Photo ID
-Soft soled shoes NO BARE FEET We do not want anyone stepping on a hook and injuring themselves. Flip Flops and sandals are acceptable.
Trip Pricing
Walleye Trips (June-October)
Trips are 6 hours (dock to dock) or LIMIT
1-4 people-$150 per angler (prefer to have at least 2 but we can add singles to other groups)
5 people- $750
6 people- $950 (one must be a child or small individual to keep the boat at capacity)
OCCASIONALLY DATES WILL OPEN THROUGHOUT THE SEASON AND WE WILL OFFER WALK-ONS. FOLLOW OUR FACEBOOK PAGE TO WATCH FOR THESE DATES!
Deposit and Reservation
A $100 deposit is required to reserve the date of the trip. All remaining balances are due IN CASH OR CARD(with 3% fee) at the time of departure.
We will wait up to one hour past your planned departure time for guests to arrive. After one hour we will proceed without missing guests or the trip will be canceled and deposit forfeited.
Cancellations due to bad weather are at the sole discretion of the Captain. If the trip is canceled another date will be scheduled or deposit refunded. We will wait up to 2 hours for lake or weather conditions to improve before canceling/rescheduling trip
Cancellations MUST be made with 2 weeks notice to receive deposit refund
FAQ
How will we be fishing?
We will primarily be trolling using a combination of dipsy divers, jet divers, lead core, down riggers, planer boards and snap weights to achieve appropriate depths.
How far offshore will we go?
Depending on where the fish are we could be anywhere from 1 mile to 12 miles offshore.
Do you take credit cards?
We can take a card but there will be a 3% fee. Deposits can be made via PayPal, Venmo or check mailed to P.O. Box 133 Madison PA 15663 CASH IS PREFERRED FOR REMAINING BALANCE OF TRIP.
Is there an age limit?
No. That’s up to your discretion. We do our best to keep children entertained and as involved as they want to be. We love having children on our trips!
Do you offer Fish Cleaning?
We do offer fish cleaning. Depending on where you traveled from it may be a convenient option because we do it at the REEL Craft Headquarters located near Pymatuning Lake. It is $3.00 per fish. If you choose to have us clean your fish they will be filleted and placed in quart sized freezer bags. Another option is our friends at Fishermen’s Haven Bait and Tackle clean fish for us. This is where we send customers on days we our double booked. They are located approx 18 minutes from Conneaut Harbor. Their address is: 11782 W Middle Rd East Springfield, PA 16411
Can we continue to fish “catch and release” after we have our limit?
No. Studies have shown a high mortality rate of released fish that are caught in deep water. As high as 50%! There is a lot of stress placed on the fish when retrieving and handling it. All fish of legal size are put in the box and counted towards your limit.
Are we guaranteed to get our limit?
While we would LOVE to make that make guarantee, there are too many factors beyond our control to do so. We will do our best to try to get everyone their limit, but it is not guaranteed. The only guarantee we can make is we will put forth our best effort for all customers and treat them as family.
Is tipping necessary?
It is not necessary to tip the captain however, your Mate works very hard to ensure your trip is a good one so please TIP YOUR MATE. It is considered a compliment and is customary.
Is the fishing “hands on”?
Our crew will be setting all of the gear and netting the fish for you. There will be times when we will ask you to participate. To help ensure your success we will be doing most of the work because of our familiarity with our program and current tactics shared by the network of other captains we communicate with. For example, most people do not realize how much tension is on a dipsy rod when it's pulled from the rod holder and losing gear is costly. Let us do the running around while you reel in fish and enjoy your trip!