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Published: Tuesday, Jun. 01, 2010 / Updated: Tuesday, Jun. 01, 2010 03:45 PM

Rusty White: Why hire a fishing guide?

After guiding for a few years now, I have found there are a several reasons why folks hire me or other guides to go fishing. Matt Aery of Rack and Reel Outfitters (www.rackandreeloutfitters.com) and I often refer customers to one another when our schedules do not meet our clients’ needs, so I talked with him about his experiences. We put together a list of the most common reasons folks come to us. Some of these are usually combined or go hand in hand:

1. To have fun and catch fish. In today’s society, we get caught up in the hustle and bustle of chasing the almighty dollar and sometimes it is nice to just escape and go fishing.

2. To learn how to catch more fish. Often, customers will come to us when they are struggling to catch fish on their own. They come to learn the current techniques that are putting fish in the boat.

3. To learn a specific technique. This is one of the biggest reasons customers come to us. The learning curve for pitching a jig under/around boat docks, deep cranking or any of the other specific techniques (that take years to learn and become proficient at) can be steepened by having someone work one-on-one with you on the water.

4. To learn more about the water you’re on, as well as boating safety and navigation. We spend hundreds of days each year on the water and know these waters as well as our own back yards. We can provide helpful information on how to get around the lake, safe places to run and fish, as well as warnings about areas that can be potentially dangerous.

5. To prepare for an upcoming tournament. When you are serious about doing well in a particular fishing tournament, hiring a guide (as long as it is permitted) can really get you going in the right direction and help you do well.

6. To spend a fun time with family or friends. It is a great time for everyone when you are outdoors, enjoying Mother Nature. Matt and I both can accommodate two additional anglers in our boats. Got a friend or family member coming in to town and not sure what to do? They will always remember the time you went fishing with them.

7. Impressing/getting to know a customer or business partner. A lot of folks take their clients to the golf course and that is a great way to spend time, but you can really get to know someone out on the water, having fun and catching fish.

8. It’s easier and cheaper than buying your own boat. When you add up the expense of boat, motor, rods, reels, tackle, gas and drinks for a day on the water, it is a no brainer. You just show up with fishing license in hand, and we take care of the rest.

9. Learning how to read lake maps, contours and topography, as well as using modern marine electronics. Having traveled all over the United States fishing tournaments, we know topographical maps, electronics and how to use them to find and catch more fish, and we can teach you.

10. Many of our trips are booked by loved ones and friends as gifts. If you don’t know what to get the angler in your family on that special occasion (or just for the heck of it), instead of a gift card to a local sporting goods store, book a day on the water for them. They will appreciate it so much more.

Each person who goes fishing with a guide has their own reasons for why they scheduled the trip. These are just a few we have encountered.

There is no substitute for time on the water!

Rusty White of Rock Hill is a professional fisherman and full-time guide on the Catawba chain of lakes, offering full- and half-day services. For more information, visit www.fishingwithRusty.com.