Hiring a guide (what to look for, what to avoid)

[farmpond1]

I'm heading to Orlando Florida in the first week of March and contemplated hiring a guide. Googling the topic brought numerous hits with most of the guides charging around $350 for a day. Seems steep but what do I know? Anyway, it got me wondering about what to expect. Are there red flags to watch out for? What should every guide be expected to know/do and what is "extraneous." (I'm a guy who doesn't need chocolates left on his pillow or the end of his toilet paper rolls tucked in silly little triangles. I really just want to catch some nice bass).

[roadwarrior]

Hmm...

How 'bout a sure deal?

http://www.imaginationbassin.com/

8-)

[Sfritr]

With all the BR members from FL here you should be able to get a good grasp on some guides in that area. 

Personally, $350 for the day is very reasonable IMO.

Referrals and word of mouth have always been my most effective way to seek out a guide and i have never been disappointed.   Good Luck

[farmpond1]

With all the BR members from FL here you should be able to get a good grasp on some guides in that area.

Personally, $350 for the day is very reasonable IMO.

Referrals and word of mouth have always been my most effective way to seek out a guide and i have never been disappointed. Good Luck

I'll be posting in the Southeast Regional Section in a little bit.  Thanks for the advice.

[Glenn]

Here's a couple of articles that will answer your questions:

http://www.bassresource.com/fishing/guides.html

http://www.bassresource.com/fishing/finding_fishing_guide.html

Hope that helps!

[farmpond1]

Here's a couple of articles that will answer your questions:

http://www.bassresource.com/fishing/guides.html

http://www.bassresource.com/fishing/finding_fishing_guide.html

Hope that helps!

Those were/are great reads.  Do you think it's safe to say the expression "You get what you pay for" applies to guiding as with most things?

[Shane Procell]

As a professional guide I would recomend that you be able to contact previous clients directly. Anyone can build a professional website and get it to the top goolgle rankings as well as have a really nice fishing rig.....don't mean they can put you on fish. Ask as many questions as you feel is necessary...and if you don't like what you hear move on. For example...Live bait or artificial? Is the guide a trophy hunter or will numbers do? Does the guide fish while your fishing? If you an your partner are fishing you may not want the guide throwing as well, where if your solo you may want him to fish?

You are doing the right thing by asking around. I'am sure plenty of BR members have hired excellent guides in Orlando as well as some duds. Best of luck and hope you catch some fattys!

[noway]

And when the trip is over, I hope you don't hear the words, "you should have been here yesterday."

[Pez]

And when the trip is over, I hope you don't hear the words, "you should have been here yesterday."

Lol

[salmicropterus]

I'd have a conversation with a prospective guide and have a candid discussion of what you want and expect. For example, if you hate watching 6  bobbers with shiners attached, I'd be pretty clear about that so you don't get stuck doing that-after all it's you paying the bill. At the same time, guides don't know what to expect when a new client shows up as to experience, ability, expectations etc. so they may make assumptions to the lowest denominator. Again, what's best for you and the guide is a conversation beforehand

[farmpond1]

I definitely do not want to fish shiners under bobbers-even if that is (sometimes) the best way to catch the really big ones.  Here in Illinois the bass average less than two pounds (often much less) so if I could get a guide to put me on fish averaging 3 or more, that would be super.  Of course I wouldn't complain if a slob came my way.    I am somewhere between an expert and a novice and I'm not afraid of admitting that.  But I don't want to be coddled-just put on some fish and shown some useful techniques.  Yep, these are things I'd need to communicate to a prospective guide.

Is it stupid of me to think I could rent a boat and try to find the bass myself?  Or would a yankee like me be gator bait in short order?

[kikstand454]

doing it yourslef might be ok. depends on how much time you have/ how much money you have.

itll probably be cheaper and easier to find them if you have a few days maybe to fish the same lake...catching 2 to 4 lb-ers in florida isnt THAT hard...but if you only have one day and want that trip of a lifetime... maybe you should get a guide.

or maybe hunt someone down here that will take you out....

[NewKidInTown]

I'm heading to Orlando Florida in the first week of March and contemplated hiring a guide. Googling the topic brought numerous hits with most of the guides charging around $350 for a day. Seems steep but what do I know? Anyway, it got me wondering about what to expect. Are there red flags to watch out for? What should every guide be expected to know/do and what is "extraneous." (I'm a guy who doesn't need chocolates left on his pillow or the end of his toilet paper rolls tucked in silly little triangles. I really just want to catch some nice bass).

I was going to book a trip with Roland Martin Marina,and I want to tell you what happened.

I asked if I could speak to one of the guides,,they gave me Capt Mike Baylon to speak to.  After talking for a bit, I asked about what type of equipment he supplies. I asked this because I wanted to know if it was going to be low end rod and reels. If that was the case, I would bring my own stuff. He then abruptly cuts me off and says, "I dont think I'm the guide for you", and tells me I should call the guide I mentioned that I hired last year. He then "HANGS UP ON ME !!"  I was really in total shock. I called the Marina back and told them how I was treated. The manager called me back the next day, and in the end offered me a reduced rate. I thought about it,but that whole thing left a real bad taste in my mouth,so needless to say, I did not book the trip. Just thought I'd share my experience.

[George Welcome]

Selecting a guide: The one to answer these questions about lakes would be the guide that you have selected to assist you with fulfilling your objectives. Herein lies the most difficult step in your planning of what you hope is the bass fishing trip of a lifetime. However, with just a little homework you can, with reasonable accuracy, find a reputable and reliable guide. Once you have narrowed the field down based on the lake you want to fish, then interview the respective guides. Find out if the guide's objectives and yours actually match. Don't be afraid to ask questions about the guide's service, the guide's history on the lake, and references of others that have fished with the guide. If the guide has a web page visit the page and carefully check all their pages including any reference/comment pages that they may have and actually call some of the references.

Some of the important questions that you should be asking: Does the guide fish or advertise multiple lakes or does the guide concentrate on one or two lakes? A guide that works multiple lakes will probably not be very familiar with any one of them as to what is currently taking place. What was happening ten days ago is history so unless the guide is working the lake frequently you just might be hiring someone for a searching expedition. In many cases guides will advertise multiple lakes just to get the phone call and will then attempt to steer you to their lake that they are familiar with which might not be the lake you intended to go to.

Does the guide have an open list of references that you can freely choose from or does he only have a select few that you can contact? References are only good if you can freely pick them and then talk with the people. Another good source of reference today is the internet. Don't be afraid to inquire on any of the major bass pages on the internet about the guide and any experiences that others have had with that guide.

Does the guide talk freely about locations they fish or does the guide refer to secret honey holes? Realize that there really aren't secret honey holes on the Florida lakes, but the reference to them is meant to lure you into hiring that person. There is a big difference between a guide that stays current on his lake and one that uses such terms as secret honey holes. Look for proof that the guide stays current on his lake and conditions. A good source to verify the guides activity is again the internet. Look through various bass related pages to see if the guide posts fishing reports regularly, and then read them thoroughly to see if the guide is open in his presentations or just give numbers out.

Does the guide have adequate equipment? You don't need a bass boat to catch a big fish but eight to nine hours in a Jon boat can be quite uncomfortable and at times not quite up to the safety standards that you might expect. If you have special accommodation needs be sure to let the guide know up front. It is too late once you have arrived at the lake. Ask the guide what will be supplied and what you will be responsible for. Every guide has a different list of what they supply. Ask the guide what hours you will be fishing, what time you will meet, and where you will be meeting. In general, ask questions that will ensure that you and the guide are compatible in nature and objectives.

[CaptMikeStarrett]

As a guide of 19 years plus I hire guides alot on my adventures.

Things I look for are:

1. Is tackle provided?

2. Is there a plan in place for the day?

3. Can I call him and ask more questions before the trip?

4. The old weather question? What if a hurricane hits...

5. Do I need a license?

6. Do I need to bring my lunch?

7. Can I bring a tackle bag and a rod or two?

And generally try to find some customers that have fished with the guide before..and ask them was it worth the money.

BTW the old rule of you get what you pay for is not so in guides. I have seen guides that cost 495.00 a day front end and outfish customers all day. I have seen guides that cost a lot less be personable and better at taking care of there most precious of resources. THE CUSTOMER..

Just my spin from the inside looking out..

Capt Mike