My 2nd Guide, and his ‘Client Catches’ so far this season…

My 2nd Guide, and his ‘Client Catches’ so far this season…

Back in April you may recall a post that I wrote titled: South Devon Bass Guide Ltd – A New Era Begins… in which I set out my vision for what was originally my hobby, that quickly morphed into a fully fledged business, and that as of April of this year, became a Limited Company!

Alongside my intention to offer inshore boat lure fishing (which is something that has proven more difficult to ‘get afloat’ that than I originally anticipated) I introduced my all-new ‘Venue Locating Service‘ (which has proven to be so popular that I currently have a backlog to complete!) and my Sister Website (Marc Cowling – Bass Lure Fishing). Furthermore, I also reintroducing my South Devon Bass Guide Ltd ‘Gift Vouchers‘.

The BIG NEWS!

However, the BIG NEWS of course, was the announcement that I had been mentoring and ‘training up’ a 2nd Guide who would begin conducting his own professionally guided bass lure fishing sessions under the ‘South Devon Bass Guide Ltd’ banner in the spring of 2024. Step forward Joe, who if you aren’t already acquainted with, you can read all about him and his involvement within the business in a blog post that I wrote back in June 2024 here, titled: Introducing the 2nd Guide at South Devon Bass Guide Ltd.

Joe is a full-time, serving military instructor in his own right who, under my stewardship in regards to the planning of the sessions and the utilisation of my 400+ proven bass marks in and around the beautiful south Devon coastline has, quite simply, done a magnificent job this season. Of real significance, is that due to the nature of his job, during 2024 he has only been able to guide his clients during SOME WEEKENDS ONLY, making the gallery of catches he has assisted his clients to achieve even more impressive.

Joe’s 2025 Availability

Please note that Joe’s 2025 Availability, in association with South Devon Bass Guide Ltd, was released to his previous clients earlier this week therefore, you’ll notice that some of the dates are already struck through and subsequently booked up with the deposits paid. Additionally, many of the 3 Day Package places (yes, Joe will be completing these popular packages from June 2025 onwards) have been snapped up by those who have already enjoyed a session with him, or have enquired directly as a result of his growing reputation.

“A friend and I were lucky enough to secure a days guiding with Joe, Marc’s No.2 on Sunday….

We had a great day, with both of us being pretty new to the sport. Joe fully explained the processes we adopted for the conditions and location we were fishing and continued to offer advice and support throughout the day.

Looking forward to our next outing with either Marc or Joe to continue to expand our Bass fishing knowledge…”

Joe’s Current 2024 Catalogue

Below is brief description and illustration of the more significant client captures that Joe has successfully facilitated for and with his clients so far in the 2024 season:

Joe’s first seminal capture with a client, achieved within only a handful of sessions into his new vocation – a bass that I do believe is Chris’s new PB at 60cm following his 3 Day Package with me in 2023 when he latched into one of a similar, albeit slightly smaller size.

The successful lure was the inimitable Patchinko 100 that this splendid fish nailed right at the start of the session, and is the same pattern that Chris’s fishing companion (Jan) was unfortunately smashed to pieces by, by what a Joe described as “an easy 70cm fish!” What a session it was, one that could have been even more memorable but for a straightened split ring…

Chris wrote:

“That was a cracking fish! Joe is great guy, and a great guide – you’ve done well securing him!”

Joe told me that after ‘sighting’ a number of bass earlier in the session, it took until the light began to dim, and the tide began to ebb strongly for them to come on the feed! And with a Patchinko 125 attached, it was a combination of the guide teaching and tweaking the technique, alongside the clients’ perseverance and ability to translate what he’d been taught, that placed this lovely bass of 4lb (that was released as always) onto the foreshore. Well done Steve and Joe!

Steve wrote:

“I recently had a day’s 1-2-1 with Marc’s new guide Joe. Both being in the services, we got off to a flying start with banter and chat, with Joe constantly looking at conditions as the tide was changing. We moved to several spots, swapping lures along the way.

I had several hits/misses, but did catch a few. With the best being a 54cm brute. Joe without a doubt complements everything I have heard about South Devon Bass Guide, and will definitely be going again! Cheers guys, great day!”

A hard-won bass for my 2nd Guide Joe and his client Shaun following an afternoon of stalking the shoreline. This ‘mid-50’ took the opportunity to smash a delicately ‘popped’ surface lure (the deadly Tackle House Feed Popper) within the flow exiting a creek a very long way upstream – what a wonderful way of catching them!

There’s no doubting that, at times, bass are far more ravenous and, dare I say it ‘ever-so-slightly more predictable in their behaviour at night… However, until you feel that electrifying ‘hit’ reverberate through the rod for the first time you will doubt it is possible… With that in mind, here’s Richard, a client who enjoyed a collection of sessions with Joe, with his first ever lure-caught bass landed at night, caught on the ever-reliable Albie Snax. The first of many I’m sure!

Richard wrote:

“Hi Marc . I just wanted to say thank you for an absolutely superb trip. Everything about it was really great from the accommodation to the fishing. I caught 10 bass over the 3 days and learnt so much about how to use different lures which has given me the confidence to know that I am doing it correctly and just need need to find where the fish are up my way. Joe was absolutely superb and he is a credit to your business, he was patient, full of knowledge and genuinely a very nice person to be around. 

Thanks again.”

Yet another lure-caught client PB (nearing 5lb/60cm) for a client and something we have come to specialise in at South Devon Bass Guide Ltd, this time in the presence and under the expert tutelage of Joe. It’s never over until you’ve unclipped the lure, which in this case was the Savage Gear Gravity Stick Paddle Tail in white.

With a couple of small fish landed and released to the surface lures at the start of this 8 hour, guided session, it was just into darkness, and following a change of angle to the cast and the subsequent retrieve (so to ensure the lure transited through a section of weed bordering a channel) that this beauty struck! A great piece of guiding, in conjunction with the client (Rob) persevering right up until the final few minutes of what transpired to be a fantastic session.

Oh yes…..! A superb 61cm bass landed by Michael, who enjoyed professionally guided bass lure fishing session with Joe. An esteem salmon angler, Michael was eager to learn the intricacies of bass lure fishing and would you believe it, this is the first bass he has ever landed – a great start indeed! The successful lure was the Tackle House Feed Popper 100 – a pattern that has produced the goods time and again during the summer and autumn of 2024.

With a number of smaller bass landed during the initial stages of this session with Joe to the regular surface sliding lures (as was the theme/pattern at the time of this capture) it took until the tide/current sped up and the light began to fade yet again, before the Tackle House Feed Popper 100 did what it does best after Joe had taught his clients how to pop and pause this brilliant popping surface lure.

“Just wanted to thank you for the session on Saturday, we may not have caught any monsters but after the skills we have learnt then I’m sure it’s only a matter of time. After our session last weekend I just wanted to share with you this: We’ve had that lure in our bag for 5 odd years and never used it/never knew how to use it! 2 hours today and we’ve had 5 fish!

We will certainly be looking to book other sessions in the future.”

A splendid 63cm bass for Joe’s client Mark who thoroughly enjoyed professionally guided session with his son at South Devon Bass Guide Ltd. This was a real team effort, completed many miles inland from the open coast that saw Joe guide his clients through the intricacies of lure fishing for bass within such an environment. But a commotion, whereby tiny bait fish were being harassed by a predator beneath saw Mark flick his Patchinko 100 into the margins and BANG! Another ‘client PB’ was quickly in the net, photographed, and returned to feed and breed. Brilliant fishing and guiding.

Mark wrote:

“Been meaning to write this for a while. Me and my son had a guided session with Joe in September. I found him to be very knowledgeable and he taught us some great skills we have since put into practice.

Joe is one of those rare people who gets enjoyment out of other people doing well, I think he was more excited about my bass than me! We found him good company over a long session and I would thoroughly recommend him.”

A serious looking client (Toby) but one who was extremely happy with the teaching, guidance, and overall advice facilitated and administered by Joe. With again, a number of smaller bass landed during the afternoon and early-evening, very much like a number of the captures around this period in the early-autumn, it took until the lights were almost out for this mid-50cm bass to pounce.

Of note, is that Toby’s new lure-caught PB absolutely hammered a white Patchinko 100 practically at his feet – a pattern/colour suggested by Joe would be a good option in the near darkness as you can see. Brilliant work again by guide and client!

Toby wrote:

“I recently had the pleasure of booking a bass fishing trip with Joe (Marc’s number 2) and it exceeded all my expectations

Joe is incredibly knowledgeable, professional, and patient. PERFECT”

A recent client (Andy) with a beautiful bass landed with Joe as his guide. Andy landed another BASS measuring 54cm during this session, one that was conducted under a high, bright, and full Moon and whilst utilising Joe’s suggestion of a Black Savage Gear Gravity Stick Paddle Tail so to be silhouetted over the clean seabed under such high levels of luminosity.

Andy wrote:

“Hi Marc, I wanted to give you some feedback on my session with Joe last Wednesday.

A mild, still, brightly moonlit evening where Joe’s knowledge and clear experience and enthusiasm, enabled me to christen my new rod with a first and (obviously) PB on lures of 2 54cm fish. Joe’s knowledge helped to dispel the myth that a brightly moonlit evening is unsuitable for lure fishing targeting bass! A great session that I will hopefully repeat with South Devon Bass Guide again soon, thanks Joe!”

Joe’s Prices, Information, and Availability for 2025

Please find below Joe’s Prices, Information and Availability for 2025. If you would like to enquire and/or to book a session, or for further information, please complete the Contact Form at the bottom of the page, or you can email me directly at: southdevonbassguide@yahoo.com

8 Hour Guided Sessions

1.   8 Hour Guided Sessions for between 1 and 3 anglers completed in January, March, April and December will be at a priced at £150 for 1 angler. If the person booking wants to add a 2nd angler the price is £250, with the total for a 3rd angler being £300.

(A deposit of £50 is required to secure each position).

2.   8 Hour Guided Sessions for between 1 and 3 anglers completed between May and November will be at priced at £175 for 1 angler. If the person booking wants to add a 2nd angler the price is £270, with the total for a 3rd angler being £300.

(A deposit of £50 is required to secure each position)

The dates that Joe has available on all of the above are as follows:

December – 1st, 2nd, 3rd, 4th, 7th, 17th

3 Day Package Dates

The South Devon Bass Guide Ltd 3 Day Packages are for 3 people (you do not need to know one another, and you can come as a singleton to join the other two anglers). They incorporate 6x 4 hour guided sessions, over 3 days/nights of fishing, and include 3 nights BB (Double en-suite room per person) at the excellent Chillington House BB Hotel (Chillington House – South Devon Bed and Breakfast Hotel).

The price is £529 per person

A deposit of £200 is required to secure each position.

All places are Fully Booked for 2025 however, please complete the Contact Form below to be kept informed of Joe’s 2026 Dates

Contact Form