River Valley Charters
Status: enriched
Captain Ben Roggie has built River Valley Charters around the dynamic seasonal rhythms of Lake Ontario and its tributaries. He guides anglers on Lake Ontario for deep-water lake trout and salmon in summer, walleye and smallmouth bass in the bays during fall, and transitions to the Black and Indian Rivers from May through September for river-based walleye, pike, and bass on both live bait and artificials. Winter brings a shift to fully guided ice fishing trips for northern pike, walleye, perch, and crappie across the frozen lakes. His operation spans the full calendar, ensuring consistent fishing opportunities year-round.
Details
- Species: Walleye, Lake Trout, Smallmouth Bass, Northern Pike, Steelhead, Largemouth Bass, Crappie, Brown Trout
- Tags: Beginner, Intermediate, Advanced, First-Time Anglers, Drift Boat, Shore / Wade Only, Spin Fishing, Wade Fishing, Trolling, Year-Round, Live Bait, Charter, Full Day, Wade Trip, Float Trip, Instructional, Catch & Release, Gear Provided, Flies / Lures Provided, Freshwater
- Credentials: uscg_license — USCG, state_fishing_license — NYS
Waters Serviced (2)
| Destination | Type |
|---|---|
| Henderson Harbor | city |
| Lake Ontario | lake |
FAQ — River Valley Charters
Raw guide data (JSON)
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"descriptionShort": "River Valley Charters operates out of Carthage, NY, offering year-round guided fishing across Lake Ontario, the Black River, and Indian River. Captain Ben Roggie specializes in multi-species angling, rotating between walleye, pike, bass, trout, and salmon depending on season and water conditions.",
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"faqs": [
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"question": "What species can I catch with River Valley Charters?",
"answer": "River Valley Charters targets a variety of species including Brown Trout, Lake Trout, Largemouth Bass, Smallmouth Bass, Walleye, Northern Pike, Crappie, and Steelhead, depending on the season.",
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"question": "What type of boat do you use for Lake Ontario charters?",
"answer": "26 ft. Penn Yann with enclosed cabin, advanced electronics including sonar, gps, auto-pilot, and fish hawk, planer board system, high speed electric downriggers, VHF Radio, quality rod & reel combinations, a vast and up to date tackle assortment, livewell for bait, and large cooler for cold fish storage.",
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"question": "What fishing techniques does River Valley Charters use?",
"answer": "Captain Ben Roggie utilizes various techniques such as spin fishing, live bait, artificial lures, trolling, cast and retrieve, and drift boat fishing.",
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"question": "What species can we target on Lake Ontario?",
"answer": "Whether it be cold water or warm water species, we have the experience and equipment to make our lines connect with a variety of fish found in Lake Ontario. Our season kicks off after ice out in April with spring Browns and then later moves into the Walleye, Pike, and Smallmouth Bass seasons. June through September are great months to troll the Big Water for Lake Trout and Salmon. Late season staging salmon can be taken from mid August through Mid September before they begin migrating into the rivers. BROWN TROUT April-August, LAKE TROUT May-September, KING & COHO SALMON July-September, WALLEYE May-September, SMALLMOUTH BASS June-September, NORTHERN PIKE May-June, STEELHEAD TROUT April-July.",
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"question": "Where does River Valley Charters operate?",
"answer": "River Valley Charters operates out of Carthage, NY, fishing on Lake Ontario, Henderson Harbor, the Black River, and the Indian River.",
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"question": "What are the best months for Lake Ontario Salmon fishing?",
"answer": "Lake Ontario Salmon are the most sought after fish with our clientele...and for good reason! There is nothing quite like a mature King slamming a lure and peeling 100' of line or more on the strike! Our Chinook and Coho Salmon are full of energy and provide a fight that will never be forgotten! These fish are finicky by nature, and certain conditions increase or reduce our chances at boating multiple fish in a day. The challenge of the fish is what makes the fight, and the landing so rewarding! If Salmon are what your after, look to the months of July, August, and September to plan your trip!",
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"question": "Is River Valley Charters suitable for beginners?",
"answer": "Yes, River Valley Charters caters to anglers of all skill levels, including beginners, and offers instructional trips.",
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"question": "Do Lake Trout taste good?",
"answer": "Probably the most common fish taken from any Lake Ontario charter boat. Our Lake Ontario Lake Trout are plentiful, often hungry, and provide an appetizing filet. If anyone has ever told you that Lake Trout do not taste good, then that person simply has no business in a kitchen. Captain Ben will tell you, 'Don't insult the fish when the insult belongs to the cook'...These trout are a great target species for any cold water trip, and are often caught and targeted while we troll for Salmon. If the Salmon bite proves to be slow, often a limit of healthy Lake Trout can be achieved before the trips end. We successfully target Lake Trout from May through September. If your simply looking to 'catch fish' then these are likely one of the fish we will be targeting!",
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"question": "What is the best time for Brown Trout fishing?",
"answer": "These fish are aggressive and often hungry! Lure selection and presentation are key to putting Browns in the cooler, but once they're dialed in it is non-stop action! Spring is the most advertised time-frame for Brown Trout fishing on Lake Ontario. However they are often overlooked and underfished during the summer months. We make it a point to locate and stay on these fish after the spring thaw and into the summer as they make a fantastic add-on to any Salmon or Lake Trout fishing trip! We often recommend booking an 8HR charter and these fish are one of the many reason why! We can often spend some time at the beginning or end of our full day fishing trips trolling for Browns to add fish and diversity to our cooler. This requires time to relocate in the summer months, so often this option is not available on our 6HR trips. Look to the month of May and early June to target these fish specifically in the shallows, and July/August as they move deeper to be caught along with our Salmon and Lake Trout!",
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"question": "What is a Steelhead and when can I catch them?",
"answer": "We often refer to Steelhead as our bonus fish as they do not come in the quantity of the others. With that being said, if there is a chance that we can boat one of these fish, best believe we will have rods in the water specifically targeting them. In the spring, it is not uncommon to hook into Steelhead while trolling shallow water for Browns. Hook a mature Steelie on light trout tackle in the spring and you'll be in for a good ride!...In the summer months we will often run 1 or 2 rods higher in the water column as these fish suspend over the deeper waters of the lake. We will typically run copper or lead-core setups positioned away from the boat and above our Salmon and trout patterns.",
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"question": "Is Lake Ontario good for Walleye fishing?",
"answer": "When people ask about our Walleye options the response they receive from us will always be the same...Of all the Great Lakes, Lake Ontario is not a 'numbers' fishery but IT IS a 'TROPHY' fishery! A good day fishing for eyes will often times land fish in the 7 to 9 lb range and 10lb+ Walleye are not an uncommon occurrence in the Eastern Basin of Lake Ontario! This is where we have the upper hand on our 'South Shore' competitors. While they advertise Salmon and Trout, we advertise DIVERSITY!...May and June are popular and successful months for big eyes, but the months of August and September are often overlooked by many. These are great fish for multi-day charters in late summer as we can pair a walleye trip with a Salmon charter as these fish migrate back into our bays.",
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"question": "Are the back bay trips good for children or those with sea-sickness concerns?",
"answer": "The 'Freshwater Gator' as we often call them! These toothy critters make for exciting action in the back bays during the months of May and June. Often times these fish are caught while fishing the back bays for spring Walleye. Both Northern Pike and Pickerel will aggressively attack the same lure patterns that we present for our Walleye which makes for a full, diverse cooler of fish. Back bay trips for warm-water fish such as these are the perfect outing for those with young children, or anglers who are concerned with sea-sickness. These trips are conducted right along the shoreline of our bays fishing shallow waters and structure, often not far from the docks of our marina! May, June, and September are the recommended months for our Northern Pike and Pickerel.",
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"question": "What is the Smallmouth Bass season?",
"answer": "The Smallmouth Bass of Lake Ontario are fast becoming legend for their size! These are the fish that put Henderson NY on the map years ago! At 4-5lbs, what was once considered a 'Trophy Bass' is now considered average! 7+ pound Bass are now commonly pulled out of our waters by anglers each year. On a plentiful day of Bass fishing the action alone is worth the price of admission and on a good day we will often return fish that are a few inches above the legal limit back into the waters. Although catch and release is common practice amongst Bass fisherman, these fish do make tasty filets and fish sandwiches and we take no shame in putting a knife to mature fish that will provide a healthy slab of meat! Our season for Bass begins the 3rd Saturday in June, and can provide angling opportunities throughout our entire fishing season!",
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"question": "Do you offer Perch fishing trips and what is included?",
"answer": "Enjoy a comfortable trip jigging for Perch from our back bays! These fish are fun to catch and on a good day of jigging can produce multiple buckets of fish! If you have never enjoyed a good perch fry, then you are missing out on one of the best fish meals produced from freshwater! These trips are 6hr duration and conducted while anchored or drifting over schools, jigging with both live and artificial bait. All necessary bait and tackle is included on our perch trips, and it is the perfect charter for families and children! If the opportunity presents itself, we can switch our tackle to target smallmouth bass and walleye as well! Fish cleaning for up to 1/2 bucket of perch is included. A cleaning surcharge will be added to your trip if you choose to catch more.",
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"question": "How many people can a river charter accommodate?",
"answer": "Our river boats can accommodate a maximum party of 3, and our river guides know what areas of the river hold fish, and what diet these fish prefer! All necessary live bait is provided for these charters if needed at no additional cost.",
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"question": "What types of fishing do river charters include?",
"answer": "Our river charters are tailored for the anglers who prefer the 'cast & retrieve' over a 'slow troll'. Although we do at times troll certain areas of the river, there are many deep pools, undercuts, current breaks and structure pilings throughout this river system where anglers can cast both live and artificial lures in pursuit of various types of freshwater fish. While the river fishing offers variety for open minded anglers, we can target a specific species if you so choose.",
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"question": "What are the available trip durations for river charters?",
"answer": "4 Hour and 6 Hour trips are available.",
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"question": "What is included in an ice fishing trip?",
"answer": "All necessary equipment is provided for your ice fishing adventure including heated portable ice shanties, propane augers, jigging rods, tackle, tip ups, live bait, and Vexilar fish finders! Perch, crappie, and walleye are common fish for those who prefer to spend the day jigging. For those who prefer tip-ups, we have excellent pike and pickerel fishing that will keep you busy re-setting flags all day long! We will also drill jigging holes when fishing with tip-ups so that you may try your luck with a rod and reel while watching for flags! If your looking for a fun challenge, let our guides instruct you on how to effectively jig Northerns through the ice with a jigging rod! Its a fight you will never forget!",
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"question": "When does ice fishing season run?",
"answer": "Ice fishing trips begin in January and continue through the month of March depending on ice conditions. Evening and night fishing trips for crappie are also available.",
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"question": "What are the charter trip lengths available?",
"answer": "We offer both morning and afternoon trips in durations of 6HR, 8HR, and 10 Hours.",
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"question": "What is the departure time for morning and afternoon charters?",
"answer": "All morning charters leave the dock between 5:30am & 6am. Afternoon charters leave the dock between 3-3:30pm.",
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"question": "What is the booking and deposit policy?",
"answer": "A credit card and deposit is due upon booking to reserve your trip, balance is due within 48hrs of leaving the dock.",
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"question": "What is your cancellation policy?",
"answer": "We are at the mercy of mother nature. Cancellation due to weather, hazardous conditions, or boat maintenance / repairs will be at the Captain's discretion. Safety is our #1 concern. In the event your trip is canceled by the Captain, we will gladly reschedule you and your party for another date, or issue a refund for your deposit. Cancellation of your trip by you or your party for any reason will result in you forfeiting your deposit! Cancellation by you or your party within 14 days of your charter will result in 25% of balance due being charged to the credit card on file. Cancellation by you or your party within 48 HRS of your charter will result in the FULL BALANCE being charged to the card on file. Cancellation of any donated trip will not be refunded or rescheduled. We understand that unfortunate circumstances may arise which may cause the need for you to cancel, therefore we will GLADLY honor your deposit and reschedule you and your party for another day if the cancellation is no less than 30 days in advance!",
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"question": "What happens if I decide to return to the dock early?",
"answer": "There are no refunds or discounts if you or your party decide to return to the dock early. Once the boat leaves the dock (for any charter regardless of distance or time from dock), any request to return to the dock earlier than scheduled will not result in a refund or discounted rate. An 8HR charter is an 8HR charter, even if you decide to return after 6HRS. It does not become a 6HR charter.",
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"question": "What if I am late for my charter?",
"answer": "Our boats will return to dock as scheduled regardless of late arrivals. If you do not arrive within 1HR of your scheduled departure time, and your captain has not been able to make contact with you or your party, the trip becomes a cancellation and the balance will be charged to the card on file. You are reserving the time of your Captain, his boat, and crew, and our schedules are planned in advance based on the time and date that your party has reserved.",
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"question": "Do I need a fishing license?",
"answer": "A NY state fishing license IS REQUIRED.",
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"question": "Is there a fuel surcharge?",
"answer": "A fuel surcharge will be added to the balance if gas prices at the dock exceed $5.00 per gallon.",
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"question": "What is your policy on drugs and alcohol?",
"answer": "River Valley Charters is fully compliant with the zero-tolerance policy of the USCG and US Customs, which means NO DRUGS ONBOARD! ***Note- Regardless of State Laws, U.S. Coast Guard DOES NOT recognize Marijuana as a 'Legal' substance!***",
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"question": "Is tipping customary?",
"answer": "A first mate may be provided for your Lake Ontario Charter. River Charters will be captained by an RVC Licensed NYS fishing guide. 10-20% Gratuities for the Captain's mate, river charter guides, and ice fishing guides are customary and greatly appreciated.",
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"question": "What are the benefits of booking a multi-day charter?",
"answer": "Fishing for 2 days will give you the option to target both cold and warm water fish.",
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"question": "Are Lake Ontario Walleye trophy-sized?",
"answer": "A good day fishing for eyes will often times land fish in the 7 to 9 lb range and 10lb+ Walleye are not an uncommon occurrence in the Eastern Basin of Lake Ontario!",
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"question": "Can we combine species targeting on an 8-hour trip?",
"answer": "We can often spend some time at the beginning or end of our full day fishing trips trolling for Browns to add fish and diversity to our cooler. This requires time to relocate in the summer months, so often this option is not available on our 6HR trips.",
"category": "fishing",
"sortOrder": 27
},
{
"id": "67d932c7-6eec-4959-b70f-f71988f6beba",
"question": "What equipment is provided for perch trips?",
"answer": "All necessary bait and tackle is included on our perch trips. Fish cleaning for up to 1/2 bucket of perch is included. A cleaning surcharge will be added to your trip if you choose to catch more.",
"category": "fishing",
"sortOrder": 28
}
],
"destinations": [
{
"slug": "henderson-harbor-ny",
"name": "Henderson Harbor",
"type": "city",
"primary": true,
"confirmed": true,
"relationship": "in_region",
"distanceMeters": null
},
{
"slug": "lake-ontario-ny",
"name": "Lake Ontario",
"type": "lake",
"primary": false,
"confirmed": true,
"relationship": "in_region",
"distanceMeters": null
}
],
"primaryDestinationSlug": "henderson-harbor-ny",
"accommodations": [],
"species": [
{
"slug": "walleye",
"commonName": "Walleye",
"category": "freshwater",
"availableMonths": [
4,
5,
6,
7,
8,
9,
1,
2,
3
],
"peakMonths": [
5,
6,
8,
9,
1,
2,
3
],
"seasonalityNotes": "Walleye are a trophy fishery in Lake Ontario, with fish commonly in the 7-9 lb range and 10lb+ not uncommon. May and June are popular for big eyes, but August and September are excellent, especially when they migrate back into our bays. They are also a common target in the rivers and for ice fishing.",
"notes": null
},
{
"slug": "lake-trout",
"commonName": "Lake Trout",
"category": "freshwater",
"availableMonths": [
5,
6,
7,
8,
9
],
"peakMonths": [
5,
6,
7,
8,
9
],
"seasonalityNotes": "Plentiful, often hungry, and providing an appetizing filet, Lake Trout are a great cold-water target species. We successfully target them from May through September, often catching them while trolling for Salmon.",
"notes": null
},
{
"slug": "smallmouth-bass",
"commonName": "Smallmouth Bass",
"category": "freshwater",
"availableMonths": [
6,
7,
8,
9,
10,
11,
12,
1,
2,
3,
4,
5
],
"peakMonths": [
6,
7,
8,
9
],
"seasonalityNotes": "Lake Ontario's Smallmouth Bass are legendary for their size, with 4-5lb fish being average and 7lb+ common. They offer plentiful action from the third Saturday in June through our entire fishing season. They can also be targeted in the rivers and sometimes while perch fishing.",
"notes": null
},
{
"slug": "northern-pike",
"commonName": "Northern Pike",
"category": "freshwater",
"availableMonths": [
5,
6,
7,
8,
9,
1,
2,
3
],
"peakMonths": [
5,
6,
1,
2,
3
],
"seasonalityNotes": "The 'Freshwater Gator' offers exciting action in the back bays during May and June, often caught while fishing for Walleye. They are also a prime target for ice fishing, with exciting opportunities to jig them through the ice.",
"notes": null
},
{
"slug": "steelhead",
"commonName": "Steelhead",
"category": "anadromous",
"availableMonths": [
4,
5,
6,
7
],
"peakMonths": [
4,
5,
6
],
"seasonalityNotes": "Often considered a 'bonus fish' due to their lower numbers, Steelhead can be hooked in the spring while trolling for Browns, and in the summer months by running rods higher in the water column over deeper waters.",
"notes": null
},
{
"slug": "largemouth-bass",
"commonName": "Largemouth Bass",
"category": "freshwater",
"availableMonths": [
5,
6,
7,
8,
9
],
"peakMonths": [
5,
6,
7,
8,
9
],
"seasonalityNotes": "Found in the river systems, Largemouth Bass can be targeted using both live bait and artificial lures. They are available during the river charter season.",
"notes": null
},
{
"slug": "crappie",
"commonName": "Crappie",
"category": "freshwater",
"availableMonths": [
1,
2,
3
],
"peakMonths": [
1,
2,
3
],
"seasonalityNotes": "Crappie are a common target during the winter ice fishing season, offering a good opportunity to fill the bucket.",
"notes": null
},
{
"slug": "brown-trout",
"commonName": "Brown Trout",
"category": "freshwater",
"availableMonths": [
4,
5,
6,
7,
8
],
"peakMonths": [
4,
5,
6
],
"seasonalityNotes": "Our season kicks off after ice out in April with spring Browns, and they remain a target through August. They are aggressive and often hungry, with lure selection and presentation being key. We can often find them in the shallows in May and early June, and they move deeper to be caught alongside Salmon and Lake Trout in July and August.",
"notes": null
}
],
"reviews": [],
"avgRating": null,
"imageUrl": "https://media.meridiaoutdoors.com/media/organization/river-valley-charters/hero.webp",
"photos": [
{
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"altText": "Angler holding a large salmon-like fish on a boat under a clear sky",
"caption": null,
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"category": null
},
{
"url": "https://media.meridiaoutdoors.com/media/organization/river-valley-charters/gallery-001.webp",
"altText": "Two anglers holding a large Lake Trout on a boat, giving a thumbs up",
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"purpose": "gallery",
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},
{
"url": "https://media.meridiaoutdoors.com/media/organization/river-valley-charters/gallery-002.webp",
"altText": "Angler holding a large Steelhead on a boat with fishing rods in the background",
"caption": null,
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"purpose": "gallery",
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},
{
"url": "https://media.meridiaoutdoors.com/media/organization/river-valley-charters/gallery-003.webp",
"altText": "Angler holding a Walleye on a boat at sunset with calm water",
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{
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"altText": "Angler holding a large Northern Pike on a boat under a cloudy sky",
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},
{
"url": "https://media.meridiaoutdoors.com/media/organization/river-valley-charters/gallery-005.webp",
"altText": "Angler holding a Northern Pike on a frozen lake during ice fishing",
"caption": null,
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{
"url": "https://media.meridiaoutdoors.com/media/organization/river-valley-charters/gallery-006.webp",
"altText": "Older angler holding a Walleye on a boat at sunset",
"caption": null,
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},
{
"url": "https://media.meridiaoutdoors.com/media/organization/river-valley-charters/gallery-007.webp",
"altText": "Angler holding a large Brown Trout on a boat with choppy blue water",
"caption": null,
"sortOrder": 7,
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},
{
"url": "https://media.meridiaoutdoors.com/media/organization/river-valley-charters/gallery-008.webp",
"altText": "Angler netting a fish from a boat in choppy water",
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{
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"altText": "Angler holding a Northern Pike on a snowy landscape",
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{
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"altText": "Angler holding a Largemouth Bass by a lake at sunset",
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{
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"altText": "Close-up of a Northern Pike's mouth with a white lure",
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{
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"altText": "Two anglers fishing from the stern of a boat under a cloudy sky",
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]
}