Story by Robert Wroblewski | Photos by Tanner & Travis Lyons
Going into my 11th year as a full-time guide, I sometimes sit back and can’t believe the path that’s brought me here. I was just a small-town kid from Naples, Florida, spending every free minute fishing the canals, lakes, and backwaters of the Everglades. I never imagined that passion would turn into a full-blown career that would take me from the salt flats of southwest Florida to the river systems of Tennessee—and just about everywhere in between.
I grew up with a rod in my hand. From chasing snook and redfish in Estero Bay to exploring the mangroves of Fort Myers, fishing was never just a hobby. It was life. Early on, I knew I wanted to make a living doing what I love. The idea of taking people out and showing them the beauty of a fishery—watching their reactions, helping them catch their first fish, or their biggest—was always the dream.
For the first half of my career, I guided primarily in saltwater. I ran trips for redfish, snook, tarpon, sea trout, permit, and even sharks. I used everything from flat-bottom skiffs to center consoles and hybrid bass boats to navigate both open and shallow water. It was exciting, and saltwater fishing offered its own kind of magic, but man, it was a grind. Most people don’t see the work that goes into it.
You’re up way before the sun, tossing the cast net to get bait, chumming the water, and constantly watching the tide, wind, and weather. In southwest Florida, we had to deal with red tide—a toxic bloom that can wipe out fish populations and make the water completely unfishable. Then when your trip ends, the work’s far from over. You’re flushing motors, rinsing every bit of tackle, scrubbing the boat from bow to stern because that saltwater spares nothing. It was a full-time job before and after the trip even began.
Eventually, I felt the pull to transition into freshwater. Not just because it was less maintenance, but because I wanted to grow as an angler. I wanted to prove to myself that I could fish anything, anywhere. I started guiding for largemouth on Lake Okeechobee, then moved on to peacock bass in South Florida. That led to opportunities in North Georgia, guiding on the herring lakes, and finally settling into East Tennessee—a place I’d always dreamed of living.
Now I guide full-time on some of the best lakes in the region — Watts Bar, Chickamauga, Tellico, Fort Loudoun, and Douglas. What I love most about this life is simple: I get to do what I love every single day, and I get to share that passion with others. There’s nothing like watching a kid catch his or her first bass or seeing the look on someone’s face when they hook into their new personal best. I’ve learned that people don’t always remember how many fish they caught. They remember how they felt on the water.
Some of my favorite trips are when I take out single anglers who really know how to fish. We can get technical, swap strategies, break down patterns, and just fish hard. I fish alongside them, not just as a guide but as a fellow angler. These trips are fun, engaging, and help sharpen my own skills, especially when it comes to tournament fishing. Being on the water every day makes you a better angler, period. It’s the best kind of training there is.
Of course, not every day is perfect. There are tough days, fish that won’t cooperate, weather that moves in out of nowhere. But that’s fishing. You take the highs with the lows, and you always try to make it the best day possible for your clients because in the end, this job is about more than just catching fish. It’s about creating experiences, building memories, and sharing the water with people who want to be part of something special.
So, if you’re thinking about booking a trip, just know this: I’m fully licensed, insured, and USCG certified. But more importantly, I care. I care about your experience, your time, and your memories. Whether you’re a seasoned angler or brand new to fishing, I’ll do everything I can to make your trip unforgettable.
I’d be honored to be your guide. Let’s go fishing.
Robert Wroblewski – Angler Profile
