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