Cold-Wind and Transitioning Fish

[edyer]

I'm trying to pack for my trip to Table Rock starting on Thursday and it sounds like I should bring everything but the kitchen sink:) That is tougher to do when you aren't taking your own boat. A Rig, spinner bait,fish doctor,  crankbait, wobble head, ned rig, jig, swimbait, jerk bait, football and finesse jig. When is the Fluke and Lizard bite start?

[Fishrman]

Bill

Is that spinner bite on flats or steeper stuff?

[dan hufferd]

I want your job! Bill

[5X3]

I would agree that 20 plus fish in a day was unheard of until Saturday.  Caught good fish Tue. and Wed. but only getting about 10 bites best 5 at about 17lbs in the Shell Knob area.  I left them alone on Thursday and Friday due to tournament on Satuarday.  Satuarday I boated 20 plus fish but only 3 were in excess of 15 inches, so a big change for Saturday after the Thursday cold spell.  

[Champ188]

Everyone wants a guide's job until they HAVE to produce fish day in and day out --- without fail and no excuses --- regardless of weather changes, water conditions, etc.

I've done it before and am contemplating doing it again. It's just not that easy.

[BassBlind]

I don't envy the guides. I've been on ocean guide trips and a guide trip at LOZ that did not produce many fish and there were some unhappy fishers who had to cough up some $$ - High pressure gig. 

[m&m]

I agree with Champ that being a guide is stressful and you are expected to have a successful day regardless of the variables.  I've hired guides in the past and will do so again in the future but the success is not based upon the size or quantity of the fish caught. Rather I hire a guide to pick his brain about the particular lake, conditions, lures, seasons, etc of the lake.  I hire them for their knowledge.  I evaluate his knowledge based upon the guide practicing what he is telling me.  I hired a guide in FL on Lake O a number of years ago and all he talked about was catching fish on 12" black worms.  All we did all day was fish with large shiners under a balloon bobber.  My advice is look upon a guide trip as a learning experience rather than a fishing trip.  Ask all the questions you have about the lake.  Take what you learn and put that into practice on your future fishing trips.  The end result will be a great experience for both you and the guide. IMO

Mike

[dtrs5kprs]

 

Everyone wants a guide's job until they HAVE to produce fish day in and day out --- without fail and no excuses --- regardless of weather changes, water conditions, etc.

I've done it before and am contemplating doing it again. It's just not that easy.

Or until you have to pick deathtrap trebles out of your seat. Or  client's leg. Or your leg. Or they break a windshield with a FB jig. On and on.

I can't imagine it.

[Hunter53]

 

Everyone wants a guide's job until they HAVE to produce fish day in and day out --- without fail and no excuses --- regardless of weather changes, water conditions, etc.

I've done it before and am contemplating doing it again. It's just not that easy.

Well keep on contemplating until after the wife and I's trip down. Don't want Ya thinking I have to pay you if we fish together! 

If Ya want help deciding on wether to do it or not; I can always treat it like a guide trip and DEMAND that you put me on a LOT of BIG fish. That might sway you one way or the other! 

[Champ188]

 

I agree with Champ that being a guide is stressful and you are expected to have a successful day regardless of the variables.  I've hired guides in the past and will do so again in the future but the success is not based upon the size or quantity of the fish caught. Rather I hire a guide to pick his brain about the particular lake, conditions, lures, seasons, etc of the lake.  I hire them for their knowledge.  I evaluate his knowledge based upon the guide practicing what he is telling me.  I hired a guide in FL on Lake O a number of years ago and all he talked about was catching fish on 12" black worms.  All we did all day was fish with large shiners under a balloon bobber.  My advice is look upon a guide trip as a learning experience rather than a fishing trip.  Ask all the questions you have about the lake.  Take what you learn and put that into practice on your future fishing trips.  The end result will be a great experience for both you and the guide. IMO

Mike

You, sir, have things in perspective. My thought process on getting back into guiding is to approach it from an educational angle. Of course, there are clients who only want a day's worth of entertainment. But the ones who truly get their money's worth are those who pick the guide's brain and take some knowledge with them when they get out of the boat.