Reeling in catches up north through education, conservation

Rachel Sankey

Staff

September 2, 2024

RHINELANDER – Jason Heindl said an idea that started as “nothing more than a childhood dream of mine” turned into a reality three years ago. 

Jason and his wife, Ashley, are the owners of Heindls Fishtails Guide Service, LLC, which – you guessed it – takes people out on a guided fishing experience. 

While growing up, Jason said he and his dad were more recreational fishermen – “nothing more than a weekend warrior type thing.”

“I didn’t really get serious (about it) until I was out of high school,” he said. 

It’s no secret that the Northwoods is known for its prime fishing spots – which is why, Jason said he and his family decided to move to Rhinelander before starting up the business. 

“I wanted to make (my dream) happen and didn’t really have an avenue to do it back in the (Fox) Valley,” the Freedom native said. 

When it came to starting the business – though it was hard work – Jason said starting a fishing guide business “doesn’t take a lot.”

“You have to register with the Wisconsin Department of Resources, insure yourself and get an LLC or something similar,” he said. “The equipment, (however), took years to build up.”

Jason said Ashley also has her guide’s license and helps out where she can. 

This past year, Jason said he was able to make Heindls Fishtails Guide Service his full-time job.

Get ready for guided fishing

As a self-proclaimed fishing enthusiast and lover of the outdoors, Jason said he wants his clients to enjoy their experience with Heindls Fishtails – which is why he said people only need to bring weather-appropriate clothing, food and drink, polarized sunglasses, a hat and a good attitude. 

Jason said he takes care of the rest of the equipment – though people are welcome to bring their own gear if they’d like. 

Since the experience happens on the water, Heindls doesn’t have a brick-and-mortar shop – so Jason said he will meet clients at a predetermined spot near the body of water they plan to fish on, on the docks of certain lakes or even pick them up at their hotel, if they’ve traveled. 

Guided trips through Heindls Fishtails Guide Service, he said, happen on the waters of Oneida and Vilas counties.

“I offer people the option to go where my best bite is, or I will fish a certain lake if the customer wants a specific lake,” he said.

Depending on the season, Jason said people can either participate in an open-water guided fishing trip or an ice fishing trip.

“Not a lot of guides do the ice-fishing aspect of things,” he said. “I’m one of the few in the area.”

In the summer, Jason said he uses his 2015 Lund Alaskan boat to fish, which is equipped with a Mercury FourStroke 115hp outboard motor.

In the winter, he said he has a 2015 Polaris Sportsman 570 ATV and a 2009 Arctic Cat Bearcat snowmobile. 

The type of fish people tend to catch, Jason said, can also depend on the time of year and fishing location. 

“I would say in the summertime, it’s primarily bass, walleye, pike and musky,” he said. “In the wintertime for ice fishing, we get a little more into the panfishing aspect of things (such as crappie, perch and bluegill), but still also fish walleye and northern pike as well.”

Out of all the fish he’s caught in his 20-plus years of experience, Jason said his favorite to catch is musky.

Those that book a trip with Heindls Fishtails Guide Service, he said, have the option of a four-, six- or eight-hour trip, which includes one to two people – additional people come with an added cost.

Though Jason said it can be both relaxing and exciting to fish, a guided trip is also accompanied with an educational component.

“I’m teaching them different types of lures to use, and how to present those lures in the right way with the right equipment,” he said. “Another thing that I teach quite a bit is simply fish identification, and how to hold and handle the fish. I explain the different kinds of baits to use to catch different kinds of fish (as well).”

Whether a person is a novice fisher or well-seasoned angler, Jason said he will teach anyone the tips and tricks he knows. 

CPR (catch, photo, release)

At Heindls Fishtails, Jason said he practices CPR – or catch, photo, release – to prioritize the conservation of lakes.

“If it’s a quality fish, I don’t like to take those genetics out of our lakes,” he said. “I’d like to keep those genetics for future reproduction. Whether it be a perch, a crappie or a musky – I definitely promote (catch and release) – taking a photo and releasing it, then those genetics stay in the lake. Then you get a replica made of your exact fish – it’s a win-win, really.”

Jason said every now and again, he or his customers will keep some of their catches to make a meal out of.

“I’m not opposed to do that,” he said. “But we’re definitely selectively harvesting them, and harvesting them in a way that isn’t going to overtake from the lake.”

For the most part, Jason said folks he’s taken on tours are open and accepting of CPR.

“Usually people are pretty receptive when you start to tell them why you’re doing it and that it’s actually going to help the future,” he said. 

As a business centered around a popular pastime in the Badger State, Jason said it’s important for him to be a steward of preserving the state’s fish population and bodies of water for future generations. 

“I think it’s really important to promote our natural resources – how precious they are and how we need to take care of them and leave them in a better state than we found them,” he said. 

And that, Jason said, is the biggest way for businesses like Heindls Fishtails Guide Service to continue to exist, and for Wisconsinites and visitors alike to continue to enjoy all the natural resources the state has to offer. 

To learn more, visit heindlsfishtailsguideservice.com.