It's the time of year when many of us will be hiring professional guides for a day or more of fishing. So often I hear folks say "what makes a good guide?; Seldom do I hear the reverse asked.

Guides, I'd like to ask ya'll to chime in with your experiences, good and bad. No comments from men or women who do not make at least part of their living by providing a professional fishing guide service, please.

Someone else is welcome to start a "what makes a good guide" thread, but we've about beat all the squeal we're gonna get out of that pig.

I sincerely believe those of us who employ guides could all learn a thing or two from their insight. I hope the professionals of our sport, regardless of species, will add their thoughts.

Let the guide know up front what you are looking for in a guided trip.

Have realistic expectations...those sharelunkers are not under every tree! lol

Have an open mind when you are on a new lake...what works on your lake may not be best on the lake you are on.

Take care of equipment as if it was yours (well I hope you take care of yours).

Dont burn holes in the carpet with your cigs or spit tobacco all over the side of the boat.

dude, I apologized for the burns!

Thanks for having the nads to comment, JR!

I guide for a living because I love it. I like that client that has an open mind and not only wants to catch fish but wants to learn and expand his mind a little when it comes to fishing. The best clients are the ones that wnat to learn something and do not think they are experts. Everybody including myself can learn something from someone on any given day on the water. If you will just look at my fishing report from today. These two are novice fishermen and women and they learned how to fish a C rig today for the first time and they made several mistakes and I worked with them expecially Kathy and look what they did. If you hire a guide ,keep an open mind and let him earn his money with all of it not just catching fish although that is always good as well.

I don't guide as much as I once did just because of other obligations But,

If you take time out of you're schedule and pay you're hard earned money to one of us please just like JR said have an open mind and be able to listen and take instruction well. Put you're EGO aside for the day. Those of us that do guide take great pride in putting in the time to find active patterns and fish that will for the most part cooperate. Even though you may be a good fisherman we want you to be successfull and have a great trip so please listen to what we tell you and take the guidence hince the word GUIDE. There may be something that you feel is insignificant but may make all the difference in the world.

To be a great listener.

To be a good tipper......

Good questions ,excitement for the sport ,positive attitude

Was it also you that wacked me in the head with the txrig weight two weeks ago as you were casting back???

Tungsten IS pretty hard!

I've never hit my guide with anything harder than a Lunker Plunker

Fouz...

@ Brady.

A lot of what these guys are saying is why women often times outfish the men on guided trips. Because they LISTEN!

Listening and energy. You gotta be fired up to fish in my boat.

Willing to try what is and has been working.