Knowledge Vs. Guides

[gonfishn]

When I first got serious about Musky fishn I read and talked to the old timers who had been doing it for years..Its not just catching your fin but the pursuit, stalking and using your knowlege to find the fin of your choice.<br /><br />If you are a novelty fisherperson and only go once in a while then a guide is the way to go..They will put you on the fish ,bait your hook,tell you what lure to use and even net the fin for you..<br /><br />For me doing it all yourself makes the hunt all the more meaningful..Don't get me wrong guides are great..But stop and think how they aquired their skills. They read,experimented,test drive different approaches and dedicate long hours to maken the hunt a success over the years<br /><br />I have used guides in the past but found out That I knew as much as they did and the only advantage that they had over me was they knew the lake..

 

[JB]

Re: Knowledge Vs. Guides

When you go with a guide all you have to do is fish.<br /><br />You don't have to manage the boat, navigate around 1500 islands to the spot you seek, handle the net, cook shore lunch, clean the walleyes you caught on small musky lures, etc., etc.<br /><br />When you go by yourself you can set your own schedule. That is worth a lot on some days.<br /><br />We used to split our trip about even.<br /><br />The older I get the more I like going with a guide. . . well, one guide that we have gone with for 14 years, now.

 

[PAkev]

Re: Knowledge Vs. Guides

I've fished with a few guides and for the most part, have had positive experiences. All of these were by "word of mouth" recommendations. I also know some via "word of mouth" to stay away from like a guy who guided a striper trip for two friends last year and ended up gabbing on his cell phone several times throughout the trip. <br /><br />Personally, I put more value in a guides ability to teach and instruct than catching lots of big fish. Without good communication skills a guide can just be an expensive fishing partner. Putting fish in the boat is indeed one expectation but learning about fishing for a certain species or a specific technique is invaluable information afforded through a good guide. I am certain, info obtained from guides has enabled me to make appropriate lure selection and over time has saved me some money in purchasing more practical tackle.

 

[Barlow]

Re: Knowledge Vs. Guides

I've hired a guide and split a whole day with someone or with a couple of others on a new body of water. <br /><br />Getting the low-down on how the fish pattern in the water system and the techniques that are used along with the 'little secrets' come in handy on new water.<br /><br />I like splitting days with buddies because one can go out in the mornig with the guide and fish and learn while the other is out there with his own skills and knowledge hunting around with an open mind.. switching at mid-day allows the morning person(s) in the guide boat to use the what they've learned from the guide and twist it or tweak it with their own knowledge while the persons that went into the water blind get to relate what they've been doing in comparison to what they're learning from the guide.<br /><br />always liked doing this because some things may get over looked by one person in the morning while the afternoon person might have picked up on it and vice versa.<br /><br />big thing with guides for me is getting to know the water system and how the fish pattern in it. then its up to me and my own to make things work.<br /><br />always learning