ABOUT YOUR GUIDE
Who I Am
I was born into a fishing family in 1969 while my dad was serving in Vietnam. My earliest childhood memories revolve around angling. Pop Pop Hamilton was a commercial fisherman on the Mississippi, mom and dad went fishing on cheap dates as newlyweds, and Uncle Glenn ran a saltwater charter boat out of Shark River, NJ. I'm now happily married, live in Salado, Texas, right at the eastern edge of the Texas Hill Country, and am carrying on the family tradition. I have fished all over our nation in fresh waters and salt, and with all manner of gear and tackle. In 1991, I graduated from West Point (U.S. Military Academy) with a Bachelor of Science degree in environmental engineering, and spent 8 years with the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers, followed by 9 years in industry. I now serve as the Children's Pastor at a large church in central Texas. My business experience from my "previous life" and my flexible schedule in my current calling allow me to operate "Holding The Line Guide Service" out of my home on the lakes of this region. I am physically fit, extremely well-organized, very methodical, self-disciplined and detail-oriented. I enjoy introducing beginners to the sport. I enjoy coaching those with a little experience. I enjoy fishing with great fishermen and picking up on tips and techniques from all over the country. I am not so prideful to think that I cannot still learn much from other further down the path than I.
Why I Fish
The pursuit of fish is, to me, an incomparable, lifelong challenge that tests the mind, the body, and even the will. The timeless variables of weather, wind, forage location, light, temperature and pressure prevent any one day's pursuit from being like the chase of any other day. Every sunrise holds new promise, every storm front brings change, every season nudges fish movements, and though the cycle has repeated since the beginning of time, I believe the code will never be fully deciphered. But there are some who understand parts of the code. I am one. And that understanding breeds a desire to preserve and to protect that same Creation that is pursued.
- I have fished the 5 bodies of water that I conduct my guide business on (Stillhouse Hollow Reservoir, Belton Reservoir, and Georgetown Reservoir) for 16 years in all seasons, weather, and water levels and conditions.
- From October, 1992 to present, on these five water bodies, I have kept detailed records of every trip I have taken. I have logged over 1,600 trips and have brought more than 51,200 fish over the gunwales.
- Over the past 4 years, I've averaged over 22 fish caught per trip.
- I have 66 Texas water body record fish (largest of a given species caught on a given body of water) to my credit, including 30 fish caught on conventional tackle and 36 fish caught on fly tackle
- I have 6 State record fish to my credit.
- My guide business, "Holding the Line Guide Service", is a legally registered Texas business based in Bell County.
- I am licensed by the Texas Parks and Wildlife Department
- I am insured by Charter Lakes Marine Insurance Co.
- Boat - a custom-made 18'4" center console "Americas Bayboat"; she's 8' wide, dry, stable, comfortable and laid out exactly as I designed her
- Motor - a 90 horsepower Honda 4-stroke - clean, fuel efficient, quiet, and smooth running during prolonged periods of trolling and downrigging
- Rods
- For slabbing - Lamiglas XPS703 light spinning rods - they're lightweight with a tip just right for our special "smoking" techniques
- For blade baits - Lamiglas IRFA703C light casting rods - works like a light crankbait rod to cushion the blow and keep hooks from tearing out
- For downrigging - Lamiglas CG70DR - a full-glass, light-tackle rod with a sweet, parabolic action made just for downrigging
- For sniping - Lamiglas MBS702UL - an ultralight rod with a soft tip just right for this technique which is essentially icefishing on open water for very lethargic fish
- For topwater - Lamiglas IRFA764C medium casting rods - a long rod for long casts, and with a bit of a soft tip to "give" when the fish takes a topwater on a tight line
- For flatline trolling - Lamiglas CG70DR - a full-glass, light-tackle rod with a sweet, parabolic action that keep treble hooks buried when fish are hooked on fast-moving lures
- Reels
- For slabbing - Abu Garcia's Soron 20, Pflueger's Medalist 7035, and Penn's Slammer 260 - all are quality spinning reels with a low gear ratio and a smooth drag
- For blade baits - Abu Garcia's Revo Winch - with a low gear ratio and a smooth drag
- For downrigging - Abu Garcia's Ambassadeur 4600C3 - a deep spool and low gear ratio in a compact package
- For sniping - Pflueger's Supreme 8025MG ultralight spinning reel
- For topwater - Pflueger's Asaro low profile baitcaster with a faster gear ratio
- For flatline trolling - Abu Garcia's Ambassadeur 4600C3 - a deep spool and low gear ratio in a compact package
- Lines
- For slabbing - Berkley Trilene Big Game, Solar Collector green color, in 8 and 10 pound test
- For blade baits - Berkley Trilene Big Game, Solar Collector green color, in 10 and 12 pound test
- For downrigging - Berkley Trilene Big Game, clear color, in 15 pound test
- For sniping - Berkley Trilene's Transoptic line in 6 pound test
- For topwater - Berkley Trilene Big Game, Solar Collector green or clear color, in 12 pound test
- For flatline trolling - Berkley Trilene Big Game, Solar Collector green color, in 10 and 12 pound test
- Lures
- For slabbing - Trolling Nolan Tackle Company's TNT180 in 3/8 and 3/4 oz. White is my favorite color.
- For blade baits - Reef Runner Lure Company's Cicada bladebait in 3/8, 1/2, and 3/4 oz. The shad, silver/blue, and glow are my favorites
- For downrigging - Luhr Jensen's Pet Spoon in sizes 12 and 13 in silver with white feather, and my own White Willow spoon in white color
- For sniping - Ice jigs, hand-painted to a white color.
- For topwater - Heddon's Spook Jr. in clear, and my own Cork Rig with an artificial attached to match the forage size
- For flatline trolling - Reef Runner Lure Company's Rip Shad crankbaits in both the 200 and 400 sizes. My favorite color is Mooneye Minnow
- Sonar
- On the console - Lowrance HDS-10 Insight with Structure Scan, and a Lowrance LMS 522c iGPS colored sonar / chartplotter combination as an onboard backup
- On the bow - Lowrance X510c colored sonar
- Trolling Motor - a Minn Kota Fortrex 101 pound thrust, 36 volt, foot controlled bow-mounted unit
- Downriggers - twin Cannon Easi-Troll manually operated downriggers with 8, 10, or 12 pound balls depending on the situation
- Downrigger Releases - hand made using a Church Tackle Adjustable Flex Clip on the business end
Holding The Line Guide Service - based in Salado, Texas, in pursuit of the game fish of Texas
White Bass, Largemouth Bass, Hybrid Stripers, Black Bass, Sand Bass, Crappie
Focusing on Stillhouse Hollow Lake, Belton Lake, and Lake Georgetown
Fly fishing and light tackle
FOR RESERVATIONS, 254-368-7411 or Bob@HoldingTheLineGuideService.com
© 2006 - 2010 Holding The Line Guide Service, All rights Reserved
