Rambling Rose Guide Service

4.9/5 (16 reviews)

148 South Shores, Sullivan, IL 61951, United States–

Sullivan, IL, United States

–

20 feet

4.9/5 (16 reviews)

Trips & prices Targeted species Boat info What's biting What's included Contact captain

Trips & prices What's included Targeted species Boat info Reviews Contact captain

Rambling Rose Guide Service is a veteran-owned and operated company that specializes in family fishing adventures in Central Illinois. Join Captain Nicholas Rose in Sullivan and embark on a wonderful trip to Lake Shelbyville or a nearby river where you'll meet various prized species as well as enjoy the beautiful surroundings.

You'll fish from a 20' SeaArk aluminum fishing boat, one of the best-equipped, if not the best-equipped boat in the area. It only uses the finest tackle and equipment, all of which will be provided to you at no cost. The boat can sit up to 2 guests and is powered by a 150 HP Suzuki engine. It uses modern navigation technology, a wireless trolling motor, and has got a livewell to supply you with live bait.

Trolling on light tackle, you and the captain will target Crappie, White Bass, and Walleye. You get to keep all your catch and you're free to bring children on your trip so you can have a great time in nature together.

Captain Nicholas provides you with all the rods, reels, and tackle, as well as live bait and lures. You'll also get catch cleaning for free. What you should bring on your trip is fishing licenses, food, and drinks.

Visit Rambling Rose Guide Service and have a great time fishing!

Popular features

Live bait

You keep catch

Catch cleaning & filleting

Child friendly

Rods, reels & tackle

Popular features

Live bait

You keep catch

Catch cleaning & filleting

Child friendly

Rods, reels & tackle

Rating

4.9

16 reviews

4.9

Boat & equipment

4.9

Captain & crew

4.9

Fishing Experience

Anglers' gallery (11)

All reviews (16)

Filter

Sort by: Featured

Frequently mentioned

Showing 1 – 5 of 16 reviews

Brian Edwards

Repeat angler

Tennessee, US

•

Member since 2025

•

3 trips

5.0

Verified

It's crappie season!

5 Hour Trip – Crappie Fishing on April 14, 2026 • 1 adult

On a windy afternoon, Captain Nick found the quiet spots to fish leisurely and we caught a total of about 30 crappie and a few drum, with all but a couple over the legal limit. It was a great afternoon of fishing and conversation, more typical of a less chaotic time. Hope to repeat the experience soon!

Reported catch:

Response from Captain

April 15, 2026

Thank you for the kind words Brian!  

John Peeler

Illinois, US

•

Member since 2022

5.0

GREAT FAMILY TIME

5 Hour Trip – Crappie Fishing on May 8, 2022

First good choice was booking with Nick! Second good choice was inviting my brother and my nephew.
The locals told me I would be very happy with Nick and that truly was an understatement! Nick is both professional and just a fun guy to hang out with. He was there ready to go with boat in the water gear ready and bait fresh. His knowledge of the lake and just crappie was awesome. His boat and equipment was fantastic. What we really enjoyed about Nick is how he interacted with us all day. It was like fishing with an old friend more than with a guide. He truly has a servants heart and cares both about his clients and nature as a whole. We have already booked again for the fall of this year. We have booked with guides from anything from hunting to fishing to sailing and cliff climbing and Nick by far is at the top of that list of top notch guides. Being a veteran myself I always look to support other veterans and in this case it was everything I hoped for. Time is so valuable today more than ever and the need to relax and enjoy your time is also at a premium today. So if you’re looking to do both they fishing look no further than Nick Rose! Thanks again Nick for a wonderful family day !

Reported catch:

Response from Captain

May 20, 2022

Wow!  Thanks for the kind words!!!

Can’t wait to chase them this fall!!!

Lorenzo Price

Chicago, IL, US

•

Member since 2024

5.0

Verified

First and hopefully many more trip was fantastic

5 Hour Trip – Crappie Fishing on May 18, 2024 • 2 adults

My grandson and I had a great time.The trip was educational,fun and relaxing.Nike was very professional and patient did all he could to make our trip memorable.

Christopher Winling

Illinois, US

•

Member since 2022

5.0

Verified

Crappie Fishing With Captain Nick

5 Hour Trip – Crappie Fishing on April 1, 2022 • 2 adults

With Rambling Rose Guide Service no details are missed. From booking to follow up calls to cleaning our hefty limit of crappies Captain Nick ensured we had an experience to remember. My son and I had a great time and will be back for future trips guaranteed! 

All we can say is “Thank You” for taking the time to not only assist us with techniques for catching crappie but to teach us how to be better fisherman as well.

- Chris and Andrew

Reported catch:

Christopher Morris

Illinois, US

•

Member since 2024

4.3

Verified

The captain and crew Was Adjustable

5 Hour Trip – Crappie Fishing on August 1, 2024 • 2 adults

The captain was patient of to wait an hour for the weather to pass after that. It was on fish galore. No time for texting just catch catch catch. They ended up being beautiful and the crappies were hungry. Highly recommend

Trip availability and prices

Trip Date:

Days:

Group Size:

Select date to see availability

June 2026

Su	Mo	Tu	We	Th	Fr	Sa

Number of days

Group Size

2 adults • 0 children

Change

Almost there...

5 Hour Trip – Crappie Fishing

5 hour trip starts at 7:00 AM

US $425

Entire boat: 2 people

US $425

Entire boat: 2 people

There is 1 person looking at this charter.

Rating

4.9

16 reviews

4.9

Boat & equipment

4.9

Captain & crew

4.9

Fishing Experience

Anglers' gallery (11)

All reviews (16)

Filter

Sort by: Featured

Frequently mentioned

Showing 1 – 5 of 16 reviews

Brian Edwards

Repeat angler

Tennessee, US

Member since 2025

3 trips

5.0

Verified

It's crappie season!

5 Hour Trip – Crappie Fishing on April 14, 2026 • 1 adult

On a windy afternoon, Captain Nick found the quiet spots to fish leisurely and we caught a total of about 30 crappie and a few drum, with all but a couple over the legal limit. It was a great afternoon of fishing and conversation, more typical of a less chaotic time. Hope to repeat the experience soon!

Reported catch:

Response from Captain

April 15, 2026

Thank you for the kind words Brian!  

John Peeler

Illinois, US

Member since 2022

5.0

GREAT FAMILY TIME

5 Hour Trip – Crappie Fishing on May 8, 2022

First good choice was booking with Nick! Second good choice was inviting my brother and my nephew.
The locals told me I would be very happy with Nick and that truly was an understatement! Nick is both professional and just a fun guy to hang out with. He was there ready to go with boat in the water gear ready and bait fresh. His knowledge of the lake and just crappie was awesome. His boat and equipment was fantastic. What we really enjoyed about Nick is how he interacted with us all day. It was like fishing with an old friend more than with a guide. He truly has a servants heart and cares both about his clients and nature as a whole. We have already booked again for the fall of this year. We have booked with guides from anything from hunting to fishing to sailing and cliff climbing and Nick by far is at the top of that list of top notch guides. Being a veteran myself I always look to support other veterans and in this case it was everything I hoped for. Time is so valuable today more than ever and the need to relax and enjoy your time is also at a premium today. So if you’re looking to do both they fishing look no further than Nick Rose! Thanks again Nick for a wonderful family day !

Reported catch:

Response from Captain

May 20, 2022

Wow!  Thanks for the kind words!!!

Can’t wait to chase them this fall!!!

Lorenzo Price

Chicago, IL, US

Member since 2024

5.0

Verified

First and hopefully many more trip was fantastic

5 Hour Trip – Crappie Fishing on May 18, 2024 • 2 adults

My grandson and I had a great time.The trip was educational,fun and relaxing.Nike was very professional and patient did all he could to make our trip memorable.

Christopher Winling

Illinois, US

Member since 2022

5.0

Verified

Crappie Fishing With Captain Nick

5 Hour Trip – Crappie Fishing on April 1, 2022 • 2 adults

With Rambling Rose Guide Service no details are missed. From booking to follow up calls to cleaning our hefty limit of crappies Captain Nick ensured we had an experience to remember. My son and I had a great time and will be back for future trips guaranteed! 

All we can say is “Thank You” for taking the time to not only assist us with techniques for catching crappie but to teach us how to be better fisherman as well.

- Chris and Andrew

Reported catch:

Christopher Morris

Illinois, US

Member since 2024

4.3

Verified

The captain and crew Was Adjustable

5 Hour Trip – Crappie Fishing on August 1, 2024 • 2 adults

The captain was patient of to wait an hour for the weather to pass after that. It was on fish galore. No time for texting just catch catch catch. They ended up being beautiful and the crappies were hungry. Highly recommend

FAQs about Rambling Rose Guide Service

The fish you can target

What is the boat like?

Boat category

Skiffs and flats boats

Capacity

2 persons

Boat length

20 ft

Year built

2021

Boat manufacturer

SeaArk

Boat type

Aluminum fishing

Engine model

Suzuki

1 x 150HP

Max cruising speed

45 knots

Rambling Rose Guide Service

Rating

Anglers' gallery (11)

All reviews (16)

Trip availability and prices

Rating

Anglers' gallery (11)

All reviews (16)

FAQs about Rambling Rose Guide Service

The fish you can target

What is the boat like?

What’s biting in Sullivan right now

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