Lake Guides

[Tin Man]

A forum called Lake Guides would be useful on this site. People who would be willing to act as lake guides would leave their names and contact info on the forum along with the name of the lake they would be willing to show out of town anglers. In exchange, the person receiving the guide would be willing to act as a guide on a lake that they know as well. Win win situation.

[A-Jay]

Wow ~

Seven posts about this -

Guess you really feel pretty strongly about this Guide stuff . . . .

A-Jay

 

[Bluebasser86]

Too much grey area on who is doing it just to help folks out and who is promoting their guide business I'd guess.

[Tin Man]

 

 

Not a business, just a guide to show someone around who hasn't been on the lake before and increase their chances of having a good time. In turn the person receiving the guide agrees to do the same for the person giving the guide when they visit their waters. Could be just as simple as following someone around while they go fishing. Don't know about you but when I go to a new lake that I don't know I would like to increase my chances of catching some fish. I would not be willing to take the person out on my boat but if they are pulling their own they could simply follow me around easy. No money exchanges hands, just good will. The person wanting the guide brings his own boat and gear.

[12poundbass]

Doing something like that is a good idea but it's a slippery slope. You many have the best interest in mind but like Bluebasser86 said too many people would promote themselves and turn it into a big mess.

[Bluebasser86]

I understand what you're saying, but there would be no way to verify that someone isn't on here just to promote their business. Unfortunately, not everyone is completely honest in this world. 

 

I've had a couple times I've gone on trips and posted in the regional forum and every time I've had members offer me all kinds of help, right on up to taking me out in their boats and loaning me gear to use while I was there. 

[.ghoti.]

That kind of thing should be here:

 

https://www.bassresource.com/bass-fishing-forums/forum/7-fishing-locations/

[Tin Man]

I guess. Would be nice though. Even with electronics it's easy to get skunked, anywhere. Ajay as far as multiple posts are concerned. I am on a smartphone and sometimes it duplicates the posts. It seems that Bass Resource is not smartphone friendly. Several of your videos do not play and the section where you order gear does not work on the phone either. The reason I am not on here that much.

[12poundbass]

What I would do is say you want to fish in Michigan, we have a Michigan thread. Ask us there, sometimes people can help other times we can't. Ask around at a tackle shop closest to the lake you're going to visit, see if you can find topo Maps for the lake you want to fish. All these "should" help increase your odds.

[TOXIC]

Being a Guide this is a touchy subject.  It's nice to have people that will help you zero in on a new body of water to you but let's be honest, the only way you get that knowledge is time on the water and for those that have put in the time and expense to figure out a body of water, it takes a very giving person to just give that information up to a stranger.   Even if they are just visiting.  I would give out patterns and and general areas to people who ask about my home lake.  I have even taken locals out on a chain of lakes I fish on vacation when I go to Wisconsin every year and those locals found me posting on a website but to just give it out to anyone who asks, is asking alot.  

[Captain Phil]

I was a professional guide for a number of years.  Guiding is hard work.  The hours are brutal and the profits are minimal.  Most local guides are tournament fisherman who guide to offset their expenses.  Driving someone around the lake for a day takes up time.  Showing them your spots takes money directly from your pocket.  The following week you will have an entire bass club sitting on your fish. 

 

A full time professional guide needs all the money he can get to turn a profit.   They wouldn't have time to do anything for free even if they wanted to.  Many big time tournament pros pay guides for quality information and good information costs money.  Guiding is a business and it's not all fun.