Guide Q&A- Learning to Become an Expert

To become a fishing expert, guides must be open to continuing learning, years of hands-on experience, and ultimately, focusing in on honing their craft. Our guides are diverse, from their locations to their age and especially in their training. In our Guide Q&A series, we choose top guides to give us some insight into their practice. The question we asked:

How did you begin fishing and learn to become an expert?

Read their answers below!

Top Tips:

“It's taken a lifetime.” -Scott MacDonald, Hume Fly Fisher

“Years of working at this game." -Captain James Richardella, Side Job Sportfishing

“I began fishing at age five.” -Captain Mike Crawford, Upstate Guide Service

“Always had a passion for fishing.” -Captain Brandon Sargent, Lead Slingers

“Grandfather got me started and time on the water over 50 years.” -Captain William Rogers, Fishin' Adventures

“Family and growing up on the water.” -Captain Elija Gilmour, North Wind Curls

The Best Stories:

"It has been over thirteen years since we moved to the cape and I found my passion for saltwater fishing. It didn’t take long for the spark to turn into a fire for the love of fishing. I found out that the Cape Cod Canal is the place to be if you are a fisherman. So, not having the knowledge I needed to fish down in the rocks I wasn’t sure which gear I would need to get the job done. I went to Walmart and got rods, reels, and lures that I thought would get the job done. Little to my knowledge, I found out shortly afterwards that Walmart gear was not going to get the job done. I landed a good size striper in the canal with inferior gear and that’s all it took for me to step up my game and get a better rod and reel. From that point on, it was my quest to know as much about fishing the Canal as I could, so we bought a house on the canal and I fished daily and many nights back-to-back. I studied the tides and how the fish were moving and chasing the bait and had a great run of catching tons of fish. This was only a start to this new passion. I knew if we were going to learn more about fishing the Cape and Islands we would have to get a boat and so we did. That started our journey off with commercial fishing out of Chatham from Ryders Cove for years and years to come. Since then, we have fished all around the Cape and Islands from out at the Regal Sword to the Claw to the dumps, and all the places in between. We are learning new things about fishing every time we’re on the water. From there, the story grows and we wanted to share this with others so we started Capecodcharterguys and haven’t looked back since. We feel very fortunate and blessed to be able to be on the water seven days a week taking great clients and awesome families out to share the experience and adventure of catching fish all over the Cape and Islands. We are constantly studying and testing new forms and ways of fishing so that we can bring the best experience to our customers and clients every day we go out. I believe our level of chartering has only gotten better because we are on the water seven days a week. Anytime I hear or see a new method or way to catch fish, we are always trying to go the extra mile to learn more so we can share that experience with others . We owe all of our great success to the clients, friends, and family that have been with us for years. We look forward to the future and can only see brighter days before us. Come join us so we can make your dreams into reality and have a great adventure on the water. Keepin it Reel. Thank you, Captain Ross." -Captain Ross, Cape Cod Charter Guys

"I began fishing with my father and grandfather at age 5. Fishing was always a major part of my life growing up. After high school I went into the Navy, and every port we went to I fished off of the docks or fantail of the ship. After the Navy I went to college and then went to work for one of the PNW's major fishing rod manufacturers as a rod and blank designer. It all contributed to becoming an expert but in all honesty I really never thought that of myself until I found it necessary to build product for fishermen that I considered "Experts" and was able to communicate easily about fisheries that I wasn't really that familiar with. After working 30 years in the Tackle industry and Guiding for the past 7 years, I still learn every day I'm on the water as well as when I'm designing product for other companies to sell in their product lines." -Captain Todd Vivian, Spot Stalker Charters

“I started fishing at a very early age and immediately became obsessed with fishing. Throughout my life, it's the one activity that I've stuck with and pursued to the fullest extent possible. I'm open minded and explore new techniques constantly. I also have the opinion that there is simply too much to ever fully learn and I learn new things every day.” -Phil Light, Old Line Guide Service

“My grandfather taught me how to fish and enjoy the outdoors since I was old enough to walk and carry my own rod. I have fished everywhere during my academic, professional and post-retirement careers and successfully incorporated it as a lifestyle to enhance my own life and the lives of my family, friends, colleagues and clients.” -Captain Ed “Cuz” Kislauskis, Cuz Charters

“My father took me bluegill fishing at a small lake in Central Indiana. He took my brother and I to Canada several times during my teenage years to fish for Muskie, Northern Pike, & Walleye. As an adult, I fished for Largemouth Bass in lakes around southern Indiana and Kentucky. When I moved to Florida in 2016, I began saltwater fishing. A friend asked me take a Veteran out for a fishing tournament. I got involved with several Veteran events which led me to get my Captain's license. I began guiding shortly thereafter and have enjoyed taking families and avid anglers alike out to fish inshore in Central Florida’s Gulf Coast.” -Captain Thom Ray, Catch A Ray Charter

"From the time I was a baby, my dad would strap me in a chest harness and wade the rivers with a fly rod in his hand. As I became older, I was introduced to those same trout streams deep within the canopies of the remarkable Blue Ridge Mountains. Placing my feet through the same waters I was once carried through. I can remember standing in the river and my dad would always walk on my left shoulder. He'd make sure he was clear of any wild roll casting techniques, and would every so often lean in with his hand on my shoulder and say, "put a cast right there". Without fail almost every time he did that I caught a fish. In those moments I knew I wanted to know everything he knew and more. I became obsessed with the unknown. As I got older, I was fortunate enough to travel to a lot of incredible places from the rugged wilderness of Alaska to the expansive turquoise flats of the Bahamas and as many ecosystems I could immerse myself in. Getting to fish and experience all of these places I continued to be enamoured by the amount of knowledge there was to learn. From studying the way a riffle softly slacks off while it flows down to an undercut bank with overhanging rhododendrons where fish ambush food, to how the moon and wind dance together creating a perfect flow of current to bring fish into the shallow flats. I believe that nature loves courage, getting out of your comfort zone. Pushing to the edge of the horizon just to see what's there, I believe that is where you find the answers." -Captain Kyle Morella, Salty Sloth Charters

“Born and raised here in Venice Louisiana on these waters, at a very young age I learned the tides and the Mississippi River changes. These control what the fish will do and where they will hang out throughout the year. My grandfather taught me everything from the commercial side and a really good friend from here taught me the charter fishing skills. I have detailed the rest throughout the years to put deck loads of fish on my boat for customers.” -Captain Chad Rudolph, Southern Access Charters

"I began with my grandfather freshwater and saltwater and from then on have loved fishing. I have spent many hours on the water trying different things and listening to others about techniques." -Captain Butch Warden, BND SERVICES DBA Drilling Eyes Charters

“I began fly fishing with my dad at 12/13 years old on Neshannock Creek in Volant, PA. My love for fly fishing only grew in college where I was an original member of the WVU Fly Fishing Club. We had yearly events such as the 5 River Rally’s where Fly Fishing clubs from all across the country get together to fish, do a stream clean up, and participate in fun games/events. After graduating, I worked in Alaska at Kenai Cache Outfitters as a shop attendant and fish filleter. Becoming an expert in anything takes an enormous amount of time and commitment. Fly fishing and tying flies is something I truly love to do, so putting so much time into it has become second nature.” -Guide Lucas Smith, What That Vise Do

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