A good guide will always try to teach his customers as well as put them on fish. If you’re in the market for a guide, ask lots of questions and don’t be afraid to ask for references.

As most of my colleagues will agree, you’ve got to learn the ropes in this business, just like any other. And among other things, that means weeding out the professional fishing guides from the maze of jakelegs out there whose claim to fame came from one big fish or those who could care less whether the customer goes home happy or not.

Believe me, there is a world of difference between a good fishing guide and a poor one. Needless to say, about the only way to learn these traits is to experience both sides of the fence or heed the advice of those who have.

That’s the purpose of this article – to provide novice anglers or those who may be visiting unfamiliar areas of the state during hunting season with the critical information they need to make a sound choice when it comes to hiring a guide to take them out fishing for the day.

Here are some key elements to consider before shelling out your hard-earned dollars:

• Probably the foremost element to consider is the guide’s reputation. Ask around. Good guides more than likely will have repeat customers and shouldn’t have a problem furnishing a few names for reference.

Stay away from a guide that doesn’t have any repeat customers, because he probably hasn’t been the business very long or may have something to hide. One that outright refuses to dole out references certainly needs to be culled from the prospective list.

• Unless you’ve fished with a guide before, ask what type of boat he or she fishes out of and how many people they’d be willing to accommodate.

In doing so, keep in mind the guide business isn’t a lucrative one. So by no means should you expect your guide to run a $20,000 rig.

On the other side of the coin, you want to be careful and not get conned into cramming three people into a 14-foot flatbottom for a day of fishing on a massive body of water like Sam Rayburn or Amistad.

• A fishing guide’s primary jobs are to put the customer on fish and educate, not swoon him with an All-American personality.

Some of the very best guides I’ve shared the boat with talked only when spoken to. Some of the worst were blatant showboaters who talked constantly of how good the fishing was yesterday and tried to impress by tossing around household fishing names like they were family.

• Although I’ve never experienced it, I’ve heard some former guide clients complain about the guide “front ending” them and catching all the fish. That’s sort of like ordering a plate of Mexican food, having the waiter snatch it up just as you get ready to take the first bite and then being expected to pay for it before you exit.

Good guides will always pinpoint the best spots for their customers and allow them to take the first shot at the spot.

A good example that comes to mind was the time Lake Fork professional fishing guide instructed me to cast my jig two feet to the left of a flooded treetop adjacent to a creek channel. In three casts I caught a pair of five-pound bass and lost another.

In some instances, however, there may need to be some exceptions made to the previous rule.

I’ve had some guides tell me about clients that couldn’t have caught a fish with a stick of dynamite. The only way for a guide to prove his merit in this type of situation is to catch the fish himself. But at any rate, the guide shouldn’t chastise the customer because he or she is not a first-rate angler.

• There are some good part-time guides. But to be on the safe side, hire a professional guide who works at it full time. It’s also a good idea to look for a guide who is licensed by the Parks and Wildlife Department.

Guides are required by law to purchase a license from the state before accepting pay for their services. Failure to do so carries a fine.

To avoid being fined when approached by a game warden, I’ve heard of unlicensed guides suddenly conning their customers into saying they were friends just out pleasure fishing. Going along with the con can be bad business, especially if the game warden decides to question both parties separately.

• If you lack angling skill or want to learn specific techniques, look for a guide who is willing to spend some time teaching you the basics. It’s a good idea to inform the guide of your intentions before meeting at the boat ramp.
• Look for “specialty” guides. If you want to catch crappie, hire a guide who fishes exclusively for crappie. The same goes for bass, catfish, stripers, ect… Steer clear of the guide who claims he can put you on four different sub-species in a single day. Unless he’s extremely lucky, it just won’t happen.
• While it is the guide’s responsibility to put the customer on fish, he can’t work miracles. Help the guide. A good way to start is by being equipped properly for the type of fishing you will be doing.

Ask ahead of time what type of fishing you’ll be doing. That way, at least you’ll have time to get prepared, purchase the right lures, practice, etc…

• It never hurts to compare rates. But be especially wary of the guide who undercuts his colleagues by a substantial margin. Not only is this unethical, but it also could be an indicator of inexperience.

Prices usually will vary from lake to lake and in accordance with the type of fishing being done.

• Ask the guide if he supplies bait and tackle or if you need to bring your own. Prices may vary accordingly.
• Find out if the guide offers group rates, accommodates children, cleans your fish, offers instruction or specialty trips like night fishing.
• Good fishing guides work hard for their money. If you break for lunch or dinner, offer to buy his meal. If you can afford it and are going home satisfied, it’s also a good practice to tip the guide for a job well done.
• If you hire a guide and return to the lake a week or so later on your own, don’t go in and start hammering the guide’s fish. Serious anglers call that “hole jumpin” and it’s a good way to sour a friendly relationship.

Hiring a professional guide is one of the best ways in the book to become familiar with strange waters or find out new ways to catch and find fish. To make your dollar stretch further, be sure to make sound choices, ask lots of questions and learn as much as possible during the time spent on the water.