This blog series features top fishing guides sharing their experiences, insights, and advice to help anglers improve their skills on the water. Each installment highlights a different guide, showcasing their expertise while preserving their unique voice and approach to the sport. This time around we caught up with Captain Chance Briones from Semper Fi Fishing Guide Service!
Captain Chance Briones - Semper Fi Fishing Guide Service
Semper Fi fishing is all about making memories for the clients. As a proud United States Marine Corps veteran, fishing is very therapeutic for me and I love sharing that experience with others. I strive to give the experience the clients are looking for, whether that is a scenic tour, a bucket list Sturgeon, or a bag full of meat. It’s about getting a day of relaxation away from the world even if it only for 8 hours.
- Captain Chance Briones
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1. What inspired you to become a fishing guide, and how long have you been in the industry?
Although I have been chasing fish for over 30 years, I am a fairly newcomer to the guiding community. I became a licensed Captain in February of 2024, and established Semper Fi Fishing in May of 2024, I have always enjoyed spending time on the water, and it became especially important after I returned home from serving in the Marine Corps. River therapy is very real for me and I especially enjoy being able to provide that experience to others. The smiles and pure enjoyment that I see on my clients faces when they see the tug of their lines and the tips of their rods twitch is something I can never get enough of.
2. What's one key piece of advice you'd give to anglers looking to improve their success on the water?
Take great notes. After every trip I will spend 10-15 minutes logging the conditions of the day. Weather, Water clarity, Flow, location and depth we caught most fish, technique that worked best, colors, and any other pertinent information that you think would help. As a recreational fisherman, you are not out every day which means you are not on the fish right away and can spend valuable time searching. If you have notes from last year that are within the same time frame that you are fishing this year you can reference those and 99% of the time you will hit fish much sooner than not, because you will have a good idea of where to start looking.
3. What are your go-to lure types or presentations you use the most?
My favorite fish to catch is the big bad Dinosaurs that we call Sturgeon, the pure power of these fish is just unmatched in our area, and I love the man vs beast mentality that my clients get when they are hooked up on a big one. But the buildup is quite boring as we just anchor down and bottom fish for them. My favorite technique of fishing is pulling plugs (crankbaits). We are moving, and searching and when the bite is on, the hot and heavy action keeps the clients entertained and happy.
4. What's a memorable guiding experience that stands out in your career?
We sponsor a free Veterans event on Memorial Day. We just held our 2nd annual event out of Crowe Butte this year. We were able to get 4 total boats and offer a free day of guided fishing to 15 veterans this year. The first year was just me and 4 veterans, but that is probably my most memorable trip. Being able to give back to my brothers in arms in that way is and will always be very important to me and my family.
5. What common mistake do you see anglers make, and how can they correct it?
Anglers tend to be creatures of habit. Same thing that worked yesterday may not work today. You're always going to have a bad day once in a while, but the more you are willing to be flexible the better you will get at catching fish. Be willing to change more frequently than you think you should. The harder the bite the more frequent I start to change up presentations in one way or another.
6. What factors do you consider most important when planning a successful fishing trip (e.g., weather, water conditions)?
Safety is and will always be the most important factor when planning a successful trip. Second to safety is referring to my notes from same time period last year, what baits worked best, what area I was fishing. That way I can be confident in knowing that what I am doing worked before in the same type of conditions. If I am not getting bit in a reasonable amount of time, then I don't second guess myself when I move locations.
7. For someone booking a guided trip for the first time, what should they expect and how can they prepare?
When you book a guided trip with me, I like to get clarity from the clients on what type of experience they are looking for. Do they want to learn the techniques because they are going to be fishing more? Are they trying to get meat for the freezer and just want to reel fish in? Do they want trophy fish? I will try and cater the experience to what the clients want. Clients should always check weather and dress appropriately, bring their cameras for pictures and be ready to have fun!