Brandon Butler and Buddy Seiner ventured into the coulee with fishing guide Jeff to find beautiful scenery, stunning brown trout, and the Bad Axe River flowing at the bottom. Many fish were brought to hand that morning, but one big brown had other plans.

Craig Oyler is a multi-season/multi-species angler who travels across the midwest chasing the next big bite. Craig likes fishing for anything that swims, but Pactola lake trout are by far his favorite. This is one of his favorite stories about fishing with a friend and equipment not up to the task of hauling in a Black Hills laker.

Craig Oyler is a multi-season/multi-species angler who travels across the midwest chasing the next big bite. He started guiding his dad's friends when he was 11-years-old, and new right away that he wanted to fish all the time.

In 2002, Jens Lund came to Pierre, SD contracted to do an oral history project about the Lewis and Clark expedition, interviewing people all the way along the Missouri River. His task was to talk with people who have lived on the river and utilized it to create a sustainable income. His interview with legendary fishing guide and angling innovator, Bob Propst Sr. was one of the best. This is part one, courtesy of the South Dakota Arts Council and the South Dakota State Historical Society. Thanks to Jens Lund for the audio and photos. http://artscouncil.sd.gov | https://history.sd.gov/

Shaun Lezotte is a fly fishing guide with Dakota Angler and Outfitter in Rapid City, So. Dak. He has been fly fishing since he was a teenager, but loves traditional fishing methods just as well. We sat down in the comfort of the new fly shop on a busy Jackson Blvd to talk fishing, hunting, significant others, and what the future holds.

Shaun remembers one of his most memorable guide trips from when he first started as a professional fishing education consultant.

Paul and Doug are members of the South Dakota Deaf Anglers. They hold an annual tournament at various locations in South Dakota and have a great time busting each others chops.

Anthony Rodriguez is a fishing guide from Michigan and USA Ice Team veteran. He told me about how he came to find the WIFC and what it was like to get into this unique sport. Photo Courtesy: USA Ice Team

Randy Tambke is a catfish hunter and tournament angler from Lincoln, NE. A fluke day of fishing resulting in a big catfish created a life of experimentation and dedication to wiskered water lovers of all types. He knows how to catch catfish and helps others do it through the We B Crankin' Guide Service. You can find out more at www.facebook.com/webcrankinguideservice/.

Jason Durham owns Go Fish! Guide Service out of Park Rapids, MN. He talks about the first guide trip that he took when he was a young man.

Jason Durham owns Go Fish! Guide Service out of Park Rapids, MN. He's never been hooked as a fishing guide, but tells about a time when things did not go right for one of his clients.

Jason Durham owns Go Fish! Guide Service out of Park Rapids, MN. He has customized his boat with six speakers because music is a big part of his life. It will sometimes even make it out on the water with him. He talks about his favorite anglers to have in the boat and how to stay happy while fishing.

Jason Durham owns Go Fish! Guide Service out of Park Rapids, MN. He remembers one of his favorite memories fishing with a chief justice of the Minnesota Supreme Court and getting a great story out of the day.

Jason Durham owns Go Fish! Guide Service out of Nevis, MN. He has a lot of experience in the fishing world, and has some great advice for anyone interested in making the world a better place.

Brad Beeler always loved fishing in Pierre, but when job change brought him here permanently, he eventually put his fishing to work for him full time. Walleyes, salmon, smallies, northerns and everything else that swims in the Missouri is in his repertoire.

Steve "Zippy" Dahl is one of the founding members of the Perch Patrol Guide Service on Devils Lake, N.D. We chatted at the 2019 St. Paul Ice Show about his life and legacy in the fishing industry.

Tim Moore is a professional angler and fishing guide from Portsmouth, New Hampshire. His life has always been about fishing, but his legacy is much more than that. We talk mentors, fishing buddies, favorite fishing stories, and how Tim wants to be remembered by the next generation.

David Doerr moved to Ft. Pierre, SD in 2019. I met him at a community meet and greet that the Police Dept was hosting. We talked fishing right away, and I could tell he had some cool stories. Soon, I was sitting down with him at Fort Pierre Motors to talk about his life as an angler.

Brad Hawthorne's is a fishing guide on Mille Lacs Lake in Minnesota. When he was 19, he bought a bait shop. The rest...is history. Recorded live at the 2018 Dakota Angler Ice Institute Pro Panel.

Brian "Bro" Brosdahl grew up on a Minnesota resort. He got an opportunity to guide at an early age, and loved the experience!

Jason Durham had a lot of great mentors and fishing opportunities while growing up in northern Minnesota. But there was one resource that inspired him and motivated him to do more.

Brad Hawthorne is a fishing guide on Mille Lacs Lake. His favorite fishing story has suspense, humor, and a bit of uneasiness.

Jason has a lot of great fishing stories. He told this one at the 2018 Dakota Angler Ice Institute Pro Panel with a twist ending.

Stephen Wisner is the owner and guide for Eau Claire Anglers in Wisconsin. He's been around fly fishing ever since he was a child, and his mentors were the original OG's of the industry.

Stephen Wisner is the owner and guide for Eau Claire Anglers in Wisconsin. He guides clients to memorable adventures chasing muskie and smallmouth bass. This is what it's like to be a guide.

Stephen Wisner is the owner and guide for Eau Claire Anglers in Wisconsin. He knew he wanted to be a guide the moment he saw a drift boat, but lost that desire until he moved back to Eau Claire.

Stephen Wisner is the owner and guide for Eau Claire Anglers in Wisconsin. This is a crazy story that happened to him in the fall of 2018.

Stephen Wisner is the owner and guide for Eau Claire Anglers in Wisconsin. He told me what makes him most proud as an angler. His answer might surprise you.

Stephen Wisner is the owner and guide for Eau Claire Anglers in Wisconsin. He first cast a fly rod in 1973 and fell in love with the sport he grew up around. Since then, he has logged thousands of days fishing and guiding rivers in Montana and Wisconsin. His passion is for chasing smallmouth bass and musky on area rivers, but loves fishing for anything that will bite. He invited me into his home for an interview about his live and some of his favorite fishing stories.

Mike Dvorak is a professional photographer and part-time fishing guide in Minneapolis, MN. He has more adventure stories than most. One of his favorite fishing stories involves a trip to Canada with some new good friends.

Stephen Wisner is the owner and guide for Eau Claire Anglers in Wisconsin. He loves his job, but makes some good points about what it is like to fish for a living.

Stephen Wisner is the owner and guide for Eau Claire Anglers in Wisconsin. Social media is becoming a bigger part of the fishing community, and a valuable tool for anglers to connect and share experiences. But it is not always a positive.

Stephen Wisner is the owner and guide for Eau Claire Anglers in Wisconsin. He likes to explore new waters whenever possible. He believes that experience to be sacred in angling, and one people should be able to experience on their own.

Jason Durham owns Go Fish! Guide Service out of Park Rapids, MN. He shares some great advice during our interview that might inspire people to get out and enjoy the day.

Gary Nault is a semi-professional angler and fishing guide from Sturgeon Bay, WI.  He wears his passion for fishing, fishing education, and the Sturgeon Bay area on his sleeve.  I really enjoyed talking with him at the National Professional Anglers Association Conference, and enjoyed the conversation even more the second time around!  Check out what makes Gary so passionate about the sport, and find out the real person behind the success of his guide business.