Any advice on what to look for in a good guide?  I’m thinking of taking my sons fishing with a guide just to have a great trip and catch lots of fish. Not sure really what to look at other than reviews. I don’t want someone that will be miserable to be around if we aren’t pros.  But I also want my kids to see someone that really knows fishing working. 

Nothing beats a personal recommendation.

 

Tell your guide what you expect:  "to have a great trip and catch lots of fish".

Specify that you are after numbers not so much size. I make it clear before

hiring the man that I want him to find the fish, but we don't want him fishing

once we get on them.

Here ya go!

 

 

BTW, Justin qualified for this year's Bassmaster Classic.

Awesome thanks

Communication is key for me.  Unless a guide comes highly recommended by someone that I trust, I shop around.  Typically after a phone call, text or email exchange I get a pretty good idea of who I best connect with.  The level of customer service prior to the trip has, in most cases, directly correlated to the experience on the water.  

 

You will find guides on both ends of the spectrum.  Some are "my way or the highway" and some will operate the boat and let you do your thing until you start asking questions.  It doesn't take long to establish if what they offer is what you are looking for.

 

It's also important to manage your own expectations.  To me, the number and quality of fish caught is only part of a successful trip.  I also weigh the amount of information and knowledge that I walk away with that will help me become a better angler, and if I feel they did everything possible to put me in a position to achieve the goals discussed prior to the trip.  It's fishing, and there are always numerous elements that are out of our control.  Even the best in the world have tough days!

 

Good luck!  Wishing you much success.

 

Word of mouth 

A good guide is someone you'll have to book months in advance. If the guide says he can get you in this Friday, take a pass.

Thank you. I should have said I’ve never been on a guided fishing trip before. I have absolutely no idea what to expect, do, etc.  I just thought it would be something cool and fun for the three of us since Covid has cancelled/changed so many things. 

I don't know if you are dead set on Largemouth or where in Texas you are located, but if I just wanted to take them fishing and to have a good time I would look for a Striper trip.

21 minutes ago, huZZah said:

Thank you. I should have said I’ve never been on a guided fishing trip before. I have absolutely no idea what to expect, do, etc.  I just thought it would be something cool and fun for the three of us since Covid has cancelled/changed so many things. 

Don’t go into it with super high expectations and always tip your guide (biased opinion, I guide trips sometimes haha) 

I have done several trips with kids. It's a different animal when taking kids. It helps to find someone who has done it and has the patience for it. I would suggest maybe not targeting bass specifically. I usually do multispecies trips and it's great because the kids catch fish and get to learn about different fish in the process. Catching a bass can be so much more work than getting on a windblown bank with a small crankbait or grub and catching whites, crappie, walleye, drum, catfish, or whatever else mixed in with some bass. 

Catching fish is all that counts with kids.

15 hours ago, slonezp said:

A good guide is someone you'll have to book months in advance. If the guide says he can get you in this Friday, take a pass.

 

Could not agree more!  I've fished guided trip in Canada four times...same lodge...same owner.  He's booked almost 2 years out. 

 

https://www.sww-lodge.com/ 

 

Personal references go a long, long way.