No one is superman. LOL just follow the guides where ever they go, use the same bait as them, hopes you have as much skill as them. Problem solved!!!

I have mixed opinions on this topic. I voted yes based on a guide fishing the whole tour.

I would have voted no if they pick and choose when.

I'd say yes to all stringer tournies as long as a 5 day off limits is enforced where guides are allowed to play.

And if a guide can fish the whole season, one must wonder why they would be turning down cash in the hand as opposed to gambling for a check on a weekend. Why aren't they booked?

Wow alot of people saying yes on the forum. Alot of people voting no on the poll. I guess people just do not want to get hammered on for saying no.

I bet $1000 that Billy and Kay Dyson beat me every event!! Wanna ban someone from your tournaments, ban them - not me!

Just kidding Billy and Kay - ya'll rock.

Let me fish so I too can break out my bream and crappie tackle....

i wouldnt really have a problem with it but the first thing that comes to mind is that little show on tv called "Pro's vs Joe's". i think they would have a definite advantage against other guys that dont make a living on the lake. again its my opinion....Bill Wilcox showed up to one of the Lewisville sunday tournaments and my first thought was he is just there to show off and put a whoopin on all of us, but then again it sure woulda been cool to beat him!!! We didn't beat him and yes i think he won (:) ) but we fished our tails off tryin! it doesnt really matter but i think they would absolutely have an advantage over the rest of us who don't fish out there every week.

I second Cableman's notion of "no" since it would definitely hurt the number of entrants...

It really depends on what type of trail you're trying to run. If I fish a high entry fee tournament on any lake, I expect to fish against the best, no exceptions. Lesser money, I don't expect to fish against guides. Either way, you are going to fish against locals.

Mark, dont think You would want to do that. Why? Who is the One Your trying to get to Fish Your T's

- the Guys with the 17 ft KingFishers, the Guys with the 18ft 150's, or the Ones with the Ones with the 20ft + that think their doing something, Or a few local Guides on Fork that dont have Anyone to take Out that Sat. Now before Anybody starts firing off-- I dont Fish any Events on the Circus T Lake of Texas. So... its not of being sccarrred

A couple of Friends of Mine would enjoy this though. One is off playing the Law Enforcement Society and the Other working Building Houses that kinda know where to gather a few 2.5lbers rather quickly. It all makes Me laugh ... Good Luck Mark..

It is nice to beat a guide on his home water. But, he does have an advantage.

You crack me up.... You hate catching them lil grn pickles..
Saw you Saturday near Gator.

I don't have an opinion on this subject, I used to, but I see far more average Joe's doing better than guides as a whole week in week out.

I can see where some would like to even the playing field, I can sympathise with that.
Times are tight for guides and competitors, *entry fees* and *extra cash* for a trip out is getting harder to come by.
I don't envy the decisions a tournament director has to make for the good of the trail..

I'm with the group that says "It depends on who you want to fish your tournaments." I consider JCOutdoors and MediaBass the next steps for the club angler before hitting BassChamps, BASS opens or FLW. I know if I wanted to make the next step I'd hesitate entering a tournament with lake guides. I myself know a few and don't worry about fishing against them on a neutral lake. As for their home lake...I'd first like to see the guides put up some cash and take me on at my job. Having played a lot of billiards in my days I've seen the The Hustler ply his skills more than a few times.

At some point JCOudoors has to ask itself "Who do we want to attract to our tournaments?" Weekend angler? Guide level angler? I consider myself a guide level angler so it's a coin toss for me. Like I said earlier, I don't worry about fishing against them on a neutral lake. On their home lake I'd be a fool not to be concerned.

+1

I voted "I dont care" but I can see how some would be intimidated. I Fished fork every weekend back in the 90's and back then there were as many guides as regular anglers. In large part even then many of them were no better than I was at the time. Many were just regular guys in love with fishing and full of themselves enough to think they could make it. There were a few though that if I had to fish against them I knew I was fishing for second. In their day the Stevensons, Brian Duplechain, Stan Gerzyny (I know I spelled that wrong), Larry Barnes, Mark Pack and in my opinion the saltiest of them all back then Hollis Joiner were outstanding fishermen. I know a there are a few good ones now but they dont scare me like the above mentioned group.

There are a lot of good points pro and con on this subject. I appreciate everyones input. As a TD and tournament promoter I have to make the right decisions for the common good of all and without asking the tough questions and getting some feedback I could easily make the wrong decisions. I will ultimately make some bad decisions along the way regardless, but with everyones help and patience we will make this trail one of the top 3 in the North Texas area.
You will be seeing more poll questions over the next few weeks and I appreciate everyones votes and honest opinions. Please help me get insight into these questions by continueing to vote on these polls.
And please remember that just because I poll a question does not mean that a change is upcoming, I would just like to be informed with these opinions.
I believe we have attracted some of the best anglers both in quality of angling skills but also in quality of character, in that respect we are very blessed and do not want to do anything to alter that. We have great fellowship at our weighins even though our anglers are very competitive, we want to see that continue.
Blessings To All: