I'm 58. I do good to remember what I ate for dinner yesterday. Break given.

There was also a lady at Cedar Creek who had a deck boat and guided for sand bass exclusively. Sorry, I don't remember her name either but I worked for Northland Cable News at the time and these guides did periodic fishing reports for the cable news. What sort of a test should a sand bass guide take? I can imagine the questions: "Please indicate the proper wiggle for a slab spoon in 20' water at 60 degrees"

I do have an observed opinion on what we don't need:
We don't need a system like Montana has on their flyfishing and hunting guides. The state issues a limited number of "outfitter licenses" and they are pricey. It's a good-ol-boy network and no matter how good of a guide you may be....you can't guide unless you work for an "outfitter". It's awful.

Well you should have a TPWD permit I would think. Other than that it's like any other occupation ie. mechanic, painter, etc. That's why you should do your homework before soliciting any service.

It may sound easy, but I guarantee you if anyone starts taking people out on a regular basis and not catching fish, then the life of a guide will be short lived. Its very much a results driven career. So the credentials don't matter near as much as the results. If someone can produce the results on a consistent basis, then everything else will take care of itself. But I would think that it is one of those jobs that looks easy, but those guys work their butts off, and work longer hours than most of us.

Yup

So the consensus is that it should be left as it is and we should do our research to book the right guide. I don't completely disagree. Those of us who have been in the game for a while know enough to do our research. However, what about the man who doesn't really bass fish that has a son getting into it who wants his dad to take him on a guided trip. He doesn't know anything about the industry and has no real contacts. The first place he will look is the internet. He will go to the website's and see all the pictures of big bass and assume anyone with a site and pics of big fish are good. He then goes and spends $400 on a guide and another $200 on fuel and lodging and may or may not have a decent guide.

I am not a computer guy, but it seems to me that if done right someone could set up a site that links to participating guides and then allows the clients to rate the guides. Is their any money to be made this way?