A local guide service can make the difference between catching the angling bug or giving up in frustration when breaking into fishing as an other-season activity at Lake Martin. Knowing what to look for when hiring a guide – and what to expect when you get on the water – could get you started in the right direction.

Local striper guide and Alex City Guide Service owner David Hare said clients engage his services for a variety of reasons, including learning the lake, learning techniques unique to striper fishing and the affordability of charter fishing compared to purchasing equipment. The kind of fish you’re after should be one of the first considerations when looking to hire a guide.