Now that's funny lol

I turn 60 this year and In thinking back to all of the guided trips I have been blessed. From fishing in Mexico in its heyday to Cabo, Maui, the Rockies etc.... I have had the good fortune to experience great guides. The thing I try to bring away from a guided trip is the memories. The fishes are a big part of fishing, but the biggest part for me is the experience. I have to make a living like everyone one else - a dollar at a time (so I also have to be careful with the dollars! Like everyone else). I notice one thing about good guides they work hard to make a living. In the last several years fishing with guides locally like JD at Texoma, Matt at Twak and JV here on Hubbard, they have all been great trips. Sorry for the rambling, but it is my 2 cents. Keep positive and trips usually go really good. If you are after fish for the meat, it is probably a better deal to go to Krogers. Also, I am looking forward to fishing with Bombay in his new boat!

There u go terry! U done said it now!!!

Jubengreat sorry for that one. Man that one was pretty jacked up!

If i have to resort to calling someone else to take me fishing to show me how to do it then have to pay someone.
That will be the day that i hang the rods up and sell the boats

Trip should have been rescheduled free or at a deep discount...
But, ask next time... If they don't have a bad day fishing policy, call the next one

Plenty of guides around

Exactly Mike. We get here on the forum and here about the phenomenal trips over and over again. People don't do too much talking about the bad trips.

In other types of fishing (saltwater, largemouth, etc.), bad days happen and that's just tough luck. That would be awesome if the guide agreed to give you a discounted trip but you shouldn't count on it. Their expenses are what they are.

Hopefully you learned some techniques to broaden your skill set. That's usually why I book a trip.

Sorry for the bad luck. I guarantee you they weren't happy about your day either.

I think it is best to have that discussion with the guide BEFORE the trip is booked.
If you know what will be done if/when the situation arises, disappointment and frustration with the outcome would be avoided all together.

I've hired guides from Canada to offshore in the Gulf. I have learned over the years how to cover most disappointing scenarios and small disasters. Yes, some days are just going to be bad, so you say to the client tough [censored], you scheduled a bad day? Some people don't know what to ask a guide, especially if they have never been in a disappointing situation with one, or if they have never hired one. Why should it be up to the client to "cover all the bases"? Its all about expectations. The guide should explain the "rules" before heading out. All the guides I have used that I consider the benchmarks for guiding, the "Top Shelf" guys, have BEFORE the trip, explained the purpose of the trip, defined expectations and explained procedures if the expectations are not met, theirs and mine. If a guide told me, regardless of the outcome(negative), I still pay full price, I would not book a trip. I think on "bad" days the guide and client(s) eat it together. I would split expenses for that trip and reschedule. Guiding is still a business. I would think guides want to keep their customers satisfied and providing positive references and enjoying their repeat business as well. IMO

Its just like going on your own sometimes, some trips are great some are not, that's fishing. My best trips of a lifetime are 2 with and many without a guide, I have fished with guide friends not on a paid trip many times and seen them not catch a fish! I just enjoy the trip and being out and hope we will be safe and all catch fish just like they do, I put myself in their place. They went out in the cold or rain or both just like you did and it just did not happen, as sometimes I compare it to fishing a tournament and getting zero fish you tried and it just did not happen.

I've been on a few guided trips. Fortunately we always had GOOD days. Im the kind of person who says if im gonna hire a professional(a guide) I want to catch fish, if we don't its his(the guides fault) I book with him because he says he is a pro and knows how to catch what I want.

I would most definitely ask beforehand what happens if we have a bad day. One of the guides we took was a great trip, awesome person had a great day limited on several species at the cost in 1/2 the time span of the trip and he took us around and fished for other stuff because we had time left on the clock and bait in the live well. The very next weekend a friend took the same guide and didn't catch a thing. He said call me back and set up another trip and its on the house. Good guy.

In my personal opinion you cant ask a client to pay for a trip where they didn't catch anything unless your given them the next one on the house.

matt

What the hell does someone from Brownfield know about fishing?



j/k I lived there for 2 years , hated it. Too darn
far to the lake. I did enjoy the duck, crane , dove and
crow hunting.


I take at least a couple of guided trips per year.
Not to have someone show me where to fish, but to
locations where I am not going to haul a boat and go on
my own. ( destinations like Key West, Fl , Delacroix or Shell Beach , La )


Back to the OP, I try to always use an independent
guide , not one who works for a service. I find a big
difference in customer service. I want the fellow in the
boat with me answering to no one else. That eliminates
any misunderstandings.
Mo

Guides have a Buisness taking people fishing,businesses should take the loss if they can't supply there customer with there product which in this case is fish.
No fish no money,its pretty simple.

If you spend $300+ on a TV and it doesn't work you should get your money back or your TV replaced for no cost,its the same thing with fishing guides.
Boat payments are not everyday and gas/oil don't cost hundreds of dollars,if you can't give your customers the product there paying for you shouldn't take there money.

So, if I am understanding alot of these posts. The guide should just eat the time, effort and expense of your trip if its a tough day of fishing and you shouldn't have to pay anything for your day on the lake?