How to Pick the Best Fishing Guide

Author: Dan Mccart

So you have decided to take a day or so and do some fishing with a guide. Your chances of catching fish just went up tremendously. But the question now is ""how do I locate a good one?"". Let me give you some helpful hints on how to pick the best fishing guide for your fishing trip.

You need to know what is important to you for your fishing adventure. Do you want to catch a lot of fish or just one big one? Are you going by yourself or taking a friend? If taking a friend, ask him or her what they think is important for the trip. Is catching the fish or the guides friendly and fun personality more important? How far are you willing to drive to meet the guide? Do you have a special lake or river or spot in mind? As with everything else, just set your goals and then look for the fishing guide who can best meet your goals.

The easiest way to find a good fishing guide is by looking in the fishing directories based on where you will be fishing. There are some good sites you should look at like BlueSportFishing.com, FishingLinks.org, Charternet.com and 1FGHP.com. These will have the guides listed by state and sometimes listed by lake, river or town. This will give you a quick way to scan the fishing guides in the area and checkout their websites.

Check out the fishing guides' website to see what it says about them. The site should give you specifics on areas fished, fishing reports, rates and experience. If the site has good client information for you then I would say that reflects on the guides professionalism and would be an indicator that they take this business very seriously. If the site isn't very good... you can determine if that is important to you or not.

Send an email quickly stating what kind of fishing you are considering and the specific dates you are available. This will give him an idea of what you want and when. Then he will reply back or call you.

When you are on the phone with the guide, remember you are hiring a professional fisherman. Be respectful and considerate and expect the same. If he speaks down to you or is very gruff, that is probably the least it will be on the trip. Ask your questions and just as important tell him about you. Hopefully the conversation is fun and exciting. As far as getting references, I don't agree with that much. Have you ever gave someone a reference that was bad? Of course not. Talk to them and get as much information and insight as you can in the conversation. Then make a decision.

So you have talked to a few and selected your guide. Keep him informed if anything changes pertaining to your trip. Remember, this isn't just fishing with this person, this is how they make their living. Treat him like you would want to be treated. Get clear up front on his bad weather or cancellation policies. Don't surprise the guide and then be surprised when you don't get a full refund.

Did you have a good time? Was the trip all you expected and hoped? If you had a good time and you enjoyed your fishing guide, let him know it. Give him/her a tip over the rate. Then just as helpful, tell your friends about your guide and the great trip you had. He is a great guide and you are helping your friends because they can trust your recommendation. Also there are sites where you can put in information about your guide and the trip you had which helps your guide on the internet. Your guide can give you these sites if he is interested.

If you do those simple things you will find a good or even great fishing guide for your fishing adventure. Remember to listen well and talk well so you both have a very successful fishing trip.

About the author:

Feel free to reprint this article but keep hyperlinks intact.

Dan Mccart is the co-owner of Blue Sport Fishing ? http://www.BlueSportFishin g.com , Over 10,000 listings of Fishing Charters and Fishing Guides .