Get a Good Guide

Given the above, it should be obvious that when one first enters foreign waters, it’s helpful to have a good fishing guide. A fishing guide knows the regulations, which fish are biting, the best spots, the hot lures, the tastiest bait. It’s certainly a plus if the guide knows English, so you don’t have to use sign language to communicate that you thought he was bringing the lunch for you and could you have some of his. Or, that you thought he was taking you fishing and not to visit his relatives.

Fortunately, I got one of the best fishing guides in the entire Pantanal region. Told me so himself. But, I’m not so naive that I believe whatever one tells me. No, I have a foolproof method. The guide has to have the grizzled look of a fisherman—the weathered look of a person who’d battled the elements for years. True, sometimes I end up with a grizzled hunter or grizzled pipefitter or grizzled housewife. Perhaps you’ve had the experience of thinking you’re out with a fishing guide, and she has the boat sit in the shade so she can finish knitting a sweater. But, the guide I found was grizzled and a top fishing guide. Told me so himself.

My guide also had the telltale patience of a true fisherman, a person who could sit all day in a boat, rain or shine, and even though not a fish would bite, he’d still enjoy himself, figuring even the worst day fishing was better than the best day working. Especially given that he was being paid.

The patience came in handy many times during our excursion. He would look at me after a cast and patiently inquire: “Do fish in the United States live in trees? Because you seem to cast into them a lot.” Or, the ever present, “Do fish in the United States live in guide’s hats?” Or, “Well, that’s a keeper. Only 3 inches long, but piranhas are all keepers.” Once he wryly noted: “Nice catch. That was a pretty intense fight. But not a keeper. Unfortunately, the government classifies the capybara as rodent, not fish.”

The fact that he charged within my budget was an unexpected plus. When I opened my wallet to ask him how much to pay, turned out I had exactly the right amount of dollars.