I know that this is going to be different because everybody has a subjective metric they use to evaluate one but, that's what I'd like to see. For me, actually catching fish is a bit lower on the priority scale. WHat I like first and foremost is to LEARN. I like to learn about patterning, the why's of how we went to this spot or that spot. What made the guide choose this or that spot. Learn about electronics, boat positioning, tackle choice, weather changes, etc. Now, i have certainly no objections to catching fish, for sure, and I'm pretty certain that's what most people want. The absolute WORST (and I've had it happen more times than I care to recall) is for the guide to boo up how many we're going to catch and we're gonna get you that PB. Another favorite is for them to play the schtick as if we're partners in an imaginary tournament. All too often, IME, I've just paid to watch a guy catch fish off the front of the boat.

That scenario just holds no interest for me. It's not that I didn't learn something from every trip. I did, but, "I" learned it. They didn't teach me a dang thing. Again, I'm not making a blanket accusation that all guides are that way but far too many are. What say you guys?

To you, what makes a good trip? What guides do you think match "your" style? (No, I'd rather not have plugs for your friends, just honest opinions)

I'd also like to hear from as many guides as possible too. I'm sure it's not all roses from your end either. I'm sure there are quite a lot of unrealistic expectations from customers as well, huh?

Lastly, I want to go on a guide trip again as I haven't been on one in a fair amount of time. Any of you guides want to sell me on one?

"Although not specifically defined by rule, in general, �guide� means a person who, for compensation, offers services to transport, or accompany people in their fishing activities, and instructs them by sharing fishing techniques, expertise and knowledge of the fish and waters being fished."

That pretty much covers it in my book. Specifically the bold printed part. I don't need a PB or Sharelunker from a guide. I need information and instruction. Don't show me how good YOU are fishing. Show me how to better MY fishing results.

That is what I focus on during most of my trips unless other request are made (casting, graphing, boat running, boat usage, launching/loading, etc). I catch fish during most trips, never pick up a rod for anything other than demonstration on others

Catching is just a bonus, your not always going to pick up technique in 30 minutes and proceed to whack a 30# bag or catch a DD by lunch.

And contrary to popular believe guides don't/can't get in em everyday. I don't care who or where you are. I have also had days not go as planned on numbers & size yet my customers where ecstatic and I was highly disappointed in the day but in the end all that matters is the customer gets out of my boat satisfied and wanting to book another trip

They key for both parties is communication, clients need to ask questions before & during the trip. If you see something your curious about, ask; see something you don't mention it. A good guide will accommodate to nearly anything legal & ethical.

Also from a guides perspective if you send and email or call mid day, give the guide you contact a few hours to respond as they may be guiding another customer or have a day off and be in midst of a little quality time with his family. If he is indeed booked he will be able to recommend a good reputable guide for you so no fear you'll miss a date because of waiting to long.. It kills me when I miss returning a call by ten minutes just to hear, oh I booked with "joe blow who actually only guides 15 days a year" as there's only 15-20 guides who fish 125+ days a year with clients in Fork.

I do have a 5-6 dates available in March & April so if any one woukd like to come out and enjoy Lake Fork please don't hesitate to call, text, email of PM with any questions you may have. I have been catching them on chatter baits in >5' and dropshots in 8-15'. The jerk bait bite has been mediocre this far but has been phenominal on sunny warm days in deeper waters as the fish suspend on timber like a thermometer; the warmer the water the higher they suspend, vice versa

Good so far. Others?

A guide is good if he provides what you wanted or expected. Everybody has different expectations.

When I started guiding on Fork back in the late 90's the best advice I got was from the late, great, Sherry Ruslink.

She said:

"Anybody that spends 250+ days on the water better be on fish or they're not gonna make it anyway. The thing to remember is you're not in the fishing business, you're in the entertainment business. It's all about reading your clients wants and needs and reacting to that. Entertain, educate, and by all means don't exaggerate your clients expectations when you book a trip." Best advice I've ever gotten in the workplace.

So my mantra is, under promise and over deliver.

If you tell folks you're gonna catch 20 fish and they catch 50 they're ecstatic. If you tell em they are gonna catch 50 and you only catch 40, they'll be disappointed. Same group, same day, same fish.

Cody is dead on about waiting for a call back. My recording says, "Leave a message or call back in the evening as I am normally on the lake during the day."

I guess with all that said, communication is the key. I ask questions to determine what my clients want/expect. If I can't accomplish those needs I'll tell em and let them decide if they want to book.

A good guide lives and dies on repeats and referrals. Mine run about 80%. Add about 10% churn for out of staters and one timers and try to add 10% new clients each year and I guide about 200+ days each year. Lie/exaggerate to your folks and that repeat referral rate will suffer tremendously.

Works for me.

I will list a few less obvious things that make really good guides, they may not be top of the list priority wise, but little differences that separate a great guide from good one.

1) that dog can hunt - anyone that hunts and fishes knows there is a certain motivation and drive only the best have whether client or guide. there is a focus and drive to catch whether first minute of the day or last minute of the day. whether 0 bites or 50 bites, cold or hot, a good guide hunts hard regardless the challenges. A good litmus test is whether guide is a clock watcher with 30 minutes to go or even when time is up he wants to stay at it an extra 5 minutes to get one more bite. guides struggle with this when well into the season and they've had dozens of consecutive days in a row, also if the client is losing focus it is hard for the guide to stay in the game too. My experience some guides hunting or fishing just don't have it anymore, that dog doesn't hunt anymore.

2) don't focus on the pennies - yes guides are doing it for a business and watching the bottom line is important, but guides can be too cheap and end up hurting themselves in the long run. guides can get in this trap if not wanting to run at all burning gas, almost expecting client buy breakfast and lunch, being cheap with baits expecting client to buy everything or not running the best baits just to save a few pennies, and sign of a guide that isn't cheap is if they offer a discount on another trip etc. after bad day.

***I think this is one thing that separates Cody, he will run all over the lake multiple times hunting fish and at 70 MPH too, Cody always offers to pay his own meals, and he runs Invizx, Power Pro, new rod/reels, Megabass lures, and a-rigs that cost $40 with all the top swimbaits.

3) When the guide doesn't treat you just like another John. When guides are generally interested in you as a person family, work, other fishing experiences, etc.

I know what makes a "bad" guide.

Few years back had a guide on Amistad that kept fishing way in front of the boat and was out catching us 4:1. I mean he was like a vacuum and was catching decent fish. Finally I had enough and just happened to dip my rod when he made a cast. Took him 10 minutes to get the bird nest out. He started doing it again and after the 3rd fish I "accidentally" did it again. lol This time I believe he got the point, because he set his rod down. We all got along better after that. Turns out he was just trying to pre-fish for a tournament. Ended up being a good guide and a great pro angler. Was just young and did not know better at that time.

A good guide should ask a ton of questions before the trip ever gets started. Try to find out what the client is looking for. Boat positioning, identifying things on the graph, learning the lake, different techniques, how to pattern fish, etc.. If the guide does NOT ask a bunch of questions, you might want to hire a different guide. When I was guiding, I wanted to make sure I KNEW what the client wanted and cater to that. Most of the clients I had wanted to learn something, a new technique, the lake, spots on the lake, etc.. So, I knew that before we even got in the boat. The guide should check in often with the client as well, to make sure that he/she is on the same page as the client. I know many clients don't like to answer a bunch of questions, but that was the only way I knew to find out what the client wanted, was through a 2 sided conversation. Does the client want to fish with his own gear or the guides gear? Guide should ALWAYS provide life jackets and make sure they are worn when the big engine is started.

Just some thoughts of what I wanted to know about the clients that I took out and to make sure we were having a 2 way conversation to make sure I was meeting the customers wants and desires. Sometimes, I had to try to read the mind, because they did not open up enough to let me know what they were looking for. Most of the those just wanted to find spots to fish on the lake. Hope this helps.

Tight lines, keep safe and good luck.

Thad Rains

This is all good info. I'm currently searching for a guide on Fork, and of the 3 I've contacted, none have responded yet. I make sure to include in my message or email that they can call me back day or night.

Good responses. If you'll do a quick search and go back a few years, you'll see "highly recommended" guides who have gone by the wayside. It is a tough business and, to be honest, very few are good at it.

Lots of good responses so far. To me, a good guide is one who:

- sets realistic expectations for the trip
- does his best to accommodate client's special requests
- makes the experience enjoyable and educational whether the fishing is good or bad
- is able to accommodate a wide range of angling experience/skill
- stays on the water enough to know where the fish are (before the trip)
- doesn't cheap out (don't know how to explain this better than Rob Lay did above)

On the other hand, a "great" guide is one who does all the above and is willing to go the extra mile:

My first guide trip was in February of 2011 on Fork. Blue bird post-frontal day made for tough fishing early. It was a half-day trip my wife had purchased me for Christmas and we were told the trip would be from 6:30 to 11:00 or 11:30. By 11:30, we only had two fish in the boat, although both of them were solid slot fish. Our guide decided to stick it out a little longer with us and right before noon, my dad stuck his PB and the biggest bass I've ever seen in person, a 10lb 5oz toad. At another tree 20 yards down, I pulled out a 6 and a pair of 5s. It turned a mediocre day into a day I'll never forget and wouldn't have been possible without a guide that was willing to go the extra mile for us.

The desire for angling comes from the Heart.
Time on the water often starts with the father.
Knowledge comes with time on the water.
Expertise is a product of experience.
The drive and patience to share expertise with clients makes the guide.

Half my inner circle are guides or were guides. I would say honesty is the key. Being upfront on the initial phone conversation about the real conditions so you know what to expect. The other thing I would look for is a guide who is not fishing all day long or most of the day unless the clients demand that he does. It must be a new hot trend but more guides are fishing these days all day long with the clients. That makes sense, here is $500 and thanks for stealing that 12lb fish of a lifetime from me.

I could go on and on but actually have to work today before another week long fishing trip starting tomorrow.

good points. So, in your opinion, what is the wort client type that you hate to deal with?