Check This Out !!!!

[TacoBender]

This was printed in the Mansfield News Mirror.
Friday, Sep. 05, 2008
Day in the Life
By LANCE WINTER
News-Mirror Writer

Being a professional fishing guide takes a lot of technology. (Lance Winter/News-Mirror)


An old Chinese proverb says: "Give a man a fish, feed him for a day; teach a man to fish and you feed him for a lifetime."

I didn’t need to be taught how to fish. But if I had needed it, I found the man to do it right here in Mansfield.

Scott Solis, 40, a Mansfield High School graduate and father of two, treated me to one of the most fun-filled outdoor adventures I’ve had in some time.

Scott is a professional fishing guide who specializes in fishing for one type of fish – arguably the tastiest freshwater fish – crappie.

Solis has been a guide for more than six years and has had a great deal of success placing anglers in the right spots for the greatest degree of success. He guides on five lakes in the area: Lake Grapevine, Eagle Mountain, Pat Cleburne, Lake Worth and Joe Pool, our destination.

Before we began I pondered that this man had the greatest job in the world. After all, here we were in a beautiful lake setting, on a great boat, doing the very thing I wish I could do more of...FISH!

It was not long into the trip that, watching Scott’s face that I realized this was anything but pure joy for him. It was a job.

Looking over his rig, a 19-foot Xpress X-19 bass boat with a 150-horsepower Mercury motor, I could tell that there was a lot of money in technology that went along with his job.

Trolling motors, depth finders, GPS locator – and I hadn’t even picked up a rod and reel.

Before we began fishing we headed out across the lake to assemble what he described as a Crappie Condo, PVC pipe in different lengths and diameters assembled with screws and spacers to look almost like a Christmas tree.

Weighted with a concrete block it is sunk off shore creating a habitat where crappie may feel safe. The sun beat down on us and I, having forgotten to bring sunscreen, began to empathize with Scott; this felt like work.

Nevertheless, these are the things professional guides do to ensure success for the customer.

"It’s still work," Scott said. "There are days that I don’t feel like fishing, especially on the really hot summer days."

After finishing we jetted across the lake at about 45 miles per hour and arrived at our destination, a fishy looking inlet with dead trees sticking up. After a quick tutorial on the use of a spinning reel, he eased us through a maze of trees. The choice of bait was, of course, jigs and a wise choice it was as we each caught one.

Throughout the afternoon we caught several more. It became clear to me that this gentle man was as excited to see me catch fish as I was to catch them.

We had a blast. When I asked him what were some of the challenges he faced on the lake he said, "People who know I am a guide, they shadow me to see where the prime spots are. The second is the recreational boater. They have no respect for the guide or that we are at work."

Interestingly enough, Scott is not just any ordinary guide; he is also an inventor.

He created and patented a device that quickly and easily measures the crappie ensuring that it is long enough to keep. It’s called the Fish Taco.

We rounded out the day at The Oasis where I asked him, why just crappie?

"It’s just what I love," he said

Let’s just say a dose of perspective never hurts anyone.
reprint or license Print E-Mail tool nameclose
tool goes here

[Cane Pole]

Mr. Paty gave me a Fish Taco. I cut my finger on it. You owe me a band aid with blue stars on it.

[oldwun]

Very good read!!

[stinkies daddy]

didnt this poor guy get nailed pretty hard on here for tryin to sell the taco thing?

[slabbandit]

I think that a lot of guys are too quick to label our new members as "spammers". Look what was said about Earnest Paty when he came on here offering his DVD.

[GRIZZ]

When is someone gonna make one of these gizmos that goes to 18 inches and weighs the fish?

[TacoBender]

Thanks to all for the kind words. When Lance called me I was reluctant to do the story. I have never been asked to do anything like this, and much to my suprise it turned out well. Thanks Lance for the great story.
Scott