Ever Hire A Fishing Guide?

[Will Ketchum]

I've been thinking about it. I'm just a shore fisherman anymore and going to the same spots over and over. I know there are several guide services nearby on the Susky, and just might try one next year.

[Tennessee Boy]

I never have.  I enjoy trying to figure them out more than catching them so paying someone else to figure them out doesn’t appeal to me that much.   I’m sure I would enjoy it and I would probably learn something but I’ve never done it.

[Scott F]

If a guide is worth anything, he’s going to teach you things that will help you figure it out when you are on your own. You should learn how to fish the spots and the best way to present the lures you’re using. If you are a shore angler, you’ll get to spots you never have a chance to see. You may not have a great day catching a lot of fish, but that’s fishing. 

[Captain Phil]

Instead of hiring a guide, why don't you join a local bass club as a non-boater?  All the bass clubs I have been part of never have enough.  Buy the owner's gas, be friendly and don't talk about yourself.  You will learn much more by watching from the back than having a guide bait your hook. 

[TnRiver46]

I’ve worked as a guide and hired guides, don’t really like either side of the coin 😂 

[Darth-Baiter]

i love hiring a guide.  wish i did it more often.  

 

i always learn something new.  always.  and i wear a GPS watch..jus sayin.

[GaryH]

You should hire @Darnold335 for fishing on the Suski but I think he only guides 4 legged clients with tails. 😁😁

 

[detroit1]

spotstealer....👎

[Susky River Rat]

@GaryH haha thanks for the compliment but, I even ask for my money back when I guide myself sometimes  😂

 

@detroit1 how do you figure? If he doesn’t have a boat and the susky is 444 miles long and a mile wide at some areas I doubt he’s making it there from the bank ever again.

[Darth-Baiter]

if I travel around the country a bit like I hope I will this next year.  I will have a list of guides in a notebook.  

 

hiring a guide is like eating out.  I can cook like a very very almost pro dude. (I am a better cook than fisherman), but I still like to farm out the work sometimes.  I learn something when a pro-chef sends me a dish.  I have asked the waiter to pass on questions.  and I love it when they tell me something.  a nugget of secret stuff.  hahah..

[dave]

1 hour ago, Darnold335 said:

@GaryH haha thanks for the compliment but

 

😂

 

@detroit1 how do you figure? If he doesn’t have a boat and the susky is 444 miles long and a mile wide at some areas I doubt he’s making it there from the bank ever again.

Ten years as a guide and this is the truest sentence ever...

'' I even ask for my money back when I guide myself sometimes  😂''

 

[N Florida Mike]

Nope. I’ve never hired a guide. Mostly because I never could afford one…a little because of pride.

[gim]

I've used a guide saltwater fishing in Florida a few times.  Once in Tampa and another 3 times in Key West.  I had a great experience with both and I would use them both again in the future if I get an opportunity to.

 

Neither one was cheap, but I was on a trip both times that were planned in advance.  Once was with my wife and another was with my Father.  We caught snook, sea trout, and redfish in Tampa.  And tarpon, barracuda, bluefish, ladyfish, jack crevalle, and multiple species of snapper in Key West.

[Glenn]

Yes, I have hired guides on many occasions.  Some are good, some are bad, and some are GREAT!  I've experienced all three.

 

Here's a video I made with Justin Kerr (who guides and placed 4th in the Classic) about finding a GREAT guide:

 

 

And here's an article I wrote about a GREAT experience I had with a guide: https://www.bassresource.com/fishing/smallmouth_river_fishing.html

[MN Fisher]

Wife got me a guided trip this past year. Brit was engaging, knowledgeable, and fun to be on the water with. If I get the money together, I might do it again.

[Susky River Rat]

@dave it’s ashame I don’t offer refunds to myself 😂😂

 

I can tell you with the river there is not many secrets and it’s monkey see monkey do. I go elbow to elbow with guides often there. The two biggest benefits you’ll get is being on a boat and a guy who should have the fish patterned pretty good.  I only get our 4 times a month in a good month. So for me it’s like hitting the reset switch everytime. 
 

what part of the susky do you fish and which part are you looking to fish? Guides and weekend warriors have there home stretches they fish. 

[TnRiver46]

Like I said in the tourney thread, the bad part is you have to pay haha

[DogBone_384]

No, I never had to. When I got back into fishing, @Fishing Rhino became my guide.

[Will Ketchum]

3 hours ago, Darnold335 said:

@dave it’s ashame I don’t offer refunds to myself 😂😂

 

I can tell you with the river there is not many secrets and it’s monkey see monkey do. I go elbow to elbow with guides often there. The two biggest benefits you’ll get is being on a boat and a guy who should have the fish patterned pretty good.  I only get our 4 times a month in a good month. So for me it’s like hitting the reset switch everytime. 
 

what part of the susky do you fish and which part are you looking to fish? Guides and weekend warriors have there home stretches they fish. 

I fish the Susky around the Wilkes-Barre area. There is a stretch of river along Coxton road that I used to fish regularly, but they widened the road and took parking places with it, plus I'm too old to be climbing down a very steep bank anymore, so I'd love to revisit those spots.

[Susky River Rat]

@Will Ketchumi haven’t got up to wilksbarre this year to fish.  I do like it up there but, only get up there maybe a handful of times a year. If I ever head up that way I’ll shoot you a message. I’m about 1.5 hours from the wilksbarre ramp.

[TOXIC]

My guide motto was always “ You will be safe, I will do my best to put you on fish and no matter what, you will have a good day on the water”.  There are so many facets to a guide trip that it would take 10 pages to explain.  What I thought would be a great side gig because I am a pretty good stick, turned out to be one of the hardest jobs I ever attempted.  Is it worth hiring a guide? Unequivocally yes if you hire the right guide. And that’s regardless of your experience level.  I had something in my playbook for everyone.  

[MN Fisher]

^ That's exactly what my trip this year was like. Brit put me on fish, gave me hints about presentations that worked, and even when I wasn't catching, we had some good chatting and joking back and forth ...all in all, a terrific day.

[Darth-Baiter]

17 hours ago, N Florida Mike said:

Nope. I’ve never hired a guide. Mostly because I never could afford one…a little because of pride.

Pride?  i dont understand.

 

take Lake Biwa.  i am going to be in Japan, next March.  a guide out of Biwa isnt that much.  $500..

i'd probably skunk in that pressure cooker lake.  but dang if i wouldnt snap a selfie of myself fishing that lake.  i would put that pic up in my office, and be d**n proud i "was there".  total bonus if a im two-handing a double digit!!

[TnRiver46]

16 minutes ago, Darth-Baiter said:

Pride?  i dont understand.

 

take Lake Biwa.  i am going to be in Japan, next March.  a guide out of Biwa isnt that much.  $500..

i'd probably skunk in that pressure cooker lake.  but dang if i wouldnt snap a selfie of myself fishing that lake.  i would put that pic up in my office, and be d**n proud i "was there".  total bonus if a im two-handing a double digit!!

That’s more than my mortgage 

 

not to speak for mike but I smell what he’s stepping in when he mentions pride. I’d like to think I can figure out how to catch a fish without having to fork over a mortgage payment for someone to help me , i.e. pride 

[Darth-Baiter]

For me, it’s the boat.  I need access.