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Thread: Hire a Professional Guide!

  1. #1
    Join Date
    Sep 2007
    Location
    Arcadia
    Posts
    150

    Default Hire a Professional Guide!

    This may seem like a no brainer but I figured I would share it with you guys anyway. Whenever I go to fish a new body of water I always hire a professional guide. The way that I look at it is I am paying for a professional consultation on a body of water. Unless I have been fishing that body of water and have the experience to know how the fish react under adverse conditions, I am probably not going to be as successful on my initial trip as I could've been. And besides, what a great opportunity to ask as many questions as I can think of to somebody that probably has a good answer! In short, do yourself a favor, pay a few bucks and absorb as much information from a professional, and in turn you will increase your own level of fishing knowledge making yourself a better fisherman in the long run. And for all you haters out there, no, I have never been a professional guide and I do not have any economic interest in writing this short piece. My goal is for all of us to become better fisherman, and I thought this nugget may prove useful to some of you.

  2. #2
    Join Date
    May 2010
    Location
    Ca. Coast
    Posts
    1,816

    Default

    Amen all that.

    I hired a guide for 2 days this year. We fished 2 different rivers for Steelhead in early March up north. If I hadn't hired him, I might just as well of stayed home. Worth every penny.

    WWO

  3. #3

    Default

    If you want to CUT THE LEARNING CURVE, hire a guide. I took TroutOnly for two days and it was an eye opener. Don't just go for the ride...gather info before you go. What type of guide is he, where does he guide, what techniques does he use, etc. Make up a list of questions of things that you DON'T KNOW and WANT TO LEARN and ASK QUESTIONS. I had a list of questions make up before hand and when I would ask the questions I'd record the responses with one of those digital recorders you get from FRYS for around $30. I now know how to use a downrigger! My second day was at Lake Piru and it was during the summer when they had STOPPED stocking trout and we still caught a limit...with a downrigger!

  4. #4

    Default

    I completely agree as well. I've had the pleasure of taking Pete Marino out twice on 2 different lakes (DVL in the spring and Perris during the winter). Using the techniques Pete showed me, I ended up winning a small tournament at DVL with a 22+ pound limit 18 months AFTER our trip. I have taken the techniques he showed me to other lakes and have enjoyed successes there as well. If you can scratch the money together, a guide trip can supply you with tips, techniques and KNOWLEDGE that will serve you for years to come.

  5. #5
    Join Date
    Aug 2006
    Location
    Anaheim
    Posts
    4,729

    Default

    I'd hire a guide if there was one that didn't charge absurd prices.

  6. #6
    Join Date
    Sep 2011
    Location
    Devore Heights, CA
    Posts
    3,524

    Default

    During the past 30+ years I have hired a guide for a day on every trip out of state or to a body of water I was not familiar with. When factoring in the value of my time off work (self employed) cost of travel, lodging and meals it does not make sence to not spend money on a guide. I know friends that spent months planning an out of state fishing or hunting trip and then were too cheap to hire a guide. The difference between a successful trip of a lifetime and just another trip is often the use of a quality guide. The lessons I have learned over those 20 years with guides have been priceless.

    With regard to the cost of a guide I find it not to be unreasonable as the craft is often seasonal and dependent upon the weather. A guide is self employed and the overhead costs (boat, maintenance, fuel, insurance, equipment etc, etc.) can often be up to 40 to 50% of his fee. A guide has no sure thing as the next paycheck only word of mouth and past happy clients. When the service is world class and the guide has busted his hump I have no problem tipping and additional 20-30%.

    Some people think a guide is a commodity like buying bread. Well yes it is to a point, you can buy bread off the supermarket shelf, at the artisan bakery, at the day old bakery or you can go dumpster diving. I on the other hand believe that a quality guide is worth every penny it may cost me.

    I have found in life that you never have to say you’re sorry or apologize when you’re the best. Your mileage may differ.

  7. #7

    Default

    For say the local lakes guiding trips from Castaic to DVL, is there a minimum % tip to the skipper?

  8. #8

    Default

    Quote Originally Posted by smokehound View Post
    I'd hire a guide if there was one that didn't charge absurd prices.
    I agree it's one thing to pay for the guides help, it's another to pay him $50 an hour with a 8 hour min. Anyone know any guides for Irvine? Only fished the lake a few times and could use some tips on cat catching.

  9. #9
    Join Date
    Oct 2011
    Location
    Riverside,Ca
    Posts
    305

    Default

    You should hit up kewly he's a regular at Irvine..
    Last edited by Leejahd; 08-15-2012 at 06:40 PM.

  10. #10
    Join Date
    Jul 2004
    Location
    Quartz Hill, CA
    Posts
    8,306

    Default

    Sorry leejahd hes not a paid sponser on this site ,if you leave his address on here the webmaster will delete it and maybe you,,,,,smokehound now youre being absurd,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,

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