Aren't they all at ivie

Either there, or JB Thomas.

Mark Pack Will always get my first vote. Still miss that guy every day.


Lots of good ones out there. Simple ways to choose a Fork guide.

1. They have a 903 area code and live in the area.
2. Go to their website, see if clients are holding more fish in pictures than they are.
3. Do a search on here and you will see the guys routinely recommended here over the years. There is a good reason for that. Pay attention to the ones that get a lot of repeat business.
4. Pay attention to the ones that stay out of drama on social media.

The above criteria is not fool proof but it's a good starting point.

Thanks, Mark. More of a conversation piece than a recommendation. Interested if any of the relatively “newer” guides the last 10-15 years were as good as some old school guides. Did the golden years on fork play a role in how we view their success? Ton of respect for the old school guides. I’ve been in the boat with three who were really good, mix of older and “newer” - Canada, Everett, and Livesay. Appreciate the responses.

Therman Selman

The live bait guy with a 20 seater tin boat

Good questions. I don't go out there much these days so I don't know many of the newer guides.

Any list without John Tanner's name on it is incomplete. I fished with him many times and he is now a "fisher of men", surrendering his life for a higher calling.

Jimmy Everett.

That's 4 bro. You left out Ronnie Byrd

You got that right Ken. Ronnie Byrd was the best Jig fisherman I ever fished with and the most fun to be with.

Top Waters - Been a friend of John since our early days in the Century Bass Club and witnessed his transformation from a club member to a Fork guide to fishing FLW and Everstart tournaments to his current life which overshadows everything before that.

The 5th could be a bunch of guys. That’s my top 4 for sure.

Mark Pack. Great guide, friend, business partner but most of all an outstanding individual. He passed away 4 years ago today. Hard to believe.

I have 2 pictures framed in our house at Fork. Both of these guys influenced and taught me more about fishing out there over the years til they passed. Both of them would give you the shirt off their back. Miss them daily.

Just the ones I've heard of and know stories behind some of their guide trips, Tony Clark, Larry Barnes, Lance Vick, and Mark Pack.