About the "Guide", Mike Coley

note: None of the following statements are "bragging" .They are the facts of my outdoor career and assurance that fishing and hunting is my life - not a job.  Mike

       Grew up in North Carolina and learned from a early age how to fish and hunt from my parents. I focused on largemouth bass into my teens and by the time I was 18 had caught 37 bass over 8 lbs, 4 over 10 lbs with 10lb 15 oz & 11 lb 4 oz being my largest. Discovered stripers at Smith Mountain lake, VA and started guiding in 1987. My boat accounted for more citations and fish over 40 lbs during a 5 year period than all other guide services on that lake combined ( DGIF certified citation catches back it up ) Two of my clients fish fell short of the state record by "ounces". Started guiding on the New River in the mid 90's had a lot of success but some spineless low life coward cut both my 16' $6'000.00 Maravia rafts to shreds one night. Disgusted, I left the New River for a while, started guiding big game hunts in Wyoming and Montana in 1997. I guided with "Nick Mundt" in Sundance WY (now of "Bone Collector" fame, spent a little time with Bill Jordan, Michael Waddell and David Blanton while they hunted and filmed whitetail with bow ( Nick is the "real deal", he doesn't act for the TV camera )  I have guided for 183 " B&C whitetail, 195 "B&C  mule deer, 340" P&Y elk with a bow . In 2010 I personally harvested my best mule deer. He was 27"wide, 8 X 5, not counting brow tines and scored 189" B&C .  Love the West and still guide some fall hunts in Montana every year courtesy of my good friend Craig Hueter  www.trophieswest.com  I currently guide for stripers in Tennessee during "peak" seasons. My clients largest striper to date tipped the scales at 55 lbs out of the TN River and 51 lbs out of Boone Lake, TN. My personal best stripers were 57 lbs and 51 lbs, both caught in Tennessee River. I do NOT fish the Cumberland River - too crowded - too far from my home. I am now married to a wonderful woman and heck of a fisherwoman with big musky, smallmouth, 2 stripers over 40 lbs and a 150 lb Cabo, Mexico striped marlin to her credit.  Eggleston, Virginia is now home with an abundance of wildlife and  minutes from great fishing water  . Give me a call if you are interested in a quality musky, smallmouth or striper fishing trip.

                                                                                                                     Capt. Mike Coley

      (above photo) My brother Dale (L) and me (R) in Alaska on the Nowitna River.     

My definition of success

     My brother Dale and I were fortunate enough to take the trip of a lifetime to Alaska . We flew into Fairbanks, were then flown 219 miles west by floatplane. We were then dropped off on the Nowitna River with a 12' raft, camping gear and enough "add water and heat food" for about a dozen days. In the next 12 days we covered 63 miles of remote Alaskan river surrounded by rugged country in full autumn colors. We caught and cooked dolly varden and northern pike. Watched the northern lights while cooking by a campfire in temps that dipped to 5 degrees. I had a tag for bull moose but a late fall with warmer than average daytime temps (30 to 40 degrees) delayed the rut and the big bulls were not responding to calls. The shore of the river was a heavy blanket of leaves that had yet to fall so spot and stalk was all but impossible. Dale and I could have cared less. The entire trip was awesome and we came back with memories to last a lifetime. We flew by Mount McKinley and the Alaskan Range in the float plane. Saw grizzly bear and moose (not the big boys)  MY POINT  Don't measure success in the outdoors by burned gunpowder or a screaming fishing reel. (most hunting & fishing shows are highly edited garbage which put emphasis on catching or killing a "trophy" as a measure of success) NEVER think time spent hunting fishing or enjoying natures wonders is wasted time. I think SUCCESS is ATTEMPTING to reach a goal. FAILURE is never making the ATTEMPT.          

Mike & Debby - The Tetons, Jackson Hole Wyoming

Mom & Dad

They taught me how to fish and hunt.

    ( above from left ) Well known and respected guide George Beckwith and Dad with his Pamlico Sound Drum. Many thanks to George for this trip.  ( center ) Dad and mom (the Eskimo dressed lady ) with dads Wyoming antelope. ( far right ) Mom and Dad  with a big black drum caught by yours truly out of the "Savage Strike" striper boat in the Chesapeake Bay.

        ( photo above) My brother Dale and Jamie with "Lula".