A few people have brought it to my attention that there may be a miss-understanding that I do guided Squam Charters on "The Barge". Please let me clarify it and apologise for any missleading post I have made.

I am not a "NH Guide" (not even a resident, lol) and will never be one, I do not do guided Squam charters on The Barge. It was suggested by many that I pursue this, but it simply isn't something I want to do. First of all, guiding on Squam would be much too stressful for me, the idea of taking folks out for a fee in the HOPES of catching a "big one" is very much a reality, but only to get Squamed (skunked) is also a reality and certainly no fun. I want to continue enjoying fishing, I made a hobby a business once before and it soon became a job, I don't want to make that mistake again, I'm retired now.

What I do offer to fisherman from this web site is to fish Squam with me, on The Barge, some perhaps that are a little nervous to use thier own boat there and/or simply want to learn the lake some. I don't like fishing alone, it's a big boat and sometimes a bit of a challenge alone in the wind and I simply like meeting new friends with a common love for the sport. I hate taking non-fishereman types out, I give the Guides credit for doing it, but not for me.

I have made many new and a few I'm sure, life long friends on these fishing trips.

There are a few qualified Guides that sometimes do offer Squam Charters, they can be found here on this web site.

So if you see an invitation here to fish on "The Barge" it most certainly is not a solicitation for a Charter, I'm just lookin for some company to fish with..and perhaps meet a few new friends. I fish 3 or 4 days a week and find you can never have enough fishing partners.

I hope this clarifies any miss-undertandings.

Tight Lines,

Big John

what you need is sponsorships from all the equipment manufacturers. i wonder if thats possible. i wouldnt want to make guiding a business either, i want to fish and not worry if someones not catching.

Ha,ha, sponsorship. Allthough that might not be a bad idea for them, I have allot of new or high tech equipment on board that many have ran right out and bought after being on The Barge.

However, I would never solicit any type of sponsorship, then I might be responsible to them, sponsorships are for the pros, my wife is sponsor enough.

Got to get you and your Dad on someday Mike, but I know it's hard to be dragged off your favorite Lake, maybe some mid week day this fall ???

Big John

well i know youve sold a few on those down jiggers, would be wise of them to send you a planer jigger come spring. hopefully i can get away come fall, but im not to sure about the work load here, it looks like its about to drop off which will make things difficult to get away.

Strange how that works, busy you can get away, slow you have to stay behind and mind the store, been there.

I think he's bringing up a few planer jiggers in the next couple of weeks to try. I really didn't pay too much attention to him setting it up last time, but until a piece broke, it caught several nice ones including 7.5 pound Laker (rare catch for Squam) we (Russ Johnson and I) are looking forward to trying them..

Big John

Maybe I should have mentioned it above, there were no complaints of any kind, a few people inquired about info and my rates, etc, for Big Squam Charters, it's happend a few times before and again more recently.

So I figured I should set the record straight. If you didn't know me, it could be an easy thing for people to assume from some of my post.

I'd rather go to the Dentist, than be a paid guide on Squam, lol. Not sure how much time I have left on the pond, but I do want to enjoy it to the fullest, with fisherman, nuf said.

The Guides deserve allot of credit for what they do, it's a big responsibility and liability as well.. My hat's off to all of them.

Big John