About Us
The Story
Our services give any angler the opportunity to charter a Lake Michigan fishing adventure for trout and salmon. Also, since we’re located just minutes from the Metra station in Waukegan, there can be no excuses for why you couldn’t plan an excursion with your family, friends, group, party, or even a private corporate endeavor. Since we provide you with the necessary equipment and know-how, all it takes is riding the train and taking a short walk to the boat!
While we supply our guests with the necessary tools to land some big fish, you still need to arrive with a valid fishing license with a Lake Michigan Salmon Stamp. Make sure to prepare yourself for the day with your own food & beverages, a cooler for all the fish you’re going to catch, and some sunscreen. Don’t worry about your mobile devices either, we have a charging station and you can easily connect to the radio via bluetooth. We pride ourselves on keeping the boat and restroom clean and only using the most up-to-date equipment aboard the Bear King. Fish location? Navigation? We use top of the line technology to help you get the best out of your excursion.
The Captain
Captain David R. Dunmeyer Jr.
10+ years as a charter Captain and steward of Lake Michigan. With such a great natural resource in our back yard, I have made it a mission of mine to introduce the sport of Great Lakes fishing to as many people as possible. I would like to see Lake Michigan flourish both environmentally and economically once again, and new anglers fuel that desire. Along with the innovation of the latest gear and electronics, I will guide you on the waters of Lake Michigan with the highest regard for safety and conservation.
The Boat
Bear King
My charter boat is a Chris-Craft Commander 336, perfectly suited for Great Lakes Fishing. At 33 feet long and 12 feet wide she is an excellent fishing platform. A large galley and stand up private head make this boat ideal for your groups needs. Outfitted with Garmin and Raymarine Electronics, Simrad Auto Pilot, Magnum Metalz downriggers, FishHawk Electronics, Shimano Rods and Reels, PENN reels, fully USCG licensed and insured.
The Fish
Brown Trout
Relatives of Atlantic Salmon, Brown Trout were introduced to Lake Michigan in 1883. The average Brown Trout is similar to the Coho Salmon weighing in around 8 pounds, but some can grow much bigger. During the early months of Autumn, the Brown Trout finds shallow gravelly areas in streams to make nests and cover their fertilized eggs with the gravel. Once in the lake, these fish prefer to hide in shallow water, likely amongst weeds and rocky areas. They don’t want cold water either, they want water upwards of 65 degrees. Thriving in the Great Lakes since the late 1960s, these remarkable fish have been known to live up to 13 years of age, which makes their life span much longer than that of the Coho & King Salmon.
King Salmon
Introduced to Lake Michigan almost 50 years ago, the Chinook aka King Salmon is an annually stocked fish. They live in shoals or near-shoal waters at less than 100 foot depths. During the Autumn months, King Salmon swim to the southern parts of the Great Lakes traveling up to 15 miles offshore. During the Spring they make their way back the way they came and by the following Autumn are back to their travels and upriver spawning. The spawning season is quite competitive between all salmon and trout because of scarce spawning grounds. These amazing fish spawn in streams over large gravel beds and within a few weeks of spawning, the adults die. The eggs hatch the following Spring and remain in the stream for up to a year before making their way to the lake. Males stay for 1-2 years while females stay for double that time. Averaging between 15-20 pounds and over 3 ft in length, anglers pride themselves on catching this fish because of the size, exciting pursuit, and of course because they’re tasty.
Lake Trout
A native to the Great Lakes, Lake Trout is also the largest native trout. On average, adults weigh around the 9 to 10 pound range, but some have been seen up to 50 pounds. Unlike the previous Coho & King Salmon we’ve discussed, the Lake Trout doesn’t reach reproductive maturity until at least 6 years of age. Often, these trout go back to the same spawning areas, although not all of them do. Eggs are usually placed on shoals during the night. These fish like their water to be considerably cooler than the Brown Trout, seeking out areas of 55 degrees and below. Lake Trout can be found during Spring & Autumn in shallower waters, but they also seek out the depths of the lake up to 200 feet during the other seasons. Their life span of 25+ years doubles that of the Brown Trout, and they are sought out by all forms of anglers.
Coho Salmon
Introduced to Lake Michigan over 140 years ago, the Coho Salmon has become one of the most popular sport fish in the last 50 years. Although they do spawn in Great Lake Tributaries, they are still maintained by stocking. Competing mainly with Steelhead for food, Coho Salmon eat selfishly and grow rapidly. On average, a full grown Coho Salmon weighs in at around 8 pounds. Very similar to the King Salmon, Coho swim up to the rivers during the early Autumn months to spawn, and perish within a few weeks. The following Spring the eggs hatch and unlike the King Salmon, some Coho actually migrate to the lakes within a few weeks of being born, while others remain for up to a year. They stay near the shore line for a few months, preparing to find deeper waters. Adult Coho usually spend about a year and a half in the lake before making the trek to spawn in the river where they were born. Coho Salmon are quite popular and draw anglers from all over the world to Lake Michigan.
Steelhead Trout
Steelhead Trout is the name for the Great Lakes Rainbow Trout. On average, Steelhead Trout weigh around 9 to 10 pounds and roughly 16 – 18 inches. These magnificent fish can usually be found near streams during Spring and the beginning of Summer. They enjoy a moderate temperature of water in the high 50s to low 60s and are often caught within 40 feet of the surface. Steelhead usually spawn in the Spring and prefer their spawning location to be in the area where they were born, one that contains fine gravel. Not only do they not always die after spawning, but can successfully reproduce for several years in a row. Their offspring can stay in the area of their birth much longer than the other Great Lakes fish, sometimes up to 3 years, though some migrate in their first summer. With a lot of fight in them and a reputation for being delicious, it’s no wonder they’re one of the most sought after sport fish in North America.