| I value my time. And when I don't have | | | | It's almost never a guessing game. |
| access to a boat and don't want to fish from | | | | |
| shore, I don't hesitate to hire a guide. I | | | | Stan informed me that the fish would start |
| especially like using a guide when I'm in a | | | | biting at Washita Point at sun-up and travel |
| place I've never fished before and/or the | | | | up "the wall," across the lake and down the |
| location is especially good. But finding a | | | | east side. A good guide knows the movements |
| good guide is important. And here is where | | | | of fish, according to the time of year and |
| you need to ask some important questions. | | | | conditions. |
| | | | |
| When looking for a guide, a few important | | | | I should have taken that to the bank. Sure |
| questions will help you distinguish between | | | | enough just as the sun came up the fish |
| the good and the bad. I usually do my | | | | started biting. We made a couple of moves |
| homework first by getting a fishing report | | | | along the wall ( a stretch of the west side |
| for the area I plan to fish. Then I ask my | | | | of Lake Texoma) until we marked a big bunch |
| prospective guide how good the fishing has | | | | of fish. The screen was literally black from |
| been. The good ones will give you the | | | | 30 feet down. And sure enough we had found |
| straight story. I've even had some tell me | | | | the mother lode. |
| it's not worth coming because the fishing is | | | | |
| so slow. Yes they are giving up some | | | | Just as I was looking at the screen I heard |
| potential income. But they are so passionate | | | | Stan say in his normally calm tone "Hey Norm |
| about giving you a good trip that they would | | | | look at that." |
| rather have you go another day when the | | | | |
| fishing is better. That is the mark of a good | | | | With that I spun around to see one of the |
| guide. | | | | rods bent over in the rod holder! |
| | | | |
| The bad ones however will generally try to | | | | "Cool!" I exclaimed. |
| paint the best picture. They may even lie | | | | |
| and tell you the fishing is great. Stay away | | | | After boating a feisty striper another rod |
| from those guides. You will be surprised how | | | | went off, and then another. We ended up with |
| many times the fishing has "suddenly changed" | | | | about 5 fish from that school. One right |
| once you leave the dock. | | | | after another! |
| | | | |
| You can also get a good idea of how good a | | | | We would make a few more moves to try and get |
| guide is from their attitude. Once I asked a | | | | in front of the school as it moved along it's |
| guide what I can expect from a trip. She | | | | normal summer-time pattern. A few more stops |
| told me that we would fish until I caught my | | | | produced a total of 20 stripers for the |
| limit or until noon and that would be it. | | | | morning. This was not bad considering it is |
| She didn't seem very enthusiastic. | | | | August, typically a slower time of the year. |
| | | | |
| On the other hand, the guide I did hire said | | | | As we continued to follow the fish we found a |
| he was going to go out and catch bait before | | | | school of fish surfacing near shore, chasing |
| light and we would fish until we caught a | | | | bait. We ran in there and fired some bait |
| limit, no matter how long it takes. Now | | | | into the area on a light spinning rod. My |
| that's what I wanted to hear! | | | | first cast was timed poorly. But the live |
| | | | shad was literally pounced on by a school of |
| A few other tips to help you distinguish the | | | | smallmouth bass! I caught one fish that |
| good from the bad. See if they have a | | | | jumped at least 5 feet into the air! The |
| web-site. If so look at their reports and | | | | smallies were mixed with largemouths and |
| pictures. See if you can contact other | | | | kentucky bass, all in one spot! We proceded |
| customers. Some guides will give you | | | | to catch a mixed variety of the bass. |
| references. | | | | |
| | | | Then Stan announced we were going to try for |
| Another great question to ask is how many | | | | more bait. We made a quick run to a creek |
| days a year he fishes. If a guide is not | | | | nearby, where he knew the bait would b. And |
| fishing 200 days or more, he probably isn't | | | | sure enough they were there. A few throws of |
| worth your time. | | | | the net later and we were gone. |
| | | | |
| So now you've done your homework and hired a | | | | When we arrived back at the spot where the |
| good guide (hopefully). The real reason you | | | | bass had been we found a school of white bass |
| want a good guide is because he/she will know | | | | had joined the party! This provided us with |
| how best to put you on fish. Rather than | | | | another hour of great fishing as Stan would |
| blather on about how they do that, I will | | | | throw a handful of live chum into the area |
| just illustrate a trip I recently made. | | | | where I threw my bait. It didn't take long! I |
| | | | caught a few more fish and jumped off a |
| I've been fishing with Stan Constant (Lake | | | | really nice smallie. |
| Texoma Guide Service 800-567-FISH)for two | | | | |
| years. Every trip with Stan is enjoyable if | | | | By 1:30 we had elected to go to Alberta Creek |
| it's nothing else. He is a personable guy | | | | Marina for lunch. After that we were back at |
| with a real passion for fishing. And the | | | | the dock. Never being the one to give up |
| trip I took on August 26, 2002 was no | | | | fishing, Stan suggested that I wet a line for |
| different. | | | | a catfish or big drum at the dock. Three |
| | | | large drum later I was ready to start heading |
| I met Stan at Catfish Bay Marina and helped | | | | for home. |
| him launch the boat. Normally Stan already | | | | |
| has the boat in the water and is loaded up | | | | Stan had expertly filleted out my catch. I |
| with bait by the time I show up. But this day | | | | had pictures in the camera. We settled up and |
| I was very early. So I gave him a hand. He | | | | shook hands. |
| was more than happy to have me help out. | | | | |
| | | | Another fine trip in the books! Again, if |
| By 6:45am we had all the bait we needed and | | | | you value your time as I do, don't hesitate |
| were heading out of Catfish Bay. A good | | | | to find a guide. A good one is a wise |
| guide knows where and when to catch bait. | | | | investment. |