As summer rolled on, I realized my boat was turning into too much of a cruiser and party boat. Don’t get me wrong — cruising is fun. But I bought this boat with fishing in mind, and it was time to focus.
The truth is, cruising and fishing don’t mix well. Cruisers think about wineries, charcuterie boards, and sunsets. Fishermen think about rods, lines, and the hunt for wild fish. On my boat, the cooler of beverages doubled as a live well — minus the “live” part. The folding seats were tucked away so the stern could become a fishing platform.
The boat came with two rod holders, 12-volt plugs for down-riggers (but no down-riggers), and a rail system for rods (but no external holders). Clearly, she’d been used for fishing before.
The Reveal
One day, I was trolling on Erie, following the other fishing boats, when I got a text. Thanks to the “Find a Friend” app, my location was visible.
“Are you fishing with a charter?” my buddy asked.
“Nope.”
“Out with friends?”
“Nope.”
“Your phone says you’re in the middle of Lake Erie.”
“Yeah,” I replied. “I’m on my boat.”
His response: “NOOOOOOOOOO…”
Mine: “Yessssssss. I finally bought one. Now you don’t have to listen to me talk about my dream boat anymore.”
He couldn’t believe it.
The next day, he texted again: “I don’t believe you have the right equipment to fish Erie.”
Enter Mr. Rhybak
Let’s call him Mr. Rhybak. He wasn’t just a fisherman — he was the fisherman. When he went out, the fish practically lined up biggest to smallest to jump on his line. If he didn’t have a day job, he’d be a pro.
Naturally, he wanted to help.
We drove west to Woodstock, Ontario, to a place called Angling Outfitters. What a store. The owner knew every species, every technique, and every piece of gear. He asked about my boat, its year, and what I wanted to do. Then he looked at my old Lowrance fish finder and suggested I donate it to a museum. A new one went straight onto my list.
I stocked up: trolling rods, lead-core lines, jigs, tackle. The prices were fair, the advice was free, and the knowledge was priceless.
From there, we headed to Hamilton, where Mr. Rhybak introduced me to more fishing shops. Each one was an eye-opener. I thought I had the right gear for Erie, but these guys honed in on the details: species, depth, boat speed, water temperature, and hotspots.
The Next Outing
A few days later, Mr. Rhybak asked, “When are we going fishing again?”
“Friday,” I said.
With new equipment and fresh knowledge, we headed out. We caught fish, but we quickly realized we were still missing a few key pieces of the puzzle.
The learning curve was steep, but the adventure was just getting started.