I grew up two miles from the Norfork dam. My dad ran a small marina in the late '80s, and I spent every summer afternoon either patching rental boats or pestering whoever was renting one. By the time I was thirteen I had logged more hours on the water than most adults manage in a lifetime.
I started guiding part-time in 2003 while working construction, and by 2009 the boat was paying the mortgage and the hammer was retired. Henry Paul Bass Guide Service has been my full-time work ever since — named, by the way, for my late grandfather Henry Paul, who taught me how to tie a Palomar knot before I could ride a bike.
Today I run roughly 180 charters a season, mostly from late February through November, with a few hand-picked dates in December for the winter jig bite. I keep the schedule small on purpose. I'd rather see the same family come back every year than turn this into a factory.
Every trip is private — never a shared charter. We launch from a public ramp closest to where the fish are biting that morning. I'll text you the night before with the meeting spot, the forecast, and what I think we should target.
Roomy, dry, fully equipped with Lowrance Live, Power-Poles and a Minn Kota Ultrex. Plenty of deck space for two anglers plus the guide.
St. Croix and G. Loomis rods paired with Shimano and Daiwa reels, all lures and terminal tackle. Bring your own if you'd rather — I never mind.
USCG Master 50-ton license, current first-aid and CPR, and a $2M commercial liability policy. Arkansas Game & Fish guide permit on file.
Bottled water, sodas and a cooler with simple sandwiches on full-day trips. Got dietary needs? Tell me when you book and I'll handle it.
Every trip ends with a small photo set sent to your phone within 24 hours. Use them however you want — frame them, post them, send them to the in-laws.
I'm a big believer in catch & release for trophies, but if you want a stringer of eaters for the fryer, we'll make it happen within Arkansas regs.
Bass fishing is hard. Some days the fish bite on anything you throw, other days you work for every strike. I'll never tell you a slow day is a guaranteed thing — but I'll do everything in my power to make sure you leave the dock feeling like the trip was worth it. That's how I've stayed in business for over twenty years.
If you're new, you'll learn enough in one trip to feel confident on your own water. If you're experienced, I'll show you spots and presentations you haven't tried. And if you just want a quiet morning on a beautiful lake with a few fish in the boat — that, I can almost always promise.
Mornings fill up fast in spring and fall. Lock in your date — we'll handle the rest, from rods to lures to the fish-cleaning at the dock.
