Hartig spent many summers as a child on Abel Island enjoying fishing and the Mississippi River, which led him to make Guttenberg his primary residence in 2006 after selling his business in Florida. Seeing a need for a river excursion service in Guttenberg, Hartig started 10 Dam Fish! in 2015 to allow visitors and Guttenberg residents who don’t have a boat an opportunity to enjoy all that the river has to offer. Dennis and his wife, Susan, chose the name 10 Dam Fish! as a play on words that would reflect the nature of the service and the proximity to Lock and Dam #10.
10 Dam Fish! offers eco-wildlife tours, leisure river rides, guided fishing trips, river history tours, transportation to and from local beaches, sunset cruises, and custom trips; Hartig is willing to accommodate almost any request. Anticipating that guided fishing experiences would be the most popular of the services Hartig provides, he was surprised to find that river rides and tours make up more than half of the requests 10 Dam Fish! receives. Hartig is available for tours and trips daily from mid April until the end of the fall leaf season. Fishing trips can accommodate 1-3 people and river tours and custom adventures can accommodate 1-6 people. Visit 10 Dam Fish! on Facebook or pick up a brochure from many locations in Guttenberg, including the Welcome Center, for more information on rates.
When asked about his favorite thing about doing business in Guttenberg, Hartig answered, “Both the river and the community are great. The river is awesome and offers a plethora of recreational opportunities. The people of Guttenberg are wonderful; we have met so many great people since moving here full-time and are very fortunate to be able to call most of them friends.”
Hartig says that each trip is exciting in its own way, whether it be kids reeling in their first fish or visitors observing nesting eagles, everyone goes home with a smile and great memories of an exciting day on the Mississippi River. Hartig states that his goal with this venture is “to be able to share this wonderful environment that we live in with others.”
Upcoming Events:
July 2: Stars & Stripes Celebration & Fireworks
July 2: Clayton Ridge Interact Club 5K Walk/Run
July 23: The Guttenberg Motel Catfish Tournament