Looking for an experienced guide? You won't find anyone more passionate and knowledgeable about fishing than our two LOTW Sleeper Ice Fishing Guides. They're both professional Charter Fishing Captains on the greatest of great lakes (Lake Superior) during the spring and summer. Then, once winter hits, they gear up and ice fish the Lake Of The Woods.  

 

"We often limit out when fishing with Marty & Nathan!"

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Captain Marty

Captain Marty got his start fishing on Lake Superior with his Grandfather and uncles in the family business, Happy Hooker Charters.  Happy Hooker Charters was founded in 1976 by his Grandfather Don Dahl and Marty would spend summers on the boat as a first mate and fishing partner for his Grandfather.  Marty joined the family business in 2014 as a licensed USCG captain on his boat Happy Hooker IV.   Marty started fishing on Lake of the Woods with his father in the late 1990s when going on multiple ice fishing trips per winter.  Each year in both fall and winter, he and his father would fish Lake of the Woods in search of Walleye and Sauger.  Marty has not only grown up fishing but also guides professionally as his career.  He takes pride in excellent customer service, putting his customers on the fish and providing a memorable fishing experience.  

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Partnering with Captain Nathan has been a perfect solution, enabling both fishermen to continue their passion throughout the year and combining decades of experience and love of the sport.

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Captain Nathan

Captain Nathan grew up in the southwest corner of MN where they're known more for their cornfields and soybeans than their lakes...  However, after Nathan moved to Duluth in 2001, he quickly discovered his passion for fishing. After fishing Lake Superior for a couple of years, he met up with a couple of captains and started fishing as their first mate. Eventually, fishing was cutting into his “real work”, so in 2014, he decided to earn his USCG captain’s license and start his own charter fishing business, “I’d Rather Be Fishing Charters”.

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Wanting to keep fishing throughout the year, Nathan knew he would need to transition from "Sea" Captain to Ice Fishing Guide each winter, but after his first child was born, he knew ice fishing would require a nice warm ice house to accommodate his then toddler, Lucas. Nathan, being a skilled carpenter, knew just how he wanted to build them. “I want them to be awesome”. Lots of thought and planning led to the design and layout of their fish houses.

Just like the summer fishing, Nathan is excited to provide an awesome memorable experience fishing LOTW.