Find The Right Guide For Your Fishing Trip




by Sue Hamrick


Many people are unsure whether they will need a guide on their first fishing trip. The answer is not always an easy 'yes' or 'no', and each person must assess their individual needs to determine whether a guide is right for them or not.

Guides can be worth having as long as you know exactly what you're getting. First, you need to understand that even a guide cannot guarantee that you will catch a huge fish. The guide can lead you to areas that are known for plentiful fish, but it is your job to actually catch them.

If you are not good at catching fish, the guide won't be able to help you more than so much. However, if that's the case, a guide may be well worth it to you. If you are fishing in an area you've never explored before, having a guide can make the difference between catching a lot of fish or catching very little in the time you have available. If you don't know where the fish is, you might end up spending most of your vacation looking for it.

Very often, guides are fishermen also. Since they spend so much time out there, they know exactly what is effective and what is not. Here are some things you might want to check with your guide before you officially hire them:

Tell them what type of fish you are after. Whether you're looking to catch lots of fish, or just trophy sized fish Has the guide ever fished for the species you're after? What method is best to use?

In a few words, this is what you should expect from a guide:

Expert advice on the best locations to fish A few professional tips on how to catch the fish A well prepared, delicious shore lunch

Is what the guide offers worth your money?

A little more food for thought. You can hire a guide for just a day or two (be up front about this) and then use his (or her) advice on what to do the rest of your fishing trip. This will cost you less and it will still give you the expert advice you are seeking.

Now, if you're going on a fly-in fishing trip to a lake that you know (from your research and talking to others) is full of fish... you probably don't need a guide! Some of the remote lakes are full of fish, and even if you are not an expert, you should have no trouble catching some.

How much does a guide cost? You can expect to pay anywhere from $100 to $200 per day plus a tip of around $25 per person. So it is really important to decide if you really need the advice and if you have the extra money for it. Now you have everything you need to decide if a fishing guide is right for you. Have fun and good luck!




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