Does a Guide have to have a guide license to be a Guide?

Does a Guide have to have insurance to be a Guide?

What are your expectations of a Guide?

Is it OK for a Guide to do what it necessary at all costs to put his client on fish?

Would you hire a Guide who consistently kill what he catches?

What are the penalties for a "Guide" who doesnt have a license or insurance?

Is there a fine for selling game fish without a permit? is there a permit?

Can Fish And Wildlife access penalties retro active?

Just curios about what you guys know/think about those thoughts....

Ive only hired a guide in Alaska once.. it was awesome... Total professionals..

I know why the laws are in place but in my book, no they don't have to have a license.

I think yes, if you are with him either in his boat or on his skiff, he needs to have insurance.

For me, it would have to be, just make the day enjoyable and teach me something I didn't know about the sport or show me a technique etc.. When it boils down to it, I would need to catch fish, do they have to be monsters, no but I need to at least put a hook into something fishy.

Not sure I understand your question but if it puts me in danger or the guide, NO. Have respect for other anglers is big time with me as well.

I think a fine of some nature, not anything big, but this is basically for insurance purposes.

I think there is a fine, but I am not sure.

Not sure, but I doubt it.

Most of your questions are governed by state laws that will vary depending on which state you are in.

As for this one: "Would you hire a Guide who consistently kill what he catches?" I have done so before. We threw them back while I was with him, but on Texoma the vast majority of guide trips keep their fish. I only know of one full time guide on the lake that is just C&R and he wasn't around when I went fishing. But if you hire a guide on Texoma or in many other locations, you will probably be hiring a guide that keeps fish regularly. Personally, I don't see it an issue if the guide is following the local game laws.

Just my 2 cents.
Rex

Yes, a guide has to have a license in Texas and Oklahoma. If they are operating a power boat they need to have commercial insurance on Federal waters. Most regular insurance policies are void if they find out you are doing it for commerial purposes. In addition to the insurance guides on Federal fresh waters are going required to be required to have the following. Safe boating course/Coast Guard test , CPR and First aid certification, TWIC card (Background check for transportation workers.), Physical/Drug test, Yearly random drug test, and Vessel inspection.

No one is allowed to sell a game fish.

Kayak & canoe guides and tour operators are now required to have a Kayak/Canoe license in Texas. This is brand new.

I have to carry 5 licenses now to guide on Lake Texoma and the Red River, plus another 4 documents for Texoma.

C&R or catch and grease is the customers choice.

SBridgess has spoken and you better listen. He can also put a striper on your hook. That you can take to the bank.

TWPD Commercial Guide REgulations

Never mind. Must be getting tired, these are commercial fishing rules not guides rules.

I thought it was about these rascals

Most of the questions you asked were legal questions, not ethical questions. Any guide operating illegally is unethical...period. And that begins with knowing all of the laws that govern one's trade.

You did ask 2 questions about ethics though. The one about putting the clients on fish at all costs: No. Safety is the first consideration when guiding. And you also must stay legal. Beyond that, most clients are paying a guide to put them on fish. So you bet. You also asked about catch-n-keep. There's nothing wrong with a guide operating within the laws set by the state wildlife managers. These agencies know what they're doing.

Hey I would not be surprised if "Fly Ty" is an alias for BassRTrash.

SBridgess answered it perfecty. I follow every law to the "T". On every trip I even make sure my client(s) have thier licenses as well or we will not fish.

we shall see, and the ax will fall if so.

I had no idea a guide had so much to keep up with. I don't see why they can't just keep books of their clients, and when they fish, how much they earned, and pay taxes on that. The rest sounds like a racket to me. Word gets around about people, and if they aren't up to snuff, or their equipment isn't...that will be spread about them. A first aid/cpr course is awful nice....but the rest seems like a lot of red tape.

Think you may have forgotten to cross that T actually... the fishing licenses/trout stamp are a start, but you should probably take a look a the guide license application .

Before everyone rags on me for being an A-hole, I didn't call and "turn you in" or anything, just called and asked to "verify the license of a guide I was about to book." Besides, I think legal issues should be fair game?

Maybe it's out of ignorance of the law, not sure... but seems silly to advertise so much for something that's not even a legal gig.

Well, I guess it could be just an administrative mistake or something? You can call 'em up and get it straightened out if so... (405) 521-3852.

OK, I think we are about done here. Please everyone, post your fishing pictures.

I do not know any thing about Texas guide licensing but have been a licensed guide in Montana and do know some about Montana and the guide business in general. In Montana a guide must be licensed by the state department of commerce (go figure?)The Dept of Fish and Game should handle it but they havn't been able to get the legislature to see it that way. A guide can not work independanty they must work for or through a licensed outfitter unless they hold an outfitter license themselves. It is a misdemeanor to hire an unlicensed guide in the state of Montana and of course it is a crime to operate as an unlicensed guide. I personaly think the requirment to be licensed is a very good thing. To many fly by night operations excisit out there and they give all guides a bad name! When I hire a guide I check licensing and insurance and also ask for three references, one from each of the last three years. I also check to see what professional associations they are part of. In the state of Montana I would NEVER hire a guide that does not belong to the Montana Outfitters and Guides Association. If you can pass the state requirments and pay the fees you can get licensed, that does not mean you have to be reputable or that any one is watching over you to see if you are acting legaly and ethicaly. Belonging to MOGA insures that some professionals are looking over your shoulder and insuring you are operating according to their policies and standards.