re: IM all fished out... Nightly rant

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I would get me some worms and fish for perch all day if I could.

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I wished it were that easy.

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Quit bitching about being a guide it can be that easy if you want it to be.

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If it were that easy, don't you think more people would do it?

I wouldn't trade it back for my desk job though.

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So do you do the fishing tourneys or commercial fish?

Does that do well in this economy?

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Ive done both. Right now, I guide 250 days per year.

For a few years, i traveled and fished the BASS Trail and even some on the FLW. I just hated the travel and eventually settled down as a full time guide.

The area I live in has a very big population. It also has a lot of new people moving in every day. This helps with my client base. I also have a very big client base that has been fishing with me for over 10 years. I stay very booked.

When the economy tanked a few years back, it hurt. A big portion of my client base was in the construction business. I had to eventually replace a big portion of them with new people.

I also purchased a lure company that I am now running to add some income and help with my business. Between the two, it keeps me pretty busy..

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Congratz.. after almost 12 yrs at my job.. I still wonder what else I could do.

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I actually never thought about fishing for a living

I worked for two companies after I got my Engineering degree. Both shut down and moved out of town. I was looking for something and fished a few big tournaments. Got second in a big one, won a boat, sold it, started doing that.

It just kinda happened. I just really never went back to work...

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I've been on a guided fishing trip once, and had a great guide but felt weird the entire time. He wanted to do everything for me except cast, and I'm not used to not helping with everything. Eventually he realized that I really didn't mind helping him. Great guide though. No way I could have fished that stuff in Maine without one.

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Guiding is not much different than anything else in the service industry. Just reading people.

First thing I do everyday is figure out what the people I have want out of the trip. Exactly what i can do with them (depending on their skills) and how I will get them there.

Other than that, its just a bunch of casting, talking about college football and telling lies.

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I've been on a guided fishing trip once, and had a great guide but felt weird the entire time. He wanted to do everything for me except cast, and I'm not used to not helping with everything. Eventually he realized that I really didn't mind helping him. Great guide though. No way I could have fished that stuff in Maine without one.

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I've always felt the same way. I only care about being put on the fish. I can handle the rest.

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There's a reason I'm in fisheries. I love water, freshwater and saltwater. I envy those of you that guide, but it is work. Anyone that thinks otherwise hasn't spent much time dealing with people or fishing.

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It is no different than any other job. Its a lot of work but worth it.

The summer is a major grind for me. 10-12 hours per day on the boat is tough on a old man... Two hours of prep per day, taking care of clients, tackle, food, boat, it is a grind...

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I would get me some worms and fish for perch all day if I could. I love fishing for them.

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You'd do better with shiners or jigs.

I'm watching all 5 Marvel movies leading up to the Avengers tomorrow at midnight.