32 And Counting....

[Bird Watcher]

before you write your book, would you please complete the spot by spot breakdown of every hump and ledge in every ozark lake that you were going to complete this summer?

I was really looking forward to that..this Zagat's guide to fishing guides that you are compiling doesn't do us locals any good.

Stay focused Trav...

Don't worry about finding publishers for all of these books. Printed books are passe anyway. Be green and just upload it all here on OA so we can all start benefitting from it.

[eric1978]

By quoting your post and the post you quoted and adding +2........means I agree with you and your quoted post. Sorry if I wasn't clear and offended you.

No, my apologies, techo. I misunderstood and when I thought about it later, I realized what you meant.

[Trav]

I knew this would stir up a dog pile. My opinions usually do though...Haha... A troll? Very amusing but I am not denying the accusation. My ego does have an orbit of its own.

Guides offer a service which can be a frivolous expense. The essence of the book is to express if you catch fish at home then you don't really need a guide to fish new water.

As far as credibility....I am not claiming to be better than a guide who knows the lake. In fact, I am approaching this by putting myself on unfamiliar water. Or at least water I have only fished a few times over the past decade.

I am going to new water doing nothing to prepare myself other than researching reports like those found here at OA then comparing them with reports taken from those who hired a guide. My results have been without surprises. I have been doing just as well and not spending the expense. Part of my execution is treating a single body of water as several little bodies to avoid intimidation.

Granted, when those who had hired a guide hear of my results they are more inclined to agree with my opinion and yes some did have expectations. So it isn’t an unbiased pool of opinion. And there is always hindsight.

Anyway, we all know Trav enjoys a good dog piling. I love to hear and read comments of those who defend what I am trying to disclaim. It is what makes healthy debate.

I will make an effort to share the pros and cons of guided fishing but I am writing this to prove it is a frivolous unnecessary expense.

[eric1978]

My ego does have an orbit of its own.

Your most accurate assessment thus far. It's a great line, though...I'll give you credit for that.

[FishinCricket]

only 20 percent of those who knew the basics of how to catch a fish when at home waters were satisfied

Uhm, could your questionnaire have been any more arbitrary?

What do you do for a living, Trav?

[Trav]

Eric,

Reading your past posts I think we are more alike than you would want to admit. Haha..You mentioned credibility? hmmmmmmmmm

Actually, I bet the two of us can probably be a good team with our mutual skepticism. We can agree to disagree. I think guides are for people who have no clue about fishing or for tourney guys who are too lazy to do a real practice day.

I may not do any better than a local guide but I sure do just as well as they do. And they are supposed to be experts?

Peace bro

Cricket,

I have licenses in a dozen or so trades. I really don't see where my source of income has to do with the facts at hand.

Arbitrary? I do know if you want to hear a certain answer ...all you have to do is ask the right questions to the right people.

It is nothing to read between the lines.

Chris,

Trust me..I know books are hard to sell. Have been writing like a mad man for a couple decades.

I actually was thinking of the lake location analysis as a report here but didn't get much response. Good ideas roll through my head as fast as the bad ones do. Haha

Maybe this angle to prove you can catch fish on unfamiliar water will incorporate it some.

Techo,

You have seen me around here for years. I have a knack I guess. I might be a "troll" but at least I give credit where credit is due. Wink

Even if my knack is to go against the popularity of the site. Luv ya man!

[ness]

"Most of you know me as an expert"...click

[Mitch f]

I think if you tell the guide what you are after before you go out, he will put you on a different pattern than the "Norm". I sometimes agree that a guide doesn't help. However, they probably know the body of water better than you and you can learn form their techniques. I personally am about 50-50 on guides in Missouri. Zipstick is one of the most knowledgeable guides on the Rivers in Missouri. I have learned a tremendous amount from him, so he would be the exception. If you are going to a new area, I would hire a guide for the first day, then go out on your own. As a general statement, I don't agree with your post.