The Independence and Our Equipment

The Independence is a 34' Tiara, a fast and stable twin inboard vessel that is 12' wide at the stern and is designed & outfitted specifically for salmon & trout fishing on the Great Lakes.

She comes completely equipped with a private bathroom, a large cabin to stow personal items, and most importantly plenty of fishing room in the stern cockpit to run a full spread of lines. A convenient washdown system is always available to get those scales off your hands after you pose with your trophy for the camera.

At the risk of getting a little technical, we list the following gear features for our more seasoned anglers. But remember, if you have never caught a salmon - let alone a fish - rest assured that Captain Rick will be happy to guide you each step of the way.

Featuring top-of-the-line gear - Penn International 975, Shimano Tekota, & Daiwa Saltist reels/Shakespeare Ugly Stik & Shimano Talora rods - we invested in the best, highest quality reels & rods you will find on any charter boat on Lake Michigan

We proudly feature top of the line equipment and primarily employ the gold aluminum Penn International 975 reels made famous - in larger versions - on offshore, big-game ocean fishing charters. We also run Shimano Tekota reels and the impressive new Daiwa Saltist reels for our leadcore and copper line applications.

Seven foot, light action Shakespeare Ugly Stik and Shimano Talora comprise our primary rod arsenal across most setups. We specialize in light-line setups and feature Seaguar Flourocarbon for stealth applications.

Power Pro braided line is featured on our diver presentations and we will also run wireline for our deep divers at times. Power Pro braid also back up all of our leadcore & copper line setups.