You though the guide could will fish to bite on command?

If you fish Ouachita with live bait you must go to other lakes or Arkansas River to get it. Another day & expense that must be passed on. Whereas we bait guides on LL, Texoma & Tawakoni can gather bait day of. Like Randy said Tx guide lic $130. I add Ok license (if you fish Texoma) another $90 least we forget the Merchant Mariner Lic. our Coast Guard required 5 yrs. ago (which cost me $2000 +-). Friday Hybrid trip on LL I could hardly close lid on 100 qt cooler. Sat before, 5 boat trip we had 2 Hybies & multi Sandies. I guarantee to take you fishing not to catch fish!!!!!

If it was a trophy trip I understand completly. If it was just any fishing trip he should at least cut ya a break.

yes me too ! they still hold there hands out !and don't offer another trip out... only once tho want hire another ...Don't trust them now ...

I went to AR once........Never been back! We are lucky! Some of the best Striper Lakes in the USA within 90 miles! Save your money! Go to Tawakoni, hire a guide, stay a few days! Then go to Texoma and do the same! You will save $$ and catch more fish!

If your guide shows with a boat in tow you have a very good chance of catching fish. If your guide shows up without a boat and takes you out by walking on the surface of the water you will catch fish. I read a story about something similar happening to some guys that came in like yourself and hadn't caught any fish. These guides with boats(although very good) don't seem to be as realible day in day out. The problem could be the boat running fish off. For what these guides must pay for those super high dollar boats to hall clients around you would think the manufactor would fix that problem.

That's no good. Tell you what, you pay for lunch and gas and I'll take you out. Guarantee you'll catch at least as many fish as you did with the guide.

If it's all the guides fault you don't catch fish then it's the preachers fault you don't make it into heaven. I see how it works now. My mind must be flawed and I think need help.

There is a Guarantee for you boys that need one. I bet he will even give it to you in writing. ( at least as many fish )

I would look at it differently if I were a guide. Reputation is everything so I would hope a guide would take that into consideration before saying the clients don't understand. What they understand is whether a fish is on the end of their li ne or not. I've been with two guides and neither one was memorable. One guide gave us a tour of the lake, watched one hook after another on his fish finder as he would comment that there could be 50 more stripers just out of the cone. Had to sit there and listen to him talk about him wishing he was in the deer stand with his son. Drove around in his boat all day and fished for maybe half an hour. Had to endure him making fun of my wife because she had to relieve herself and he dropped her off on the bank. This guide had a great reputation, but he ruined me on guides. He had his hand out at the end of the day. I paid him and even gave him a tip because I figured it was expected. Well I have never gone back to him and never will. I wont post his name anywhere, but I will give details about the poor service. I figure if you get skunked and the guide acts like his heart just isn't in it, you shouldn't have to pay full price. I have a friend that is a guide and I know for a fact that if you get skunked with him, you just pay $100 for gas and other minor expenses. Most people find this very acceptable and continue to use him year after year. He not only has a reputation of putting you on fish, he has a reputation of being fair. Yep, reputation means a lot if you want return customers. As a customer, I would ask as many questions as possible to try to learn about patterning fish. At least come away from the experience with a little knowledge that you might be able to use on your own. Oh and another thing I learned is, I can get skunked for free fishing by myself. I still recommend you hire a guide if you are new to a lake or just want to learn techniques and patterns.

If the guide worked hard to find fish then he earned his money. You can't make them bite every time you go.

Txmedic033 most of us will agree with you. If there was a guide that could make the fish bite every time most of these guys couldn't afford to hire him. Me being one of them. They call it fishing for a reason rather than catching. Soure grapes

I agree with Scott and I'm sure his friend stays busy, and has a productive day most of the time. If a guide really works hard to put you on fish then they deserve to be paid, but by saying that if I was a guide and the fish didn't want to play I'd think about some type of discount and I wouldn't be looking for a tip.

The solution to all of this is. Either buy a boat, put a good fish finder on it and learn how to use it or bank fish.

If a boat were bought you would need to wrap your mind around right hand steering and trailer backing. These thing are all backwards. Turn the pickup steering left trailer goes right. Turn boat steering wheel right motor turns left but boat goes right. Lawn chairs and stab in the ground rod holders are much cheaper along with easier to handle. Hang on the bank and be safe.