08/30/2025
Thanks CapN Ron Fishing for putting this together and for the kind words. It’s been a lot of fun watching you grow your business, and I couldn’t be more proud to be a small part of your journey.
GUIDE SPOTLIGHT: Jason Hoffman
A note from CapN ~
When I first started my guiding business, Larry Barnes introduced me to Jason Hoffman. Larry helped me get into the business, but Jason took it from there. He sent me his overflow trips, introduced me to his best customers, and made sure they knew I was part of the family.
Jason taught me how to do things the right way — showing respect to other guides and treating clients with the highest level of customer service. He even took me down to Falcon Lake for the first time, where he introduced me to one of the greatest places on earth: Pinché Zapata. And he never once asked for anything in return — not a dollar, not a favor.
He believed in me before I believed in myself. He told me I would one day be one of the top guides on the lake, no doubt in his mind. That kind of encouragement has shaped who I am as a guide today. And I’m not the only one — Jason has helped build and mentor more successful guide businesses on Lake Fork than anybody I know.
His reputation is rock solid. He’s a family man who puts God and his family first, his business last — yet somehow, when you’re his customer, you feel like his business is the number one priority in the world.
If I could tell any guide how to carry themselves on the water and behind the scenes, it would be simple: Do it the way Jason Hoffman does it.
He’s a friend, a mentor, and just an all-around damn good dude. We gave gad some damn good times together. Jason, thank you for everything you’ve done over the years and for always being there for me to vent 🙌👊
Now here he is, featured in this episode of Guide Spotlight.
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1. What lake do you guide on, and how did you get started?
Lake Fork. I started guiding part-time in 1999. Marc Mitchell asked me to take his overflow. I fell in love with it, and in 2001, I left my accounting job to start guiding full-time.
2. What’s the biggest client bass you’ve ever boated?
13.51. On March 6, 2003, Brandon Moss caught ShareLunker #346 with me on a black/blue Viper XP jig. That fish really helped catapult my business.
3. What type of client do you enjoy guiding the most?
I like them all!! (For different reasons). That’s what’s great about what we do for a living. We get different skill levels every day. Kids and beginners are usually eager to learn, and I enjoy answering their questions and sharing knowledge. With experienced anglers, it opens up more possibilities and even helps me learn from them.
4. What’s one thing you wish every client knew before booking a trip?
Sometimes expectations are a little unrealistic. We are fishing Lake Fork, which gives clients a better chance of catching a trophy bass than almost anywhere in the world, but they don’t get big by being easy to catch. People see the pros on TV and think it’s easy, without realizing the difference in skill levels. It’s best to come with “hope” instead of “expectations.” We’ll put you around the fish and teach techniques, but we can’t work the bait, feel the bite, set the hook, or fight the fish for you. The fish and client both have to do their part!
5. What boat do you run, and who are your sponsors (if any)?
Skeeter Boats, Diamond Sports Marine, Santone Lures, Garmin, Daiwa, and Lake Fork Trophy Lures have all been great to me over the years.
6. Anything else you’d like folks to know about you?
I like to talk, and I enjoy the days when clients like to talk too! It’s fun learning about where people are from, what they do, and getting to know them.
7. Drop your website and any links.
🌐 Website: lakefork.us
📍 Facebook: Lake Fork Guides
📲 Instagram:
📍 Google Business: Click Here
📞 Contact: Jason Hoffman – (903) 456-3691
