definitely worth the time and money, 1+ on using one in the different seasons, thats great experience.

most of them are great at teaching you electronics as well as fishing techniques.

for fork i highly recommend lance vick.

I have hired two guides over the years, the first one being on Caddo about 10 years ago, an absolute disaster, not 1 bite all day, and the guide himself only caught a pickerel,

the second one was MR. Steve Bennett on Cypress Springs last year, and he is the MAN!!! We had 2 limits of crappie before we hit 9am. Steve Bennett Rocks!!!! Will definately be calling him again.

I have never hired one but was fortunate to win a guided trip with an unamed guide at Lake Fork back in the mid 90s. Well we caught some pretty good fish, but I have to say the guide WACKED them but good. He probably shook off 10 to our 1 catch. He front ended the H out of both me and my brother. Every dock we came to, he hit the best corners and spots first. We had sloppy seconds at best. I know it was a free trip but this sure left a bad memory. This was my only experience with a guide. Probably won't ever hire one ever.

Last 2 guided trips Ive been on have been awful. Its one thing to not catch a fish but didnt learn a thing either. A lot if it comes down to who you go with.

Spent a day and a half on Amistad and my brother and I didnt get a bite, plus we had to put up with a day and a half of vulgar jokes, not a fun way to spend a weekend.

Spent a day with a guide on fork a year or so ago and neither my father in law or myself got bit. I understand a tough bite, but what was most discouraging was we spent the entire day basically in one cove throwing one bait, didnt learn a thing.

Even with that said I have had some really good experiences in salt water with guides.

I still really appreciate what guides do and realize its a very tough job, I dont care what you say. I just need to be more selective of who I spend the day with. Next guide will probably be on falcon, so maybe my luck will change.

Jeez, I believe you but it's hard. I've been fishing Amistad since the mid 90s and have only zeroed once and that was in a wicked blue norther with stiff wind and temps in the mid 30s. Hope I never cross paths with that guide. IF my life depended on catching at least one fish on a trip -- Amistad would be the lake.

You can buy a lot of Fishing books and Fishing Videos for $400. + you can't front end yourself.

There is no substitute for time on water with someone with a lot of experience that knows how to teach.

No,man. I've already learned. Each bite is experience, and you get more bites fishing alone.

I have hired guides for bass,strippers, hybrids, salt water bay, offshore, etc. etc. For the most part it has been a worthwhile event. You cannot catch as many fish and learn as much by yourself. They worry about boat control, fuel, bait, and allow you to fish. I've learned a lot from guides and I've shown them a few things. The bad ones have either front ended me taking all the best 'first' cast to structure themselves or on one occassion was such a foul mouthed racist(and I can appreciate a joke as well as anybody)it made me feel I should call him down on it, but I knew I was already out a days fee and didn't want a hostile fishing enviroment. Still I recommend it --if you find the right guide you'll have a good friend to fish with.

King of the Palomar has spoken
Just havin' a little fun. Lol.

Please Justify this to my wife and kids. At $350.00 a pop, 4 times a year, they would tell me i had lost my mind. Even if it was a family trip. Would love to do it though ! LOL !!!!

I sure did! But if you recall that was the day I had a 25 incher too!

I'm,apparently,having more fun with you,than you are with me.

Good grief guys!!

What do you all do before you hire a guide?? Google, "Really bad fishing guide that tells vulgar jokes all day???"

It is obvious that many of you have had a bad experience with a "guide" but I just wonder how you found them...

Wow!

I have hired guides several times on Toledo Bend. We always caught lots of fish nd I had a really great experience. We used the same guides for several years. Made friends out of them and met their families. Would highly recommend it.