Outdoors With Kevin Fox: Now Is the Time to Make Plans for That 2026 Fishing Trip
Bond and Wayne’s friendship goes back to their days playing on the USC college football team. In the movie, Bond’s character works hard at maintaining the peace, but he also enjoys fly fishing for a huge salmon that lives in a particular stream near the town of Innisfree, Ireland.
I know full well it’s just a movie, but I connected with Father Lonergan. He reminded me of my pastor for many years, Dr. David Castrodale. I knew I could ask him anything at any time for advice; I knew he loved the Lord and was serious about his duties. But aside from his spiritual side, he also enjoyed pursuing fish. He had a huge library of theological books, of which I now have a few, and he also had an extensive collection of fishing tackle. I, too, have a full tackle box of lures and fillet knives.
Aside from my family, he played a major role in who I am today. Dr. Castrodale loved fishing anywhere, and from time to time he would book a trip with a fishing guide. When he got back home, he would tell me how he and his wife, Pat, had done. One of their last trips was smallmouth bass fishing in Wisconsin.
As I said, he made an impression on me from behind the pulpit, but also with his love for fishing — both here in our local waters and on guided trips. I have been blessed to do that as well from time to time. Some trips have been very rewarding and a great deal of fun; others were still fun but not as successful as the guide and I would have liked. But that’s why it’s called “fishing” and not “catching.”
The wife and I fished for Cherokee bass outside Nashville on Percy Priest Lake with a retired Army officer. If I recall, we caught more than 70 stripers and largemouth bass in four hours of fishing. It was an absolute riot. A few years later, a friend and I fished for redfish outside New Orleans. I caught three redfish and my friend landed one — all in the same four hours. But if we were just about catching fish, I would stay home and catch bluegill and crappie in the pond in my backyard. Having made several guided trips does not make me an expert, but it has given me experience.
First of all, if you are thinking about making a fishing trip, you have to make some considerations. Is this a family trip, just you and your spouse, or a buddy trip? If it’s a family trip, not everyone may enjoy fishing, so have something for them to do while you are on the water. If I’m with my family, I also book a half day trip, because spending a whole day on the water may not be tough for you — a full day at the mall for them may be something else altogether. In that case, I book two half day trips with the guide. That way, one day of bad weather may not ruin the entire trip. I will also tell you that if you are considering a fishing trip, book it soon; guides that are any good at all quickly get booked up.
Once you have decided what species you would like to catch, get on your computer and find where you need to go to catch that fish. Then look up guides in that area and contact them to find out what services they provide. Over the years, I have found that fishing guides want you to catch fish perhaps even more than you do. It’s personal for them; it’s how they make their living, and word of mouth about a great experience goes a long way toward booking another trip or encouraging family or friends to book with them. There is also a little friendly competition between guides as to who is on the fish and who has clients catching fish.
When I spoke about services provided, I was referring mostly to things like where you will meet them or whether they can come by and pick you up. I had a bass fishing guide in San Antonio who towed his bass boat downtown and picked me up at my hotel. Even more important than that is fishing gear. Most guides will provide you with fishing gear. That’s the way they want it — they are equipped to go after the fish you want to catch with both rods and reels, and with lures or bait. I know everyone wants to catch a fish on their own tackle, but sometimes it just isn’t practical. I also once wanted to take my rifle to Africa to hunt. I did it once, but never again — traveling with a firearm is a pain, and while taking your own rifle is cool, it’s not worth the trade offs.
A good guide will be honest with you about whether the time you’ve picked to fish is the optimum season. I take online reviews with a grain of salt. Having worked with and for the public a great deal, I know some people are easy to please and some people are never happy. But I like feedback that says things like, “The guide was very helpful and patient with everyone, and we all learned a great deal.”
My late brother sold cars for many years, and I used to kid him about the reputation car salesmen have. He would reply that people are people no matter what they do, and people trading in a car aren’t different from people buying a fishing trip. For example, a vehicle that was never washed might suddenly get cleaned on the way to the dealership. A fishing guide will also ask you what your level of experience is. I have yet to fish with a guide who hasn’t said that women clients outfish their husbands every time. Husbands will not admit that they may not know something, while wives will admit they aren’t avid fishermen and will listen to the guide. While they may not take advice from their husbands, they will listen to the guide if it means catching more fish.
Think about putting a fishing trip on your “things to do” list. You will never regret it. You can never have enough time with family or friends to make memories.
