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The Captain's Comments
My name is Tom Roller, and I'm the owner and operator of WaterDog Guide Service and I really appreciate your interest in my services. When it comes to guiding, I am very proud of my occupation and the hard work it takes to be a productive fisherman and guide, day in and day out. As a full-time guide, I am deeply committed to my job and I do each and everything I can to make your day as productive as possible. Being a full-time guide, in my opinion, is one of the best things that I can offer my clients. Not only am I on the water every single day learning and moving with the habits of the fish, but the success of my business is founded upon the satisfaction and happiness of my clients. The happier my clients, the more repeat business I have...and I have a lot of clients who fish with me more than a few times per year! My success and track record speaks for itself - year in and year out, I am one of busiest guides in the state of North Carolina. I am on the water, with clients, over 230 days a year...and that number is growing every year!
Furthermore, as a full-time guide, I have a commitment to customer-service that cannot be matched by any other "part-time" captain/guide who does not have to rely on their business for their income and livelihood. This business is rampant with stories of ridiculous claims of impossibly large catches and statements/guarantees of the rare and improbable. You also hear too many stories of captains who will fish in any weather. Beware of part-time and transient guides who are quick to make guarantees and big, bold statements. Ask yourself this: Does it sound too good to be true? If so - then it probably is. The captains who are desperate for business are often the first to make promises they can't meet...and are the first to go out in bad weather and during poor conditions...just to get your money. No need to worry about that here. In fact, as busy as I am, I don't feel pressured to take folks out in adverse weather conditions. In fact, since I work so much during the year and am usually so booked up that I often look forward to having a day off here and there!
That being said, one reason for my success is that I try to be as honest and straightforward as possible. While I can't control the changing conditions and all the movements of the fish, I rarely have a client who, at the end of the day, feels as if they didn't have a clear picture of the possibilities! While I can't guarantee slick calm sees and perfect water conditions - rest assured if it is dangerous or unfishable we won't be fishing period. However, if it's borderline or we can’t do a specific thing, I brief my clients with a truthful description of the conditions and corresponding fishing options and thus give them the option to fish or cancel based upon that. Even so, because of the depth of my experience and my 2 different boats, I just about always have options for productive and comfortable fishing. I often hear complaints from folks who hired a part-time or transient/seasonal guide that their captain cancelled the trip on a whim because they were not versatile enough to offer their clients more than 1 or 2 fishing options - even after they made a long trip to the coast! You also hear people booking fly fishing trips and the captain expects them to fish with live-bait or vice versa. Know that I will do everything I can to accommodate you, and that includes making sure you are booking the trip you expect. If in our initial conversation I feel that we are not a good match for technique and expectations and I believe there is another guide whom can better suite you - rest assured I will refer you to that guide.
As busy as I am, it would be very easy to just forget about many of these issues and just concentrate solely on myself and simply turn down my over-flow business and book the first folks who call. However, it honestly pains me to hear the stories of unhappy fishermen who feel they were wronged by a guide or simply booked the wrong type of charter. That is an expensive mistake no one should have to make. I believe in consumer advocacy, and with just a couple of questions and a little information it is easy for me to make sure that you're planning the right charter and we are both on the same page. Even while I had an open schedule, I have matched many a customer with a guide whom I believe can better serve their requests. At WaterDog Guide Service, it's always the customer first. While most folks who call me want to fish with me (and usually end up doing so!), I believe that the extra effort I make to make sure that you're booking the trip you expect is one of the reasons for my success. I have legions of former clients who can attest to that.
But being a successful guide is not just about catching fish (or even fishing the way in which you want to)- it's also about making sure that your clients have a very enjoyable day on the water. Fishing has always been very important to me, and from a very early age, my father and grandfather impressed upon me that fishing was avenue for the importance of family, camaraderie, conservation and the love of the sport. I have a real passion about what I do as a guide, and as fisherman, let me say this - I fish just about everyday that I am off! I offer more than a service, as a guide I inspire to share my love of fishing and the outdoors with my clients. From the first day I started my business, I said that I wanted my customers to always feel that "they had a great time, learned a lot...and also caught some fish." What I mean by this is fishing is supposed to be fun and most people in this business can catch fish - it's about the attitude of the guide and the experience they hope you have. Fishing can be very stressful if the wrong attitude is taken - not everyone wants to fish like it’s a tournament with a million dollar prize on the line. Fishing is not about who can go the fastest or who can sling the biggest fish on the dock - not every person wants to tug on a 300lb sea monster...some of us enjoy technique and style as much as anything. I tell myself that every day that I am on the water - that the most important thing I can do is make sure that I am fishing in the style, comfort and pace that my clients want. Unless you like a hectic pace, I prefer a low-pressure environment. If you're not having fun - it's no fun for me!
During my life I have fished all over North America in some really fantastic environments, and what has always stood out to me, as much as any of the fish I caught, was the quality of the experience. Many of the guides I have fished with have become dear friends, and I remember just as much about them and what they taught me, as I do about the fish that we caught together. I remember when I was 15 and in a remote river of the Canadian Northwest territories...and I severely sprained my ankle on the first day of the trip. While I could easily boat fish, it is a special guide, Dave, whom during a shore lunch stop, looked down at me and said, "want to do something really cool?" Well, he piggybacked a 15-year-old 200 yards over boulders and rocks to a riffle, only accessible by foot, that was covered with a cloud of caddis flies and teaming with grayling. During a two-hour period, I stood in one spot and caught over 60 massive grayling. To this day it was the greatest fishing moment I have ever experienced - all because of the extra effort of our guide. That's a moment of my life I will look back to for the rest of my life. I remember fishing in the keys, on spring break with my girlfriend (now my wife!) - I hired a flats guide, named Tom, who did more, in 5 hours, to help my wife develop her interest in saltwater fly fishing than I could ever imagine. I also have spent long hours in a boat with gruff, silent captains with whom I could not hold a conversation...and, for me, it made for an unpleasant day and experience. When folks fish with me, I am always hoping that I can create experiences that you will forever remember.
While I can never guarantee a banner day, you can be assured that my boats and engines will be in top-notch shape and that I offer the best equipment money can buy. I am sponsored and endorsed for a reason - I seek out endorsements and forge relationships with companies so that I can offer my clients as much as possible. I supply a lot of new, expensive gear, not because I have to, but because I want to do everything possible to make our day as special as possible. Furthermore, you can be assured that I always do my homework and being that I am on the water every day - I know where the bite has been. After a day of fishing with me, no one can ever say that I didn't do everything within my power to make the day as productive as possible....and most importantly, as fun as possible!
You may find a guide with a fancier boat(s) (Well, actually - not really!) or who makes tremendous claims - but not me. I tell it how it is, and at the end of the day, those captains who make ridiculous claims and guarantees...whelp, I am sure they won't want our clients to meet. After hearing from my clients about what I have to offer, they just might lose a little business.
FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS
Q: What does Licensed and Insured mean?
A: In order to be a guide and transport paying customers, you must first be licensed by the United States Coast Guard. Its a long process that requires, among other things, a difficult test, lots of first-aid/CPR training and documented sea time.
When it comes to Insurance, typical boat insurance policies do not cover charter boats. In order to cover your clients, a guide must have proper COMMERCIAL CHARTER INSURANCE. Holding charter insurance requires that I uphold stringent safety regulations and maintain the paperwork necessary to being a safe and legal operation.
Since its much more expensive than regular insurance, many captains do not purchase insurance policies. If a guide does not advertise himself as insured, hes probably not. I warn anyone from booking a charter from a captain who does advertise their business as insured. Think of it this way: Would you eat at a restaurant that doesnt have a health inspection?
I am fully insured (even for property loss) through Charter Lakes Marine Insurance.
Q: I'm renting a home in Emerald Isle (or Pine Knoll Shores) - how far is the drive?
A: I keep my boat in Atlantic Beach which is only a 15-20 minute drive from most rental properties in Emerald Isle - Atlantic Beach
is even closer to Pine Knoll Shores! Most Charter Boats dock in Atlantic Beach or Morehead City - it's home to the best fishing!!
Q: Do you allow children on your boat?
A: Of course! I love having children aboard! One of the greatest things about fishing is being able to pass the love of the sport on to a young one. My dad started me fishing when I was three years old, and I never looked back. I do my best to share my love of fishing with all folks particularly children.
Q: Do I need to bring anything?
A: All tackle and equipment is provided. However, I recommend that my clients bring plenty of water, any food or snacks they may want, sunscreen, a hat, good sunglasses, and a water-proof jacket (even in the summer months). While I provide a cooler on the boat, if you plan to take fish home make sure you bring along a cooler.
Q: Where can I get my fish cleaned?
A: Typically, I am happy to help my clients clean filet some of their catch (and in many cases - all of it) back at the dock. If the catch is particularly large (aka, beyond "reasonable") and time does not allow for me to fully help, I will always do my best to get you started and teach you the easiest ways to finish filleting your catch.
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