Fly Fishing Guide
Steve Pels
Captain Steve Pels grew up in the south suburbs of Chicago and he started fishing in south central Wisconsin when he was 2 years old. After picking up his first fly rod at 11 years old, he never put it down. Upon graduating from Hope College, Steve worked as a geologist for an environmental consulting firm in downtown Chicago. He quickly realized sitting behind a desk was not the right fit for him and in 2013 Steve pursued his lifelong dream of becoming a full time fly fishing guide.
Steve loves sharing his passion with others, providing instruction, and does everything in his power to ensure his clients have a great day on the water. He enjoys guiding on Northern Michigan Rivers because they offer a unique set of challenges and are some of the most complex fisheries Steve has fished. In addition to guiding for trout on the AuSable, Steve also guides for steelhead on the Lower Manistee and smallmouth bass throughout the state. These species highlight the diversity and unique fishing opportunities that Northern Michigan Rivers have to offer and he looks forward to the change in seasons every year!
Steve’s free time is primarily spent developing new fly patterns, spey fishing for steelhead, chasing smallmouth, and planning his next redfish trip. He also looks forward to spending time with his wife Sarah and their two German Shorthair Pointers, Mitchell and Harper.
