Meet the Captain

Captain Bryan Copenhaver is a United States Coast Guard licensed captain who grew up fishing and boating on Hamlin Lake. For ten years Bryan worked aboard a variety of charter boats that fished out of Ludington, targeting both salmon and trout. It was during this time that he met his wife, Veronica, his junior high sweetheart. Following his graduation from Ludington High School, Bryan attended Taylor University in Fort Wayne, Indiana where he received a bachelor’s degree in pastoral ministries. After graduating from college Bryan and Veronica moved to Kenai, Alaska where they spent the next 18 years of their lives.

During his time in Alaska, not only did Bryan serve as a minister, but he also guided friends and clients alike on the Kenai River and out of Homer in pursuit of salmon, trout and halibut. Winters found Bryan and his three children (Kylie, Cayden, Chase) making the most of the cold as they targeted northern pike through the ice. Thanks to the knowledge gleaned from years of ice fishing on Hamlin Lake, the Copenhaver family became well known on the Kenai Peninsula for their pike fishing prowess. For fifteen years they remained undefeated in the “total weight” division of a local ice fishing tournament with as many as 1000 contestants competing.

Bryan’s passion for the outdoors is well evidenced by the variety of trophies that grace the walls of both his cabin and the local sporting goods store (Captain Chuck’s) in the form of over 20 moose, caribou and bears that he and his children harvested through the years. 

Before leaving Alaska, the last thing the Copenhaver family did is they went on a moose hunt where all three of the children tagged their own bull moose.

Upon his return to Ludington in the fall of 2019, Bryan bought a cabin near Hamlin Lake where he began to introduce his children to all the lake has to offer.  Throughout the year, the Copenhavers can be found sharing their love and knowledge of the outdoors with those fortunate enough to visit the area.