Tight Lines

[nathanhooper]

Took my brother out last night for a quick troll. He could not stay out long so we hit the honey creek area and managed to pick up a nice SM right off the bat. After that we hooked up with a nice fish, and I handed him the pole. He has never caught anything over 6-8 lbs I don't think so I was trying to explain the best I could of how to pump the rod and reel and all. I keep my drag pretty light due to the snags that I seem to come across so much, so it helps to pump the rod to get the fish in while allowing a good drag in case its a big fish.

At one point in the fight I saw him drop the rod tip way down and actually remember seeing the line go completely slack before he brought the rod back up. I was standing ready with the net when all we saw come up was the lonely lure. Oh well, lesson learned.

This was yesterday evening around 7-7:30. Water temp has dropped some also. Down to 81 now. But the fish seemed to be very active and wanting to bite. Wish we could have stayed out longer. Would have been productive I am sure. I was using the downriggers and finally figuring out how to pull my crankbaits on them. I would have used live bait, but time was not there for going that route. I was only pulling them 20' or so behind the release clips and had them running around 30' deep.

Got my first guide snub too. I have been seeing this guy for the last few weeks down at the dock, or his truck/trailer at least in the parking lot. Last night I had launched my boat and was getting in it when he launched his. I half heartedly asked him about the fishing and he seemed like he did not hear me. So I then again asked him about it, something like "where are the fish at", and he chuckled and said "in the water". He seemed nice so then I asked about how deep he was catching them, seeing how he had 4 riggers on his boat.

He then said something about 12' or something and I guess I thought he was being serious so I asked him if he was really catching them shallow. He then tells me that he gets paid for that information and he is available Thursday. lol.

I get it...to an extent at least. People pay guides for their expertise in fishing - kind of. I would say that only a portion of the fee is the expertise. The rest is the use of boat, tackle, and everything else associated with fishing. The fish are in the water and even the best guide is still fishing for them and cannot guarantee quantity or quality. So a simple "yea, they are X feet down" or "they seem to be holding to structure" or "they are really on the prowl" or just anything that normal fishing guys say to each other would go a long way in being friendly I would suppose.

I wasn't trying to take away his business, and I for sure am not going to hire him for the information, so all he did was make an butt out of himself as far as I'm concerned. Funny thing is, the last spot we stopped at to try out - which is by the dam site park island - is where he came over to troll at for a bit. And, by the looks of it, he was staying in 30' ish or so water. So there, his secretes are revealed. lol

[Bird Watcher]

Don't feel bad. Beaver lake striper guides are kind of infamous for their demeanor. I haven't met a top notch one yet, but I've only met two. I haven't met or heard about any with the same type of class as Babler, Mike Worley, or Bob Bennet.

[Feathers and Fins]

That is more than the typical response I have had from "most" of them. They honestly do not understand how much damage they are doing to their own business when they act like that. I will say I have talked to Rich Mikuska a couple times and he has been good about info at the dock.

What really gets me is the very predictable habits of the Stripers in the lake. I can and have told people where and when they will be in an area of the lake It is no secret! Depth can vary of course but when you set out 8 to 10 rods at different depths its pretty easy to figure depth out and for bait well we see the balloons we know its shad. HELLO. So there is no reason not to be helpful.

Then again I saw a video on Youtube that said Beaver Lake and there is no way in H E Double Hockey Sticks it was on Beaver Lake. The Arkansas River maybe but no way Beaver.

Just ignore the guides and attitudes as it really only hurts them in the long run. If they helped people more they would get more word of mouth business. But bad attitudes gets post like this on the net. I wonder how much business Guides like J.T. and Babler received from their honesty and people on the net referring them? BILL Whats you wild guess?

[nathanhooper]

Yea, he did not bother me in the least. I found it humorous in fact. I just thought it interesting as I did not expect him to give any secretes away, but thought he would have been a tad more cordial. First run in with one except the one time I was on a friends boat and had one try to run us over getting out to a fishing spot once, then proceeded to try and drive over us when he saw us catching fish later on. Oh well.

If I had to guess, guys that are like that are a little unconfident in their fishing ability. It is either that or there is truly a scarcity of striped bass in the lake.. I am not sure of the numbers myself, but I would venture to say there are plenty of striped bass swimming around in the lake right now. Its not rocket science. If I wanted to know where he was catching them I'd just follow them. Duh.

But really, I think its a personality thing. No big deal. I bet aside from fishing he would be an ok guy to chat with. And I bet, from the sound of him interacting with his clients, that it would be an ok time on his boat. But I for sure aint gonna pay for it. lol.

I do know a couple of guys who did go together and hired a guide years ago. They simply wanted to see how it was done and they took that info and started catching fish themselves. I can't say that if I was at my wits ends I would not do something like that. But thanks to those on here its really just a matter of trial and error to catching them now days. Years ago they did not have the info or the availability of others who were willing to help.

I think I will make another trip out tonight. I am gonna see if my neighbor wants to go. But regardless I want try it again, I have a good feeling about it for some reason.

[Feathers and Fins]

You will get them you are just going after them with a difficult method which I have to commend you for, few try for the trolled fish when live baiting is so much easier. Next thing I know you will be trying to get how to catch them with a fly pole.... psst secret is there is a ducky on this site that makes a very special fly that works GREAT on them and its the only fly you need to do it and it works trolled as well.

[nathanhooper]

hmmmmmm......

Yea, its hard for me to kick something till I have decided I have gotten it down. However, I will never disagree with someone else's advice and always file it away. My wife and I are going to have some time together on the lake next week. I think it will be the perfect time for us to grab some minners and try downlining.

I will for sure be doing the fly thing in the future. One of the reasons for the big deck I put on the boat. Figure it will be best late fall/early spring?

[Feathers and Fins]

October is probably my favorite month for the fly pole on stripers and its no secret I love doing it in Prairie Creek and Avoca. Its not only addictive it can be a pure illness.

[Champ188]

If I had to guess, guys that are like that are a little unconfident in their fishing ability.

This.