Hey guys, looking to give my two college aged kids a ice fishing trip for Christmas this year and want to try the white fish on Green Bay. We've fished just a little bit of the bay during summer vacations there but never ice fished the bay at all, so I'm thinking a guided trip is in order. We all are avid ice fishermen (and fisherwoman) with our own gear (including ATVs) so that isn't the main concern. We are looking for a service that will keep us safe and do their best to put us on fish. I've been around long enough to know there are no guarantees, but if we aren't catching fish, then I want to see the guide at least moving us or trying something different. We are looking at the last weekend in January (hope that's a good time) as it fits into work and school schedules. If you have a recommendation from first hand experience, I'd appreciate hearing it. Also, if you have a horror story about a guide to avoid, feel free to DM me with your experience so I can avoid the mistake. Thanks!
Wisconsin Fishing Discussion
Guide recommendations for Green Bay whitefish sleeper shack trip....
Dale Stroschrein Facebook Live
This is worth watching everyone! Very informative for anyone that travels out on Green Bay
Had one open water trip with Dale that was kind of meh. Never been on the ice with him, but did run into him at Stevenson's Pier early on in my ice fishing career and he had no issues answering a couple questions in passing. And as someone with another business catering to some of the same clientele his operation is guiding, he has quite a bit more at stake. I'd agree he's a good operation to look into a trip with.
Dale, as much as people might not care for him, is busting his but all the time and if anyone caught his facebook live video last season on spots to go and ice safety as he was literally driving out there and showing ice depths, it's a great video to watch! If you can find it on Facebook by searching for him I highly recommend it. Sorry, getting off subject there a little as far as finding a sleeper shack goes, but I wouldn't think twice about booking him and a hotel room from his resort if you have a good sized group. Even if you don't use his guide service and you stay at his resort he'll point you in the right direction up there were to fish.
I have a cottage in Sturgeon Bay. I've used multiple guides for ice trips. Here is a good ones....
Bob Claus, FinFinatic.
Here is the excellent one. Chris DeWolfe. He advertises here on Lake Link. Here's why he is excellent. He's never had to be rescued on the ice. He's always safe. He has new shacks. He has a great 4-5 person enclosed, heated UTV to get you out to shacks. He cleans fish. And??? He has always been on time for our trips. He's the only guide I've used on the ice who was waiting for us to show up, not the other way around. He's also the only guide I've used who checks in on customers every 1-2 hours and will sit with them and help get them on fish.
He even moved a shack for us once when the fishing was slow. He even let my wife use his fancy Marcum camera to help her fish.
Dude will literally bust his hump for you while on the ice.
Now, I've run into Lonny up there a few times. He's a really nice man to talk to from my encounters with him. But the fact is that he is getting rescued every year. He doesn't have much of a concern for safety. And his operation is huge. I want to say he can have as many as 200 guys on the ice at one time. If you book him, odds are you will never see him.
Brett is kind of the same way. Big operation.
Then there is Dale Strochein (Wacky Walleye). As much as I enjoy going out with Chris DeWolfe (and I do love it). It makes sense to check out Dale's service, as his hotel is right next to road that takes you out to the shacks. It isn't a "sleeper shack", but it doesn't get much better than that. He does run a larger operation, you won't get as much service from him, but it kind of fits what you are looking for.
And Dale is a polarizing guy up there. I know a few folks who don't care for him at all. But he's always been kind to me when I see him on the water or out and about in town.
I think he's an a-hole. Personal experience from a Washington Island trip. From the minute we met him the day before going out with him, he gave off an arrogant a-hole vibe. Of course he changed his tune when he found out we were his customers the following day. But that ended pretty quick after the trip was over when I had the audacity to ask him a question back at the hotel. PM me if you want specifics. Also a few other people I know with personal experiences. None pleasant.
Also Do a google search about the group that had to be rescued last year or the year before when literally everybody (or most every other guide) was staying off the ice and his outfit went out with people who were not prepared.
Bottom line...he's concerned with making money and that is literally it.
His wife was really nice, though.
And have heard good things about Brett Alexander as well. Just no personal experience.
hockeyguy39, I'm curious about why you don't like Lonny's outfit? I've used him and Brett Alexander several times on the bay and have had nothing but positive things to say about both guides. I had one of the most positive experiences I've ever had last year using Lonny for a walleye/whitefish combo trip.
Many of the guides have package deals with local hotels, but I can't think of any guides that actually have sleeper shacks out there. Personally you wouldn't catch me sleeping overnight out there! That ice can break up at any time and I'd hate to have a huge wind gust in the middle of the night blow that ice sheet 20 miles north while I'm sleeping!
I just spoke with Capt Bob at Finfanatic Charters. He does not do overnight sleeper shacks on the Bay. Zach Burgess of Why Knot Charters is the only one either of us could recall doing them. Good luck! Capt Jerry
