As a very experienced fly fisherman I have been fortunate enough to hire guides in various parts of the United States as well as in Europe. Having spent a number of days on the water with Mike fishing for smallmouth, carp, and steelhead he clearly is one of the best I have employed. He is very personable, knowledgeable, has a high standard of care, and is constantly studying his craft in order to perfect his technique. It is a pleasure to spend time on the water with Mike.
Mike is quite professional in his approach, very energetic, upbeat, and has a strong work ethic. He seeks the best possible experience for his clients and works very hard to achieve that objective. In addition he is a great instructor.
On my first outing with Mike I learned that I did not need to bring along my camera in order to ‘capture the moment’ because he has that base covered as well. Mike always carries a high quality camera with him and has a knack for composing a great shot.
Considering how rapidly his guide service has expanded, his loyal following and the number of fly-fishing documentaries he already has made for television, it is apparent that Mike is a rising star in our wonderful sport.
Robert Bailey, Ph.D.
I have taken three Huron River trips with guide Mike Schultz and two Ohio “steelhead alley” trips. On one of the Huron River trips and one of the steelhead trips my wife also fished. I wish I had half the energy level and a tenth of the fishing knowledge Mike has. I learn something about fishing every time I go out with him, and he is a joy to fish with—he takes genuine pleasure in our catches (which have been many and big). He knows the rivers he fishes incredibly well, finding fish in spots I would have passed by on my own and skipping water that he knows is unproductive.
I especially appreciate how he helps my wife to improve her skills and to catch nice fish. He is a patient and ever positive teacher. I will long remember the 30 minutes or so that he and my wife spent trying to hook a large, finicky steelhead that was lying in difficult water to fish. She finally got the perfect drift with the perfect fly and the perfect rig and got the fish to hit. Mike coached her as she battled the big fish, finally bringing it to net, setting off a celebration between the two of them that was the perfect end to another great trip with Mike. On the way out, Mike said to me that although in his trips from Alaska to South America he had caught or had clients catch many fish much bigger than the one my wife caught, this trip was in the top five fishing experiences that he had had in his life, and I am certain that he meant it.
Bill Kraus
For many years, I thought of fly fishing as something that looked very fun but I lived in Houston and worked too much and had never ever fished for anything—except playing Go Fish as a kid. When I returned to Michigan, I was lucky enough to hook up with Mike—first for a lesson, then for some adventures on the Huron River in SE Michigan and then to the PM. And many months out, I’m already signing up for next year’s dates.
I was nervous and apprehensive and Mike set me at ease, helped me enjoy the process and made sure I caught fish right from the beginning. For those who are learning, he’s good at teaching and showing you what to do and he’s good at knowing when to let you just go at it yourself!
He works hard ALL day long to make sure you’re having a great experience on the river – he’s always alert to your needs, always has an extra rod ready to go and a good story to tell. I started out a little unsure whether I would really take to fishing, Mike has helped me know that its truly a joy and I’ll be fishing for a long time and with him when I can.
Belinda Friis
I have fished with Mike for many different species of fish both in an outside of Michigan and he’s never failed to set me up with opportunities to catch fish. I’ve never fished with a guide who had such intimate knowledge of the rivers and lakes we fished. He would always be able to find fish no matter the season or conditions of the water we faced each trip. What sets Mike apart from other guides is his ability to teach you the techniques required to catch fish no matter the situation. Thanks to Mike I have caught my biggest steelhead and carp on a fly while fishing with him and have learned things that couldn’t be gained from reading books. His trips are always well-organized, and the food fantastic. You are always treated like a friend, not just a client.
Tommy Vaughn –
Firingline Gun Range
The St. John’s Jesuit Titan Fly Fishers had a great-Thanksgiving float down the lower Huron with Schultz Outfitters. The boys hooked 6 Steelhead and boated 3. We had a great day despite the cold weather. Schultzy put us on the fish when other guys on the river complained of no steelhead. It was great to find a floatable river so close to home.
Dr. Bryon Borgelt
