Recently I had the pleasure of visiting with a young, local entrepreneur, Caed. About a year ago Caed started his own fishing guide business, Wild West Guide Service, LLC, bringing his dreams and ambitions to fruition. Here are a few questions I asked Caed:
When did you start fishing? The first time fishing was with my grandpa as a young boy, he always took me out on the water; that was a big part of my upbringing. Grandpa and I went fishing every chance we could, and almost every weekend. When I turned 11, I started going to tournaments with my Grandpa; so for the past 10 years, I have been learning and experiencing tournament fishing.
What do you love most about fishing? It is relaxing yet challenging, there is always something new to learn, never the same, and every day is a little bit different. Water, weather, equipment, bait, and technology are constantly changing, I try to stay sharp and figuring it out what works best. Every day is a new day on the water.
As a guide how do you identify the challenges yet provide a fun and successful adventure for your clients? The day before a trip I go on the water and fish. With the use of technology, I can find where the fish are biting for the next day’s trip. Also, when I go out on a trip I will be fishing as well, trying something new and using that to help make the trip enjoyable.
Caed has been on several guide trips to include Washington and even Georgia. How did you become interested in guiding? It is something that I have always liked to do, people teaching people how to fish. Not long ago I watched a YouTube video about what it entails to be a guide. Many people want to come to Montana to fish or even residents of Montana desire to catch the big one; I figure I am already fishing why not be a guide?
What type of fishing do you guide? Lake and jet boat river fishing, I will add fly fishing to my guide services soon.
Do you catch, release, or both? It depends on where I am, lakes have different regulations, so it just depends. For the clients that want to keep the fish, I have a vacuum sealer on the boat and keep the fish in the cooler until we get back to shore.
What time of year is best for guide fishing? Anytime is a good time. But March and April are the best time of year to fish in Montana and then again in October and November.
What species do you catch? Walley, pike, perch, and trout but my favorite though is Walley.
Visiting with Caed, I learned that an outfitter and a guide are different. The guide needs to work under an outfitter and after 3 years, and lots of paperwork, the guide can become an outfitter. Caed will take anyone on a trip who has a fishing license, and no age restrictions. Clients need to come dressed in the proper clothing for the trip and weather. If the party desires lunch Caed will cook right on the boat or will go to a pull-out and have a picnic-style lunch. Caed encourages clients to bring their own drinks. He provides the gear, bait, tackle, and poles if needed.
Caed’s business goal in the next 3 years, is to become an outfitter and his current goal is 150 trips in a calendar year.
Caed final thought, I am forever grateful that I took that first leap of faith. Looking back, I would have missed a great opportunity that God blessed me with. I could have gone to college and gotten a degree in something cool and made good money, but truthfully none of that matters to me in life. Teaching people, mentoring, and being a human that people look up to make my day. My passion for helping others and teaching what I was so grateful to be taught as a kid is my true joy in life.
For any questions or information please reach out to Kits Tackle Outfitters, Jiggin’ the Dream, or Caed Malone at 406-781-0719.
Author: Staff
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