About Your Guide

Bob Maindelle

Independent Guide

Veteran

Quiet

Intense

Instructional

Beginner Oriented

Comfortable

Quantity

About Your Guide

Bob Maindelle

Independent Guide

My name is Bob. I was born into a fishing family in 1969 while my dad was serving in Vietnam. My earliest childhood memories revolve around angling. Pop Pop Hamilton was a commercial fisherman on the Mississippi, mom and dad went fishing on Clarks Hill Reservoir near Augusta, Georgia, on cheap dates as newlyweds, and Uncle Glenn ran a saltwater charter boat out of Shark River, NJ. I'm now happily married, live in Salado, Texas, right at the eastern edge of the Texas Hill Country, and am carrying on the family tradition. I have fished all over our nation in fresh waters and salt, and with all manner of gear and tackle. In 1991, I graduated from West Point (U.S. Military Academy) with a Bachelor of Science degree in environmental engineering, and spent 8 years with the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers, followed by 9 years in industry as an environmental engineer. I retired in 2016 from full-time ministry as the Small Groups Pastor at a large church in central Texas. My business experience from my "previous life" and my flexible schedule allow me to operate out of my home on the lakes of this region. I am physically fit, extremely well-organized, very methodical, self-disciplined and detail-oriented. I enjoy introducing beginners to the sport. I enjoy coaching those with a little experience. I enjoy fishing with great fishermen and picking up on tips and techniques from all over the country. I am not so prideful to think that I cannot still learn much from other further down the path than I.

The pursuit of fish is, to me, an incomparable, lifelong challenge that tests the mind, the body, and even the will. The timeless variables of weather, wind, forage location, light, temperature and pressure prevent any one day's pursuit from being like the chase of any other day. Every sunrise holds new promise, every storm front brings change, every season nudges fish movements, and though the cycle has repeated since the beginning of time, I believe the code will never be fully deciphered. But there are some who understand parts of the code. I am one. And that understanding breeds a desire to preserve and to protect that same Creation that is pursued.

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Rapid Fire Guide Q & A

What’s the biggest fish you’ve caught?

A 120-pound mako on the fly out of San Diego with guide Dave Trimble through Conway Bowman's operation there. It hit a bright orange foam & Mylar fly and we enjoyed a clean release thanks to the circle hooks we employed.

If you were cooking for all your friends what would you cook?

New York Strip on the grill.

What’s your favorite band?

Johnny Cash and Lauren Daigle

What’s your favorite movie?

Where the Red Fern Grows

Rapid Fire Guide Q & A

What’s the biggest fish you’ve caught?

If you were cooking for all your friends what would you cook?

New York Strip on the grill.

What’s your favorite band?

Johnny Cash and Lauren Daigle

What’s your favorite movie?

Where the Red Fern Grows

What’s your favorite sports team?

Don't really appreciate spoiled, over-paid, whiney men or women. Not a sports fan.

What’s your drink of choice?

Zero Coke

What was your last halloween costume?

Too old to remember, but certainly "home-made".

What do you want for Christmas this year?

A New York Strip, a Zero Coke, and a quiet day at home with my wife reflecting on the birth of our Lord and Savior, Jesus Christ.

How did you get started guiding?

I started guiding to make enough money to pay for insurance to take soldiers' kids fishing for free when their parents were deployed to Iraq, Afghanistan, and elsewhere.

What makes you different from other guides?

When I say we'll take a "sonar-intensive" approach, I mean INTENSIVE! I actually provide on-the-water instruction on the use of all makes, models, and sorts of sonar technology via 4-hour training sessions aside from my guiding business, and I bring that expertise to bear on every trip I conduct to the benefit of my clients.

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Family-Friendly White Bass Fishing

NEW Belton, TX 1 - 5 People 4 Hours From $295

About Your Trip

Water Type

Lake

Skill Levels

Beginner, Intermediate, Advanced

Weather

You won’t lose your deposit if the trip is canceled due to weather

About Your Trip

You will be fishing with Bob, owner and operator. You'll never be handed off to an employee, a "guide-in-training", or anyone else. I offer you 30+ years of experience on Lake Belton and Stillhouse Hollow Reservoir nestled between Austin and Waco, Texas, in pursuit of freshwater pelagics including white bass (a.k.a. sand bass) and/or hybrid striped bass on an all catch-and-release basis.

We will take a sonar-intensive approach to fishing. You'll see 2D, down-imaging, side-imaging, and live-scanning sonar all seamlessly utilized to find, mark, return to, position on, present to, and then catch fish. You'll do this on a custom-made, 21-foot center console equipped with a Yamaha 4-stroke outboard and 36V Minn Kota Quest Ulterra trolling motor complete with downriggers when those are producing, as well as a "splasher" and a "thumper" to draw fish in and keep them nearby.

We'll use vertical, horizontal, and topwater tactics with artificial baits (many of my own design) presented primarily with high-end spinning gear.

Morning trips are best, as the bite is longer and stronger than at any other time of the day. I fish (and catch) year 'round, with seasonal peaks occurring from the middle of October to early December, and again from mid-March to late May.

Bring snacks, drinks, appropriate clothing, sun protection and (for those 17 and older) a valid license. I will touch base with you two days in advance of our trip once I have a wind and weather forecast to study to let you know what time and where to meet me. We normally get started about 15 minutes before sunrise year 'round and fish for four-plus hours.

As an all catch-and-release operation, we fish for a full four hours -- the time you are spending your hard-earned money on to be in the outdoors with an outdoor professional. We never "head back early" just because you have caught a limit of fish.

Amenities

Water Type

Lake

Skill Levels

Beginner, Intermediate, Advanced

Tackle

All rods, reels, and tackle are included.

Beer

Feel free to enjoy responsibly, but please no glass.

Music

You can play your own bluetooth music.

Location

This guide can be flexible with the departure location.

Weather

You won’t lose your deposit if the trip is canceled due to weather

Kid Friendly

This trip can cater to small children.

Disability Friendly

This trip can accommodate those with disabilities.

Flexible Cancelation

This trip can be canceled up to 14 days before the trip.

Physicality

This trip requires an average level of physical activity.

Fish Cleaning

No cleaning service provided.

Boat Restroom

No, this boat does not have a bathroom on board.

Live Bait

Live bait is not used on this trip.

Lunch

Please provide your own food / snacks.

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About Your Boat

Boat photo for Family-Friendly White Bass Fishing

Boat Type: Center Console
Boat Manufacturer: Maritime Custom-made by Camero
Year Built: 2016
Boat Length: 21'

About Your Boat

Boat Type: Center Console
Boat Manufacturer: Maritime Custom-made by Camero
Year Built: 2016
Boat Length: 21'
Boat Restroom: No
Engine Manufacturer: Yamaha
Total Horsepower: 115
Number of Engines: 1
Additional Amenities: *Yamaha 115-horsepower, 4-stroke outboard motor *3 independent Garmin LiveScope Systems with LVS32, LVS34, and LVS62 transducers networked to four Garmin GPSMAP 12" monitors *Garmin 8616 sonar for 2D, DI, and mapping *Humminbird Apex 16 MSI for side-imaging and i-Pilot Link System *Minn Kota Quest 36V Ulterra trolling motor with auto stow & deploy functions, footpedal, and remote *Twin Cannon Optimum TS electric downriggers networked to a Humminbird Apex 16 sonar *Spray-on Line-X keel guard extending to the bow eye *Exterior, spray-on Line-X coating in high-scuff areas to avoid cosmetic damage to the hull’s gelcoat *Florida Fishing Products reels *St. Croix rods *a properly positioned trolling motor pad *a cushioned, properly positioned bolster seat *wide gunwales for easy access, accessory mounting, and to hide wiring *34 vertical rod holders & 8 horizontal holders *reinforced downrigger mounts *self-bailing deck *a large front casting deck w/ 3 pedestal seats *a 16-drawer tackle cabinet *an onboard raw water washdown system *a 30 gal. Blue Water Bait Systems insulated, recirculating bait tank *large diameter wire chases from bow to stern, and from stern to console (x2) *oversized electrical panels *partitioned under-deck storage *easy access above deck 18-gallon fuel tank *easy access to a set of six state-of-the-art Impulse lithium-ion 12-volt batteries with a seventh on-board spare *suicide knob on stainless steering wheel *easy access to fuel-water separator *a sacrificial transducer mounting board on transom *raw water fill/flush for the 30 gal. bait tank *a minimalistic, functional console *rugged, no-nonsense SeaLion galvanized trailer with LED lighting, a torsion axle *heavy duty stainless steel trailer fenders coated with textured Line-X as a safe step in and out of boat *Safe-Floor non-slip flooring material throughout *Exterior, under-gunwale green LED lighting system for bait gathering *MOB+ wireless kill-switch system fully compliant with “Cali’s Law”