George Welcome

It's quite common for fishermen to not have a scale: they guesstimate the length and then they guesstimate the weight. Usually they are wrong both on the length and the weight, reaching a guesstimate that is greater in both categories.

Hooking other than fish: On any given trip I have from 1-3 clients on board, and much of that time can be throwing treble hooked lures. Rule one: If you hook the guide you walk from wherever we are. Rule two: the lure is to be within 5 inches of the tip of the rod for any cast. Of course for accuracy your lure needs to be there, but also it needs to be there for the safety of your fishing buddies. Rule three: at no time is anyone to fishing in the cockpit area of the boat. The is definitely the most dangerous area of the boat. Over the last ten years only one client has been hooked by other than himself. You guessed it, the party hooked had stepped down into the cockpit area without announcing his movement, and he was hooked by his brother who had the lure dangling 2-3 feet from the tip of his rod for the cast. The lure was a chug bug and it securely embedded itself into the hapless lip of the hookee. Needless to say, this was cause for a trip to the hospital. Upon return to the lake, the hooker did in fact hook into a 10+ pound bass which added insult to injury for the hookee. Be careful out there! Hooks are dangerous!

Location does play a part in whether it is possible to have mutiple spawns per year. However, what can't be answered is if the same bass spawn more than once, or if it is different bass per spawn cycle. Many years in the sunny south we have mutiple spawns. I have seen smaller recruitment from a September period, and equally larger recruitment from a December period, and then again in a March/April period.

Highly unlikely

Lowrance X96 http://www.threeriversmarine.net/page/page/2521272.htm These people are excellent - talk to Clint

Yep, threadfin shad has a very definite smell to it.

Knowing when and where bait fish spawn and their movements is one of the keys to banner days. It can't be stressed enough - be observant when you are out there - detail, detail, detail.

Many studies have indicated that bass are in some instances hermaphroditic: In zoology and botany, a hermaphrodite is an organism that possesses both male and female sex organs during its life[1]. In many species, hermaphroditism is a common part of the life-cycle. Generally, hermaphroditism occurs in the invertebrates, although it occurs in a fair number of fish, and to a lesser degree in other vertebrates.

Good luck with NAFC: you might want to do some asking around before you join that one.

I definitely feel bad for you: as a matter of fact, so bad that I am heading to the lake right now with the trip being dedicated to you. Thanks! All I wanted to do was watch TV.

Fish need dissolved oxygen to survive. Does a raindrop in and of itself have dissolved oxygen? What impact if any does rain have on the dissolved oxygen concentrations in a lake? Does rain carry elements that are harmful to the dissolved oxygen levels and the ph concentrations in a lake? If you answer some of these questions you can better understand what effect if any rain has on a body of water. Next you might want to look at what a fish's existence medium is. Does a fish know that the wind (an above water atmospheric phenomenom) is blowing? There just might be an answer in the sky on a windy day.

Send a message to this guy - dodgeguy - he will probably be able to help you.

I think bicycle long line trolling for leopard sharks - get to work and stop busting on the fish.

I guess I am really lucky, because most of my clients are not only real fishermen, but pretty good at it also.. Might have something to do with "artificial preferred."

Freshwater Lic. in Florida: 1-888-FISH-FLOrida (347-4356 - no waiting at a marina. Excerpted directly from my wegpages: http://www.imaginationbassin.com/guide_services.htm We can use artificial or live bait for your trip, however we prefer artificial bait if conditions permit. There will be the occasional times when live bait is the better option but it is always your choice. With all the time that I have invested in bass fishing and guiding it still amazes me that most haven't sorted out the "shiner fishing deal". For some guides it is a very legitimate method of catching bass, and they are very successful with it. However, for even more, it is a way to fish a lake and have no need to know anything about the lake or guiding. They simply take you out and drag shiners behind the boat until something bites - These are the "have boat, am guide" types, and there is an abundance of them here in Florida. How do you pick them out?: they advertise that they fish half the state and usually can't produce much in the way of references. Take a look at the photos in the lunker gallery on my pages if you think shiners will give you a distinct advantage. http://www.imaginationbassin.com/PHOTOINDEX.htm I always keep several years of photos so people can see some history of the lake. The majority of those fish were caught with artificial. Cost of a trolling motor: $800.00 approx. Cost of boat: $35000.00+: Cost of insurance: $1200+ per year: Cost of a lawsuit if you hurt yourself while being a non-insured operator on my boat - yeooow! Nope, I don't turn the operation of my boat over to clients! Filleting and prep of fish is a saltwater thing. It isn't something very common on freshwater, and as I have previously stated: regardless where I take clients fishing, the practise is catch and release. Active tournament fishing guides: Being active on the tournament scene in no way ensures that a guide is the least bit capable of instructing or passing on any of his/her knowledge. Again, we go back to the importance of references as the best source to find out who you are talking to. Today, in addition to what a guide can supply as references, you have the internet. Thinking of hiring a guide: plug his/her name into google or similar search engine and see what kind of history they have. Just because they are posting heavily this year doesn't mean they were even around anywhere near the time they are claiming. As for tournament claims - it might be interesting to find that those claiming an active tournament history will, out of a 150 boat field, almost always place in the 150th position. All guides go for number spots: I just love that word "all". It's a curious and interesting thing, but I have yet to meet a client that doesn't want both lots of fish, and big fish. Knowing what I do, that is the goal every time we go fishing. I never go out seeking dinks.. Again, references will tell you if a guides claims are reality or fiction in reference to both numbers and size. A sample of references: http://www.imaginationbassin.com/Comments1.htm you will note that the clients that posted the comments included their e-mail addys. I have seen lots of pages where there are no e-mails with the comments. Heck anyone could have written those. The links I have posted are not to advertise, but rather to let you see some of what you should be looking for if you plan on hiring a guide. When you come to Florida as an example there are tons of "guides" to select from, but not quite so many that aren't "have boat am guide" types.

Something I wrote years ago: read number 4 Selection of A Professional Fishing Guide by George, Imagination Bassin Guide Services QUESTIONS TO ASK A PROSPECTIVE FISHING GUIDE * Ask for a list of references, including clients who have fished with the guide recently. Call the references. *If required by locale, did the proper authorities license the guide? * Does the guide fish full time? A guide who's on the water every day keeps up with productive patterns better than a weekender. *Does the guide fish himself? Most bass guides do fish, at least enough to determine how the fish are biting. Your guide fishing not only shows you where the fish are but also allows for the opportunity to educate you further in techniques. *Does the guide give instructional trips or is he simply a charter service? * What does the guide furnish? Should you bring your own water or other drinks? What about tackle, lures or bait? * Do you need to bring specific lures? If so, they are usually cheaper in the city than at lakeside? * How much gear should you bring with you: tackle, poles, rain gear, etc? * How much are the costs for the trip and ensure that there are no hidden extras? * How many hours can you expect to fish for your money? * Can you hire the guide for half a day? If the fish are biting aggressively, a half-day of fishing could be enough for some casual anglers. * What about lunch? Does the guide furnish lunch or stop for lunch at a lakeside cafe or marina? Should you bring your own lunch? * Does the guide practice catch-and-release fishing? Many bass guides on good fishing lakes discourage their clients from keeping any fish. If you intend to keep fish to eat, you need to have this discussion with your guide. * At least have a telephone conversation with a prospective guide to try and determine if the two of you are compatible. If the guide is devoutly religious and your favorite shtick is dirty jokes, it's probably a bad idea. If the guide fishes strictly with live bait and you like to cast lures, you need to know before you go. *What kind of boat and what age is the boat are things you should know. There are "guides" out there that have inadequate equipment for both safety and comfort. *Do you need a fishing license for the fishing location and if so, how is it obtained? HOW TO BE A GOOD CLIENT FOR A FISHING GUIDE Just as there are lousy fishing guides, there are lousy fishing clients. Those clients make the unwritten list of people who are not welcome in the guide's boat a second time. Some guides are vocal about their displeasure and others will simply be busy whenever the lousy client calls. Here are tips for being a good fishing customer: * Be honest about your fishing skills. Don't pretend to be an expert angler if you're a novice. After watching for a few minutes, the guide will know the truth, anyway. * Never book fishing guide and simply fail to show up because you changed your mind at the last minute. The guide may have turned down other clients because you had him booked. If there's a last-minute emergency, at least call the guide and let him know you won't be there. Offer to pay a portion of his fee for costing him a day's income. * Don't try to tell the guide where and how he should be fishing. He is the professional, and that's why you hired him. * If you enjoy fishing with a guide, become a regular client. By developing a long-term relationship, you'll get calls when the fishing turns on. HOW TO LOCATE A FISHING GUIDE * Call marinas at your favorite fishing lake. Ask the marina operators to recommend a fishing guide. Marinas make money when you catch fish. * Watch for guides who advertise in the newspaper or in fishing magazines. Ask any guide the usual questions and check his references. * Ask fishing buddies to recommend a good fishing guide. Word of mouth recommendations are often the best. George & Scott Imagination Bassin Guide Service

You have to see some of the booze that people have arrived with. I had a gentleman start setting up a bar for some martinis once. A six-pak per 2 persons is one thing - hard liquor is another. I smoke so smoking is allowed but don't burn down the boat. No walking on the seats - I am on my third set: you have to see to believe what some will do.

"Now I would absolutely have asked if a guide planned to fish. If the potential guide said "you sit where I tell you, you fish where I say, and you use the baits that I recommend" The point of that was really quite simple: An individual posted that he felt that it was his right to "invite" the guide to fish, or prohibit the guide from fishing. My point was that when you call me and hire my services, you are only hiring my services. You aren't hiring my boat, nor are you paying for the right to come on board and tell me how to run my business. I obviously don't tell people in some harsh manner what to do or how to do it. However, I also don't run my business successfully by having customers dictate to me how to run it. Depending on where we are fishing on the lake and the circumstances my rod will either be in my hand or on the deck. Its use or non-use is my decision and is made based on a lot of experience. The point is that decision is mine not the clients. I fish four lakes: two "catch and release", and two allow a daily limit. On my boat any bass caught are "catch and release" only regardless of the lake or fish and game legality. Again, this is a decision of mine, not the clients. On my boat your GPS is allowed including a log book: again this is a decision of mine, not the clients. On my boat alcholic beverages are not allowed: a decision of mine, not the clients. Basically, I am saying: when you hire a guide you are still a guest on his boat - a paying guest yes, but still a guest. You will probably have a much better day if you go with the guides suggestions than if you go with your own. I do mark up maps by the way. I even do that at the ramp for non-customers. My decision again.

Come on Keith, No guide fishes customer's live bait.

And that Mr. bshaner is what a good portion of fishing is all about: sharing and learning. Kudos to you for that attitude!

Vince, Your best option for equipment is your own as this is what you will be always using. If I were you I would be looking for either a shore buddy that's been fishing for a while or a local club.

Avid, All you do is read that a guide fishes, then close your eyes and read no further. I would suspect that you have not been out with a guide and really have no idea what to expect. If I did as you suggest a guide should do then I would already be out of business.. "If I catch em great, if not, so be it." That's easy to say but end of day quickly forgotten as you tell all how the guide you were with sucked. The reality is that each lake is different. Some have docks, points, and other such structure. Others are vast open bodies of water with no indication of what's going on. Sonar is a wonderful invention but contrary to what you think it isn't as likely to get you that big fish as a guide poking and probing will. However, as I have said many times- ask before you go. I had considered taking Avid fishing back when he first mentioned it, but after hearing his views: not on a bet. Avid you don't need a guide - get a buddy to take you fishing.

No time for eating Kent - gotta keep the bait wet. Come fishing with me and just after you bite into a sandwich I am hauling in the big one.

Rockville, Ken's a good friend and has been doing this for a long time. When he has fished with me his humor made for short days and great times. The guides he hires are pretty much the same. Glad to hear you had a great time with the outfit.

My take on this! "The guide fishing is the main point of contention I have heard about over the years. My position is I'm paying you to take me fishing. You fish on your own time with your own dime." Whether the guide fishes or needs to fish varies from lake to lake and situation to situation. "Any variation from that is at my invitation." It's important to talk with the guide as has been noted so many times in previous posts. As an example: The above statement put to me would get the following response. Find another guide. A client comes on my boat for a days fishing, and to use and learn some of my expertise both in location and in fishing mechanics. If the client thinks that I am going to place my reputation into their hands they need to think again. When I do fish there are several reasons to do so. First is to ensure that we are in fact on biting fish. If we are and the client is being very successful I then put my rod down. Second, I fish at times because I am teaching a particular way of fishing and I know that showing is much better than telling. I also will fish at times to keep the client fishing. You are on my boat and are paying for my expertise. To come on my boat and expect to outline how I should do my job, to me is absurd. As I have said previously, you paid for my services, not my boat nor me. You ask my permission to come aboard, you sit where I tell you, you fish where I say, and you use the baits that I recommend. The last one, (recommended baits), is not mandatory, but then if you have a bad day then don't look at me. I have only had a few people over the years that come on board thinking that they know more than me, but then I ask them why they bothered hiring me. Most often we come to a meeting of the minds and go on to have some pretty super days on the water. If we don't then we simply head to the ramp and part company. If you are just looking to get on the water then hire a boat. If you looking for a better than average day on the water, hire a guide and realize that it's a pretty good bet that he/she knows a heck of a lot more than you do, and that whatever methods the guide uses are probably much better than ones you might use. If you wish to charter the boat than during your inquiry be sure to say so up front. The guy that owns the boat than will have an opportunity to say, yea what the heck, or to simply say he doesn't charter his boat. As I said, I don't just give boat rides. There are good guides and bad guides. There are good clients and bad clients. Just let me say: fishing and hunting are not comparable when it comes to guides.