Guide Bio - Bill Beck

[Phil Lilley]

Despite a least 10 top-10 Heartland Trail finishes on Table Rock Lake -- six of them victories -- Guide Bill Beck now finds guiding luring him more than competitive fishing these days.

"It used to be I was sometimes conflicted with taking guide trips when I needed to be practicing for tournaments," he said, but now he is content with a half dozen competitions down from his peak of 50-60 bass tournaments a year. The circuits included B.A.S.S. and Central Pro-Am, as well.

"I really enjoy fishing with the kids and beginning anglers now," he said. "I guess we mellow with age, which is not a bad thing.

At only 57, Beck is now one of the patriarchs of Southwest Missouri guides since he started officially guiding at 15 and earned his U.S. Coast Guard license at 18.

His family started fishing Table Rock Lake in 1959, and then left St. Louis to buy a Kimberling City resort in 1966, operating it for 31 seasons. His wife, Mary, manages What's Up Dock Marina at the Port of Kimberling.

Beck's Table Rock Guide Service offers trips for individuals as well as families, and corporate groups, offering four, six and eight-hour outings. He loves teaching the seasonal patterns, techniques and presentation of lures to catch bass on Table Rock and trout on Lake Taneycomo.

His longevity on the lakes now transcends generations, he said. "You meet so many nice people from all across the country in various walks of life that it's pretty interesting. You become friends of the family and start fishing with the grandparents, then the parents and then the grandchildren."

"Once when I was guiding a client, he had brought his son-in-law from Chicago. It was one of those days when the fishing was really good and the son-in-law was carefully photographing all the fish and jotting down notes. He asked if he could write a story about the trip, and I said, sure."

It was not until his phone was ringing off the wall a week later that he learned the story was prominently featured in the Chicago Sun Times.

Another guide trip Beck remembers for the humor: two hefty men, brother-in-laws, were enjoying a day out with him when one of them caught his belt buckle on a boat cleat.

"We're fishing and I hear this splash. He is hanging headfirst over the boat with legs in the air and head in the water. I am scrambling to pull him up and the brother-in-law just keeps fishing . . ."

Although relishing a holiday Florida trip for golf and family time, Beck still also enjoys winter fishing on Lake Taneycomo.

"The fishing on Taneycomo is excellent in the winter. Fishing for quality fish is usually better in the winter, and we usually have some great days amid the cold ones," Beck said. "It's not crowded, so instead of sitting at home, people should come see us and try it."

[Champ188]

Nicely written piece about a very good guy ... and a heck of a fisherman. Thanks for writing and posting it, Phil.

[Phil Lilley]

Actually my wife Marsha does all the guide features.

[rainbow]

Tell her she is a good writer. Always enjoy those stories and always well written.

[Phil Lilley]

KU Journalist… Rock Chark

She edits most of my stuff.

[Champ188]

Been writing and editing professionally for 35 years. She has a nice touch.

[flyman]

Nicely written Bio. Also, a very nice rainbow.