When Capt. Ralph Steiger started guiding, he tried to look the part.
“I even had a hat and looked like a captain of `The Love Boat,’ ” the 30-year-old from Hammond said. “Three weeks in, I was like, `Where is my tee-shirt and shorts?’ One reason I am successful is I am a normal person who likes to fish and was lucky enough to do it.”
He will share what he learned the last nine years as a multiple-species guide on southern Lake Michigan this weekend with seminars on perch (10 a.m.-2 p.m. Saturday), smallmouth bass (4-8 p.m. both days) and salmon/trout (10 a.m.-2 p.m. Sunday) at the Hammond F.O.P. Bobby Bergren, 23, my partner in Stray Casts Media, will be assisting.
It carries on a rich tradition of multi-species classes in Chicago. Spence Petros and the late Tony Portincaso started winter classes that Petros taught for 41 years.
Steiger had his teachers.
“I started at Mik-Lurch when I was 13,” he said. “They were probably breaking some child-labor laws. As I get older, I realize how much they meant to me.”
Bergren also started as a teenager at Mik-Lurch Fishing Tackle Outlet.
Steiger also credits Capt. Bob Poteshman for teaching the ins and outs of being a captain.
“Growing up, I remember going to Arlington Racetrack to hear Al and Ron Lindner, sitting there and listening to those guys,” Steiger said.
Now it’s his turn.
The perch class will focus on deep water, how to fish it and handle deep-water perch.
The smallmouth classes are for both shore and boat fishermen.
“Same thing I do from boat, you can do from shore,” Steiger said. “It is the same damm fishing. I grew up smallmouth fishing at Hammond Marine when I was 12 years old. I think shore guys can take a lot from this, but are a little bit nervous.”
The salmon/trout class will talk about trolling, but also jigging for lake trout and casting for spring coho and fall kings.
Asked if he had a favorite species, Steiger said, “I have three favorite times of the year. One is spring smallmouth. I go nuts for them. The other is casting for fall kings and, honestly, my favorite might be jigging for lakers. If I had to pick one, I might look at fall kings. partly because it started me guiding and I had some success. I owe those fish.”
Classes are $40. Registering for two ($80) gives access to all four. There’s a ton of tackle giveaways.
Details are at captainsteiger.com. Or contact Steiger at Ralphish@aol.com or (219) 688-3593.
STRAY CAST: A crosstown World Series is more likely than Illinois stocking walleye in Lake Michigan.
