Fishing Guides: Good or Bad?

[Topwater_Popper]

How many of you think that fishing guides are a good thing and would use one if you went to a out-of-town trophy bass lake and did not own a boat?  Some fishermen I have talked to looked down on guides, but, personally, I think they are a good thing.

[RoLo]

The answer would depend on one's definition of a "good thing"

Roger

 

 

[GLADES]

I think using a guide is an excellent idea for someone fishing unfamiliar waters.

If you dont have the gear or local knowledge, you would probably have an nice time on the water using a rental boat, etc but you might come up empty. Using a well known experienced guide will not only put you on the fish, but you dont have to worry about preparation or clean up.

You can really just focus on the fishing.

[Guest Bountiful_Waters]

I have used many, many guides in the past. I always use them when fishing a new lake, even when I pull my boat with me. I don't want their honey hole, I want to know where I can run, and are there unseen obstacles. I have had more good than bad. I used a guide just last week in FL fishing for redfish. Turned out to be a very good hard working guide. Some rules of thumb: Most guides won't fish unless they ask first. I usually let them fish, as I want to learn everything I can. Most guides have their own gear for your use. I expect their gear to be as well kept as mine. On the same note, I treat their property with respect. Don't tear it up. Pick up your trash out of the boat before you exit. I won't tolerate unsafe acts. If the guide is making you nervous, ask him to stop it. If he does not, go back to the ramp. I always tip hard working guides at least 20%. Pick their brain, remember, they are probably on the water more than we will ever be. Lastly, just because you hired a guide, don't expect him to make the fish bite.

[Guest avid]

I think it depends on a number of things.

One is how much time do you have?   If your gonna be on a 1000 acre lake for a week, I probably wouldn't get a guide.

But if I had one day to fish a trophy lake or some huge impoundment I would definitly want a guide.

[Cajun1977]

id get one if i went to   el salto

[Long Mike]

The specific answer to your question is yes.

[Catt]

It would depend on who the guide is  

I would hire George Welcome or Tom Redington  8-)

[roadwarrior]

Some people like the challenge of fishing a new lake, making discoveries on their own and learnig as they go. For those that want to have the highest probability of finding and catching fish from start to finish, a guide is invaluable. However, there is more to hiring a guide than just calling up a boatdock. I suggest taking a look at George Welcome's website for some suggestions about the process:

http://www.imaginationbassin.com/

BTW,

The very best way to pick your guide is through personal references. If that is possible for you, it saves a lot of time and trouble.

[justfishin]

Not all guides are out for the buck, although, that certainly has something to do with it. No boat, hire one, new to the area, hire one, never been on the Upper Potomoc in MD or Susquehanna in PA in a boat, you will need one. If you have never run these rivers you won't make it 200 yards without crashing if you don't know where you are going and a guide with a Jet drive can show you around. Most of the guides I have met are pretty good guys--not being prejudice--- but, as in all things, there is good and bad in everything and that includes people.

[Guest avid]

The specific answer to your question is yes.

what's the general answer?  ;D

[Hookemdown.]

The specific answer to your question is yes.

what's the general answer?  ;D

That would be "only you can answer that question"

As far as guides go, if you can afford them, go for it.  Even for a day, they can help you understand the lake better.

[Bladesmith,]

It takes years to learn a body of water if it has any size to it, and it is constantly changing due to wind,current, and other factors. A good guide has to be familiar with the current conditions on his water, and he can show you more in one days outing than you can discover on your own in countless hours on the water. Yes, a guide certianly earns every cent of his pay. No, I'm not a guide, just have respect for them and what they do.

[RobDar]

I would guess that this is like anything else in life...there are good guides and there are bad guides.

My father in law used one for a big tourney in alabama...was not helpful at all. They never found any fish and the guide was in the same tourney so how helpful was he really????

A friend used on on kentucky lake and the guy not only got him on the fish but gave him all kinds of paperwork...fishing logs and stuff...as to what to try for what conditions he was fishing in. That was years ago and he still has those logs and still uses them and he feels they still work.

[senile1]

Good guides - Invaluable on large impoundments where you don't know the water.

Bad guides - Not worth the money.

As RW stated, if you can get personal references for a guide, you'll be much more likely to have a great experience with them.  

[eastkybass]

I have had good and I have bad.  They are great if you have a short amount of time on the water, maybe one or two days and want to get on the fish.  Alot of it has to due with the guides attitude and personallity.  I went with one in Fl one time that drove me crazy.  He did everything but reel the fish in for you.  Not alot of fun.  Then I went with one a couple of months ago who was a great guide.  He not only got us on fish but we carried on conversation all day not just about the fishing but anything and everything, which was real good because my wife was with me and she gets real bored jsut talking fishing all day. :

[justfishin]

Do not !!!! hire a guide that does not have references. If they bs you around and don't want to give you any, hire someone else. When I guided, I always gave some references. After so many years you make a name for yourself as being good or bad. I never had any complaints, oh, maybe a couple and that was from guys who were a-holes anyway, you get those over the years. Make sure they are safe, knowledgeable and willing to go the exta mile for a good trip, I always did. If you can get a 25 year old ravened haired girl, stacked, and bends over a lot as a fishing guide in a string bikini, thats another good option. ;D

[techo]

I use guides on my on lake, Table Rock, to learn different techniques.  It saves me a lot of time and money.  Dropshotting would be an example.