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Old 10-12-2018, 09:31 AM
lds lds is offline
 
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Default Guided or unguided

Just cuz I’m bored and out of curiosity what do people prefer and why when going somewhere new. Personally I have done both and I like unguided better. I find it much more rewarding to do my own research and choose my target species and go catch them myself. Takes a lot more effort and not always rewarded for that effort but I have done quite well and I find I leant way more from it. I see the draw to both but in the last 4-5 years I have been more interested in learning myself than getting large numbers of fish and lots of photos and ticking off my bucket list. Also any fish I have caught while being guided are not very valued and not high up on my favourite fishing memories as I never put in effort. I just showed up and the guide tells me what to do. I know a lot of people like the guided thing and I would like to know why. Basically this is a why do you like to fish post. As a side note I used to think guided cost more but not so sure anymore as there is a lot of money you can spend on gear for so many types of fishing
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Old 10-12-2018, 10:06 AM
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SamSteele SamSteele is offline
 
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It depends on a few factors.

1) Do I have a lot of time to spend seeking out the fish or is it a narrow window? If I only have a day and it is a species or location I am not familiar with, I think a guide is the way to go. If I know the species and it's just a different body of water or location, then no guide. I hired a guide to fish peacock bass in Miami as I didn't know the area or the species.

2) Do I have the right gear? A few years ago I did a salmon fishing trip with the family and used a guide, not because I didn't think I could catch fish on my own. Simply because I didn't have all the gear needed (ocean boat with down riggers, flashers, etc). I'm considering a trip to LOTW and I don't think I would use a guide as I am familiar with fishing pike, walleye, bass, lake trout, etc.

In a lot of cases I think a guide makes sense if you have limited time to pursue a species that is new to you in an area you aren't familiar with. If any of those three factors change the need for a guide decreases.

There's always the cost factor too.

SS
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Old 10-12-2018, 12:08 PM
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fsa313 fsa313 is offline
 
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I can’t help with Salmon, Walleye or Marlin but I can help with Trout in “The Trout Lakes of Northern Alberta” My free, updated album is available at
https://www.dropbox.com/sh/5qu7oyz5k...vOhI41zda?dl=0
It is a single file per lake that you can save to your phone or whatever, print or pass along.
In return, please send me your photos to fill out the images of the 73 lakes listed. Please use neilstuartsutherland@gmail.com to send photos to maintain resolution. Please give me the details and if you don’t want your name used, tell me. I do not believe in “honey holes”. Vote for free fishing information.
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Old 10-12-2018, 12:19 PM
SNAPFisher SNAPFisher is offline
 
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Lds, I prefer unguided when ever I can for a lot of the same reasons as you. Figuring things out for myself is much preferred and the most rewarding. I also have a pretty high standard and most guides usually fall short. At least the ones I have actually hired.

That said, for a new area and new fishery, like going for bonefish for the first time, I would do research and hire a guide for part of a trip and then do it on my own for the other part. So combine it to get some knowledge and then use that.
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Old 10-12-2018, 12:38 PM
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fsa313 fsa313 is offline
 
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Sorry about the link. I will fix,
Neil
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Old 10-12-2018, 01:37 PM
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fsa313 fsa313 is offline
 
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The new link is https://www.dropbox.com/sh/mhdk6iuot...5WlI6n18a?dl=0
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Old 10-12-2018, 04:06 PM
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pinelakeperch pinelakeperch is offline
 
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It depends. If it's a massive body of water that I'm completely unfamiliar with, it's a waste of time to fish it without a guide, especially if I had to travel a considerable distance to go there.

If I have some experience in the area, I'd have no reason to spend money on a guide.
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Old 10-12-2018, 06:13 PM
bobalong bobalong is offline
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I would never hire a guide in Alberta or Sk. as I have my own boat and gear. I have been fishing in these 2 provinces for over 50 years so pretty familiar with fishing them.
Finding and figuring out the right presentation, depth, speed etc is probably one of the biggest joys I have fishing, so don't really want someone doing that for me.

I have had a guide while Sturgeon fishing in BC (paid for through work)
I have had a guide in Hawaii for peacock and largemouth bass
Hired a guide for 1 day each week we were in Cuba (2weeks). Fished all the other days DIY.

If you have no boat, sonar, gps or much gear and want to lake fish a few days a year I can see hiring a guide. If you like fly fishing and small ponds there are many places you can DiY with just your fly gear off shore or with some waders or a cheap float tube.
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Old 10-12-2018, 06:22 PM
warriorboy10 warriorboy10 is offline
 
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Going guided and learning from them you can gain years of experience and in the end save yourself lots of hours and a ton of cash. Guided can be very beneficial..
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Old 10-12-2018, 06:29 PM
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JimW55 JimW55 is offline
 
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I much rather guide myself, much more rewarding to me. Dosen’t matter to me if I harvest an animal or not.
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Old 10-12-2018, 07:26 PM
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If you do not have the required equipment for a body of water you have not fished before guided is very beneficial. I would never have just bought a boat and gone out on the ocean. That said, after going twice I bought my own boat and all the gear. The first trip I paid a guide for a couple days to show me the ropes, then started going on my own.
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Originally Posted by Twisted Canuck
I wasn't thinking far enough ahead for an outcome, I was ranting. By definition, a rant doesn't imply much forethought.....
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Old 10-12-2018, 08:21 PM
-JR- -JR- is offline
 
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This is for the first time fishermen that has never fished.


Fishermen "A" Gets a boat operating licence $
Buys rod and tackle and a tackle box and a net $$$$$
Spends a day fishing from shore and catches a lot of weeds$$
Rents a boat for four hours $$$$
Spends a good hour learning about boat.$
Spends the next 3 hours looking for fish. $$$
Catches no fish .Goes home saying he will never return
un happy



Fishermen B
Jumps into a guided boat sits back and enjoys a boat ride to a
honey hole. Catches alot of fish in 4 hrs . Goes home very
Happy ! And says he will do it again $$$$



Fishermen C Does the same as fishermen B .
But next time returns with his own boat.$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$
Has to buy insurance life jackets sonar etc. $$$$$
Has to buy a 4x4 to haul boat $$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$
Spends 1/2 hr unloading at dock then 1/2 hr loading end of day
Spends the next day cleaning his boat.
Has to rent summer and winter storage $$$$
Finds out it's costing to much time and money and sells it all .
Very un happy

Which fishermen do you want to be ....happy or un- happy

Last edited by -JR-; 10-12-2018 at 08:30 PM.
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Old 10-12-2018, 09:03 PM
bobalong bobalong is offline
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Quote:
Originally Posted by -JR- View Post
This is for the first time fishermen that has never fished.


Fishermen "A" Gets a boat operating licence $
Buys rod and tackle and a tackle box and a net $$$$$
Spends a day fishing from shore and catches a lot of weeds$$
Rents a boat for four hours $$$$
Spends a good hour learning about boat.$
Spends the next 3 hours looking for fish. $$$
Catches no fish .Goes home saying he will never return
un happy



Fishermen B
Jumps into a guided boat sits back and enjoys a boat ride to a
honey hole. Catches alot of fish in 4 hrs . Goes home very
Happy ! And says he will do it again $$$$



Fishermen C Does the same as fishermen B .
But next time returns with his own boat.$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$
Has to buy insurance life jackets sonar etc. $$$$$
Has to buy a 4x4 to haul boat $$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$
Spends 1/2 hr unloading at dock then 1/2 hr loading end of day
Spends the next day cleaning his boat.
Has to rent summer and winter storage $$$$
Finds out it's costing to much time and money and sells it all .
Very un happy

Which fishermen do you want to be ....happy or un- happy
I have had my first motor boat and gear since I was 17 years old, over 60 now and can't say I have had an unhappy day in the boat. If everything you do about fishing is measured by dollars spent, you are definitely in it for the wrong reasons. That is pretty well the case for most all hunting and fishing, if your just constantly focused on the cost/benefit, your just never going to "get it" best you stick to something more urban.

Last edited by bobalong; 10-12-2018 at 09:10 PM.
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Old 10-12-2018, 09:47 PM
warriorboy10 warriorboy10 is offline
 
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Quote:
Originally Posted by bobalong View Post
I have had my first motor boat and gear since I was 17 years old, over 60 now and can't say I have had an unhappy day in the boat. If everything you do about fishing is measured by dollars spent, you are definitely in it for the wrong reasons. That is pretty well the case for most all hunting and fishing, if your just constantly focused on the cost/benefit, your just never going to "get it" best you stick to something more urban.
Guided or unguided activities are a great experience and I would advise anyone to try it but going out and not taking into account the cost especially for individuals that don’t have deep pockets or are not considering the cost to their families would just not be prudent!! Cost is always a factor! If it’s not I would bet those aren’t financial stable in their later years..
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Old 10-13-2018, 08:03 AM
-JR- -JR- is offline
 
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Quote:
Originally Posted by bobalong View Post
I have had my first motor boat and gear since I was 17 years old, over 60 now and can't say I have had an unhappy day in the boat. If everything you do about fishing is measured by dollars spent, you are definitely in it for the wrong reasons. That is pretty well the case for most all hunting and fishing, if your just constantly focused on the cost/benefit, your just never going to "get it" best you stick to something more urban.

I am around 60 also ,been fishing since I was 7 . Had many boats also .
As I can see you did not read the first line.
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Old 10-13-2018, 08:28 AM
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Ken07AOVette Ken07AOVette is offline
 
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Quote:
Originally Posted by -JR- View Post
This is for the first time fishermen that has never fished.


Fishermen "A" Gets a boat operating licence $
Buys rod and tackle and a tackle box and a net $$$$$
Spends a day fishing from shore and catches a lot of weeds$$
Rents a boat for four hours $$$$
Spends a good hour learning about boat.$
Spends the next 3 hours looking for fish. $$$
Catches no fish .Goes home saying he will never return
un happy



Fishermen B
Jumps into a guided boat sits back and enjoys a boat ride to a
honey hole. Catches alot of fish in 4 hrs . Goes home very
Happy ! And says he will do it again $$$$



Fishermen C Does the same as fishermen B .
But next time returns with his own boat.$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$
Has to buy insurance life jackets sonar etc. $$$$$
Has to buy a 4x4 to haul boat $$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$
Spends 1/2 hr unloading at dock then 1/2 hr loading end of day
Spends the next day cleaning his boat.
Has to rent summer and winter storage $$$$
Finds out it's costing to much time and money and sells it all .
Very un happy
Which fishermen do you want to be ....happy or un- happy
Good reasoning but you forgot Fisherman D

Fisherman D (me)

Does the same as fishermen B .
But next time returns with his own boat.$$$$
Has to buy insurance life jackets sonar radar gear etc. $$$
Already has 4x4, most guys do.
Spends 5 mins unloading at dock then 2-3 weeks fishing.
Spends 1-2 hours cleaning then eating fish and crab daily.
Has a house so keeps boat at home.
Figures out how good it is, should have done it decades ago.
Ecstatic
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Originally Posted by Twisted Canuck
I wasn't thinking far enough ahead for an outcome, I was ranting. By definition, a rant doesn't imply much forethought.....
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  #17  
Old 10-13-2018, 08:48 AM
Mr Flyguy Mr Flyguy is offline
 
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Don't have a drift boat and wading/hiking legs are getting gimpy so a number of guided trips down the Bow River were well worth while, regardless of cost.

Two guided trips on the Missouri River at Helena, one on the Feather River in California and another on the San Joaquin River delta at Stockton for striped bass, all successful and got to areas never would have done by myself.
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Old 10-13-2018, 10:36 AM
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RavYak RavYak is offline
 
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It all depends on the situation. I fish unguided 99% of the time but guided trips can be worth doing.

I personally like the challenge of learning new species and new water bodies on my own. When I was learning to fish that used to be daunting and it could get frustrating if I wasn't catching but now I can usually figure out a fishery pretty quick so if I have the gear and enough time I will fish unguided.

Here are what I would consider the pros and cons of fishing with a guide.

Pros:

-They provide the gear. This is a big benefit especially if targeting fish that require special gear.
-They provide bait. In some places it is difficult or expensive to get good bait.
-If you are short on time it is your best chance to catch a fish. They should know where the fish are and how to catch them.
-They should know what fish are in season and where to target them. Seasonal fisheries can be tough even for experienced anglers but guides are fishing the same waters day after day so should know where the fish are.
-If you find a good guide they can be fun to hang out with for the trip.
-If you are fishing a new area or species you can learn a lot from a guide. Although I have been disappointed with some of my guided trips I did still learn from all of them.


Cons:

-Expensive, most guided trips are getting to be very pricey. I can go fishing for weeks straight and spend less then what some guys spend on a single day of guided fishing.
-If you get stuck with a mediocre guide it can be frustrating.
-Not as challenging or gratifying as catching fish on your own.


Guided trips definitely have their place and I would probably go on more if they weren't so expensive.
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Old 10-13-2018, 11:53 AM
bobalong bobalong is offline
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Quote:
Originally Posted by -JR- View Post
I am around 60 also ,been fishing since I was 7 . Had many boats also .
As I can see you did not read the first line.
Read it just fine, I see you didn't read the last line.
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  #20  
Old 10-13-2018, 12:37 PM
Jamie Jamie is offline
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For me, personal satisfaction comes from doing it myself. But it also depends on the flavour of the trip. Some times the scenario is just one that is more a social thing and I don't care to worry about the operations.

All that being said, be safe. Don't be the guy who hauls his bass boat out to Rupert and then heads out 30 minutes away. And yes, I saw this exact thing.

If you don't have the equipment to be safe, don't do it.
If you don't have the knowledge to be safe, don't do it.

I have done both from a customer POV. I loved doing Winefred Lake on our own with out a guide. Me and the kids had a blast and caught a ton of fish. I did some research before hand and it worked out rather well.

This summer I did a self guided trip with my Dad out on the ocean. Finding fish was not a issue, but his mobility in that tippy little crappy POS boat was a issue. So, we hired a guide with a decent boat. Still caught fish.

Other than that, let it rip as you see fit. It's only fish.
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Old 10-13-2018, 01:01 PM
-JR- -JR- is offline
 
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Quote:
Originally Posted by Ken07AOVette View Post
Good reasoning but you forgot Fisherman D

Fisherman D (me)

Does the same as fishermen B .
But next time returns with his own boat.$$$$
Has to buy insurance life jackets sonar radar gear etc. $$$
Already has 4x4, most guys do.
Spends 5 mins unloading at dock then 2-3 weeks fishing.
Spends 1-2 hours cleaning then eating fish and crab daily.
Has a house so keeps boat at home.
Figures out how good it is, should have done it decades ago.
Ecstatic
So true.
I must be a fishermen D . I now have a large group of friends that don't need to hire a guide or buy a boat.
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  #22  
Old 10-14-2018, 09:29 AM
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58thecat 58thecat is offline
 
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Done both, new area and I want to see what's up guided, only if they are highly recommended etc but in the end if I had a choice solo or with someone who respects the complete journey not jus the bagging or catching as the end all be all.
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Old 10-14-2018, 06:44 PM
BCSteel BCSteel is offline
 
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I was a guide in BC for salmon and sturgeon for a few years. I DIY salmon/steelhead when I head back but always use a guide for sturgeon. I could borrow my dads boat/equipment for sturgeon but I prefer to hire someone who can put us on fish, plus I usually fill the extra seats with family or friends who don't get out that often.
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