Strange Email

[focused fishing]

On a second note we all have our jobs and work hard at what we do. I am a financial advisor and am asked all the time what I am selling to my clients. I share openly to others. I do my job with as much passion as anyone and do a great job for my clients.

My hobby is fishing and I will admit that I have only had the hobby for 3 years. I have managed learn a lot in the three years. I read books, magazines, talk to other fishermen, and fish whenever I get a chance. I will tell you that I watch other boats on the lake and if I can learn something from it I will.

I do not mean to get you guides upset but you all have knowledge and people will do what they can to learn. Some people take it to far. Appreciate what you have and try to make the most of it.

Complain to your spouses not on this thread.

Thirdly, I do not believe that someone that knows your spot will put you out of business.

Let is roll off your back.

David

Being a guide is unlike any other profession. In most professions the actions of others rarely affect the outcome of your day at the office, store, worksite, etc... Sure someone being inconsiderate or utilizing something you developed may have a limited effect, but as anglers, everyone on this board will agree additional fishing pressure or lack of access to a location effects how many fish are caught on a give day.

Look at it this way: on a 1/2 day trip we have four hours to put our clients on as many fish as possible to ensure they have an enjoyable day on the water. That severely limits how far we will travel from the pick up point, people want to fish not ride in the boat. So within a given area of the lake a guide may have 50 good spots, at that given time 25 may produce, of those 25, 10 may have good concentrations of fish that can provide the fish needed to satisfy the clients' needs, of those 10, 5 may be available to fish due to guides or others fishing.

O.K. five spots for a four hour trip. Now Johnny ClodWaterFishr (intentional mis-spelling) decides he is going to follow a guide around so he can impress his family tomorrow when he takes them fishing. Johnny follows, notices hey this is great, these guys are catching fish. As a matter of fact they are catching so many he's gonna move closer and get in on the action, after all the guide doesn't own the lake. He moves in and starts catching a few fish, the guide is a little po'd, bites his tongue and moves on to spot #2.

He and his clients start fishing spot #2 and here comes Johnny ClodWaterFishr, and the scenario plays out again and repeats at spots #3- #5.

Now this same guide goes out the next day with a different group of clients and Johnny ClodWaterFshr is on spot one, he goes to spot #2, within a few minutes here's Johnny. The scenario plays out again.

A week later Johnny has had the opportunity to tell a few friends and all of the spots are covered up on a Saturday.

Can you see how this might affect a guides business?

And yes, this does happen ....... ALLOT in the past month or so.

"Complain to your spouses not on this thread"

Yes sir, anything else we can do to make your visit here more enjoyable.

We are responding to a complaint that was given to Bill, a simple mention on another thread about people following guides and someone without the nerve to contact Don or I directly, they have to go crying to Bill that their feelings are hurt.

"...I don't mean to get you guides upset...."

Yea I've got a great gig and I am very appreciative and blessed to have it. I don't need you to tell me that.

Don, Bill, Chris, Phil, Stone, Joe, and myself help out every angler at anytime; ask for help you will get it. Follow me and move in on me you will get nothing.

Phil and Bill have built a tremendous resource on this site, keep looking at this gift horse in the mouth and you WILL some contributors.

The preceeding announcement was for those that just don't get it..........

[ColdWaterFshr]

My words a few posts back were probably a bit harsh. I know a couple guides and they are decent people. The problem is not really with them, as they are just providing a service as long as there is a demand for it. My problem is their "Johns". (Let me point out that hookers refer to their "Johns" as "clients" also).

Lets face it, hiring a guide is the ultimate short-cut in fishing. You are paying money so you don't have to go to the time and trouble to figure it out, or think, or to actually talk to people at bait shops and marinas and get tips or do any research. There is no homework and very little thinking. They literally put you ON TOP of fish that they are reading off a sonograph, that they knew were there anyway . . . . tell you what bait to use . . . . how to fish it . . . . and then have a dozen back-up-plans in case that hole or method doesn't produce. And thats fine, most of the "Johns" are probably on vacation far from home and cannot bear the thought of getting shut-out. Our society is one of instant gratification, and the guide business is there to supply it, for a price. Call me old fashioned, but I think something is lost in all of this. Why not just go down to the grocery and BUY the fish. Catching a fish that a guide puts you on sure feels hollow to me. And I can't feel too sorry for them when guides complain about how much work it is, the "adverse conditions" or people asking them for free advice. C'mon. It goes with the territory. I would take it as a compliment that you're even asked. Give them a couple free teaser hints, a warm smile and wish them good luck. Or if the pro's are derby fisherman are asking -- I'd work out some little quip with a thinly veiled insult and shrug it off.

As for boats following your guided trip, the "bent rod pattern". In high season, on a crowded lake like TR, I suppose its going to happen. I'd do my best to ignore them or pull up and move. Sure its lazy and rude. But the more people you pack into an area, the greater the probability you are going to encounter rude folks. If you were guiding on a less popular lake, you probably wouldn't have as much business (steady supply of Johns willing to hand your their hard earned cash), so I guess its a trade-off you are going to have to live with.

Pro fisherman - I don't have much to say on the subject as I'm not a fan. I did watch about 10 minutes of a Pro-Bass tournament on ESPN a couple weeks ago. Kevin Van Damm, and a bunch of other assorted jerks were fishing some reservoir out in the Carolinas. Sight fishing to fish on beds. Yanking the fish in as fast furious as they could, bouncing them all over their boat, and tossing into the livewell with the most joyless efficiency. Sure hope they win lots of money so they can fund their next trip to your favorite reservoir!

[ColdWaterFshr]

Being a guide is unlike any other profession. In most professions the actions of others rarely affect the outcome of your day at the office, store, worksite, etc...

Say what???

I don't know what kind of other jobs you have had, but that is some funny stuff right there!

[ness]

Being a guide is unlike any other profession. In most professions the actions of others rarely affect the outcome of your day at the office, store, worksite, etc... Sure someone being inconsiderate or utilizing something you developed may have a limited effect, but as anglers, everyone on this board will agree additional fishing pressure or lack of access to a location effects how many fish are caught on a give day.

{snipped}

The preceeding announcement was for those that just don't get it..........

Eric -- that's a little narrow-minded, isn't it? You're the CEO of your guide service, so you get to deal with all the crap that goes along with it. In every business, somebody is dealing with competitors, patents, trade marks, trade secrets, whatever. You gotta figure out how best to deal with it. See my post a while back for more wisdom.

[mosouthpaw]

Lets face it, hiring a guide is the ultimate short-cut in fishing. You are paying money so you don't have to go to the time and trouble to figure it out, or think, or to actually talk to people at bait shops and marinas and get tips or do any research. There is no homework and very little thinking.

So hiring a contractor or tradesperson is a shortcut in building a house? Hiring a lawyer is a shortcut when you go to court so you dont have to represent yourself? Hiring a doctor to perform a diagnosis is a shortcut... Going to a stockbroker to help you invest your money is a shortcut? blah blah blah.... You sir have a distorted view of reality, and sound like a pompous college professor who has never entered the real world.

when i guided out west in colorado I encountered people with this attitude everyday... they all claimed they were the best, had 100+ fish days all the time and had it figured out could cath fish anywhere anytime and beat out anyone else .... I saw through the charade pretty quick and classified them as the "liars and smokeblowers" they all had one thing in common, they all hunted down guides and tried to get info from them and many times when they didnt give them the info they needed they called guides a hoax and started putting them down... These parasites are sad, they feel they only way they can justify their existence in the fishing community and to themselves is to catch high numbers or big fish. and wsill do anything to acheive this goal, follow guides, spy on guides, talk down about guides in general when they should just be out to enjoy themselves.

hiring a guide is not a shortcut, they provide a service, that includes a boat (be it a driftboat, bassboat, or a 35ft ocean vessel) gear and knowledge. The simple truth is, unless you learned to fish 100% on your own, that means never talking to a baitshop about what lures (which could be construed as the same as hiring a guide or spying on a guide) never reading a magazine article about fishing techniques, never joining a bass club and talking fishing, never watching tv fishing show, etc etc.... these knowledge aquiring abilities are part of the game.

are some guides jerks, yea, people are human......

[focused fishing]

Say what???

I don't know what kind of other jobs you have had, but that is some funny stuff right there!

Oh, your right, that guy blocking the copier or not making a delivery on time or not returning your phone call or just being inconsiderate will keep you from getting your paycheck at the end of the week.

Your right I'm wrong. The inconsidearte actions of others will keep you from making your living.

If only that butt head wouldn't of cut you off in traffic this morning you would of gotten your paycheck.

Should of phrased that like this: "Unlike many other professions, the actions of one inconsiderate individual can adversely effect a guides ability to make a living."

Please continue to drive home your point:

You have the right to interfere with the ability of others to make a living to satisfy your desires.

No, no, no it's a good point.... I completey understand..... I want to make more money on my investments so I think I will go sit down at a stock brokers office this morning while he is going over investment strategies with a paying client. Hey, it's not illegal, it's not hurting his ability to make a living, he still has someone paying him. As a matter of fact I think I'll do it everyday, then I'll call my friends and tell them about it and they will benefit.

Wow..... what a great idea you have here....where else would this work???????

I know, I'll go hang out at a doctor's office and wait for someone with a similar ailment to come in, then follow them into the exam room, get the advise and not have to pay...brilliant...

Hey... how about lawyers....yea, I could wait for someone needing the same legal advice.......

This is outstanding.... they can still make a living, their actual clients will be paying them and I can get the information for free.... fantastic....

This concept could revolutionize the entire economic system....

here's what we do....

we have a class of people that pay for information and services (we'll call them the payers)....

then the rest get all of the information and services for free because someone else is paying.......outstanding.....

just need a name for those people that aren't paying ....... hmmm.... leaches? no to judgemental.... cheap skates? close but not really it ......

hmmm, what do call people that benefit from the hard work and cash of others???.......politicians? maybe........

I know there is a name for this......

People work hard and pay into something and others that have no investment in it reap the benefit......... dang it! it's just not coming to me.....

hmmm payers and recipients.......got to be a name for this.......

Anyone?

If I could just follow someone with the answer to this question.........

[focused fishing]

My words a few posts back were probably a bit harsh. I know a couple guides and they are decent people. The problem is not really with them, as they are just providing a service as long as there is a demand for it. My problem is their "Johns". (Let me point out that hookers refer to their "Johns" as "clients" also).

How could I forget prostitution!!!!! But I don't think it has the same effect as sitting next to a a client in the stock brokers office, but to each his own.

darn it man you are a genius!!!!!!

Now, if we only had a name for this new found social order you've come up with........

[Troy Gregg]

If I could just follow someone with the answer to this question.........

very well said... now if we could all just piggy back our way through life not having to use any energy to get the best things.... Life would be grand wouldn't it?

Talk about being Lazy.. hum drum, and leading an unsatisfying life. Being fed from a silver spoon sounds a bit lame and unexciting to me.

Now... I am with you Eric, what would these people be called.... its right there on the tip of my tongue PARASITE TO SOCIETY? maybe...? that might a bit harsh but the point is made. surely there is something better?

[Troy Gregg]

Oh man !...there isn't enough popcorn in the world for that reply.

Let the games begin !

IM with S&M... bring on the Popcorn

[focused fishing]

Eric -- that's a little narrow-minded, isn't it? You're the CEO of your guide service, so you get to deal with all the crap that goes along with it. In every business, somebody is dealing with competitors, patents, trade marks, trade secrets, whatever. You gotta figure out how best to deal with it. See my post a while back for more wisdom.

Deal with it everyday and will continue to.......

Still looking for that name .........