Using guides for prefishing...

[Wesley]

I dont see it as a problem, unless it is specificaly prohibited in a tournaments rules then there is nothing you can do about it. 

You go out there and you fish your game let them find thier own.

No matter what a guide shows them they have to go out and catch the fish on tournament day and they have to deal with whats changed since they went out. 

[Catt]

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I dont see it as a problem, unless it is specifically prohibited in a tournaments rules then there is nothing you can do about it.

You go out there and you fish your game let them find thier own.

No matter what a guide shows them they have to go out and catch the fish on tournament day and they have to deal with whats changed since they went out.

Well put

In just about every tournament trail here in Texas there are Guides, Semi-Pros & Pros, so on any given day you better be on top of your game just to cash a check.

I have no problem having someone show you around an unfamiliar lake because the first day of pre-fishing I'll spend boat riding more than actual fishing.

[fishfordollars]

Wesley we are going to have to agree to disagree on this one. I can understand it if it is on a lake you are somewhat familiar with, but explain this to me.

Pick a lake you are not familiar with, Rayburn, Palestine, Choke, Fork, etc.

Lake is off limits from Sunday night until Friday morning practice. Weather fronts have moved through several times over the last five days, water is up, and turning off color. Winds expected to blow(Naturally).

You do your home work like map study, internet searches, and possibly call a few friends to gather as much information as possible. You hit the lake Friday morning with map in hand and spend time learning how to navigate unfamiliar water. You pick a creek and start fishing down it, run into a big flat searching for the first drop, and you fish it a while. You have caught a couple and punch in the GPS cordinates, make a run up or down lake and fish some more spots. This takes up the day and you feel pretty good about it. You have located four spots as possibilities.

Another competitor has hired a guide for the day. He lets his paying customer know in advance the most promising lures to have tied on. That first creek you found a few fish in is in fact a good one. Instead of fishing the 100-200 yard section you took the time to fish the guide runs straight to the sweet spot, lines the boat up, and tells you what to throw, and where; took him 15 minutes. You write the cordinates down and the guide moves on, stopping over a submerged tree out off the river in 30' and lets you mark it. When the day is over, you have 22 coordinates, the hot lures, shortcuts through the flats, timber, and creeks. He has paid the guide, and offered him a percentage of the winnings from tommorrows tournament. The guide says, "Well, if that's the case, let me show you my best spots and the time you need to be there".

I would like you, or anyone else explain how you feel this is fair, or an even playing field.

I have no problem fishing against guides. Do it all the time. I do have a problem with competitors hiring a guide to fish with during the prefish.

***Not all guides are good tournament fishermen either***

Thanks,

Jack

[Wesley]

Jack its not fair in that context.  Most tournaments that have an offical off limits period and an offical practice period are going to have rules against useing guides during practice days.  If they do not then really there is nothing illegal about it and we all have to deal with it.  People are going to use every advantage they can get out there.  Doenst make it always right, my point was there is no use letting it get into your head and affecting your game plan.

[fishfordollars]

OK, I agree with you on that. Personally I never let it get to me. Just think it ought to not be allowed. Then we would see which anglers have it together.

[Catt]

Jack & Wesley that is my point exactly

There are some big name Pros I dislike for the very reason they done this in the past & then bragged about how great they are.

[salmicropterus]

I think there are a  lot of legitimate points of view on both sides of this discussion. For me, I book out my whole year's schedule pretty much at the beginning of the year. If I've got a tournament at a totally unfamilar place what I try to do is get there for a day or two, about 2-3 months in advance, just so I am not wasting so much time getting around when the actual pre-fish time occurs, more proximate to the tournament. I have hired guides to do this-just show me the lay of the land also and to Keri's point, particularly down here in Florida, to show where's not safe to do or go.  I don't feel a compelling need to bust off a lower unit to show I'm a good sport. That said, during actual pre-fish, I'd rather find my own spots and figure out my own game plan rather than get a predetermined mindset and not have lot's of Plan Bs. But, if it's within the rules, then it's ok by me if someone else does it- if you don't like it work to get the rule changed or don't fish that trail anymore. 

BTW, all of the pros I know are meticulous about not violating the "no non-public information" black-out period that all of the top circuits have.

[South FLA]

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Jack & Wesley that is my point exactly

There are some big name Pros I dislike for the very reason they done this in the past & then bragged about how great they are.

Say it ain't so, its like taking Steroids in my book!