Our Friends the Fishing Guides: Bill & Chris Carey
Bill Carey is the brawn, brains, and excitement behind Striper Express Pro Guide Service which is one of the oldest and most popular Lake Texoma Pro Guide services. Bill’s son, Chris Carey, grew up with a rod and reel in his hands and went on to become an integral cog in the Carey wheel as the Striper Express head guide. When you meet the Careys, you will find a highly colorful experience. Be sure to check out the video with Chis and fishing celebrity Jimmy Houston following this article. My interview with Bill went just like this:
What are your proudest accomplishments?
- My 33 years with Striper Express at Lake Texoma. I guess it’s an accomplishment to have the staying power to have lasted this long. I love this lake and it's all I could ever imagine.
- My 44-year marriage, my only son, partner, and head guide, Chris Carey and his family.
- I have been honored and humbled to have been nominated three times to The Texas Freshwater Fishing Hall of Fame.
What do you do in your spare time with your friends and family?
It's all about family. I attend all of my two grandson's activities; mostly sports. I am an avid hunter and fisherman; anything outdoor related. In my life, I have traveled from Central America up through Mexico and have seen lots of North America. Most of the time, I go to fishing destinations.
My fishing customers ask me where do I go on vacation. Regardless of where, it's always fishing. They all laugh that I go fishing for a vacation when that is what I do for a living.
They ask, “Do you take a boat?”
I reply, “No, I hire guides. My theory is that the people who are fishing are the ones catching the fish.”
What wildlife do you see when you’re on the water?
From the water, we see all the game in the area. You can see game long before they spot you. They are frolicking, hunting, and comfortable in their element. I see deer, wild hogs, foxes, coyotes, armadillos, snakes, beavers, and one time a cougar. There’s waterfowl: Ducks, Geese, Pelicans, and the thousands of Seagulls that migrate and winter here on the lake. Hawks, Osprey, and the majestic Bald Eagles spend winters here. Have you ever seen an Eagle swoop down and pick up a bait fish with its talons?
How long did it take you to get comfortable with Lake Texoma?
I was an avid bass fisherman. In 1977, as a customer, I booked my first fishing charter on Lake Texoma. Five years later, I became a Pro Guide fishing for striped bass. If you do your homework and listen and learn every day, then you are prepared. Having the best fishing lake in the world is not a bad thing. I give all the credit to this great lake. Never get complacent, stay focused, and strive to do your best every day.
What advice do you give to clients who are fishing with you for the first time?
As ambassadors of this great sport, it's our job as professional guides to instruct our clients every day. Coach them up! We are big on instruction and education. We cannot expect our customers to have our experience. This is so easy when it is your passion.
What are the most important decisions you have to make for your business?
Thirty-three years ago, I became a professional fishing guide. When I made this decision, it was simple. My passion for fishing and the desire to live at the lake made it easy for me; even better if I could make a living. It's all about making a positive difference. Whether good times or fiscal cliffs, we must give back. I am the luckiest guy in the world. I am aware that without a lot of luck and breaks that I don't have this career. There are sacrifices, but this job outweighs those by a million.
How do you react to challenging clients?
It's not any harder to be a nice guy. Rare is the time that you encounter a situation that cannot be solved. You have to be a people person. Most people that are willing to pay hard-earned money to charter a pro guide are fine people. They are receptive and eager to learn.
For 33 years, I have taught our guides a simple set of rules:
- Leave your ego at the dock
- Treat people the way you want to be treated
- Never let the tail wag the dog, you are the captain
- Be safe, have fun, and catch a bunch of fish
- If you follow these rules, you have done your job
Where are your favorite Texomaland Restaurants?
The Rig Grill in Denison, TX, Fulbelli's in Sherman, TX, and Pappadeaux in Richardson, TX. I enjoy authentic Italian, Mexican and fresh seafood. My mother once said, "I will cook for you anytime. It's such a pleasure to watch you eat. You enjoy all food." Only a mother can say that.
Music, TV, and Sports
I enjoy all music. Classic rock and classic country would be my top choices. I like Turner Classic Movies, PBS, documentaries, and the Dallas Cowboys football team. I don’t care for reality shows. I'm a fact, not fiction, type of guy.
What are your favorite fish to catch?
Striped bass, the hardest fighting fish in freshwater. I got addicted and have never looked back.
Chris Carey
Chris Carey is a man of fewer words than is his father. In Chris’s spare time, he also likes to hunt, fish, and spend time with his kids. He likes to eat at Fulbelli’s on the Texas side of Texoma, rock is number one for his musical tastes, and he likes to watch The Walking Dead and The Big Bang Theory. His proudest accomplishments are his two boys, Christian and Chayden.
Chris’s advice for his fishing-for-the-first-time clients is simply, “Set the hook on anything.” He likes to slow it down and teach them through presentation. His most important business decision was last year’s social media, so now I can call Chris a Facebooker hooker!
It took Chris about ten years to really get a grasp on Lake Texoma, but he admits that he is still learning. His favorite fish to catch are striped and small mouth bass. Chris has become one of the best known pro guides on Lake Texoma and specializes in “the art of artificial lure” fishing.
Check Out The Striper Express Pro Guide Service Experience
Both Bill and Chris have participated in 14 televised fishing programs that document their capabilities as highly-valued experts fishing on North Texas lakes. Striper Express Pro Guide Service runs seven boats, and as of last year, they have entertained 60,000 clients with striped bass fishing on over 11,000 charters.
We read Bill’s fishing reports here at LakeTexoma.com/news but Bill is also a member of the Texas Outdoors Writers Association. Bill is currently the area’s freelance photographer and has developed a specialized internet blog that caters to Lake Texoma’s expert fisherman.
Chris keeps their Facebook page alive with action-packed bass fishing reports. Striper Express has successfully serviced recreational lake venues for family reunions, church groups and charities, and corporate management teams.
Chris is on the water 300 days a year, and Bill runs the Striper Express operations from his office. Book a charter and come on out to the launch point for Striper Express at the Mill Creek Marina Boathouse #3512 on Mill Creek Resort Road, Pottsboro, Texas, 75076.
And remember, Striper Express Pro Guide Service
GUARANTEES EXCITEMENT!
Call Bill at (903) 357-4165. You can talk to Bill personally. He is hands-on in all facets of his business operations. If he’s not in the office, one of the girls will get to him and he will call you back at your convenience. Click on the map link below to see where striped bass action happens.
MAP
Chris Carey and Jimmy Houston Video