JOEL PIATEK
HOW LONG HAVE YOU BEEN FISHING?
I have been fishing for almost 40 years now; fishing and the outdoors has been a part of my life for as long as I can remember. My first adventure was on the ice while fishing with my father at 4 years old. I was hooked from then on! I was fortunate to have grown up on Harsen’s Island on Lake St. Clair where fishing, hunting and trapping activities were shared with our family and friends. I was always trying to finagle a way to fish before and after school at any possible chance.
WHAT INSPIRED YOU TO BECOME A LUND PRO-STAFF?
From the age of 14 when I had my first boat, I always dreamed of owning a Lund boat like my favorite angler Al Linder. If Al Linder has chosen a Lund to fish from, that is clearly the boat I want to fish out of as well!! As time went on, it was a very proud moment when I was able to eventually buy my first Lund, a 20’ Lund Alaskan tiller. It's the all purpose, utility boat for this area to fish and hunt from. I always thought of Lund as the only boat to own because of the quality, fishability, craftsmanship, safety and the fact they are made by fisherman for fisherman. After leaving the IT industry to pursue my passion while earning a living as a charter captain, Bill Rose, who is the owner of Rose Marine Service, suggested that I apply for a pro staff opportunity with Lund boats because of my exposure to our fishing community and the media. I now operate my full-time charter fishing and duck guiding business using Lund boats.
CAN YOU TELL US THE LARGEST FISH YOU HAVE EVER CAUGHT?
I generally target freshwater species and in my fishing adventures the largest I have caught was a sturgeon that was over 80 lbs. However, my personal best was a muskie fishing day where we landed two fish over 40 lbs while breaking in my friend’s Lund 1675 Pro Guide in December.
WHERE ARE YOU FROM?
I grew up on Harsen’s Island, which is part of the St. Clair Flats on Lake St. Clair in Michigan. It is the type of place that has the small town atmosphere where everyone waves hello. The kind of area where simple living is common and the outdoors, whether it be hunting, fishing or boating, is a shared activity for most.
WHERE DO YOU MOSTLY FISH?
The majority of my fishing is within Michigan and specifically Lake St. Clair, Detroit and St. Clair rivers, pursuing mostly smallmouth bass, muskie, walleye and sturgeon. I can also be found fly-fishing some of the outstanding steelhead and salmon rivers throughout Michigan. I fish tournaments for walleye and muskie, however my charter fishing and hunting guide service is the main reason I stay local with most of my tournament fishing.
WHAT IS THE BEST FISHING TIP THAT YOU EVER RECEIVED?
Never be afraid of dirty water to catch fish, including big ones.
IN WHAT WAYS ARE YOU INVOLVED IN THE ANGLING COMMUNITY?
I am a member of the Michigan Ontario Muskie Club and served on the executive board while being the director of the Spring Walleye Classic tournament. Each year I donate fishing charters to local charities, including dedicated trips for Wounded Warriors and Special Olympics. I have also been very fortunate to have contributed to magazines, newspapers and have even made several television appearances while promoting the angling community. Introducing new people to fishing adventures has always been a huge reward to me, especially if they are the younger generation.
PICK 5 WORDS TO DESCRIBE YOURSELF
Charismatic, Enthusiastic, Energetic, Dependable and Determined!
WHAT WAS THE BEST YEAR OF YOUR LIFE?
Having been very fortunate to have had a great many things go well for me, I would say that now is proving to be the best years of my life. After a lot of incredible adventures, you meet a lot of great people and with that comes lasting friendships. All of that, coupled with the fact I am now able to earn a living pursuing my passion and being a part of the Lund Boat pro staff, I can easily say these years are my best!!
WHAT IS THE MOST RIDICULOUS THING YOU’VE EVER BOUGHT?
A sheepskin saddle pad for a 3 hour horseback ride up to elk camp. When I saw the guides in chaps and resembling western cowboys, I quickly stuffed it into my pack to save the embarrassment!
WHAT’S THE BEST ADVICE YOU’VE EVER RECEIVED?
Don’t worry about what other people are doing, do what you do best!
WHAT TRAIT DO YOU ADMIRE IN PEOPLE?
Integrity has to be the quality I admire most.
WHAT’S YOUR WORST HABIT?
It would have to be that I can easily overthink a lot of the time and it's not uncommon for me to conjure up reasons why the fish aren’t biting!
WHAT’S YOUR FAVORITE MODEL OF LUND TO FISH OUT OF AND WHY?
My favorite model is the 2075 Pro V with Mercury’s 250hp Verado Pro because of its outstanding performance in bigger waters that I fish in. The Pro V allows me to organize all the necessary gear I need to have aboard and still have enough room for up to 5 fisherman. Whether trolling, casting or jigging, my Pro V out-fishes any other boat I have been on! Another favorite of mine is the 2000 Alaskan with a Mercury 115hp big tiller. This is my work horse for certain fishing applications, but also for big water waterfowl tactics like layout shooting. I can easily and safely load my 2000 Alaskan up with 4 guys, 125 decoys and a 2 man wooden layout boat while traveling 2-5 miles to get to our hunting areas.
ANYTHING ELSE YOU WOULD LIKE TO SAY TO OUR ENTIRE STAFF AT LUND BOATS?
I am very fortunate to be able to work with quite a few of the Lund Boat staff, both as a Pro Staffer but also in the sales capacity through Rose Marine Service in Michigan. Let’s face it, Lund is a dependable boat, but its the friendly and knowledgeable Lund staff that supports such a great boat company. The very same people I work with at Lund are the same type I enjoy spending hours fishing with on the water! Everyone at Lund has been great to work with and I am very grateful to be a part of the Lund boat pro staff!
