Check Out Cari Lipple’s Story

Today we’d like to introduce you to Cari Lipple.

Hi Cari, please kick things off for us with an introduction to yourself and your story. 
In 2014, my boyfriend (now husband Greg) talked about wanting to own a charter business one day and sharing the love of fishing with others. We were in our last year at Northern Michigan University, not knowing exactly where our careers would lead us after that. In 2015, Greg’s good friend Jason was thinking about selling his charter business in the Eastern Upper Peninsula. Getting out of college and having student loans didn’t seem like the best time to be purchasing a charter business (boat, tackle, poles, reels, and everything, including running a charter), but this was Greg’s passion, and he wanted to figure out a way to make it happen. His older brother Jeff was a 401k consultant and very good with running numbers for business. With lots and lots of help from Jeff, Greg was able to purchase the business and start running charters. At the time, I enjoyed fishing, but it wasn’t a huge passion of mine. Every time I stepped foot on that boat, my passion for fishing grew. From reeling in my first 19lb king salmon to the person who came on the boat and caught their first fish, I loved it all! The joy you see in someone’s eyes as they feel that fish tugging on the line and getting the first glimpse of how big it is. 

Fishing has honestly changed my life. It has brought me so much joy, from casting a fly rod in the river to grabbing the rod from the downrigger to setting a tip on the ice and enjoying the sunrise over the bay. Through fishing, I’ve been able to meet so many other girls who love it as much as I do, and I will continue to share my passion with those around me. 

We all face challenges, but looking back, would you describe it as a relatively smooth road?
Owning a business comes with a lot of work, stress, and determination. It hasn’t always been an easy road. The hardest thing for us was back in 2022 when we went to launch the boat for the season, and it wasn’t running right. We were so excited for another year of taking people fishing and found out we had to replace the motor. The motor finally came in and was replaced, but we lots firm with customers and one expensive bill. With that behind us now, we are able to focus on the future of growing our charter business. We are now offering ice fishing charters and slowing starting to teach people how to fly fish. 

Can you tell our readers more about what you do and what you think sets you apart from others?
While I’m very passionate about fishing and proud of owning a charter business, I really love my full-time job. I am a special education teacher here in the Easter Upper Peninsula and take great pride in helping my students. I think what I am most proud of right now is getting my master in learning disabilities and how I can teach, help, and support the students in my classroom and my school. 

Do you have recommendations for books, apps, blogs, etc.?
I love reading the Adventuress Magazine right now. It’s about women in the outdoors. It’s awesome reading about women in the outdoors doing what they love. It gives me motivation to go out and fully enjoying what I’m doing. There are days where the fishing is slow, but being present where you are and who you are with is what it’s all about. 

Contact Info:

• Website: https://islandchartersmi.com/
• Instagram: cari.lipple
• Facebook: Cari Lipple
• Other: https://www.instagram.com/islandchartersmi?igsh=MWM0N2g5endhczNrZA==