This is a post I made in repsonse to another thread. I really would like to here responses from all. I do not want to affend any guide I might hire and I would of course not hide a GPS from a guide:

I have looked at the homepage for many guides and have not seen one with a statement "GPS NOT ALLOWED". If you are not paying a guide to show you routes and fishing spots what are you paying them for. I know of course you are paying them to put you on fish, but you are, or at least I would be paying them to guide me through the bay so I might on my own be able to return to these spots and catch fish in the future. A GPS would be a great way to record these routes and waypoints.

if you talk to the guide upfront about it they will be understanding and prob ask you not to record thier hot spots, but let you keep it on to record a route out of the boat ramp.
~~These guys depend on these spots to remain secret in order to preserve thier way of living. These productive spots make for happy customers, that in turn tell other potential customers. That creates a repetition in customer satisfaction ans repeat business.
~~Thats how these guys put money in the bank. If word gets out about a hot spot, there will be 100 boats all over the next day.

~~Respect them in the fact that this is how they feed thier family... be upfront and they will work with you 100% !!!!
~~ A little side note: be advised you wont go to thier best spots with a GPS on board....preservation of thier way of life.


~~You are paying them for putting you on fish without you having to spend time on the water finding them. A guide....to the productive fishing spots and baits that produce well.

I don�t think that a guide would appreciate the GPS marking of their spots. They have spent years on the water locating and patterning fish to make a living. This is how they feed their family and pay their bills and I don�t think it is right to mark their spots without their consent. To do so without them knowing in my opinion is just as bad as stealing

I expected this response. Remember I have never been on a guided fishing tour, but do they blindfold you when taking you out. I mean you see the spot and I am sure you could return to it the next day and mark it. I know this is there lively hood and I do respect it, and most likely will go on a few guided tours and just make mental notes of the spots or is this taboo also!

I agree 100% and I would not do it without their consent, but I believe they need to make that clear before you book the trip.

respect...is what it is!

For our deep blue charters, GPS's are forbidden on the boat. The Captain tells everyone this at the time of booking the charter and again prior to departure from the dock. It is even in the written agreement recorded at the time payment is received. I totally agree Skeeter, respect the guide or crew you are paying for their service and you will receive their best effort. Try to steal some hotspots and at a minimum you will be catching short fish all day or trash fish and the GPS may "accidently" fall overboard.

I have taken a GPS with me on guided trips. I always asked first before I used it. I personally dont take a guide out to steal his spot though. I take a guide out to learn! I record the trip and store it on my computer so that when I am going to fish that body of water again I have an idea of what type of water we were fishing when I caught fish there before. I think if you use a guide to learn HOW to find fishy water and not his spots then you get your $$ worth and you dont need to fish his holes. A lot of guides will fish wrecks that are charted a lot of of the time anyway. If you apply yourself you can find your own.

Scott