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[oghfm]

Went with a guide one time on Eufaula Lake in Oklahoma.  He said the limit was 37 a day and he expected to have 3 limits in 6 hours.  I thought man this guy is full of himself.  We had 110 crappie in 6 hours.  His name is Todd Huckabee and his understudy at that time was Barry who now guides on Truman.  I still use his techniques and they do work. Me believes the hardest part of guiding would be dealing w/ the public.  I wanted to get better at crappie fishing, the big bag of fish was just a bonus.  Other people will have different goals.  Todd wasn't a big talker  but what he did present  would stick with you.  Give it a trial run, don't give up your day job till you're sure its for you.  There are no licensure requirements that I'm aware of on Stockton.  I would gladly pay to be your guinea pig cause the more I fish for eyes the less I believe I know.  Best of luck

                                                                                                                                                        OGHFM

[tjm]

I had a discussion with a Pennsylvania trout/steelhead guide who told me the most important part of his guide service was the lunch he provided. My baby brother who does not fish but has worked for a few western guide services said that camp craft/cooking  is important  but rowing the boat is the big thing.

My own take on it is that in fishing a lake, I would hire a guide  first for the use of his boat and second for his knowledge of the lake itself. I don't take lunch when fishing.

[lmt out]

Thank you to everyone for your thoughts. You had some very good points and information. I am not sure when I will get to put my plan into action.  But would like to try it at least on a part time basis.  Feel free to pm me if you would like to go sometime.

[Terrierman]

I've started and run multiple businesses.  Never yet had one go bust.  Here is my advice:

1.  If you have a burning desire that keeps you up at night, feed it.

2.  If you think you are as good at what you do as anybody that ever was, go do it.

3.  If you cannot stand the thought of failure, have at.

Otherwise, keep your day job.  You are the one who has to know your wants, needs and abilities.

From what I've read on here from you, # 2 is really not much of an issue.  Best of luck with whatever way you go.

[Sbowen]

OK so I will speak to guiding in general and not fishing in particular. I guide waterfowl hunts and have for 23 years. There WILL be days that suck!! Embrace that part. However I have always said that outside of having good equipment, safety, and such PERSONALITY is a must. You have to have one. I learned years ago that customers wanted to be part of the whole experience. They wanted to know why I did what I did and as long as you are honest and up front  about their opportunities then you should do fine. I never advertised this part but if I took folks and they did not EVER have a opportunity to shoot I would bring them back on me for a trip. Example they paid me out for two days of hunting and got a third day at another time free. They appreciated that and it normally turned into a 4th paid day. Lastly YOU HAVE TO ABSOLUTELY LOVE to see people enjoy themselves because if it is for the money then don't do it. Just my 02c

[dan hufferd]

On 8/14/2018 at 5:10 PM, lmt out said:

Thank you to everyone for your thoughts. You had some very good points and information. I am not sure when I will get to put my plan into action.  But would like to try it at least on a part time basis.  Feel free to pm me if you would like to go sometime.

It might take the fun out of it for you. A guide from the tablerock forum told me that guiding is not fishing, it's work. He said that he could not wait until he retired so he could fish. I don't know about all that. I think that he has been doing it a while.

I would feel terrible if I could not make the fish bite. I love seeing people be successful, but there are days like yesterday 8/26/2018 that are just tough. If a guy could have some customers on the hook, then call when the bite was good it would be great.  

I don't know how it all works? I wouldn't want someone sore at me if I couldn't make the fish bite.

 

Just thinking

[fishinwrench]

It's pretty frustrating when your "client" (I hate that word btw) can't cast well, is too fast or too slow on the retrieve, can't seem to understand how to manage slack line, can't detect bites, or is just generally uncoordinated to the whole concept of fishing.   Nobody enjoys a trip where someone is standing next to you constantly trying to give kind advise on your every move.

I enjoyed guiding guys that were already decent fishermen but the majority of guide trips I had were with guys whose wife was here attending a meeting, or something, and they just wanted something to do for a day.  Three years of that was all I could take.  

[tjm]

It's a job. I suspect most people don't have fun on the job.

[fishinwrench]

6 minutes ago, tjm said:

It's a job. I suspect most people don't have fun on the job.

I love my job 😊 It's more fun than a game of slapjack.

[Hunter75]

I would go with you anytime For me it would defintately be about the knowledge and techniques. I can go out and catch a few doing what I do and then catch a few more from the info you all give out, but actually going with someone, seeing and then actually learning how they fish is key. I have taken guided trips for stipers, hybrids and several salt water trips. Now I can go out and use what I learned to catch more and better fish.