Every charter business needs a boat, but for FLX Fish, I wanted something that matched the way I actually like to fish.
After spending years fishing and guiding from different boats, I eventually ended up with my own 2001 Lund Explorer. At just under 17 feet, it might not look like the typical big charter boat, but that’s exactly what I like about it.
It’s simple, maneuverable, and set up specifically for the hands-on style of fishing I offer on the Finger Lakes.
Why a Smaller Boat?
A lot of charter boats are designed around trolling and carrying larger groups. FLX Fish is a little different.
My primary focus is fishing with one or two anglers and giving them a much more involved experience. Instead of having six people watching rods in holders, we’re usually standing over fish, working jigs and watching them react on the electronics.
For that style of fishing, I don’t need a massive boat.
The Lund allows me to maneuver precisely over fish, use Spot-Lock when we find them, and quickly move when the fish move. On lakes like Cayuga and Owasco, that can make a huge difference.
Bringing an Older Lund Back to Life
The boat itself is a 2001 Lund Explorer, so it certainly isn’t new.
But that’s part of what makes it interesting.
Rather than buying a brand-new charter boat, I’ve been turning this Lund into a boat built specifically around the way I fish. I’ve added modern electronics, upgraded equipment and continued changing the layout as I learn what works best with clients onboard.
Powering it is a 2024 Parsun 60-horsepower EFI outboard, giving an older hull a much newer powerplant.
Up front, a Minn Kota Terrova handles boat positioning and Spot-Lock, which has become one of the most important tools on the boat when we’re vertically jigging.
The Electronics
Probably the biggest difference between this Lund and the boats I grew up fishing from is the electronics.
The boat is equipped with Garmin electronics, including a 12-inch ECHOMAP Ultra 2, a 9-inch ECHOMAP UHD2, traditional sonar and LiveScope.
When we’re jigging, those electronics aren’t just something for the captain to look at.
They’re part of the experience.
Clients can actually watch lake trout come off the bottom, follow their jig and sometimes chase it dozens of feet through the water column before striking.
There aren’t many things more exciting than watching a fish chase your lure on the screen and then feeling the rod load up a second later.
Built Around the Fishing
Nearly everything on the boat has a purpose.
The trolling motor, electronics, rod storage and deck layout are all centered around keeping the fishing simple and giving anglers enough room to actually work their fish.
And because it’s a smaller boat, I’m able to keep trips personal.
You’re not one person in a large group. I’m right there fishing with you, explaining what we’re seeing, helping with technique and making adjustments throughout the trip.
That’s the experience I’ve always wanted FLX Fish to provide.
It’s Still a Work in Progress
One of my favorite things about owning this boat is that it’s never really finished.
There is always something I want to change, upgrade or improve.
And that’s part of the fun.
As FLX Fish grows, the Lund will continue changing with it. Eventually there may be additional boats in the FLX Fish fleet, but this one will always represent an important point in the story—the point where FLX Fish finally had a boat of its own.
It might be a 2001 Lund, but it’s been rebuilt around modern fishing and around exactly what I want FLX Fish to be:
Small groups, hands-on fishing, modern technology and a personal Finger Lakes experience.
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