George Welcome

Everyone has to start somewhere. However, arriving at the lake yesterday and starting today is one of those things that will set off bad feelings. No matter who you are, when you first start you will be getting business. If you know what you are doing and are operating legitimately then no problem. When you pop up out of the blue with no knowledge and even less fishing skill, you will get business and in the process hurt everyone. Not with the business that you took, but with the bad mouthing that is going to follow. We live in a small world with the internet being the tool that it is. It won't take long for the wrong people for this industry to fail, but with them going they leave a bad taste in all the people that they have fooled. These people in turn will turn tell all their friends to watch out for that lake. We hear it all the time: It's no different in this industry than it is in many other. Back yard mechanics, the computer industry, etc. all have their scabs, whores, and such. No matter the industry, they hurt everyone, not just themself as they fail. There are a bunch of guides on Choke. I've said it before and I will say it again: if you are hiring a guide do some research. I have seen all kinds of tactics used to promote oneself as having history and experience to do this job, when in fact the history was made up and the experience non-existent. Seems like Florida and Texas get slam-dunked with just such individuals.

Step #2: In most states boat insurance is a matter of choice, not requirement. However, when you venture forth for compensation you would be well advised to have the proper insurance. Commercial Insurance typically runs 1000-1200 per year for a 20 foot boat with a 200 HP pusher. This is for lake or inshore coverage and carries a 1,000,000. umbrella. Regular boat insurance becomes null and void for any commercial usage of the boat. Step #3: Know your body of water like the back of your eye lids. This is not just a requirement for catching fish but for safety also. There is nothing like getting caught in a bad storm and wondering which way is the safe way to the ramp. Geesh - I could write a book about this: oh, I think I might have already done that. Josh, As others have said, I'm not being mean, just being real. There is so much more to this business than having a boat, equipment, and knowledge of your lakes. You have to have an undying love for bass fishing as you are going out there no matter the weather or family occassions that you are going to miss. It's a day after day event that for most becomes a grind in a hurry. The rewards are many, but they don't come cheaply.

Guiding in Texas: step #1 What are the requirements for a saltwater fishing guide? Freshwater? Current state and federal laws require those persons that take people out fishing for hire, must have a U.S. Coast Guard Captains License: Charterboat Captain /OUPV/ Six Pack License. It is the operators responsibility to assure compliance with USCG regulations. For more information, contact the Houston Regional Exam Center at (713) 948-3350 or 948-3351. On top of that you would need a TPWD issued Fishing Guides License, costs $200 for the saltwater version ($125 for freshwater version-the saltwater version allows you to fish both). To get the TPWD saltwater license you have to show a valid USCG Captains License. Other than that and a boat and a couple rods and reels, you're free to offer trips anywhere in Texas marine or fresh waters. I might suggest contacting the Coastal Bend Guides Association for more information. http://www.cbga.org A Freshwater fishing guide license "is required for any person who for compensation accompanies, assists, or transports any person engaged in fishing in the waters of the state." The license costs $125 for guides operating in fresh water only. For guides operating in both fresh and salt water, the fee is $200 for Texas residents and $1,000 for non-residents.

Help from your parents is not going to be whenever you need it, but rather always, because based on your proposal you will always need help. I think if I was in my early 20's I would want to be off supporting myself, not living on Mom and Dad. Based on your proposal, if I was a person looking for a guide, I would have to assume that you have no clue of what you are doing because the rest of the guides in the Canyon are charging 300-350 per day. At 150 per day, you either don't know what you are doing, or you are whoring the business. Either situation would be enough for me to find someone else. You just might want to rethink this whole deal.

I agree with #1- they have to be in the waters you are fishing #2 - you have to find them which is the stopper for most #3 - the catching is easy - actually getting them to the boat isn't - so #3 is catching and keeping

I would think that you could usefully serve the youth of your area more than you could do good via the anonymous internet. Why not contact the Boy's/Girl's Club or some other youth organization in your area. You could also talk with the state Federation where you are at. I am sure that they could steer you towards some well deserving youth program.

To be successful: How's your fishing skills? Don't take this wrong, but if your fishing skills are like your business sense you don't have much of a chance of success. Guiding is a lot more than just having a boat and a truck to get it to a lake. It also costs far more than $40.00 per day to go out there.

I don't know if a bomb would work on the bees, but I do know you can use them with no ill effects to the boat. I have had to do it several times for ants.

Are we trying to catch bass here or what? It would certainly be not only good, but also proper to put resources when you cut and paste other's work.

"I started to realize this year that expert fisherman don't tell all their secrets." Those words in the question that were the operative words were the highlighted ones. TV shows are first and foremost shows, not show and tell. What you see in the span of a 22 minute show may have taken 16-24 hours of fishing to put together. What the professional fisherman has that very few in the fishing population has is an absolute unshakeable belief in a couple of tenets of bass fishing. They can certainly have no secrets as television coverage of these tournaments is pretty complete. The two most important "secrets" of bass fishing: 1) The largemouth is the largest member of the sunfish family. This makes the bass a schooling fish - if you find one you have found a bunch. 2) Once you have found fish, don't leave fish to find fish. Aha, you say, "that's simple enough". On any given day I watch boat load after boat load of people bypassing fish. The trolling motor is running and the fisherman is intent on finding that next location. In the meantime, we leave the lake day after day with both numbers and size, because when we fish we live by #'s 1, and 2. When you combine 1 and 2 you end up with the "secret" of fish the fish, not the lake.

Russ010 got you the correct answer, The lesions are a product of the spawn and will be gone before the next season in most cases. There are a mutiple of reasons including being caused as the male butts the female to loosen the egg mass.

Matt, I once kept fishing logs until the neighbors complained about the messy piles in the yard. I have to agree that all the ants, temites, flies, and bugs they drew didn't make for the most sanitary conditions.

There is mother nature, mother earth, mother sun, and all the rest of the mothers. We fish at least 320 days a year - I have yet to see any fixed patterns that can be attributed to the location, rise, or set of the moon on enclosed fresh water lakes. In salt water situations, and rivers connected to salt water the moon does play in the tidal movements, but on a lake it has negligible effect. If you wonder about light penetration of a full moon's light on a perfectly clear lake in perfectly clear water do some research. You will be quite supprised. I base none of my fishing on Solunar, Lunar, or any other type of table. Bluebird sky fish - Overcast and windy fish - Full moon, bluebird sky fish - I could post 100's of these for every weather condition, moon phase, solunar table, and time of day that you can think of. If your bait is in the water you just might get bit - If you are sitting at home watching the tables you have no chance.

I believe in keeping my fishing goals simple. When I go fishing I expect to catch fish. My goal: as many as I can!

Put this down because this is really important! Bass do not wear watches! Hot! The bass love it! Bright! The Bass love it! Early AM! 1st cast - big fish of the day! Late in the day! last cast - big fish of the day! Midde of the day! big fish of the day! The best time of the day is when you have your bait in the water!

An absolute way to loose the enjoyment of fishing is to spend too much time cocentrating on the catch and not enough on the fishing. Fishing is far more than that finned critter you are following. Granted, fishing is defined an attempt to catch fish, but is this endeavor truly what brought you to fishing. Perhaps it was the entire experience of enjoying the outdoors, the wildlife, and the serenity that attracted you far more than just the attempt to catch a fish. I do know from a previous statement that you made, "you are obsessed with catching that 8-pound bass", that you just might have gotten so wrapped up in the chase that you are missing all the other facets that make this leisure activity as enjoyable as it is. Another possibility would be that you might need to spread your wings a bit to some other water. Think back on why you started fishing! Do you recall those days of riding the carousel and trying to grab the brass ring? One got so wrapped up in trying to grab the ring that they never experienced the ride.

Didn't make sense: Sounded like the TPS - Throttle position sensor Engine is designed with a 23P in mind - 25 is overpropped.

Florida: the use of blue gills as bait is legal as long as you caught the blue gill by legal method: hook, line, and bait.

Hooks from a crankbait are not the best subject for the line removal method. A critical part of this type of hook removal is maintaining control of the hook shank. The shank must be parallel to the point of the hook. If you have sufficient shank to do this do the following. Using a strong piece of line take a couple of wraps around the u-bend portion of the hook. Use sufficient length to be able to takes a couple of wraps around your hand with the line. With hooked individual holding the shank portion so that it is parallel, remove the hook with one sharp movement. It is a relatively painless and clean removal. Remember, shank control is extremely important as you don't want the hook to roll as you remove it.

The 17 you are referring to is underpowered. I think you will find that boat placarded for a 125 which is a major difference.

The Lake is my office.

Listings for Florida Federation http://www.floridabassfederation.com/clubs.php?start=1

You can remove a nut with a ratchet if there is the room to do so, but you can always get the nut off with a wrench. Off course if nothing else will do you can always remove the nut with a straightjacket.

Fish four lakes - know intimately every rock and stick, stump and hump. Heck, I even know the fish by name. Seriously, you can't fish Conroe too often. Keep a good log because once a week allows for a lot of change from week to week. The tough thing with that schedule is you have to go and find the fish all over again from week to week. A good log will give you a history - look for repeats - if the event repeats itself you have something solid.

Knew that would grab you outta the woodwork - I gave up cat skinning cause they bite. Learning the mechanics, both with equipment, (tackle) and bait usage is integral to this whole catching game. Obviously, there is a right tool for any job.