Finding success on the water with Missouri fishing guides

Indiana has more than its fair share of excellent fishing with enormous reservoirs, Lake Michigan, clear southern streams, numerous large rivers and smaller lakes and farm ponds scattered everywhere.

A lack of places to go is not a good excuse for not going fishing in Indiana. But if it’s a lack of time, equipment or knowledge that’s keeping you off the water, then hiring a fishing guide is the answer.

Fishing guides are professionals who take people fishing. They make their living teaching people how to fish. Guides are usually experts on a particular body of water, and come equipped with all the tools necessary for catching fish. Some focus solely on a single species, but most pursue a variety.

There are quite a few full-time professional fishing guides operating in Indiana on many of the larger and more popular bodies of water. Guides cater to all kinds of clients. They work with people who have never held a fishing rod before, and they work with experienced anglers who maybe looking to learn about a new lake or river, or are hoping to pick up a few tips on a certain style of fishing. One thing is for sure — a fishing guide will greatly increase your chances of catching fish. Remember, fishing is easy. It’s catching that can be troublesome.

Fishing guides are especially helpful when you are traveling to a new destination to fish. By spending a day with guide who knows the water and where the fish are at all times, you’ll be set up with a strategy for the rest of the trip. The reward of learning from someone who knows what they’re doing on day one is the likelihood of success from there on out.

Fishing guides are paid for their service. How much they charge varies based on a number of criteria, including how long you fish, what services they provide and how much they have to spend on overhead, like fuel, food and bait. It is customary to tip your guide in accordance to your level of satisfaction with their service.

A couple of the best days I’ve ever had on Lake Monroe and Patoka Lake were experienced while fishing with Rusty Collier through J&R Guide Service. Rusty fishes both Monroe and Patoka regularly and he can put you on fish. Rusty gave me some tips on fishing jigs towards structure, and we hauled in a couple of limits of crappie.

If you are trying to learn your way around one of these large reservoirs, you’re going to have to do a lot of exploring. A guide can significantly cut down the learning curve. You’ll be way better off having starting with knowledge of a particular area learned from a guide, instead of trying to dissect the whole lake.

Rusty works on different bodies of water, but always shares the same goal — teaching clients to be better anglers while having fun on the water. He is just one of many fishing guides operating across Indiana. If you want to jump start learning a new body of water, or you want to up your game on a water you already fish, consider turning to a professional to learn a few new tricks.

See you down the trail …

Brandon Butler writes an outdoors column for The Republic. Send comments to [email protected]