I have fished with guides in many areas of the country with fees from $350 to $750 a day. It’s a great way to fish when your traveling. I had some great days on the water with guides. I will smallmouth bass fish with a guide anytime I travel to a good smallmouth area. There isn’t a ton of money made guiding. Long days. No insurance, self employment taxes.

Guides do it primarily because they like to do it.

Also been on some more pricey stuff like Peacock Bass in Brazil with Ron Speed or Yellowfin out of Venice LA with Mexican Gulf . A number of high end lodges too.

It’s all good. It’s only money. You can’t take it with you.

I would say if you can afford it, it’s worth every penny for the guides time effort expenses and expertise for a day. I wouldn’t take someone I didn’t know out all day for $500 and I’m not even a guide.

I forgot that I paid $600/day for a guide at Traverse Bay back in 2015. Well worth every penny. It was my last fishing trip that I took with my dad.

It's been 6 or 7 years ?? I think... I paid $425 for Lake Fork. Marcel ??? I forgot. We caught plenty of bass off one point. My wife likes to go so splitting the fee ain't happening and the '93 Ranger has been paid for since day one. I've been spending lots of money on it since January when the virus came. $400 for new batteries. Trolling motor repair. $250. "A boat is a hole in the water you throw money in." Brian Hughes.
We had a motorhome we pulled the boat with. Then we got a trailer near Yantis and the boat ramp was 5 miles away. Then I had back surgery in 2015 and became disabled shortly thereafter and officially RETIRED. I think I used the boat once. Trailer got sold. But not the bass boat. Now I got to do some maintenance on the F150 to pull the boat which is still not ready but soon. More money. Plus I bought a new fishing pole. Money money money. I never met a guide I didn't like but I've had crappy trips that were boat rides like that trip to Lake Casitas. I miss the Jimmy Everett days when me and the girlfriend first started fishing together. RIP Joe Axton. I've gotten to fish from Okeechobee to Cabo San Lucas to Cook Inlet, the Kenai River, Alaska. 66 and not ready to stop.

David Dudley did a YouTube video and said he charges $1,000.00 for a “fishing lesson”.

I got one better than that!

An old buddy of mine called me to ask me what kind of bass boat he should buy. I told him he Shouldn't! He was at Bass Pro & got all excited about the boat buying experience and how much money he could "save" not hiring a guide. He asked me about all the hidden expenses of boat ownership so I began to go down the list- storage, insurance, maintenance, tackle, tow vehicle.

He said "Tow Vehicle, I forgot about that". I guess he thought he was gonna pull it with his Toyota Corolla.

How much per day do you make where you currently work? So you have had "big names" on Fork take you fishing on their dime but you wouldn't spend your own money helping pay for the trip??? Sounds to me like you are just selfish and cheap since you want them to take you out as long as you don't have to pay for it. WOW

I agree. The guide is just trying to make a living putting you on fish. It is just his job and after all his daily expenses he isn't making all that much per day for the work he does.

Battling the wind every day, looking for fish then trying to get them to bite. Boat expenses, insurance etc. etc.

For those that think that is too much,get a license and advertise and take over at $300 a trip. Let us know how rich you are a year from now.

I have been invited several times through business connections and/or as a gift. I would never pay for a guide for Texas freshwater fish.

Sorry that upsets you.

No bother. I have had some very good trips with guides and always learned something, Money well spent. I guess you just don't have much faith in guides unless someone else is paying for the trip.

For a little more you can have a great trip offshore catching more and bigger fish. Offshore, where the guides actually use fuel.

Casitas was a beast in the early 2000.

How about just renting a boat. Look it up or save time and go to “boatsetter” and see if that works. The prices by the pictures are for 1/2 day (4 hours). Have to put Dallas or Houston to find listings. Good Luck!

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You would never ever get those two to take you out for $500 per day. You are dreaming.