Jonn Gramm's Camp Smallmouth River Guide Service - 309-399-7055 Specializing in wading and float trips on the Vermilion River in Central Illinois. Reasonable rates with all gear provided. Especially adept at teaching the finer points of river fishing for smallmouth bass.  fly or spin. Over 25 years of experience.

Captain Bob Rossa – www.migratorfishhunt.com - 815-575-4665 – Captain Bob works out of beautiful North Point marina. He is a consummate professional and almost always sends his clients home with plenty of tasty fillets. Captain Bob’s wit and charm is worth the price of a charter alone.

Captain Bob Jenkins – www.challengerfishingcharters.com - 888-427-8262 – Captain Bob runs out of Waukegan and is a double threat. He takes his big boat out for salmon and trout and also runs a nifty center-console craft that is absolutely perfect for perch. Captain Bob is the only charter on the big pond that can get you a limit of tasty golden perch while fishing in a comfy boat that is designed for what you are doing.

Captain Bob Poteshman – www.confusioncharters.com - -888-929-3474 – Captain Bob runs four, yes I said four, boats out of North Point. His customers just keep coming back. His advice to me boated my two biggest Lake Michigan kings I ever caught and they were both within 30 minutes of each other.

Jay Angel – www.jayangeloutdoors.com - 815-739-7030 – A great guy and excellent fisherman, Angel works the noted fish factory, Shabbona Lake. Nothing fancy about Jay, just good fishing at reasonable prices. He specializes in bass, walleyes and crappies.

Captain Mel Christensen – www.fishwithmel.com - 815-678-7051 – If you have a boat and don’t make good use of your electronics, make a date with Mel. He is the best around at showing you how to more effectively use your GPS and sonar. He catches plenty of fish, too.

Dave Duwe – 608-883-2050 – www.genevaonline.com/~dduwe/ - One of the nicest guys you’ll ever meet. He does Geneva, Delavan and all of the lower lakes in Southern Wisconsin. I don’t know any guide who is more patient with kids and beginners.

Eric Haataja – wibigfish.com – 414-546-4627 – This young man fishes all over the state of Wisconsin and catches fish on every lake and river he hits. I watched him give Babe Winkelman a tip or two o Babe’s own show. He has a few secret spots, but it’s said that he makes you wear a blindfold on the ride.

Todd Gessner – www.toddgessneroutdoors - 618-513-0520 – Don’t let his “country boy” appearance fool you. Gessner has a Mensa IQ and is one of the smartest guys I know. He guides Rend, Crab Orchard, Devil’s Kitchen, Lake of Egypt and all of the rest of Southern Illinois’ legendary lakes. If he’s ot available, his protégé, Jason Johns, is almost as good as Todd.

Dennis Radloff – www.sterlingmusky.com - 262-443-9993 – The odds are that the next world record muskie will come from Green Bay or the waters of Lake Michigan that the bay connects to. Odds are also that the fish will be caught by Radloff or one of his clients. Nuff said.

Carl Kaufmann – Carl Kaufmann Guide Service - 815-338-2475 – Kaufmann is equally adept at finding big bass and pike on both Lake Geneva and Lake Delavan. If one is off, the other is usually on, so Carl’s knowledge of both of them gives him a big edge. Carl is great with kids and first-timers.

Captain Walt Koch – www.redrockguidingservice - 815-710-5453 – Captain Walt spends most of his time on Geneva and knows its intricacies quite well. He is also proficient on the Fox Chain and is legally licensed to guide there. He’s a good bass fisherman who uses some very different presentations that he has perfected.

Steve Everetts – Finseeker’s Guide Service - 847-707-1827 - Steve is a licensed captain and my “go-to-guy” for Lake Delavan fishing information. He is the best on that body of water, hands down. For something unique and special, book him for some incredible January and February Lake Michigan action for huge brown trout. Warning! This is not for the weak of spirit!

Captain Ralph Steiger – www.captainsteiger.com - 219 – 688 – 3593 - Lake Michigan is becoming known as a Mecca for smallmouth bass fishing, Ralph is one of the only charters who specifically can target these huge bronzebacks. He launches out of Indiana, so it’s a long haul, but believe me, it is worth the cost of the gas. Five pounders, anyone?

Nick Cammerata – www.muskysucker.com - Are you looking for a trophy or are you looking at catching a half-dozen muskies. Tell Mick and he’ll work to get you what you desire. No one around catches as many ski’s as Nick does.

I don’t profess to know every guide who is out there plying his trade in our area. If you know of someone who you think deserves to be added to this list, please let me know.