Bassin' The Net (a very fishy blog)

Savings Made Easier by Ebates

noreply@blogger.com (Dick Loupe) — Thu, 29 Dec 2016 01:44:00 +0000

When shopping online for fishing products, or anything else, check out the stores that are signed up with Ebates first. Better yet, get the Ebates app added to your phone and computer so it will alert you when you are on a shopping site that is signed up with Ebates. When you have over a certain amount or rebates accumulated (you decide) they send you a check! It's that easy to save extra money ... and you can still use coupon codes at your favorite sites too.

By the way, the season is picking up here in central Florida. The temps have been in the 80's for several days and the bucks are beginning to move up. It's going to be an early spawn if this keeps up. Now that the elections are over, the bookings are beginning to pour in, so if any of my customers are thinking about coming down this year, get your reservation set early with us so you get the prime time. Best times are before and after the full moons and the new moons of each month from now all the way through April.

It's going to be a bumper crop and trophy-sized largemouth bass in the bass capital of the world!

Come on ... let's go fishing!

WATER, WATER, EVERYWHERE ...

noreply@blogger.com (Dick Loupe) — Sun, 16 Oct 2016 17:57:00 +0000

Well, after all of the summer rains, along comes Matthew and dumps on us all the way up the state ... as if we needed more water.

So now many of the stand-alone lakes are so full that many have overflowed the ramps, needing a 4-wheel drive to back a boat in and don't even think about turning it off until after you pull back out, or you will ruin your vehicle's engine. The Winter Haven Chain is so full that it makes it difficult to go between the lakes through the canals because the water is high enough that you can't get under the bridges. And the Kissimmee Chain is so full that you would think that the bass are already bedding because they are back up in what used to be the shallows.

Doesn't much matter what you throw because the bass are hitting most everything, from frogs and buzz-type baits (like the new Double Plopper by River 2 Sea) first thing in the morning to swimbaits, flukes, worms, jigs, etc. for the rest of the day. In the tournaments, it as been taking around 30lbs to win them.

It is my understanding that Okeechobee is experiencing the same thing and that there has been so much water released out into the ocean that the saltwater guides are having to go many more miles out to sea to catch anything. Also, several of the tarpon and snook have come all the way into Okeechobee and are thriving quite well and can be caught.

Some calls and email inquiries are starting to come in as we close in on the election. I, for one, will be so glad when it is over. I don't think I have ever experienced such a messed up campaign as I have this year. We should all be praying for this country, no matter what the outcome is.

Also, we need to be praying for all those who were devastated by hurricane Matthew and for those who are trying to assist and repair the damages. My wife's boss is going on a mission trip to Haiti next month, as I am sure they will be welcomed and be a blessing to the people of Haiti.

BACK IN THE SADDLE AGAIN ...

noreply@blogger.com (Dick Loupe) — Tue, 20 Sep 2016 21:52:00 +0000

Well, it has been a very slow and hot summer for us here in Central Florida, and recently it has been very wet too. The lakes are all up as much as two feet so the bass have been scattered all over the place, finding a lot of runoff water which is providing a multitude of critters for them to feed on.

Guiding has been extremely slow, but it was expected as it is always slow during an election year. Funny thing is, it always picks back up after the election is over ... no matter whether a democrat or a republican is elected! Just doesn't make sense, but that's just the way it is.

My wife has been gearing up for the upcoming season by completely revamping the website, www.bassfishingguide.com. She was kind of forced into it by our website host, GoDaddy.com, which completely changed their website building program. But I think it was a good thing because it really hadn't been updated much, other than adding photographs and customer's names each year. If you take a look at it, let us know what you think. Constructive criticism is always welcomed.

I am still having some issues with my neck surgery, but I don't believe it will interfere with me guiding this year. I am looking forward to "getting back in the saddle again."

Here are a few photos from last season ~

FINALLY FISHING - AND A FIRST-TIME EVENT!

noreply@blogger.com (Dick Loupe) — Sat, 26 Mar 2016 00:41:00 +0000

Still recovering and going to therapy after our auto accident and neck surgery, but the fishing guiding must go on! Although I am getting a later start in the season than usual, it is proving to be a bumper crop of good-size largemouth bass. Most of my trips have been this month, but I believe April is going to be a good month for some big toads too.

As you know, the majority of my guide fishing is done with live bait ... wild or domestic shiners, running around 6-7 inches in length. That is the natural forage for the Florida strain of largemouth bass, along with bluegill, shad, minnows, crappie, shellcracker, frogs, and just about anything else that they can fit into their bucket mouth! The wild shiners are very difficult for the suppliers to procure this month because they also are bedding in such shallow water that their boats can't get to them. So that is when I resort to using domestic shiners. They are not nearly as active, but are much hardier and sometimes you can use them for more than one fish, if they are not damaged much.

Today I had something happen that I've never had happen before. There have been other times when a bass would start chasing one shiner, and then give up on that one and go for one of the others. But today I had a bass eat one shiner and before the customer set the hook, that bass ate another shiner of my other customer. They both set their hook and they both hooked it!


Double Hook-Up

Both of these guys have fished with me for several years, but they are having a banner time this year and, because of that, there was no squabble over who caught this one. See below as to how well their trip is going this year ... this was over the last three days, and they still have one or two more days coming up!

It's A New Year ... Finally!

noreply@blogger.com (Dick Loupe) — Mon, 11 Jan 2016 03:01:00 +0000

Boy, am I glad 2015 is over. At my age, I'm not normally one to rush time to pass, but the last half of 2015 has been kinda rough. On July 29th my wife and I were in an auto accident that totaled my Suburban.

We were both rushed to the hospital by ambulance. After several CT scans, nothing broken or bleeding. But upon further study with MRIs my wife and I have both had to undergo neck surgeries that involved fusion, plates and screws. At this time we are both recovering from those surgeries and praying that no more are in the near future.

Needless to say, my fishing days have come to a screeching halt until further notice, from the surgeon, that is. But I have been keeping up with what is going on "through the grapevine." Most all of the waters in Central Florida for the bass population are beginning their transition. We have had extremely hot weather all the way past going into the winter season, to just beginning to have some cold fronts reach this far south. So this season's start to the spawn has been delayed. In addition, we have had significant rains that have maintained much higher than normal water levels in all of the lakes that are not controlled, and even those that are controlled contain more water than usual. Some ramps are almost leveled out to the water's edge!

Recent tournaments have had lower than usual totals weighed in, including a recent Lakeland Junior Bassmasters tournament held on Lake Kissimmee yesterday. One division only took 9.89 lbs to win, a young man named Sammyjay Acree.

He has been quite well over the last year, having won his division overall and their classic, and he might well turn out to be the next Kevin VanDam!

He already has his picture on one of his sponsor's products, Bass Munchers lures. Might want to keep your eye on this one, you can be sure I will.

AWOL

noreply@blogger.com (Dick Loupe) — Tue, 13 Oct 2015 20:56:00 +0000

I probably don't have any followers left, but if there are any I want to apologize for being silent for so long. Haven't really had much to comment about. The fishing hasn't been anything to get excited about for a couple of years, but hopefully that will change with this upcoming season. Although my season is going to have a late start because I am going to be laid up for a couple of months due to an upcoming surgery on my neck.

South Caroline isn't the only one dealing with high water, although ours is still staying in the lakes and rivers, but they are all very high and don't see them going down in the near future.

As we are starting to have a touch of cooler weather, the crappie fishermen are gearing up for their season as well. My wife works at a tackle shop and she said they have been coming in to buy minnows, crappie jigs, and to outfit their boats with our rod holders.

I'm sure you bass fishermen have been checking out some of the new products that were introduced at ICAST this year. I think the lure that's going to be the big thing for Central Florida will be Live Target's Sunfish. It's due to hit the shelves some time next month and my wife is watching for them at the tackle shop where she works.

I'm in the process of going over my boats with a fine tooth comb, making sure they are guide trip ready. Of course, I am coming across a few things that need to either be tweaked, upgraded, or fixed. One thing I don't have to worry about is the rod holders on my pontoon boat. Shortly after developing our Katydid Fishing Products rod holders I added them to my pontoon boat and have been using them ever since.

The only change I made was when we upgraded from using wing nuts to using T-knobs, which are easier to tighten down. They work great for big bass fishing with shiners. With the cooler weather hitting up north, many of my repeat customers are calling and emailing to set up their fishing dates for this year with my guide service, Southern Outdoorsman Guide Service.

Will try to keep updating the blog from now on, so FISH ON!

noreply@blogger.com (Dick Loupe) — Fri, 21 Jun 2013 02:49:00 +0000

MO-BLING

The multi-lure rigs have become quite popular since the Alabama Rig hit the scene. Now you can even buy rods specifically designed to handle the added casting weight, not to mention the added catch weight if you hook up on more than one fish. This type of fishing can take its toll on an angler's arm in no time.

That's where the Mo-Bling becomes an advantage ... by replacing some of the lures with willow blades, you still have the illusion of a small school of baitfish but, by only actually having three baits with hooks and a light-weight spinnerbait type head, casting is quite a bit easier on the arm. Now you will have some strength left for when you get bit by one to three bass and need to land them in that all-important tournament!!!

Of course, this makes for a lot of fun when you're just out practicing or fun fishing. There is also the original Mo-Rig which is even lighter than the Mo-Bling because, instead of five lures it only has three. Catching three fish at a time is possible on both rigs. These rigs work great for trolling, too

noreply@blogger.com (Dick Loupe) — Thu, 04 Oct 2012 14:23:00 +0000

The only way to tell fall has arrived in Florida is the color change in the lilly pads, a few leaves falling from less than half of the trees, and nights that have become bearable. The good news is that has started the waters cooling off slightly, but just enough to get the bass to start schooling up. I noticed it on this last moon just before I was ready to call it a day around 11:00 am. It is still too hot during the day to stay much longer than that, but I had to cast into them for a bit. The sad thing is I didn't have anything in the boat that day that they really seemed that interested in. Oh, we caught a few on swim baits and a few on live shiners, but nothing to brag about, so I won't.

After we get some substantial fronts through to cool the waters even more, get your small bait gear ready for some chunking and winding into hoards of schoolies.

noreply@blogger.com (Dick Loupe) — Tue, 11 Sep 2012 01:52:00 +0000

MY APOLOGIES!

Sorry that I have totally neglected the blog for so long, but my wife and I have been so busy with our businesses that there is hardly time to blog. Working 30 hrs/week at a tackle store around scheduled fishing guide trips, keeping up an online tackle store (www.moretackle.com), and promoting/selling at tackle shows for our manufacturing company's rod holders (www.katydidfishingproducts.com) - doesn't leave very much 'spare' time.

Fishing has been unpredictable lately because of such a fluctuation in the water levels. Since Isaac skirted Florida and dumped a fair amount of rain the runoff has clouded the water and pushed it up into higher grasslines, but then they open the flood gates and the water drops again. Pretty good fishing while the water is moving, but still dirty unless you can get into places where the grasses are filtering it well.

The summer heat has been sweltering this year, too. You know it's gonna be a rough day when you start sweating outside and the sun hasn't even come up yet! It's just too hot to eat, even for the fish. Soon though it will start cooling down a bit at night which will stir their instincts to bunch up into schools and start fattening up for the winter months. Fall fishing can be a blast if you like catching a lot of numbers. Getting the bigger ones takes a little extra patience, since they still lurk below the smaller ones, waiting for their leftover kills.

I should have more to discuss when things get busier. Until then, fish really early, really late, and watch some football inbetween ... or consider a fishing trip further north where it's cooler and more enjoyable.

LABOR DAY ADDITIONS

noreply@blogger.com (Dick Loupe) — Tue, 06 Sep 2011 02:18:00 +0000

It was no labor at all to add these great items to More Tackle. Hope there's something here to peak your interest. We only have one or two of each model of the Fin-Nor reels, so first come, first served.

Fin-Nor Reels:

Offshore Star Drag
Santiago
Sportfisher Spinning
Sportfisher Lever Drag
Marquesa
Megalite

MonoMaster by Grasshopper Outdoors

Keep checking back periodically for more great items as they get added to the site.

Thanks for shopping with More Tackle and God bless you all!

Fly Fishing for Bass

noreply@blogger.com (Dick Loupe) — Wed, 24 Aug 2011 01:30:00 +0000

I’ve been fishing since I was a kid, and from the beginning, I knew my favorite times on the water would be when I was bass fishing. For about 95% of my fishing life, I used a spinning reel.I picked up a bait caster once or twice, but was never in thick enough cover to need heavy line, so I rarely even bothered.It is fun, fast, convenient and little still gets me as excited as a smallmouth crushing a topwater lure, but I never realized how much I was actually missing out on.

After I graduated college, my mentality toward fishing began to change. While always enjoyable, fishing just was losing a bit of it’s luster. I wanted more of a challenge. I thought back to a trip I took with my family to Yellowstone, where my dad and I had a guide float us down a river with a couple fly rods.I couldn’t get the fly to float to save my life, but I realized the scenery, the quiet, and the focus each cast took was what I was missing in my current outings.So I borrowed an old rod from my neighbor and decided to try fly-fishing.I’ve since found it is endlessly adaptable and never boring. It truly elevates fishing from a hobby to an art form. If you’re interested in getting started, here are a few suggestions to help you begin.

Just Do It

When I started I pored over magazines and even watched a couple of instructional videos. After some extensive studying I quickly realized there’s no substitution for experience. Like golf and other instinctive sports, fly-casting relies on muscle memory that improves with practice. If you have a friend who is already an experienced fly fisherman you’re golden. I had just moved right outside of New York City and was on my own.I found that local fly shops were happy to let me try a few rods while handing out helpful advice. Some shops even offer classes in casting, reel loading, or even tying flies. Look for a group locally or online that accepts beginners. Then, the best way to learn how to fly fish is go out and do it. Also, a day spent with an experienced guide can be worth more than weeks on the water by yourself. You won’t regret it.

Don't Go Crazy

Fly-fishing, like most hobbies, can get expensive. Open a catalog and prepare to be stunned by the infinite variety of rods, reels, lines, leaders, tippets, auxiliary equipment and, of course, flies. Fly rods and reels can be several thousand dollars on the high end, but can also be found for less than one hundred. I found that most other traditional fly-fishing gear, like waders, boots, vest, etc. were unnecessary since I was usually fishing from a boat and already had what I needed from years of bass fishing.I was able to find anything else I needed online at a discounted price after asking the local shops what they recommended and why.

Don’t Give Up

Any kind of fishing takes patience and perseverance, fly-fishing even more so. The beauty of fly-fishing is that it merges aspects of both science and art. The satisfaction of one perfect cast, the line looping effortlessly and a fly landing exactly where you sent it is worth five – maybe even ten – bad ones. It makes all those stares I received from my neighbors when I was practicing behind my home in Long Island worth it.If you love bass fishing and you’re up for an adventure, try hitting the water with a fly rod. There’s a good chance you’ll get hooked.

Written by Adam Coholan

On Twitter @Coho22

HOT ~ HOT ~ HOT

noreply@blogger.com (Dick Loupe) — Wed, 06 Jul 2011 01:26:00 +0000

Hot Lures –

Summer fish and how they react. In the summertime, when the water temperature gets in the 80’s, fish seem to get more lethargic and become rather finicky. So, what can you do to remedy this kind of behavior? You can use a Senko worm, which is pictured here.

You can rig this worm three different ways. The way this picture shows you here is a Texas rig. When using a Texas rig, run your line through a bullet weight, size of your choice (if using a weight), and then tie onto your worm hook. I prefer a Palomar knot because of its strength and it won’t come untied. Then run the hook down into the top of the worm the same length as the top of the hook prior to the 90 degree curve. Bring the hook out the side of the worm and pull the worm up to that top section of the hook. Turn the hook back toward the worm and bury it back into the worm, making it weedless. If it is a tough worm, you might want to run the hook all the way through and then back it back inside. That way you get easier penetration at the hookset, but you might also be more likely to hang up on vegetation.

Or, you can rig it by putting an “O” ring (a size 6) around the Senko worm and roll it on to the middle of the bait. This lets the bait oscillate and flex as you work it, giving the bait more action. You can also use just a regular 6”-10” worm, working it around the edge of the grass or out in open water around brush piles and grass beds.

Here is another way. A lot of people don't know about this. You can use a Carolina rig, as this picture illustrates.

You will see I have a jerk bait, such as a Thunder Stick, a Long-A Bomber, or a Rapala. This type of rigging will keep the bait just up off the bottom. As you are working the Carolina rig with the weight, this pulls the bait down toward the bottom. As you hesitate, the bait floats backs up a little ways. It mimics an injured minnow. Believe me, you will get bit.

You can also use a Senko worm with or without a weight by rigging two different styles. Use a Texas rig or put your “O” ring on the Senko using a weedless hook. Either way lets you get back and throw it into the grass, pads, gator grass, or pencil reeds without hanging up. These are my favorite ways of fishing a Senko.

Some other lures you can use in the summertime would be lipless crank baits, frogs, and spinner baits. Sometimes around this time of the year you will see fish schooling. When this occurs, take and throw your lipless crank bait into the school. If this does not trigger a strike, you could start fan casting around for the fish. Even though they are not on the surface, this has been known to still trigger a strike. The best way you can find where these fish will come up is by watching the bait fish. If you see the bait start skipping across the top of the water, get ready, because something is chasing them. If you find yourself in this situation, you can catch a lot of fish in a hurry.

Hot Time In The Summertime –

Let me tell you about this one trip I had on May 28^th. The water temperature was 85°. I had four people (two couples) from Fort Lauderdale, Florida. We were using live bait on Lake Kissimmee after coming out of River Ranch on the Kissimmee River. Suzanne March had called me about this trip a few weeks before. She and her husband, Mike, and Patrick and his girlfriend all went together on my pontoon boat to go bass fishing. We also went catching … we caught around 15 or 20 bass, which is already a nice morning. Patrick is playing with his cell phone when he gets a strike, and this picture is what that strike produced - a12 lb. 1 oz trophy largemouth.

That was the second largest fish that I had guided for this year. So, while we were taking pictures, I said we've got about four shiners left. Let's put all new shiners on and make another trip around the same area. Well, guess what happened. So Susan and her girlfriend got in the two back seats and we went around again through the same area. This picture will tells the rest of the story. This fish weighed 13 pounds on the nose.

Even I have never had this happen on a guided trip. These are two fish of a lifetime and are now the two biggest largemouth bass caught in this season, which I generally consider begins in November and ends in May. They were both photographed and then released in the same area. Bet you would like to know exactly where in Lake Kissimmee I have been fishing all season long. A successful guide never shares all of his secrets, especially the best ones! After all … it is my livelihood.

Hot Tips –

There are a number of ways for keeping yourself from overheating while summertime fishing. First, make sure you have plenty of water on hand. It is extremely easy to get dehydrated before you even realize it. Second, wear lightweight clothing that is light colored, breathable and dries easily. Either wear long sleeves and pants for protection from the sun’s damaging rays or wear a strong sunscreen. My dermatologist recommends Neutrogena’s 85 SPF. Third, either carry some towels on board to soak with water and place around your neck or on your head for a quick cool down; use one of the various neck wraps available at local tackle or sporting goods stores; or there are neck scarfs/ties that have beads sewn in that, when soaked in water, absorb and hold it all day.

So, keep your cool and have a hot time on the water this summer.

Late Spring/Early Summer Bassin'

noreply@blogger.com (Dick Loupe) — Tue, 31 May 2011 23:05:00 +0000

TROPHY BASS

Generally, a bass weighing in at 10 pounds or better is considered a “trophy.” Many, including my wife’s father, have set that bar for whether or not to have a bass mounted. Her father fished all of his life in waters from Canada to Florida and never boated that 10 pound plus bass. He caught a lot of bass, both largemouth and smallmouth, walleye, muskie, and northern pike throughout his lifetime; and generally caught more than anyone he was with, but never the trophy largemouth bass that he sought after. His wife (my mother-in-law) caught two in her lifetime and he made her mount them both! Now, thanks to fiberglass replicas, we are able to “have our cake and eat it too” so to speak. We are able to have a “copy” trophy mount on our wall or table, but we are also able to release these trophies back into their habitat to continue producing more bass that are genetically prone to growing up to trophy size … like the one below:

This is a picture of the biggest bass landed this year. On or about March the 10^th we get a call from Tom Keady and Gail Klusek from New York. Tom and Gail have a place at Lily Lake in Frostproof, Florida. They were out at a restaurant and Tom picked up a copy of IN THE FIELD Magazine. They came across the article that I had written back in January for the February issue about schooling bass, and what Joyce (my wife) and I do every Christmas morning, which is to go fishing and spend a little spiritual time with our deceased Dads, who showed us the great outdoors that God has provided for us. Anyway, Tom read this and was inspired by it to the point that they called to book a trip, and this is what became of that trip. This is Gail's 12 lb 12 oz largemouth bass, also pictured in my last article with Gail. That same morning they had one that weighed 6 lb 12 oz. Both were released back into the lake to give these fish a chance to lay their eggs, so we can have the opportunity to catch more like them.

SUMMER SCHOOL

As the kids are getting ready to get out of school, the bass are starting to get into schools. For the last couple of weeks I have been catching schooling bass in Lake Kissimmee using both live bait with medium sized shiners and with artificial baits, such as lipless crankbaits and plastic swimbaits. They have ranged anywhere from dinks too small to measure all the way up to around 6 lbs. I’ve heard of bass schooling up in Lake Toho, also, but it is that time of the year. With all the new hatchlings of a multitude of panfish, shad, and minnows, the bass are feeding on a virtual smorgasbord. They have been known to gorge to the point of regurgitation and then feed some more. It’s kind of like going out to eat to a buffet and, since you can’t make up your mind what to eat, you have some of everything. At least we know when to stop … or most of us do, anyway!

This is a time that can be a lot of fun, but also very frustrating. If you are lucky enough to be in the right place at the right time when the bass run bait to the surface which lets you know where they are feeding, then you can cast almost any small bait just past the school and then run it back through it, almost guaranteeing a strike. But if you are not lucky, you will run your trolling motor batteries down to nothing trying to chase after the schools that are just out of casting distance. Your best bet is to determine what areas are holding the bait, and why. Once you figure that out, concentrate on keeping your boat near those areas and sooner or later the water will appear to boil as the bass run the bait to the surface sometime during the chase. It’s kind of like “feast or famine” or “hurry up and wait.” Once you are in the right areas, continue to fan cast even if you don’t see them on the surface, because the bass and the bait are still in the general vicinity.

Another thing to keep in mind during these feeding frenzies is that generally it is the smaller bass that do the chasing, gorging, and regurgitating. The larger bass have wised up (or have become basically lazy) and will cruise a little deeper beneath the school, scarfing up the injured, falling bait and regurgitation. If you have had your fun already with the smaller bass, try twitching a fluke or anything that mimics an injured baitfish, a little deeper using a #3 barrel swivel with about 18” of leader. The purpose of this is two-fold - by using a swivel, it helps to eliminate line twist that so often occurs when using twitching bait; and the minimal weight added using the barrel swivel will help bring the bait slightly deeper and create a slow fall during each pause between twitches.

End Of A Season

noreply@blogger.com (Dick Loupe) — Mon, 16 May 2011 02:08:00 +0000

Bass fishing this season has been the best I have seen in a number of years. I know this year started off cold and rainy, but January and February has come and gone, but not without its rewards. And March and April has been a blast. I have fished all around Polk County, and it has been great. As most of you already know by the amount of boats I’ve seen, the Winter Haven chain has been a good producer since we have had enough water in the canals to be able to commute from lake to lake. Lake Kissimmee has continued to live up to its reputation as one of Florida’s best producers for most all of the sporting fish.

I have had some of the best clients that a fishing guide could ever ask for. Here are a few pictures to show you just what I mean about this last season (which I consider runs from November of 2010 through April of 2011):

Some of these customers caught their largest bass ever ... and some their very first bass! I hope I am able to continue introducing anglers of all ages to this wonderful sport and spiritual resource as I continue to evolve from a fisher of fish to a fisher of men.

Thank you Jesus for blessing me and my patrons with a bountiful season.

TAKE A LESSON FROM NATURE

noreply@blogger.com (Dick Loupe) — Wed, 20 Apr 2011 00:54:00 +0000

There are a number of ways the fish population can be altered … for either the good or the bad. Some ways occur from nature … some occur by man. But we need to become aware of both.

First I think it would be good for you to understand the impact that the fishing industry has on the state of Florida. Florida is considered the “Fishing Capital of the World.” This title is backed up by surveys done every 5 years by the US Census Bureau. According to the Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission, the economic impact is somewhat staggering. Overall retail sales are $4.4 billion (yes, that’s billion) with freshwater sales making up $1.5 billion of that. It supports 75,736 jobs of which 23,480 jobs are in freshwater, yielding $728,646,722 in salaries, wages, and business owner’s incomes. Non-resident fishing expenditures total $1 billion, for a total economic output (ripple effect) of $7.5 billion. What that means for the state directly is $550 million in state and local tax revenues … more than 3 times the revenue from oranges! Florida has 2.8 million anglers, with 885,000 being non-residents.

Mother Nature’s “Cleansings”?

It’s not just the over-catching of these fun and tasty creatures that have caused this. Natural causes have also had their effects on Florida. The hurricanes of a few years ago took their toll as various news media made it clear that these immense storms can cause devastation, but it may be difficult to see how hurricanes and tropical storms could affect fish. Yet it becomes evident when you see fish kills following a major storm event, due to several occurrences. There can be changes in the saline content in freshwater due to a saltwater storm surge. Flooding waters can carry fish into low lying areas and, once the flood waters recede, the fish are left in pools that eventually dry up, leaving dead fish.

Low oxygen content is the most common cause of storm-induced fish kills. This happens from excessive wind pushing the surface water to one end of the lake. Then the water from the bottom rises to the surface, bringing all of the bottom debris with it, which is naturally low in oxygen. In addition, this bottom water may include hydrogen sulfide which, when in high enough concentrations, can be lethal to fish; and can be detected by any "rotten egg" or "sewage" odors. Bacteria present in the sediments brought to the surface also uses up oxygen. I’m sure you’ve heard the phrase, “The lake has turned over."

Florida, known as the Sunshine State, rarely has long periods of cloudy days, except for storms of this type. During this time, photosynthesis in organisms and aquatic plants is reduced. Therefore, these oxygen-producers use up what’s already in the water, causing an overall depletion of oxygen, leading to fish kills.

Although we do normally get a lot of sunshine, it’s not always associated with heat. Recent cold snaps have affected Florida's freshwater and marine fisheries as water temperatures dropped below normal for extended periods. Hundreds of reports of cold-related fish kills occurred across the state last year. Fish may either die from cold stress or become more susceptible to disease. Warm-water species are more vulnerable to cold temperatures. In fresh water, some native fish have been impacted, although most deaths occurred among non-native species, such as tilapia. As a reminder, harvesting distressed or dead fish for consumption is not advised under any circumstances.

Disease Infestation

The largemouth bass virus, LMBV, is the only virus to have been associated with a lethal disease of largemouth bass. While LMBV has been isolated from a lot of other species of warm-water fishes, the disease response has only been observed in largemouth bass. Since 1995, LMBV has been implicated as a source of mortality in more than 25 fish kills in the United States, specifically throughout the Southeast and the Midwest. Fortunately, evidence suggests that fish populations develop immunity following exposure to the virus. Fish kills associated with LMBV have also declined over time, and to our knowledge, none have been observed over the past two years. In fact, fish kills which may be a result of LMBV have been rarely reported in Florida during the past 10 years. Although, in the past 3 years, three fish kills in Florida were evaluated as potentially being caused by LMBV. A bass die-off in a private pond near Tampa was diagnosed as being caused by low oxygen levels. A second disease event at Lake Butler in Orange County in 2003 was associated with an outbreak of bacteria. In 2004, a die-off of largemouth bass at Lake Hollingsworth in Polk County followed a lake-wide alum treatment by the county, and the results of the investigations were inconsistent with LMBV disease.

Research of LMBV is ongoing at the University of Florida, U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, Auburn University, and the Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation. Disease and fish kills in bass have not been linked to LMBV in Florida. However, buoyancy problems and swim bladder lesions, symptoms associated with the virus, and an antibody response to the virus were observed in bass following a bass-only fish kill in Lake Harris in the early 1990s. The bass virus was also isolated from bass that had been collected from Lakes Weir and Holly during a disease episode in this same period of the 1990s.

Tissue and blood samples collected from bass in 45 water bodies since 1999 indicated that the virus, but not the disease, is widely distributed throughout Florida. Results of laboratory studies strongly suggest that many bass become immune upon exposure to LMBV. A distinction should always be made between fish that are infected with LMBV and fish that are diseased as a result of the virus. Almost all of the populations sampled in Florida and included in this data were not experiencing disease problems or fish kills.

There are limits as to how many game and nongame freshwater fish you can keep and retain, and this varies from one body of water to another. In addition, there are various regulations on the methods of taking freshwater fish. To find out these regulations, pick up a Florida Freshwater Fishing Regulations booklet at your local tackle or marine dealer.

The restrictions are much tighter on Florida’s largemouth bass than on panfish, such as bluegill, sunfish, crappie, shellcracker, etc. But due to a number of factors, the limits have been reduced on them, too. Although we have such a widely dispersed population of freshwater fish, being able to fish within a 30-60 minutes drive of anywhere in the state, conservation is more paramount than ever. Information gathered lately shows that the resources have been slowing eroding. If you talk to anyone who has fished Florida for many years, they will tell you that it’s not “like the good ol’ days” when they could catch stringers upon stringers of bass; not to mention the coolers full of panfish. The trophy populations of all freshwater fish have also declined severely. That is why catch limits have been reduced … to protect one of Florida’s greatest forms of entertainment and revenue resources, the fishing industry.

Law of the Wild

The “Law of the Wild” says kill only when you are hungry. A photographer captured these amazing pictures a couple of years ago and said he was astounded by what he saw:

"These three brothers (cheetahs) have been living together since they left their mother at about 18 months old,' he said.’ On the morning we saw them, they seemed not to be hungry, walking quickly but stopping sometimes to play together. 'At one point, they met a group of impala who ran away. But one youngster was not quick enough and the brothers caught it easily'." These extraordinary scenes followed.

Then they just walked away without hurting him.

When fishing, we too should only keep what we are going to eat, and release the rest. This is why I am so adamant about Catch, Photograph, Release (CPR). That is what this lady, Sheila Daniel of Charlotte, NC, has done every year for over 10 years, as she comes to fish with me every spring … and has caught at least one bass over 8 lbs every year.

Note that even the cheetahs realize that the younger meat is the best, so let your trophies go to make more babies … for your babies to be able to grow up and catch them!

Florida Bassin'

noreply@blogger.com (Dick Loupe) — Fri, 18 Mar 2011 14:19:00 +0000

Thought you might get a kick out of this video one of my recent customers put up on YouTube.

DEER TREE STAND ... I mean SWING

noreply@blogger.com (Dick Loupe) — Thu, 03 Mar 2011 19:33:00 +0000

If you live anywhere in the wilderness or country, you may have had a deer or two wonder into your back yard. You might even have feed or a salt lick available for them. But I never thought of providing things for them to "play" with, so here is one buck that improvised with a backyard tree swing.

Makes you wonder how they got him untangled from the swing! Now that would have made for an interesting video, too.

BOAT LAUNCH PREPAREDNESS, SAFETY & ETIQUETTE

noreply@blogger.com (Dick Loupe) — Wed, 16 Feb 2011 03:03:00 +0000

You saw the picture of the guy launching his boat backwards. I’m not so sure that this actually happened the way they said but, whatever it was, I am sure that something went horribly wrong, which was most likely the result of an oversight of something.

Many people and organizations discuss boating safety, which generally refers to “on the water” activities. And, as important as that is, I would like to discuss an overlooked issue … proper boat launching procedures. As both a guide and a recreational angler, I frequent a lot of public boat ramps and have seen it done almost every way possible – some good, and some really bad.

First, the boater needs to have their trailer properly attached to their towing vehicle with a properly sized hitch ball to match the trailer tongue. It is a good idea to have a hitch lock to prevent theft. Safety chains should come from both sides of the trailer and attach to the bumper, in case the trailer comes off of the hitch. You should have your trailer lights attached to the tow vehicle, whether towing day or night, making sure that everything works – running lights, brake lights, and turn signals. Although your boat is attached to your trailer by the winch strap, on longer hauls it is a good idea to attach the bow eye of the boat to the trailer with an additional mechanism, such as an adjustable double hook, and to have tie-down straps on the back of the boat, on either side of the motor, attaching to the trailer. There are a number of different types available at your local marine dealer or at Payes Trailer Parts located south of Lake Wales on Hwy 60. Smaller motors have pins to raise the motor, but if you have a large motor, a motor-toter is also a good idea because it greatly reduces the stress on the boat’s transom while towing. Put the gear shift in gear so your prop won’t be turning while going down the road, which can damage the bearings. Also, if you are trailering your boat on a long trip you should have a snug cover which will protect the inside of your boat and increase your gas mileage.

Boat Unloading

Before lining up with the ramp, stop in a “pre-stage” area out of the way of those currently launching and do the following preparations:

 Remove all tie-downs or ropes, motor pins or motor-toter, cover, and security mechanism from the bow eye, leaving the winch strap secured;

 Put the drain plug in securely;

 Place whatever items you are taking with you that have not already been put into the boat, such as a cooler, camera, towels, sunscreen, rods and reels, etc.;

 Put the boat key into the ignition and make sure that your fuel bulb is taught

 Check that your engine will start by turning it over till it does and then immediately turn it back off;

 Look at the ramp to assess the condition of the ramp, the length and steepness, and the water level.

 If you are not alone, determine who will back the boat and who will be in the boat, verifying what hand signals to use;

 If you are alone, do one of two things:

o 1) have a long enough rope attached to the bow eye to be able to float your boat off and then pull it over to the dock or the bank so you can immediately pull your trailer off of the ramp, or

o 2) ask another boater that is waiting to launch if he/she would be so kind to help you.

Once you feel that you are thoroughly prepared, proceed to the ramp and, if all clear, line your vehicle and trailer up as straight as possible, in line with the ramp. Back slowly using your side and rear view mirrors, if possible. Remember, when you turn your vehicle’s tires one way, your trailer will aim the opposite way. Make adjustments gradually in small amounts for best results. Back the boat in just far enough for it to float, but where you can get to the bow without stepping into the water. Stop there so you can then detach the winch strap. Again, if you are alone and there was no one available to help, holding onto the rope that is tied to the bow eye, push the boat clear of the trailer and secure it either to the launch dock or to the shore. If you have someone in the boat, ask them to start the motor and then continue backing the boat gradually, being careful not to allow the trailer wheels to fall off the ramp, until the boat driver is able to back the boat clear of the trailer. Usually, this is when the trailer wheels just become submerged in the water. Once the boat is clear, gradually pull forward with the trailer and proceed to the trailer parking area, making sure that you park in the same fashion and alignment as everyone else. Put your vehicle’s keys away securely in a pocket before leaving land so as not to accidently drop them into the water.

Boat Loading

Again, making sure that your vehicle keys are secure in a pocket before leaving the boat, pull your boat up to the launch dock or shoreline, out of the way of launching boats. If the ramp is busy, get in line somewhere in the “pre-stage” area. When it is your turn, line up with the ramp in the same manner as you did for unloading. Back the trailer into the water slowly until the wheels of the trailer are just barely submerged or, if you are not alone, at whatever degree your boat driver signals to you.

If you do have assistance, get out of the vehicle so you can assist the boat driver to align the boat onto the trailer, approaching it slowly but with enough speed to maintain direction. Once the boat meets up with the trailer’s hull supports the driver should slightly increase the throttle to cozy the bow up to the trailer’s bow stop. Once they meet, hook the winch strap and tighten securely.

If you are loading your boat by yourself, go get it and either drive it on yourself or, if you are not proficient with that procedure, use the bow rope to guide it onto the hull supports and, once aligned properly, pull out and attach the winch strap to the bow eye. Crank the winch until the boat is securely against the bow stop.

Slowly pull the boat out of the water up onto the ramp. If there is no other boat waiting to launch, you can stop once you have completely cleared the water. Otherwise, you should continue to pull out of the way of other launchers. Prepare your boat for towing by reattaching all tie-downs, ropes and security mechanisms, removing all items that may blow out, turning off all electronics, removing the plug, propping the motor up and putting it into gear. Make sure that your lights and safety chains are still attached. Also, check your trailer for any grass that may have become attached during launch to eliminate transfer to another lake.

Boat Safety

Everyone should be familiar with both state and local boating laws. Current regulation booklets are usually available wherever fishing licenses are sold or are available online at myfwc.com.

In addition, you will need to pack the right equipment, such personal flotation devices, fire extinguishers, visual distress signals, marine radios, navigation lights and sound-producing devices. Complete information on regulations and equipment standards can also be found on the U.S. Coast Guard’s boating safety website at uscgboating.org.

Help keep and improve public access to Polk County, Florida’s waters by participating in or attending the Rampin’ It Up Big Bass Benefit Tournament on Saturday, April 9th at Lake Shipp Park. Info available at your local tackle shops or at friendsoftheparks.net.

Come see me at the Bridgemaster Fishing Products/Katydid Fishing Products exhibitors booth and say “Hi.”

Polar Bear Fishing

noreply@blogger.com (Dick Loupe) — Wed, 29 Dec 2010 02:23:00 +0000

Talk about "the one that got away....Whew!" I've heard just about every story about that, but this has got to be the best ever! Watch the video below.

Not only did he loose the fish ... but now he has to buy a new net, to boot! Thank goodness there are no Polar bears in Florida.

Don't Let The Trailer Get Too Deep!

noreply@blogger.com (Dick Loupe) — Tue, 28 Dec 2010 02:18:00 +0000

He just bought a new boat and decided to take her for the maiden voyage.

This was his first boat and he wasn't quite sure of the exact Standard Operating Procedures for launching it off a ramp, but he figured it couldn't be too hard.

He consulted his local boat dealer for advice, but they just said "don't let the trailer get too deep when you are trying to launch the boat".

Well, he didn't know what they meant by that as he could barely get the trailer in the water at all! Anyhow, here's a picture below.

You're gonna love this guy!

Folks, you just can't make this stuff up!

And once again, these people breed...and on occasion they vote! Scary!

Website Aid - Snap It!

noreply@blogger.com (Dick Loupe) — Mon, 27 Dec 2010 20:22:00 +0000

SnapIt Screen Capture 3.7

I know this doesn't have anything to do with fishing ... but this little program is great because it allows you to easily capture anything on the screen including windows, menus, full screen, rectangular regions, web pages and take shots of moving images. You can then stick it in a Word or Excel document. You can utilize it to add content to another website ... whatever you need or want!

- Supports hotkeys, auto-saving, clipboard
- Automatically copies screenshots to the clipboard
- Tracks capture history, auto-saves captured images
- Saves files in BMP, GIF, JPEG, PNG and TIFF formats
- Auto-names captured images

And the best part ... you can have it for free if you create a review in any blog/forum/twitter/facebook, etc, and then contact julia.taylor@digeus.com with link to the review, and then she will issue a reg code and name for you. It doesn't get any better than free!

Christmas Fishing

noreply@blogger.com (Dick Loupe) — Fri, 17 Dec 2010 18:29:00 +0000

This season is starting off very similar to last year. The fishing started out quite good, catching bass in around 4' waters along the grass lines with frogs, swim baits, flippin baits and, of course, shiners. Then the cold fronts started coming in again ... about a week apart. Enough time for the air to warm up each time, but not the water temps much.

I've had to change to fishing lakes with deeper water or deeper holes. The bass I have found are grouped up in at least 10' deep water, hanging around 5-6' deep. They will hit shiners and when you set you have them on for awhile and then frequently loose them, getting the shiner back with scales only on the front 1/4 of it. Stinger hooks added don't seem to have much of an effect. If you do hook one, they don't give much of a fight. This cold water has made them very lethargic. Plus, the cold water appears to stun the shiners, keeping them from working the way they normally would. This, in itself, reduced the chance of a strike.

When this situation occurs I have to make a couple of adjustments. First, I drop down in size with my bait, whether live or artificial. Second, I slow down the presentation. If I am pulling shiners, I lower the speed on the trolling motor. I don't stop and anchor up because then the shiners will just nose up into cover and not move at all. If I am fishing with artificial bait, I show down the retrieve. One of my sayings is "If you think you are fishing to slow ... slow down!" Anglers tend to fish too fast, trying to cover more water in less time. You are most likely passing up more fish then you will catch.

I hope this helps improve your "cold front" fishing. We wish everyone a very Merry Christmas, remembering that the greatest "Fisherman" was ... is ... and is yet to come. Hallelujah!

Have a prosperous, joyous New Year!

Capt Dick Loupe and First Mate, Joyce Loupe

Southern Outdoorsman Guide Service

More Tackle

Katydid Fishing Products.

Crappie or Specks

noreply@blogger.com (Dick Loupe) — Fri, 10 Dec 2010 03:23:00 +0000

Well guys and gals, it is that time of the year - if you get my drift! The crappie are on the move. Other names for crappie are papermouths, strawberry bass, speckled bass or specks (especially in Michigan and in the south), speckled perch, calico bass (throughout New England), sac-au-lait (in southern Louisiana, pronounced ‘sack-o-lay’ and meaning "bag of milk") and Oswego bass.

Crappie are a highly regarded game fish and are often considered to be among the best tasting freshwater fish. Therefore, fishing for crappie has become popular throughout much of North America. Crappie/Panfish anglers have been identified by the latest National Survey of Fishing by the Federal Fish and Wildlife agency as the largest freshwater fishing segment in America - 14.2 million. Representing 25% of the total freshwater market, these anglers spend an average of 27 days annually in pursuit of their favorite specie versus the next closest specie at 15 days. Prior to Crappie USA, the first and largest crappie tournament organization in the world and founder of the American Crappie Association, the first and largest association of crappie anglers, this market did not have any national promotional efforts to drive sales of its products and services.

The method of fishing varies, but among the most popular is called "Spider Fishing," a method characterized by a fisherman in a boat with many long poles pointing away from the angler at various angles like the legs of a spider.

Anglers who utilize the Spider Fishing method may choose from among many popular types of bait. Because of their diverse diets, crappie may be caught in many ways, including casting light jigs, trolling with minnows or artificial lures, using small spinnerbaits, or using bobbers. Some of the most popular are plastic jigs with lead jig heads, crankbaits or live minnows. Many anglers also chum or dump live bait into the water to attract the fish hoping the fish will bite their bait. Crappie are also regularly targeted and caught during the spawning period by fly fishermen. Crappie are also popular with ice-anglers, as they are active in winter and can be taken from frozen ponds and lakes in winter by fishing through holes in the ice.

White Crappie

Black Crappie

There are two species, the white crappie and the black crappie. Both are members of the sunfish family. The black crappie is very similar to the white crappie in size, shape, and habits, except that it is darker, with a pattern of black spots. It is usually identified by the seven or eight spines on its dorsal fin. The oldest recorded age of a crappie is fifteen years, although seven years is average. The black crappie tends to prefer clearer water than the white crappie does. Its diet, as an adult, also tends to be less dominated by other fish than that of the white crappie. Both species of crappie, as adults, feed predominantly on smaller species, including the young of their own. They have diverse diets which includes zooplankton, insects, and crustaceans. By day, crappie tend to be less active and like to concentrate around weed beds or submerged objects, such as logs and boulders. They generally tend to feed at dawn and dusk, moving then into open water or approaching the shore. But, during the full moon, they can be caught throughout the night.

The breeding season varies by location, due to the species’ great range; breeding temperature is generally between 58 – 68 degrees (F) and spawning usually occurs between April and June. Spawning occurs in a nest built by the male, who guards the eggs and young. It is very prolific and can overpopulate its environment, with negative consequences both for the crappie and for other fish species. That is why in Florida we are allowed to catch 25 each day, with a 2-day possession limit (check any local limitations). There is no limit as to the amount you may have as long as they have been processed (cleaned) and frozen. They may also be transported across state lines once they have been processed and remain frozen.

Anglers are trolling white and black Beetle Spins and Hal Flies in green and yellow, chartreuse, pink, electric chicken, and off-white. Some are using Roadrunners or just a jig head tipped with a minnow, or only a hook and minnow. They are being caught in and around 7 to 9 feet of water. Now you could just go out and drift, but another way is to go out and look for the other boats. Once you find these guys watch what they are doing and do the same thing. You can learn a lot by observation.

Another way to find out where to fish and what to use is to stop in at your local tackle shop. Most of them are glad to help you with product and information. Okay now let’s talk about the kind of equipment that you will need. As mentioned above, Spider Fishing is the method of choice for the majority of serious crappie anglers. If you have a pontoon boat you will need rod holders like these, which I just happen to manufacture. How about that! You have three ways to mount them.

You can use the triple bay box type that fits over the rail. With this type you have two stainless bolts that go just under the rail with two wing nuts to hold it snug to the rail. You are not weakening the rail by drilling holes in it and they are easily removed when not needed.

Then you have the triple bay flat. This model can be mounted on any flat service, such as a dock or the flat railing of a boat, or on top of the railing of a pontoon boat if the railing is too large or too small to use the triple bay box type.

And then you have the single bay. You can put these on the rail like I have done here on my pontoon or stagger them on a dock or any flat service. Drill a one quarter inch hole and put approximately a 2-inch stainless bolt up through the bottom. Slide the holder down on the bolt and then put the washer on. Use the wing nut to tighten it down.

All of these rod holders come with 18-8 American made stainless hardware and they are guaranteed as long as you own it. This will be the last rod holder you will ever own! By the way, it is made of high-density polyethylene (HDEP). It won’t break and will not discolor. To see additional pictures go to http://www.katydidfishingproducts.com/, or give us a call at 1-888-692-2208 and we will set you up with one of our dealers in your area.

Now that we got that out of the way, let’s talk a little about fishing poles. You can use cane poles or “extension poles” that extend in and out, ranging from an extended length of 8 to 20 feet. There are numerous brands, such as Wonderpole, B&M, etc. and some even come with guides for those who want to use a small reel. You can find these at most of your local tackle stores or we carry the Wonderpole at our online store, http://www.moretackle.com/. Folks, we are just getting into the speck fishing season here in Florida, so get your gear all lined up and ready to go.

Big Fish Store

noreply@blogger.com (Dick Loupe) — Sun, 21 Nov 2010 19:13:00 +0000

The best fishing story of all time:

The story of Jonah from Corinth Baptist Church on Vimeo.

SO, YOU THINK YOU WANT TO BE A FRESHWATER FISHING GUIDE …

noreply@blogger.com (Dick Loupe) — Tue, 09 Nov 2010 01:39:00 +0000

You might think that being a freshwater fishing guide has got to be the ultimate dream job for anyone who likes to fish. Yes … and No!

Pros – You get to:

be outdoors and on the water more than any other job;
either introduce or enjoy sharing a terrific outdoor sport;
spend more time within the Lord’s glorious natural wonders;
wear casual clothes to work;

Cons – You need to:

get up way before the sun rises;
work outside, no air conditioning … so to speak;
refrain from fishing while guiding customers (or should);
have to clean your bait tank before adding a new batch;
keep your boat(s) cleaned up;
keep your ride cleaned up;
keep your equipment in good working order;
purchase many more items than if you were just fishing by yourself;
have a captain’s license, if using certain navigable waters, which continually costs a substantial sum;
teach those who have never fished before;
entertain customers when fishing is slow.

Let me break it down …

Preparation (usually the day before) – Call your customer to confirm the trip and finalize meeting location, etc., usually a long-distance cellphone call. $ Drain the bait tank and scrub it with bleach. Rinse thoroughly and fill with fresh, clean (preferably filtered) water. Add chemical to maintain a good slime coat on the new bait. You need to keep a supply of chemicals on hand for use in the bait tank and in the boat. $ Drive to your local bait supplier and buy whatever is needed. $ If you have several days in a row you can get by with purchasing them all and maintaining them in your own tank. Of course, that means that you must actually have your own tank, along with an air pump, hoses, stones, water recirculation pump, water filter, and filter materials that must be maintained and periodically replaced; along with an electrical supply, since the air pump and water filter must run continually. $

Check all rods to make sure that the guides are okay and that no ceramic inserts are nicked, which can cause line breaks. Check the reels to make sure all are in good working order, also checking the line for any frays, retying all hooks. Have a supply of extra hooks and floats on board; replenish if necessary. $ Also, you need to periodically change your line, as line weakens over time and with exposure to heat and sunlight. This goes for both mono and braid, so you need to have a backup supply of line. $

Clear out clutter in your boat and ride that accumulated since your last cleanup. This helps to make your passengers be comfortable and feel welcomed. Check tire inflation on your ride and boat trailer, checking tread wear for possible replacement requirements. $ Also, check bearings on the trailer, as these also need to be greased and periodically replaced. $ Make sure you have sufficient fuel in both your ride and your boat, refueling if necessary. $ Verify that you have a sufficient number of life vests for the number of persons to be onboard. $ Check to make sure all batteries are fully charged. If not, connect them to your charger(s). $

If you provide ice and bottled water, as I do, you will need to buy ice if you do not have your own icemaker, and bottled water. $ Fill your cooler with ice and stock with water, leaving room for your customers to bring other items that need to be kept cold. If rain is a possibility, have lightweight inexpensive ponchos or rain jackets stowed away. $ Hook the boat to your ride, making sure trailer lights are working properly.

Set out clothing for tomorrow, making sure guide shirt is presentable, even if ironing is required. Guys, don’t expect your wife to do this because this is the age of “permanent press.” A “guide shirt” usually has your name and business logo embroidered on it and is made from a quick dry, UV protection material. Long sleeve is best for UV protection. $ You should carry a camera along so you have fresh advertising material. $ Make sure that the battery for your camera is charge up, along with your cell phone. You should always carry a cell phone if for no other purpose than emergencies. I know of a time when a guide was on the water and his customer had a heart attack. He called 911 and the EMTs met them at the ramp, which saved the man’s life. $

Day Of – Rise and shine around 4:30am and shower to assist waking up. Be neat to present yourself as a professional. Apply a good high SPF sunscreen, having another bottle on board to reapply when fishing for an extended period. According to my dermatologist, sunscreen is much more effective when applied in advance, and recommends Neutrogena 85+. $ Eat a light but substantial healthy breakfast. Grab any snacks you might want to take along for the day, preferably something with protein for energy. Don’t forget the camera and your cell phone. Also, take a hat and sunglasses for added protection. Too much sunlight on the eyes can increase the chance of cataracts.

Add water and chemical to your live well. Using a bucket with a few inches of water, net up the bait for that day, pour them into the live well, and turn on the aerator. If any bait died overnight, remove them so as not to contaminate the rest. See that the air stone is producing enough air. If not, use a sharp edged object to scrape the surface of the air stone which can become clogged with algae buildup. Double check your trailer/light connections. Verify that all the rods are back on the boat. Disconnect battery chargers and, if you are sure that everything is set, drive to the agreed upon location to meet your customers.

Then go to whatever waters you have the greatest confidence in. This is usually generated from prior successful guide trips coupled with fishing various waters on your own to keep updated. This requires extra fuel and live or artificial bait. $

Now is when the fun kicks in, but only if you are one of those rare guides that enjoys seeing someone else catch fish without doing it yourself. There is nothing more infuriating to a paying customer than to watch the guide catch the trophy-sized fish that they had their heart set on. Sure there are times when instructions are not enough and you may have to set on a fish for someone to reel in, but immediately hand them the rod once you have set the hook. Remember, they are paying for that thrill. So, bait their hook for them; cast the rod for them; tell them how and when to set the hook; net the fish for them; entertain them and/or their children with conversation if the fish aren’t biting. Basically … wait on them hand and foot. This is how you establish a good rapport and generate repeat business. Especially if you are having a bad day and this is their first time with you. This generates the best and cheapest advertising, but you need to supplement this with a website and brochures and/or business cards placed in strategic locations. $

If your trip is for 8 hours you may need to take your customers to a location on the waters where lunch may be obtained. Some customers like to keep a few smaller fish for eating, so it is nice if you have some bags for this purpose or, if you really want to make an impression - filet the fish for them. Generally you collect payment at the conclusion of the trip. Some guides only accept cash but, to be flexible in today’s economy, you should accept most major credit/debit cards. This requires you to have a merchant service account. $ Return your customers to where you picked them up and let them know how much you enjoyed taking them fishing. Give them some business cards so they can tell their friends.

Now you can return home … to return unused bait to your main tank, remove clutter from your boat and ride, and you may need to hose out the carpet if any spills occurred. If you haven’t already, drain your live well and remove the screen so you can rinse out the bait scales. Attach your battery chargers to the batteries so you will be ready at a moment’s notice. Check your bait tank and remove any dead ones, add chemical if necessary, and feed them cracker meal or wheat germ if they have been in captivity for very long. $

Are you ready to do it all over again tomorrow?

By the way, in case you didn't catch it ... the dollar signs ($) represent all of a guide's costs.