To give you a little background on myself, my name is Chris Yard. I was born and raised in the Pulaski, New York, area. Having grown up in this part of the world you almost had to be some sort of fisherman, and I was lucky enough to have a family that enjoyed it.

 

My first opportunity to fish was during my childhood, fishing with my parents from the banks of the Little Salmon River at Mexico Point in Texas, New York--only about 100 yards from Lake Ontario, where the opportunities seemed endless! We fished for panfish, largemouth/smallmouth bass, northern pike, and anything else that tempted the stained water from the mouth of the river.

 

Every time we fished from the banks of the Little Salmon, these impressive Lake Ontario boats would travel up and down river. I would be lying if I told you I did not dream of owning one of those or holding one of those monster king salmon or football browns that the charter-boat clients would display on their way upriver. Every time I saw them, my eyes grew big and made me wonder if I would ever be able to catch fish like they had displayed.

 

As the years went on I started fishing from a smaller aluminum boat. I traveled to some of the more remote northern New York lakes and ponds, casting for bass and pike. Additionally, I would walk the Salmon River for hours from Pulaski to the Hatchery in Altmar, throwing stick baits for some of the most amazing smallmouth bass and summer run Skamania steelhead trout action one could ever fathom.

 

After years of this style of fishing, I began to wonder whether I could catch those salmon and browns that I had seen the charter captains hold up on their passing boats as a child watching from the shoreline.

 

In 2005, I graduated from my 16-foot aluminum boat up to a 24-foot Bayliner Trophy--a more seaworthy Lake Ontario vessel. After setting up the Bayliner and taking lessons from some of the best friends and fisherman on the east end of the lake, I began to achieve those childhood goals, such as holding a 25-lb. king salmon or running a planer board onto the shore and fulfilling a limit of football browns in the spring.

 

Now I, Capt. Chris, have obtained my Master's License and am running my charter business out of a fully insured and USCG-inspected, 26-foot Parker 2520xl. This 2005 Model has a full pilot house to provide cover and protect my passengers from the hot midday sun as well as inclement weather. This vessel, "Irish Knots," can accommodate up to six paying customers. It is sponsored and fully equipped with the best fishing systems in the business by Traxstech Corporation (www.traxstech.com). It is a well-designed, well-laid-out fishing machine outfitted with some of the best electronics, fishing products, and safety gear made for the Great Lakes Fishery. This year we will also be part of the Lake Ontario Yeck Team for Yeck Lure Company (www.fishyecklures.com) and Big Weenie Brand (www.bigweeniebrand.com).

 

I am fully certified in First Aid and CPR and I maintain a clean, safe, and seaworthy vessel. Aboard the Irish Knots, it is my goal to give you a safe, enjoyable fish-catching experience, so bring your family (we are child friendly), friends, and business partners, and come enjoy some world-class fishing and some of the most impressive sights one can see from the water.

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