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Re: Lake Fork guide [Re: Cliff31] #14355388 04/29/22 12:15 AM
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Fishspanker Offline
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Solid guide on the lake who has been there since it opened told me, “two least favorite and toughest months to fish Fork, April and September”

Last edited by Fishspanker; 04/29/22 12:15 AM.

The Sheep who only fears the Wolf is eaten by the Shepherd.
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Re: Lake Fork guide [Re: Sinkey] #14355419 04/29/22 12:45 AM
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hopalong Online Confused
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Originally Posted by Sinkey
Originally Posted by Douglas J


I bet nobody zeros at pintail farms 4 cold fronts into duck season grin


Not since Rockie let it go! banana



he would not recognize it now, been over 2 million spent on upgrades and pit blinds and other upgrades. now about 1,500 acres and trying to buy more.

got over a million in equipment alone.

no one zeros here.

roflmao

Last edited by hopalong; 04/29/22 12:45 AM.

" Hop, set the hook"!
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lake fork FISHERMANS COVE MARINA/reservations - 903 474 7479
Re: Lake Fork guide [Re: hopalong] #14355424 04/29/22 12:48 AM
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Douglas J Online Content
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Originally Posted by hopalong
Originally Posted by Sinkey
Originally Posted by Douglas J


I bet nobody zeros at pintail farms 4 cold fronts into duck season grin


Not since Rockie let it go! banana



he would not recognize it now, been over 2 million spent on upgrades and pit blinds and other upgrades. now about 1,500 acres and trying to buy more.

got over a million in equipment alone.

no one zeros here.

roflmao


But they are just guides smile


#MFGA
Re: Lake Fork guide [Re: Douglas J] #14355429 04/29/22 12:55 AM
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hopalong Online Confused
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Originally Posted by Douglas J
Originally Posted by hopalong
Originally Posted by Sinkey
Originally Posted by Douglas J


I bet nobody zeros at pintail farms 4 cold fronts into duck season grin


Not since Rockie let it go! banana



he would not recognize it now, been over 2 million spent on upgrades and pit blinds and other upgrades. now about 1,500 acres and trying to buy more.

got over a million in equipment alone.

no one zeros here.

roflmao


But they are just guides smile



no guides here, just hunters. grin


" Hop, set the hook"!
hopalong 99,999
TexDawg 99,999
FJB! not my president by a long shot!

lake fork FISHERMANS COVE MARINA/reservations - 903 474 7479
Re: Lake Fork guide [Re: Cliff31] #14355575 04/29/22 03:46 AM
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David Burton Offline
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Originally Posted by Cliff31
Originally Posted by David Burton
Cliff,

I know this has sort of gone around, but please indulge...

Where on the lake did the guide take you, what baits did he have you throwing? Did you move around from spot to spot? Did he get a few "guide strikes" when he put his line in the water to make sure fish were there? I really want to know if he was literally just phoning it in, or if something else happened and he was just not on the fish one day afte the winds changed during one of the fishiest months.


I’m not all that familiar with the lake, but we launched at 6:30am from Pope’s Landing Marina. Initially went straight across where we threw shad lures for at least an hour.

The next spot already had boats, so believe we spent the rest of the day in little Mustang. There we threw a Texas rigged worms pretty much the whole time. Moved a few spots and switched colors, but that was about it.


That's not much moving around on a day when you aren't getting bit. One really good Shad-spawn spot. Maybe he was having an off day, but I would expect him to hit more of the high-profile shad spawn spots in rapid succession if that was the pattern. At this point, I would be reaching out to him and asking about the day and any possible options for a discounted future trip, if you didn't discuss up front what your expectations were for the trip, make sure you make that clear in the future. Is it a 'learning' trip - looking at graphs or something, is it a "Big fish" or "numbers" trip, etc.


David Burton
2015 Skeeter FX 21 +Ultrex +Helix 12 (x3) +Mega360 +MegaLive
Re: Lake Fork guide [Re: Cliff31] #14355688 04/29/22 12:46 PM
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Lake Fork Guide Marc Mitchell Offline
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Ok Last comment .... I was using Ish and Mark as a example that anyone can zero at anytime on this lake.

Pro or not regardless of WEATHER so you guys twisted that to your own opinion. So the other 35 pros caught fish on the same day ? You did not look at it that way. You went straight to the conditions.

Now to my thoughts on the drop shot. As a power fisherman I do not throw a drop shot so it would not be my strong point.

Don't mean I cant... it just means it is not for me. I would rather power fish.

Now I can teach most to throw a bait caster so I convert most so their application is like mine therefore to get the presentation I need.

If you have a chatter bait bite or square bill bite going then why would you leave it for a drop shot bite > I would not. Better fish come on the chatter bait or square bill 90% of the time. IMO

Most people come to Fork for a chance at a Big Bass. Not saying you cant catch one on a DS.

What you did not think about in you comment is the WIND... Not many could feel or keep a DS in the water the way the wind has been this year. So that would be setting them up for failure. IMO

Look people hire guides to become better fisherman and in hopes to catch a giant on a lake known for them. Sometimes it happens sometimes it don't.

When my guys leave my boat they will be better fisherman if they listen.

You cannot hit a home run every time at bat.

I did not get into who was the guide. Yes this time of year lots of part time guides or fisherman take up left over trips that the Full Time guides cant cover.

I am in my 40 th year so I have seen just about everything that comes a long this time of year.

In saying that in all honesty Even Full Time guides can have a bad day. We try not to but Fork is not the Fork of old. I don't have many 0 fish days in all my 40 years but there are a few.

I would be lying if I said there was none. April is the best month for me through all my years and I log my trips and have since 83 . It stands out by far to be the best month for me.

Always a few on the beds to catch if the customer is struggling.

I am sorry the guys did not catch any but I was just trying to explain it happens to anyone at anytime.

Fishing is like going to the Casino and in hopes that you win.



Last edited by Lake Fork Guide Marc Mitchell; 04/29/22 01:12 PM.
Re: Lake Fork guide [Re: Cliff31] #14355752 04/29/22 01:55 PM
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J.P. Greeson Offline
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IMO, there are two main factors that make the difference with a guide ... fishing ability and personality. Of course, I want to catch some fish, but to me, learning something new is almost as important. The vast majority of my guide trips have been good, but I have experienced a few duds. One that immediately comes to mind is a Venice guide we used. Not only was the guy unpleasant to be around, but we paid an extra $200 on top of the $900 fee for a follow boat and the guy ditched us with 2 hours left on the trip.

I could have a zero fish day and still have a good time on the water. If I had little experience with guides, I could also understand the disappointment.


The solution to any problem - work, love, money, whatever - is to go fishing, and the worse the problem, the longer the trip should be. --John Gierach

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Re: Lake Fork guide [Re: Cliff31] #14355767 04/29/22 02:09 PM
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I’ve been on a guide trip where only 1 fish was boated all day… he took us back out the next day and worked his butt off for an extra 5 hours to make sure we caught some fish. Was a big name full time guide, even the best have those days. Right now Fork is fishing pretty bad… the guides certainly have their work cut out for them.




Re: Lake Fork guide [Re: Cliff31] #14356346 04/30/22 02:04 AM
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“Learning is as important as catching fish”? Well it looks like the the OP learned something……what not to do! (Sorry, “the right to remain silent….without the ability”! 😁

Re: Lake Fork guide [Re: Cliff31] #14356358 04/30/22 02:11 AM
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I don't have any idea who the guide is but I will say something that I learned about Fork and guides over the years. There are many. many guides out there but there is a reason a smaller percentage of the guides stay booked year round with repeat customers. If I were choosing a Fork guide my minimum criteria would be:

1. a full time guide there with a 903 area code
2. a guide that does not get paid to go fishing but a guide that gets paid to take people fishing
3. a guide that is not holding every fish on his website or social media posts

Re: Lake Fork guide [Re: Mark Perry] #14356556 04/30/22 02:19 PM
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Originally Posted by Mark Perry
I don't have any idea who the guide is but I will say something that I learned about Fork and guides over the years. There are many. many guides out there but there is a reason a smaller percentage of the guides stay booked year round with repeat customers. If I were choosing a Fork guide my minimum criteria would be:

1. a full time guide there with a 903 area code
2. a guide that does not get paid to go fishing but a guide that gets paid to take people fishing
3. a guide that is not holding every fish on his website or social media posts




Ding Ding Ding we have a winner - #3 above is the best advice you will read on here today.


GO -------> fish

"Spit in his mouth, Son. It will make him grow bigger faster"
My late grandfather Bill Chapman (and former lake patrolman at Lake Tyler, TX)
I have spent the past 50 years spitting in their mouths...increasing the size of Texas fish with every spit!

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Re: Lake Fork guide [Re: Cliff31] #14356603 04/30/22 03:19 PM
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Re: Lake Fork guide [Re: Top Waters] #14356622 04/30/22 03:42 PM
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Originally Posted by Top Waters
Originally Posted by Mark Perry
I don't have any idea who the guide is but I will say something that I learned about Fork and guides over the years. There are many. many guides out there but there is a reason a smaller percentage of the guides stay booked year round with repeat customers. If I were choosing a Fork guide my minimum criteria would be:

1. a full time guide there with a 903 area code
2. a guide that does not get paid to go fishing but a guide that gets paid to take people fishing
3. a guide that is not holding every fish on his website or social media posts




Ding Ding Ding we have a winner - #3 above is the best advice you will read on here today.


This is good advice and I will add to that. If your guide didn't hit at least 20 spots that day he wasn't moving enough. I have run from Rainswood Marina to Glade many days trying to put us on fish. Too many guides have a familiar milk run that involves one or two small areas.

David was also correct when he said you guys weren't in areas known for shad spawn. Main lake wind blown points are the ticket this time of year. I can understand if 3 of you only had 6-8 fish in April but to Zero in April is Unacceptable. Fork has been tough but it ain't that tough.



Re: Lake Fork guide [Re: Mark Perry] #14357423 05/01/22 09:54 PM
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J.P. Greeson Offline
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Originally Posted by Mark Perry
2. a guide that does not get paid to go fishing but a guide that gets paid to take people fishing

That's a big one and I always appreciate a guide who asks you if you have a preference as to whether or not he fishes.


The solution to any problem - work, love, money, whatever - is to go fishing, and the worse the problem, the longer the trip should be. --John Gierach

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Re: Lake Fork guide [Re: Ken A.] #14357427 05/01/22 10:00 PM
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Douglas J Online Content
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Originally Posted by Ken A.
Originally Posted by Top Waters
Originally Posted by Mark Perry
I don't have any idea who the guide is but I will say something that I learned about Fork and guides over the years. There are many. many guides out there but there is a reason a smaller percentage of the guides stay booked year round with repeat customers. If I were choosing a Fork guide my minimum criteria would be:

1. a full time guide there with a 903 area code
2. a guide that does not get paid to go fishing but a guide that gets paid to take people fishing
3. a guide that is not holding every fish on his website or social media posts




Ding Ding Ding we have a winner - #3 above is the best advice you will read on here today.



I can understand if 3 of you only had 6-8 fish in April but to Zero in April is Unacceptable. Fork has been tough but it ain't that tough.


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#MFGA
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