Spendthrift Charters
Spendthrift Charters
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Welcome to Spendthrift Charters, the Number One Fishing Charter Service, serving the Chicago and Waukegan area!! For over 30 years, Captain Jerry Nied has been chartering the finest of fishing trips. Spendthrift Charters is one of the largest charter fishing vessels available on Lake Michigan today. We currently have three 39-ft Tiara's to satisfy every fishing need!
Waukegan, Illinois
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Most Recent: Reviews ordered by most recent publish date in descending order.
Detailed Reviews: Reviews ordered by recency and descriptiveness of user-identified themes such as wait time, length of visit, general tips, and location information.
Popular mentions
5.0
10 reviews
Excellent
9
Very good
1
Average
0
Poor
0
Terrible
0
Ken M
4 contributions
Jun 2023 • Friends
Excellent fishing trip with Captain Nick and Scott at Spendthrift Charters. Nick knows the water and the best spots to catch the salmon. Scott worked very hard changing flys, spoons and different tactics to catch us the most fish. The boat was kept extremely clean had great conversations with both of them. Made some great lasting memories. Caught 20 total will definitely be back.
Written June 25, 2023
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Michael W
1 contribution
Apr 2023
We were visiting Chicago and looking for a charter that we could catch some salmon aboard. We saw Spendthrift Charters and looked at the catches on Facebook. Booked them and couldn’t have been happier. Crew was friendly and they put us on fish! Thank you Captain Nick and Spendthrift Charters for a great day.
Written June 9, 2023
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
dan198101
Chicago, IL9 contributions
Apr 2015 • Friends
Never though I would love fishing as growing up I just liked watching other people fish and never really wanted to. But with great company and very good almost like old-friends fishing boat staff, I'm totally hooked! Spendthrift Charters of Waukegan, IL know where the fishes are in Lake Michigan and their very skilled professional staff will make you feel totally at home and relaxed just what you always look forward to when you go out fishing. I highly recommend them to everyone-local and visitors alike!!! As a business owner, time is valuable and being able to relax and have a blast fishing in Lake Michigan and max-out the DNR daily quota is very important and impressive to me!
Written April 15, 2015
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Wally O
Chicago, IL34 contributions
Aug 2017 • Friends
Went out with Spendthrift Charters today and had a great day on the water fishing and talking with my friends . This family run charter service, Spendthrift. Charters,
has been matching fish out of Northern IL harbors for over 50 years. They never cease to amaze me how they put was in the boat , from Grandfather. Father. And now son Kyle ! They have 3 huge 39 ft. Long boats with rear beam of 14 ft. They think and act like a fish, so now I'm waiting for them to grow gills. LOL .We went 14 for 14 today fishing in hot blue bird sky's ! If you want to catch some salmon and trout , be sure to call spendthrift Charters and ask for Jerry!
has been matching fish out of Northern IL harbors for over 50 years. They never cease to amaze me how they put was in the boat , from Grandfather. Father. And now son Kyle ! They have 3 huge 39 ft. Long boats with rear beam of 14 ft. They think and act like a fish, so now I'm waiting for them to grow gills. LOL .We went 14 for 14 today fishing in hot blue bird sky's ! If you want to catch some salmon and trout , be sure to call spendthrift Charters and ask for Jerry!
Written August 16, 2017
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
MetraCop
La Grange, IL227 contributions
Jun 2016 • Family
I've used Spendthrift 2-3 times before, and have no reason to look anywhere else, I recommend them highly.
This was a special trip it was the first time I could arrange to bring my grandson fishing!
So I asked my 12 year old Grandson and my son, his dad to join me. Actually it was supposed to be for two grandchildren and two of my sons, but one of my sons is a firefighter who was seriously injured the night before fighting a fire in Lombard, Illinois and they were forced to cancel.
We met Captain Jerry promptly at 4:45am at Waukegan Harbor. His boat was clean and fully equipped, the weather was in the 70's and the lake was relatively calm, great for fishing. Within 30 minutes we were all set up and fishing. We signed up for 6 hours and wished it could have been 7 or eight!
My grandson got the first bite, his first big fish ever. Captain Jerry was right there to help him land the 'big one', the smile on my grandsons face was awesome. I think I was having as much or more fun just watching him.
From then on there was just enough 'action'
to keep the excitement up. Captain Jerry helped and directed him on how to handle the fish and get it into the cooler.
If anyone has any doubt about taking there young 'fishermen' (or women) in their family, SPENDTHRIFT CHARTERS IN Waukegan is the place to go. Captain Jerry and his son Kyle were well qualified to make my trips with SPENDTHRIFT CHARTERS fun and exciting. Captain Jerry even cleaned filleted all the fish we caught. We had 7 large Salmon. (Do you know what 7 Salmon looks like cleaned, filleted and bagged) it's a lot of fish!
My experience with SPENDTHRIFT CHARTERS makes me rate them 5 Stars, if I could give 6 they would get them.
This was a special trip it was the first time I could arrange to bring my grandson fishing!
So I asked my 12 year old Grandson and my son, his dad to join me. Actually it was supposed to be for two grandchildren and two of my sons, but one of my sons is a firefighter who was seriously injured the night before fighting a fire in Lombard, Illinois and they were forced to cancel.
We met Captain Jerry promptly at 4:45am at Waukegan Harbor. His boat was clean and fully equipped, the weather was in the 70's and the lake was relatively calm, great for fishing. Within 30 minutes we were all set up and fishing. We signed up for 6 hours and wished it could have been 7 or eight!
My grandson got the first bite, his first big fish ever. Captain Jerry was right there to help him land the 'big one', the smile on my grandsons face was awesome. I think I was having as much or more fun just watching him.
From then on there was just enough 'action'
to keep the excitement up. Captain Jerry helped and directed him on how to handle the fish and get it into the cooler.
If anyone has any doubt about taking there young 'fishermen' (or women) in their family, SPENDTHRIFT CHARTERS IN Waukegan is the place to go. Captain Jerry and his son Kyle were well qualified to make my trips with SPENDTHRIFT CHARTERS fun and exciting. Captain Jerry even cleaned filleted all the fish we caught. We had 7 large Salmon. (Do you know what 7 Salmon looks like cleaned, filleted and bagged) it's a lot of fish!
My experience with SPENDTHRIFT CHARTERS makes me rate them 5 Stars, if I could give 6 they would get them.
Written June 21, 2016
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Stephen W
Chicago, IL12 contributions
Jul 2015 • Friends
Captain Jerry and Debbie Nied are great hosts! I recommend a July fishing trip. Captain Jerry and his two sons will put You on great salmon, and Debbie will help with housing during Your stay! You can fish for great salmon in the morning, and spend quality family time at Great America in Gurney Illinois. Also there is great shopping and dining all around the area. Contact the Nied family at fishjerry@aol.com, they will respond quickly be happy to send information for the multiple offerings they offer! The more fishermen on the boat the cheaper per person. Friends and Family can have a great experience with Spendthrift Charters!
Written January 5, 2016
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Greg S
1 contribution
Jul 2022 • Friends
I have to make sure I fish with these guys every year. Best charter I know of. These guys know their stuff
Written July 3, 2022
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Justin K
Annapolis, MD6 contributions
Jun 2018 • Family
My family had a very enjoyable time spending the day on the water with Spendthrift Charters. Had a lot of excitement when hauling in the fish and a lot of fun with the crew while waiting for the bites. We are already looking forward to trying it again next summer.
Written July 5, 2018
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Bruce C
4 contributions
Aug 2016 • Friends
Excellent captain Kyle is a professional.He knows how to put the fish in the boat..Can't wait to go again
Written August 21, 2016
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Steve H
Shobonier, IL101 contributions
Apr 2015 • Friends
The service was great. Good, friendly people. We caught fish. Six to eight foot waves, cold, windy, miserable weather, and Dramamine doesn't help -- believe me.
Great people, loved the experience, will check it off my bucket list, but definitely will not attempt it again unless someone can guarantee the weather conditions.
Great people, loved the experience, will check it off my bucket list, but definitely will not attempt it again unless someone can guarantee the weather conditions.
Written April 28, 2015
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Hi, your ad mentions "boat tours." Do you offer non-fishing boat sight-seeing? Thanks.
Written July 4, 2019
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