BWCA Fishing Guides Boundary Waters Fishing Forum
Chat Rooms (0 Chatting)  |  Search  |   Login/Join
* For the benefit of the community, commercial posting is not allowed.
Boundary Waters Quetico Forum
   Fishing Forum
      Fishing Guides     
 Forum Sponsor

Author

Text

HawgHunter
member (44)member
  
06/21/2019 03:06PM   (Thread Older Than 3 Years)
Here is a question of ethics: If someone hires a fishing guide for $300-$400 / day to learn where and how to fish, is it ok to later return by yourself to the spot the guide took you? Part of me says yes, it is perfectly ok, as that is part of what you are paying the handsome daily rate for -- not just for the guide to take you out for a one-time experience, but to teach you something that you can subsequently use.

On the other hand, the guide has disclosed to you his honey hole(s) that he may have spent considerable effort to find and is it kind of unethical to go out there later by yourself without the guide service? I'm sure guides experience this from time to time and, perhaps, they just expect it as part of the business.

What are opinions on this?
 
      Print Top Bottom Previous Next
06/21/2019 03:24PM  
I'd probably pay less attention to the exact spot the guide takes you to and instead focus on the type of spot it is. Look at depth, structure, technique for fishing it, wind conditions, time of day, etc. The guide is basically showing you the final picture of the puzzle. If you start looking at how the pieces fit together you'll be able to take that info and replicate it on various spots across the lake. There is rarely only one spot on any given body of water that holds fish. Even the one spot the guide shows you may only hold fish in certain conditions. At a different time of day or different wind condition and you might find the fish holding deeper, shallower, or further down the shoreline. If you pay attention to those details and ask lots of questions you won't have to fish the same exact spot as the guide.


 
thegildedgopher
distinguished member(1659)distinguished memberdistinguished memberdistinguished memberdistinguished member
  
06/21/2019 03:29PM  
I have personally never hired a guide as i prefer to DIY and it’s more rewarding to do it on my own. I also can’t afford it, so it works out nicely haha. That said, I would not think twice to revisit a spot learned from a guide. I think they assume those spots will see repeat traffic.
 
missmolly
distinguished member(7681)distinguished memberdistinguished memberdistinguished memberdistinguished memberpower member
  
06/21/2019 03:37PM  
I had one guide encourage me to bring my GPS to mark the spots.
 
06/21/2019 05:15PM  
missmolly: "I had one guide encourage me to bring my GPS to mark the spots. "


I have never used a guide but from friends this is their normal experience.

I have known a few guides and seen them work. I have seen them run through 20 different spots in a day just to find fish or just hit them big at the first spot. I wouldn’t hesitate to go back to a spot they took me too but as others have said pay attention to the reason the spot is good and the conditions—that is much more valuable.

T
 
Zwater
distinguished member(570)distinguished memberdistinguished memberdistinguished memberdistinguished member
  
06/21/2019 10:34PM  
Anyone going to hire a guide should not hesitate to use their spots.
You should not even need one in the BWCA. Put in some time for a day. You should be able to find fish.
 
Basspro69
distinguished member(14142)distinguished memberdistinguished memberdistinguished memberdistinguished membermaster membermaster member
  
06/21/2019 11:11PM  
The most important thing you can learn from a guide on a particular lake is depth and presentation those things can be applied to similar structures on different parts of the lake . Guides have many honey holes so they expect that customers might visit those spots.
 
Zwater
distinguished member(570)distinguished memberdistinguished memberdistinguished memberdistinguished member
  
06/21/2019 11:59PM  
Basspro69: "The most important thing you can learn from a guide on a particular lake is depth and presentation those things can be applied to similar structures on different parts of the lake . Guides have many honey holes so they expect that customers might visit those spots. "


Exactly
+1
 
      Print Top Bottom Previous Next