I attended Fly Fish Texas in Athens last weekend. One of the instructors made a comment that
if you hire a guide and he also fishes, you are not getting you money's worth. I am relatively
new for fly fishing and have yet to hire a guide. Just curious what the board thought.

I wouldn't necessarily say that...but, I would say that most fly fishing guides won't have time to fish, they'll be too busy retying your mess ups or rowing. Or if you're on the flats too busy poling and looking for fish. I've had a couple conventional guides that weren't afraid to fish beside me, just depends on their intent. Is it to catch fish or help locate and pattern the fish so you can catch fish.

What is the average going price for a guide ? What about lake Fork , what's going price guided there ?

i would agree for the most part, I don't mind the guide fishing some during the trip. for the most part the majority of fly guides I have been with do not fish or if they do they just pick up the rod for a little bit. Now conventional bass guides are notorious to fishing. I have been on several that back seat you and are more concentrated on them catching fish then putting you on fish.

I have used guides for fresh and salt water. The salt water guide fished some when he was not spotting or poling the boat. All the guides provided great service and advice. As a fisherman and paying customer it would not bother me if they fished as long as they did their primary job which is to guide. Guides are like a box of chocolates, never know what you going to get! Do your research and try and post on this forum about the places you are going to visit and most of the time you will get some advice from people who have been there. I use Orvis endorsed guides when I can and they have been first rate!