QUESTIONS TO ASK A PROSPECTIVE FISHING GUIDE
by George Welcome

SELECTION OF A PROFESSIONAL FISHING GUIDE

• Ask for a list of references, including clients who have fished with the guide recently. Call the references.
• If required by locale, did the proper authorities license the guide?
• Does the guide fish full time? A guide who's on the water every day keeps up with productive patterns better than a weekender.
• Does the guide fish himself? Most bass guides do fish, at least enough to determine how the fish are biting. Your guide fishing not only shows you where the fish are but also allows for the opportunity to educate you further in techniques.
• Does the guide give instructional trips or is he simply a charter service?
• What does the guide furnish? Should you bring your own water or other drinks? What about tackle, lures or bait?
• Do you need to bring specific lures? If so, they are usually cheaper in the city than at lakeside?
• How much gear should you bring with you: tackle, poles, rain gear, etc?
• How much are the costs for the trip and ensure that there are no hidden extras? * How many hours can you expect to fish for your money?
• Can you hire the guide for half a day? If the fish are biting aggressively, a half-day of fishing could be enough for some casual anglers.
• What about lunch? Does the guide furnish lunch or stop for lunch at a lakeside cafe or marina? Should you bring your own lunch?
• Does the guide practice catch-and-release fishing? Many bass guides on good fishing lakes discourage their clients from keeping any fish. If you intend to keep fish to eat, you need to have this discussion with your guide.
• At least have a telephone conversation with a prospective guide to try and determine if the two of you are compatible. If the guide is devoutly religious and your favorite shtick is dirty jokes, it's probably a bad idea. If the guide fishes strictly with live bait and you like to cast lures, you need to know before you go.
• What kind of boat and what age is the boat are things you should know. There are "guides" out there that have inadequate equipment for both safety and comfort.
• Do you need a fishing license for the fishing location and if so, how is it obtained?

HOW TO BE A GOOD CLIENT A FISHING GUIDE

Just as there are lousy fishing guides, there are lousy fishing clients. Those clients make the unwritten list of people who are not welcome in the guide's boat a second time. Some guides are vocal about their displeasure and others will simply be busy whenever the lousy client calls. Here are tips for being a good fishing customer:

• Be honest about your fishing skills. Don't pretend to be an expert angler if you're a novice. After watching for a few minutes, the guide will know the truth, anyway
• Never book fishing guide and simply fail to show up because you changed your mind at the last minute. The guide may have turned down other clients because you had him booked. If there's a last-minute emergency, at least call the guide and let him know you won't be there. Offer to pay a portion of his fee for costing him a day's income.
• Don't try to tell the guide where and how he should be fishing. He is the professional, and that's why you hired him.
• If you enjoy fishing with a guide, become a regular client. By developing a long-term relationship, you'll get calls when the fishing turns on.

HOW TO LOCATE A FISHING GUIDE

• Call marinas at your favorite fishing lake. Ask the marina operators to recommend a fishing guide. Marinas make money when you catch fish.
• Watch for guides who advertise in the newspaper or in fishing magazines. Ask any guide the usual questions and check his references.
• Ask fishing buddies to recommend a good fishing guide. Word of mouth recommendations are often the best.

 

George & Scott
Imagination Bassin Guide Service
Scott 772-370-1607
George 772-370-1606