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About your guide
About your guide
Austin Lawless
Austin Lawless
I hold a U.S. Coast Guard Master Captain’s License and am certified in CPR, First Aid, and as a Wilderness First Responder (WFR). I also earned a Bachelor’s degree in Outdoor Recreation and Leadership Management from Northern Michigan University (2025).
I bring over three years of professional guiding experience, including multiple seasons guiding full-time in Alaska, where I led overnight fly-out fishing trips and managed client safety in remote environments. As your river fishing guide, I bring the same professional standards and commitment to safety to every trip.
Trips are run on a 16-foot Stealth Craft ATB
Trips are run on a 16-foot Stealth Craft ATB
• Fully insured • Max 2 clients • All safety equipment included •
Rates and Services
Rates and Services
All trip rates include professional guiding, all fishing gear, and safety equipment for up to 2 people. Clients may bring their own lunch or add a provided lunch for $30 per trip.
All fish caught will be cleaned at the end of the trip.
Half-Day Trip Rates
Half-Day Trip Rates
4-5 hour guided fishing trip for 1 to 2 anglers
Full-Day Trip Rates
Full-Day Trip Rates
6-8 hour guided fishing trip for 1 to 2 anglers
Half and full day trips are available on the Manistee, Ausable, and Pere Marquette. See information on these rivers below. For information on the Upper Peninsula Tribes and the Saginaw River, please contact the guide.
Manistee
Manistee
The Big Manistee River offers a wide range of fishing opportunities throughout the year, supporting both migratory and resident fish species. Its connection to Lake Michigan creates strong seasonal runs, while healthy trout populations remain active across much of the river system.
Steelhead are one of the river’s most sought-after species, with reliable runs in the fall, winter, and spring. Known for their strength and acrobatic fights, steelhead provide consistent action and are considered one of the river’s most exciting catches. Chinook and coho salmon migrate upstream primarily in the fall, creating some of the most dynamic fishing conditions of the year.
Guided trips on the Big Manistee River allow anglers of all experience levels to effectively target these species while adapting techniques to current river conditions and seasonal patterns.
Ausable
Ausable
The lower sections of the Ausable River provide seasonal opportunities for migratory fish. Steelhead are present in the fall and spring, offering anglers a distinctly different experience compared to traditional trout fishing.
Guided trips on the Au Sable River focus on reading water conditions, matching seasonal patterns, and adapting techniques to maximize success across changing river conditions.
Pere Marquette
Pere Marquette
The Pere Marquette River is a nationally recognized trout, salmon, and steelhead fishery that flows freely into Lake Michigan and supports strong resident and migratory runs. Brown and rainbow trout are abundant throughout much of the system. Chinook and coho salmon migrate upstream from Lake Michigan in late summer and early fall, creating concentrated action in prime river reaches. Steelhead are present in both fall and spring runs, with strong fall steelhead feeding on salmon eggs and spring migrations bringing fresh fish into the system. Guided trips on the Pere Marquette River help anglers target seasonal runs and conditions effectively.
Contact Me:
Contact Me:
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