Story by Corey Casey | Photos by Tanner & Travis Lyons
Hey there! I’m Corey Casey, a 35-year-old self-employed, blue-collar working man from Moncks Corner, South Carolina who’s working to pursue my dreams and become living proof that “If I can do it, so can you!”
I’ve been fishing on my home lakes—Santee Cooper (lakes Marion and Moultrie)—my entire life. It started with my grandfather (my biggest influence and role model). He was a fishing guide on Santee Cooper for 58 years, and as a young kid during school breaks I would go out on guided trips with him and serve as his first mate.
One of my most memorable moments with him was on a hot summer day after one of his clients failed to show up. My grandfather decided to take me fishing anyway. I was 11 and caught a 65-pound blue catfish that is still my personal best.
That trip was a classic example of the value of taking a kid fishing. I not only learned about the world of fishing, but also the importance of hard work, dedication, the value of people’s time and the relationships you build out on the water. It changed my life.
Through experiences like that, I was able to gain a foundation of knowledge and skills that would forever impact me in my career as a fishing guide and professional angler.
I worked most of my early adult life as a carpenter. During the hours I wasn’t working, I was fishing. Last year marked a big shift in turning my passion for fishing into a career. I earned my U.S. Coast Guard Captains license and started my own guide business (Corey Casey Fishing and Guide Service). I focus on bass, striper, and catfish. I’ve been able to help people discover the thrill of casting a line and reeling in a BIG one!
Teaching people has been the best part of starting the guide business—being able to make time on the water memorable and fun for others while building lasting relationships. I feel that I’m “living the dream” while helping others accomplish some of theirs.
There’s nothing quite like teaching a kid how to skip a wacky worm and watching him catch his personal best or teaching a 40-year-old how to throw a baitcaster and seeing him catch a 7 pound bass a few casts later or filling up a 120-quart cooler full of catfish with a boatload of kids reeling them all in!
When I’m not out on Santee Cooper guiding, you can find me competing in the National Professional Fishing League, testing my skills against some of the best anglers in the world. Last year was my rookie season as a professional angler. My highest finish was sixth place at Pickwick Lake, where I also won big bass with a 9-pound, 10-ounce largemouth. I finished the year 28th in Progressive Angler of the Year points and qualified for the 2024 championship on Lake Hartwell, October 3–5.
This year, our first tournament took place on Santee Cooper, where I finished second. My goal is to continue that momentum for the 2025 season and qualify for another championship. I also want to learn more about this industry, build relationships with the companies that make the products I use, and find ways to work with them that can benefit us both.
I want to continue growing as a competitor, a guide, and a fishing professional, pushing myself to new levels while sharing the world of fishing with as many people as possible. I want to inspire others to appreciate the outdoors, build lasting skills, and maybe even find their own passion for fishing.
And I hope that one day we can cast a line together and see what we can reel in!
Corey Casey – Angler Profile
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