Frequently Asked Questions

Can I get seasick on Lake Michigan?

It happens all the time, even for people who claim they'll never get seasick. My wife is an extreme case. She can ride in the boat fine when we are underway. However, when trolling, it is a very slow roll and pitching of the boat and this is what gets you. The problem is, it ruins the trip for you and usually cuts the trip short for the rest of your fishing party. It is preventable for most everyone. There are several remedies and recommendations. If you have never been on a charter before, I HIGHLY recommend that you read the article linked below. If you think you might be at risk, assume you are at risk and take precautions listed in the article that you feel are appropriate. 

en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Seasickness

Is there a bathroom aboard the boat?

Yes. On boats they are called a "head". The Ella Rae II has an enclosed head for your privacy and covenience. Since you asked, please understand that a marine head does not handle many of the things that people put down their toilets at home. Number one, number two and special marine toilet paper are the only things which should go down a marine head. Food, garbage (wrappers, cans, bottles, etc.), medical waste (sharps, gloves, etc.), and women's hygiene products will damage the head and make for a lousy cleanup job for one of the crew. So please, if you need to dispose of anything but the biologicals, use the garbage or talk to the captain. If you can't talk to your doctor about this, who can you, right ;o)

Many thanks for brining this up.

Are the fish safe to eat?

The quick and simple answer for most people is YES! Great Lakes Salmon and Trout are an excellent and healthy food source. With any wild game there are risks for contamination from their ecosystem. The following link is a reference to the Wisconsin Department of Natural Resources. They are the best "Doctors" on this subject so I refer you to them.

Contact Wisconsin DNR