Advice Re Hiring Guides

[rps]

@Bobby B recently posted about repairs/replacing his trolling motor. Mine is in the same process. As soon as it works, I will become aggressive about selling my rig.

When sold, I will begin fishing with guides. If you have read my posts, you know I am fussy and judgmental. I do not like 40# braid on Ugly Stick rods. I do not enjoy fishing corn for trout.

On Tablerock and Bull I feel confident the members here can and will be or suggest what I would enjoy. (Even if Babler retires.)

The question becomes, how do you find the better guides on Grand, Broken Bow, or Toledo Bend? I have not hired a guide since I hired Eldon on the White River in 199?.

Suggest how you would go about this in modern times.

 

 

[Daryk Campbell Sr]

2 minutes ago, rps said:

@Bobby B recently posted about repairs/replacing his trolling motor. Mine is in the same process. As soon as it works, I will become aggressive about selling my rig.

When sold, I will begin fishing with guides. If you have read my posts, you know I am fussy and judgmental. I do not like 40# braid on Ugly Stick rods. I do not enjoy fishing corn for trout.

On Tablerock and Bull I feel confident the members here can and will be or suggest what I would enjoy. (Even if Babler retires.)

The question becomes, how do you find the better guides on Grand, Broken Bow, or Toledo Bend? I have not hired a guide since I hired Eldon on the White River in 199?.

Suggest how you would go about this in modern times.

 

 

I would start by asking the guide(s) you trust. Or by asking around the marinas near where you would like to fish.  The better names will be flushed out.   

[Devan S.]

I think once you find them(which people here can make recommendations) you specifically know enough of what to ask to know if their style will fit what you want to a high degree. 

The concern I would have would be booking direct through a resort or marina. You never know how much knowledge the person answering the phone has. You don't know if your plans get conveyed or you matched up to a good fit of guide. 

I had it happen once on the White booking resort/marina. Made it very clear we were CnR and after quality not quantity. I explicitly said we were looking for large fish and were okay with only catching 1 or 2 fish all day. Yet when we met the guide he was prepared for fishing for stockers. Luckily he was able to pivot gear to stuff he had in his truck but the message clearly didn't get conveyed. 

 

[snagged in outlet 3]

I hire them all over the country when on vacation by saltwater.   Read a lot of reviews.  Looked at their rod and equipment sponsors   The last guy we hired is one I saw on a tv show.   Dude was awesome!!  Had several phone calls talking about what I wanted relative to what he offered.  
The only “bad” guide experience I had was on LOZ.  It was a corporate deal and I don’t think he was really a guide.