I was looking on craiglists.com at the boats for sale here in Nashville, and someone in a neighboring county is offering to rent his boat on his private 10 acre pond for $25 an hour.  The post showed pictures of a couple good bass, one looked to be about 4lbs and the other about 6, as well as a nice slab crappie.  I have never gone on a guided fishing and was wondering if that seemed fair.

Is the owner going to show you the hotspots? I've fished with a guide a few times, he charged $300 for a six hour outing. So, $25 an hour sounds a lot better than $50, but I would hope you would have a good expectation of catching some fish!

If he is only showing a couple photos of fish. And you dont really know if they came from his lake? At $25 dollars an hour, sounds like a rip off to me. I wouldnt do it. There is a place here in Ohio called Shawn lake. This lake puts out record fish but its only catch and release. But for $100 for the day plus you get a 15ft john boat and motor. check it out and good luck. www.lakeshawn.com

Sounds good to me!

Ya pays yer money and ya takes yer chances.

Ask any of the guides on BassResource.com.  Some days the fishing is good, some days it ain't.  That doesn't mean the guide used less gass, worked less hard, or is less deserving of his fee.

I would think that a private 10 acre pond is probably pretty productive.  I wouldn't worry about 'hot spots"  In a 10 acre pond, I think I could figure out where the bass should be.  He'll likely tell you some good spots, but may just hold back on his personal "sweet spot"

My questions would include.

1. How often does he have people fishing the pond?  It doesn't take alot to pressure bass in 10 acres.

2. Details about the boat.  My guess is it's a jon boat w/oars but you can bring your own TM.

3. This is something I do that works well for me in alot of different things.  I'll use this as a deciding factor when buying a used car, hiring a guide, choosing a mechanic, etc.

I call it the "gut" factor.  I'll engange the person in conversation, ask factual questions, but all the while I'm assessing the person.  Do I think he's honest?  Does he sound like he's "selling" me?  Is he too friendly, too fast talking?  stuff like that.

At $25 bucks an hour, I doubt if he's getting too much activity.  It could be a good day of fishig for a reasonable amount.  Don't forget to try and negotiate the price.  Maybe a weekday can get you a little break, and it will give you more "gut factor" info.

good luck and let us know what you do.

i know that i just paid 25 an hour to rent a boat on marsh creek,....

and i would have rather gone to the pond you discussed in a minute

ponds are great, fish are very aggressive......great for topwater stuff

id take a shot, and if after an hour you dont have fish, id maybe bring it in

in any descent pond you should have a couple every hour for the most part

Who ever told you that life was fair ?