Hi all,

I'm from Wyoming and have to go to Tyler for a wedding on June 14. I don't get in much so after a day of air kisses I'll need a day doing something outside. Give me a fly rod and I'm good, but I don't know jack about bass fishing (at least I know that I'm ignorant). Can you recommend a fishing guide around Tyler? I would guess that the spinning and bait rods that I use for salmon in Alaska would work for bass. If not, I'll need to rent tackle too. I don't know if I'll be alone or if someone else will want to tag along.

Thanks for your help.

If you only get a chance to fish one day in Texas, I would suggest getting a guided trip on Lake Fork, its one of the best lake in Texas, it's not that far from Tyler...

It would well worth the money....

There are several guides from Lake Fork that post on here, and maybe one of them will chime in or atleast someone that has taken a guided trip over there...

you can tell the guide, you dont have any equipment and they will probably help you out, by letting you use some of there gear.. I would think so anyways...

Lake Fork Marina & Motel
275 County Road 1558
Alba, TX 75410

phone: (903)765-2764
fax: (903)765-3369


Ask for Cameron, he can help you out....

If you'd like to try the White Bass & Hybrid Stripers, check us out at www.gonefishin.biz

I live in the Tyler area and guide on Lake Richland Chambers which is an hour and a half from there. I can arrange accomodations and also provide all equipment.

Good Luck and Enjoy your visit to Texas!

Royce Simmons
Gone Fishin' Guide Service
www.gonefishin.biz
903-389-4117

I would also recommend going to Fork with a guide for a day. You might want to book now before they get booked up.

Eric Pottcotter, is a good guide for bass as well as hybrids and sandbass, in the Tyler area. Sorry I don't have a phone # but you can call Porters Sporting Goods at (903)825-3933 and get it.

Ricky Vandergriff also guides in the area.

hicountry, I'll go along with the others on Fork. It's about an hour from Tyler and there are a bunch of 'professional' guides that would make your trip worth while. As long as you are going to be that close, you might as well get the filet of bass fishing rather than just having hamburger.

SE Kansas grass grower

Thanks guys.

Now I have some names to start with.

We will still have ice on our lakes (we have about 1300 of them) for a few more months, and there is too much snow to get to the rivers. I hope ice off doesn't wait until I'm down there, the action is super when the trout first wake up. I envy you all getting wet down there.

Have fun!

Lake Palestine is only about 20 minutes from Tyler and has a couple of guides as mentioned above. There are times when the white bass and hybrids school on top early in the morning and would be very catchable on a fly rod. I don't know much about fly fishing but would expect you would need a much heavier weight rod than for trout. One option would be schooling whites/hybrids on your fly rod first thing in the morning switching over to conventional tackle and staying with whites/hybrids or changing over to bass or even catfish (palestine is known for its catfishing and crappie fishing) after the schooling action dies down

Palestine is a good choice.
By the way its down to 70 degrees here.
Berrrrrrr.
Welcome to TEXAS Yall !

Seventy degrees; just ruuuuuuub it in. This has been close to a normal winter, the low was 26 below and the snow got half way up my truck door.

On the good side, the high for the summer will be about 85. My wife's tribe is from Arlington and when it is 105 and 90% humidity down there we suddenly become popular.

I think I'm going to enjoy my visit to Texas. You all have been friendly and helpful. I haven't seen a single flame on this forum, which is very unusual. Don't worry, I'll go home.

Have fun!

If you want BIG bass Fork is the place, Palastine is a good choice, but if you want a real adventure, something you certainly won't see from where you are, go to Caddo about 90 miles east of Tyler....It will be something you always remember...

dude, by June 14th, it is gonna be in the mid nineties

Thanks Ted, I need all the help I can get :-)

The heat doesn't bother me much, I've seen over 115 in Botswana, Namibia and central Australia. It is the humidity that kicks my butt. I made a connection in Houston once and was a sweat hemophiliac, just dripping in seconds. The funny thing was I was going to Argentina and it was mid winter there. I couldn't change into lighter clothes or I'd have frozen my bum off on arrival.

I'll give my guide a big tip if I stink him out. I'd rather melt on the lake than sit around listening to gossip. Reading between the lines, I'll remember to take extra water and grease my self up. Thanks for the heads up.

Have fun!

I also second what Mudshark said. Caddo is unbilievable even if you never catch a fish it is truly an amazing place. If you go there make sure you allow some time to eat at Big Pine Lodge (I may be wrong on the name of the place but everyone will know what you are talking about). It is on the river and has outstanding Catfish and jalepeno hush puppies. Just go early or plan on waiting.