I�ll be down in McAllen the first week of August and wanted to drive up to Falcon to do some fishing. Anyone have any personal experience with a guide on Falcon? More specifically, I�m looking for a guide that likes to fish offshore. Thanks for the help.

I love when the guide takes a back seat and focuses on YOU getting the good bites. This cat is as good as they come at doing just that.

http://highstakesbassin.com/

J

John Adami or Jimmy Steed

First thing I'd do is verify which of the guides has the proper credentials to guide on Falcon Lake... its considered federally regulated waters so anyone taking people out to fish and being paid for it is required by law to have a USCG Captains License. Any guide that doesn't have one or doesn't know they need to have one would be ruled out instantly for me. I don't want to trust my well being in the hands of someone willing to cut corners when we're talking about fishing on the border.

I've made this inquiry more than once with several authorities in Austin and local TPW all that is required is a TPW guides license no USCG license is required

If falcon were controlled by the army corps of engineers you might need a USCG license and that's a maybe. But it's not. Its controlled by the IWBC

Been discussed before here's the link. It's all about money..
http://texasfishingforum.com/forums/ubbthreads.php/topics/8816313/Obtaining_a_Guides_License

Falcon is FEDERALLY controlled water... totally different set if rules than regular freshwater lakes. Call the USCG, they are the governing body on that lake, not the State of Texas. Fresh or salt doesnt matter when you are talking federally governed water bodies. Would you ever get checked, highly unlikely, but if someone were to get injured badly on your boat during a guide trip a civil suit would take everything you and the next 2 generations of your family have if you are not properly credentialed to be guiding. Falcon and Amistad are both in this category. For my money, I want a guide thats on top of his business and familiar with every single regulation when we are talking about being on a border lake and putting my lively hood in his hands.

You can also add Lake Texoma to the list, its federally regulated... you'll note that nearly all of the Striper Guides on the lake have a USCG Captains License. Search a few, call a few, do whatever you need to do to learn the regulations. Rarely enforced, but technically required. Kind of scary to think someone could be guiding on a lake with these regulations and not even know about them...

Well all I know is I've talk to USCG if it's not army Corp or a navigable water way they dont require it. And most of us guides carry a large insurance policy for accidents on out boats. I personally carry more than any major tournament would require. If anyone needs the USCG number that covers the area I'd be more than happy to give it. 361-939-0200 you'll get transferred a few times but they will inform you of the laws

And theres not 1 guide on falcon with a USCG 6 pack license just FYI

Jimmy steed