Captain Dave
Hi, my name is Captain Dave Lutze. I grew up fishing in Wisconsin, and my first experiences on Lake Michigan were fishing for jumbo perch out of a 12 foot rowboat! Just after I graduated from high school, a friend introduced me to the trout and salmon game. I immediately started looking for work with other reputable charters in the area. In 2010, after three seasons of being a first mate, I decided to get my captain’s license.
The 2025 season will be my 19th in the charter fishing industry! In that time, I have developed relationships with other local recreational and charter fishermen, and have gained an incredible amount of knowledge about targeting Great Lakes salmon and trout. Every trip is an adventure!
I am passionate about the outdoors, and love all types of hunting, fishing, camping, hiking, and other outdoor recreation. During the fall, winter, and spring I can be found teaching in a classroom in a nearby district. It is my pleasure to share my knowledge of Lake Michigan with all my charter fishing guests. If you want to learn how to set equipment on your trip, just let my first mate or me know and we can tailor your experience to fit your needs. After all, it’s your trip, your vacation, your adventure!
Welcome aboard!
The Playin' Hooky
The Playin’ Hooky is a 36 foot Chris Craft Commander, complete with all the bells and whistles necessary for fishing Lake Michigan. She is one of the finest, roomiest, most comfortable fishing vessels you will ever find for charter fishing on the Great Lakes. Watching a fish being landed while seated on the flybridge (the “upper deck”) is a real treat. The vessel is equipped with a radar unit (for fishing in fog) GPS, fish locator, and several different speed and temperature gauges for finding the preferred locations of each trout and salmon species. Leave the hard work to the crew and be ready when the reels start screaming! Fish on!!!
Check out a video tour of the Playin’ Hooky:
Starting in spring 2024, Playin’ Hooky has TWO additional boats, both comparable to the Playin’ Hooky. We are excited to be able to offer trips for larger groups, as well as being able to accommodate more guests in 2024 and beyond. Captain Dave started working for a mate for Sea Dog in 2009. He continued to fill in as a mate and captain even after starting Playin’ Hooky in 2020. The Sea Dog is a 1990 34 foot Luhrs Sportfisherman fully rigged for trout and salmon on Lake Michigan.
Sea Dog II - New to the Fleet in 2024
The 1992 Sea Dog II Matches the Sea Dog in almost every way. These boats were built for for saltwater fishing in Florida, and provide for the most comfortable fishing experience possible.
Take a tour of the Sea Dog and Sea Dog II here:
First-Mate Chris
First mate Chris grew up fishing Lake Michigan trout and salmon with his dad. Chris and Captain Dave went to high school together and have been fishing together since 2010. He loves explaining the fishery and the tactics he uses to fool fish into biting. During the offseason, Chris can be found in a school gymnasium teaching adaptive and regular physical education.
Chris is an avid outdoorsman, and enjoys hunting, fishing, and coaching several different sports. When he is not aboard the Playin’ Hooky he can be found on his own 22 foot Pursuit on Lake Michigan or nearby Lake Winnebago targeting walleye.
His upbeat and positive personality are unmatched among area fishing charters. Anyone who has the opportunity to fish with Chris should consider themselves extremely fortunate.
Captain Quinn
Captain Quinn has been fishing Lake Michigan since he could walk. Quinn joined the Playin’ Hooky team in 2022 and immediately started building valuable relationships with guests and absolutely clobbering the fish! He is already highly respected among the Sheboygan charter fishing community at just 18 years old! In February 2024, Quinn passed the exam to become a U.S. Coast Guard certified captain.
Quinn loves the outdoors and when he is not fishing he is either planning his next trip or hunting. Quinn puts in so much time on the water his girlfriend decided she had enough and made him walk the plank!
Captain Jim
Captain Jim Schlegel has been captaining trips on Lake Michigan for over four decades. In April 2024 he sold his Sea Dog boats and business to Playin’ Hooky LLC and will continue to captain trips throughout the 2024 season.
First-Mate Jake
Hi, I’m Jake Englebert. I’m 16 years old and live in Oostburg, Wisconsin. When I was little my Dad introduced me to the outdoors. It started with fishing bluegills and sunfish on the inland lakes. When he took me on Lake Michigan for the first time, I fell in love. The feeling of a Great Lakes trout or salmon on the end of your rod is unbelievable. Either fishing with my dad in his 17ft Smoker Craft or getting to fish with Dave on the Playin’ Hooky, it’s always a blast. I’ll never get sick of it.
2024 is Jake’s third year fishing with Playin’ Hooky.
