Captain's Log: Reel American

Here at The Custom Captain, we love hearing stories from people who wear our gear out on the water. Today, we want to tell you about Clare, a boat captain who makes us proud to do what we do.

Clare first fell in love with boats when he was a kid, just like many of us. He spent happy days fishing on Lake Michigan with his family. Those special times made him want to keep boating all his life. Now he has his own boat - a Boston Whaler that he named “The Reel American.” 

When you’re out on Lake Michigan, you can’t miss Clare’s boat. He flies a big American flag from it that waves proud and tall. “Everyone knows who we are because of it,” Clare tells us. Clare has his own fishing team. They all wear Custom Captain American flag shirts when they compete at fishing tournaments. This summer, wearing those shirts, they won a large tournament. Clare said they loved having that big win while wearing all of Custom Captains gear.  

Want to know what makes a perfect day for Clare? He loves catching fish in the morning while the lake is calm. Then he takes his family swimming in the afternoon sun. As the day ends, they watch the sun set over the big lake. One of his favorite moments he enjoys with his team when they are out fishing is playing a song called “Fish On” every time they catch a fish. The longer it takes to bring in the fish, the more times they play the song. 

Clare also told us about a special thing his family does every year. On Father’s Day, they all go fishing together - dads, kids, and friends. It’s become a tradition they look forward to all year long. Here’s something that might surprise you: Clare didn’t start boating until he was an adult. He encourages everyone who is interested in boating that it’s never too late to start. “Just go for it,” he says. “Most people are just regular folks enjoying their weekends on the water.” 

To Clare and all our wonderful customers who choose Custom Captain gear for their time on the water - thank you. Your support helps our small team keep making things you’ll love to wear on your boats. And Clare, we heard you’d like us to make fishing bibs. Our team is working hard on some new ideas just for you!

Do you have a story about wearing Custom Captain gear on your boat? We’d love to hear it. Your stories help us make better gear for everyone who loves being on the water.

See you on the lake!