Electric Water Boy

I don't know a thing about TopCat Guide Service except for what I've just read here, so here's my 2 cents.

1. A guide is either either out to make money to support himself - which can be really tough to do unless you've made a big name for yourself, or he's out to share his addiction with others and keep it affordable for him (or her) self. Either way, to stay in business you have to be good.

2. What is good? Have a clean and organized boat. Have everything ready so the client shows up, puts on a life jacket, and off you go (actually a little nore to that but I don't want to type it all). At the end of the day, the cleint watches the guide do a lot more work and takes home fish.

3. The guide isn't doing this for free. Keeping $50 for expenses is a good thing. As for the client, even if you didn't catch a thing you got a boat ride which is far from free. And the guide probably taught you a thing or two along the way. Plus, if you paid attention you learned where to not catch fish when and why.

4. Being a guide was one of my dream jobs until I sat down and thought it all through. Being a guide is a lot of work, and the better you are at it the more work it is. And you better be good with people, even those you'd like to strangle for what ever reason.

So, from what I've read above, and what I know about being a guide, I'd go out with this guy.

Slight change of topic. I worked a Kidfish event 2 weeks ago at Calaveras Lake. Took 40+ Down's Syndrome kids catfishing. The kid I worked with was scared to death of the fish at the beginning and by the end I had her petting them and telling them bye-bye when we put them back (yeah, this was catch and release, which also translates to CPS Energy just stocked the lake again).

I've got a buddy who catfished Calaveras from his kayak almost every weekend. This guy used to be a big time bass fisherman, and he gets upset when a "pesky redfish" gets his catfish bait. That might give you a clue how exciting catfishing can get.

So, if you've ever thought about going out fishing and don't know here to start, TopCat would be a good start. Don't let the sticker shock from a guide's fees stop you (I have no idea what he charges, except that it is more than $50). Do the math of what it would take to own a boat, and know that all you have to do is show up and guide is CHEAP.

And again, I wouldn't know TopCat from Adam...