The Captain

Growing up just north of Chicago in Libertyville Illinois and fishing the local ponds and streams since about the time he could barely walk, Captain Rick Bentley originally began fishing the Lake Michigan waters off Waukegan Harbor for salmon & trout when he was about 12 years old with his uncle Ross Shellenberger and in only several years was being actively pursued to run the rods on the deck as a first mate for many different captains in Waukegan. 

Leaving the industry for a job in the financial services field after graduating college with a degree in Finance & Economics, Rick performed investigative stock trading intelligence for many large publicly-traded companies and investment banks while living in Lincoln Park, Chicago until his mid-30's.

Missing the excitement and fun of charter fishing, Rick hung up his collared shirts and returned to Waukegan Harbor as a charter fishing guide full-time to devote the skills and techniques he learned when he was younger into a sport for which he holds an intense passion for.

Over the course of his life, Rick has fished in many places from the backcountry of Quetico Provincial Park in Canada, to sailfish in the Gulfstream off south Florida, to monster blue marlin off the U.S. Virgin Islands. With those fishing locales earning a special respect by Rick, he will always hold Lake Michigan salmon & trout fishing closest to his heart. We have no doubt that you will experience his exuberance and (relative!) youth and his passion for this kind of fishing will be reflected in the intense efforts and strategies he implements as he takes you fishing for salmon & trout on Lake Michigan in Chicago's own backyard.

Captain Rick is a licensed U.S. Coast Guard Captain and has fished the waters near Waukegan for twelve years. He is a member of the National Association of Charterboat Operators (NACO), the Maritime Consortium, and is a contributor for and has written articles about salmon & trout fishing for Great Lakes Angler Magazine and Learninghowtofish.com. 

During the offseason when he is not tying coho flies, you will likely find Rick on extended hiking or ski trips out west as he carries on his enthusiasm for the outdoors.