Guides

[Paul Nienhaus]

Think about what you would like to do, such as learning a new technique(dropshotting, deep water football jig dragging etc.) I would check with the guides you talk to to see if how you would like to fish is actually working when you get there. Also, talk about whether you can fish for quantity or quality. You will probably have to wait until that day to know the best pattern, but you might be able to spend an hour or 2 looking for a big fish, then go fill the boat with keepers. Bill Beck can teach you many things.

[ryan]

A friend and I went with Babbler to TR last year to learn more about the art of drop shotting, it was a great trip and Bill was a good guy. His advice has really helped me when drop shotting and tuning my graph, well worth the money and time to learn a new technique.

[Fishin' Freak]

Bill Babler or Bill Beck! I have a the opportunity to fish with both gentlemen and they are as knowledgeable and nice as any two you will find. You can not go wrong with either one!!!

[stock jockey]

I have only fished the rock 5 times and Taney 2 times. I am new to fishing. Last spring we hired Bill Beck. Nada, nothing, blanked the whole day. We came back to our lodge and a couple staying at our lodge had a bunch of pictures of spots, and SM that they caught with their guide, Rick LaPointe. I have never gone out with him, however a group of guys that were in a little tourney this spring took first place after hiring him for a day.

If I were going to hire a guide, it would absolutely be Rick LaPointe.

[Troy Gregg]

Andy, AKA troutfitter77

I would take many things into consideration in choosing a guide... and there is a group of well versed anglers who guide on both the Rock and Taney.

things I would take into consideration are:

the number in your party

if there is a certain style boat you would like to fish from

different areas of the lake you would like to fish from

certain species you would like to catch

tactics you would like to learn

Each guide is well versed in many of the tactics on the rock but each also has their strengths.

Bill Babler, Bill Beck, Mike Webb, Brian Snowden, Chris Tetrick, Tracy Frenzel, Keith Greenough, Buster Loving and Tim Paige are just a handful of the guides on the Rock and are some of the best gentlemen you could choose to fish with... They all know the lake as well as some of the best anglers in the area and many of these guys fish both lakes you are interested in.

by the way, taking a guide does not guarantee a boat load of fish... Fishing is fishing, you can stack the odds in your favor and still come up empty handed, but thats what keeps us coming back for more

[techo]

I have only fished the rock 5 times and Taney 2 times. I am new to fishing. Last spring we hired Bill Beck. Nada, nothing, blanked the whole day. We came back to our lodge and a couple staying at our lodge had a bunch of pictures of spots, and SM that they caught with their guide, Rick LaPointe. I have never gone out with him, however a group of guys that were in a little tourney this spring took first place after hiring him for a day.

If I were going to hire a guide, it would absolutely be Rick LaPointe.

Captain Rick is a personable, nice guy and I am sure a great guide. I would be interested in fishing with him someday too. I would never post anything on an open forum badmouthing a guide. They make their living on the lake and bad mouthing them on an open forum could be costly. With that in mind.....I have hired two guides in the past and have nothing but great respect for Babbler. The other guide I will never hire again. I wouldn't post his name on here though. I might drop a PM to a friend if I was worried he was wasting his money. I would love to get Beck to learn me a thing or two some day. He is well respected by most people (I had thought everyone). It is highly suspected that he breathes through gills and is part bass himself.

My opinion (free and probably all it is worth) is that all of the above mentioned guides would be good. Captain House is a person I consider a friend. He has given me great advice and never asked for anything in return. I think he has even given me a lure or two. E.P. and his posse are also great for fishing and the area. I would never hesitate to hire him out for the day.

The guide has to work with the people who hire them. Sometimes when you are "new to fishing" as stock jocky said he was....the techniques that are working to land fish, don't work as well for novices.

[FRENZEL]

Jockey... Key points.. You are admittedly new to fishing.. So even with a guide, you are not guaranteed ..It is fishing not catching. Then you say some guys (tournament fishing) = not new to fishing, did well after a trip. Surprised? Different arms of this lake fish differently on any given day. Hell one hour can make a world of difference. One point to the next... etc. So you are most likey comparing apples and corned beef. I really can't say that I personally know a guide that DOES NOT care if the folks they take out catch a fish.

Guides make their living doing this and even though there are certain guides who I really have no time for, I would not badmouth them on a public forum. Just plain wrong. And I have never ever heard anyone have a bad trip with Bill Beck. Even if the fish are not cooperating he is one of the nicest gentlemen you will meet. The man is a bass catching machine! We can take you where we know the fish are but making them bite and the client put a hook through the lip does not happen every time. A lot of these guys have spent 300 days on the water for decades straight. Guiding is not something you can just go do because you like to fish. It is a constant learning experience every day you are on the water. It takes personality and a LOT of patience.

Troutfitter.. I would say call a few of the guides and talk to them over the phone. You can probably get a feel for what you will be in for. Ask a lot of questions. If it sounds like you are getting a generic response then there you have it. The better ones will give you the time of day and try to make your trip the most pleasurable it can be.. Some guides fish mostly bass, some mostly trout, and some a combination of anyting that will bite. There is also the difference in boats. A lot depends on what kind of fisherman you are.

[edwin]

I've fished on trips with Eric Prey and Don House...both were fantastic trips. Eric was on TR, Don was on Taneycomo. If I book another trip on TR, I'd like to set up a trip to bring my girls (5 and 9)...Don would get the call.

[Whack'emGood]

Jockey... Key points.. You are admittedly new to fishing.. So even with a guide, you are not guaranteed ..It is fishing not catching. Then you say some guys (tournament fishing) = not new to fishing, did well after a trip. Surprised? Different arms of this lake fish differently on any given day. Hell one hour can make a world of difference. One point to the next... etc. So you are most likey comparing apples and corned beef. I really can't say that I personally know a guide that DOES NOT care if the folks they take out catch a fish.

Guides make their living doing this and even though there are certain guides who I really have no time for, I would not badmouth them on a public forum. Just plain wrong. And I have never ever heard anyone have a bad trip with Bill Beck. Even if the fish are not cooperating he is one of the nicest gentlemen you will meet. The man is a bass catching machine! We can take you where we know the fish are but making them bite and the client put a hook through the lip does not happen every time. A lot of these guys have spent 300 days on the water for decades straight. Guiding is not something you can just go do because you like to fish. It is a constant learning experience every day you are on the water. It takes personality and a LOT of patience.

I would say the problem was the guidee-- not the guide. You have to be able to fish a little to catch them... even with a great guide like Bill Beck.

[nathan RN]

Jockey,

seems to me all you do is run your mouth. Better watch what you say about people, someday it will bite you.