For those of you who think guiding is a easy job, let me fill you in on all the work.
Fish -
Most guides keep detailed diaries of where and when they catch fish. This helps the guide to keep track of fishing patterns and where fish prefer to be at any given time. Think about this, from year to year water levels, weather, water temps
and other factors change. Bait fish concentrations change. When you consider all of the possibilities that guides have to deal with it is amazing that from day to day they can keep track of where to fish and what to fish with. Even more amazing is knowing HOW to catch the fish since there are so many possibilities for any species of fish.
Equipment -
Boats, Rods, Reels, Electronics, Motors, Lures, & much more. Batteries. The boat is probably one of the costliest choices guides have to make, and the toughest to keep properly maintained. After each trip it must be cleaned, gasoline must be reloaded and in some cases reformulated with oil. Tires for the trailer, daily checks of tire pressure are
necessary to make sure of the safety of one of the guides biggest investments.
Rods -
Most guides have at least 10 of these if not more, Some guides have over 100 rods that they have to keep available depending on the type of fishing that they do. Rods get stepped on, nicked, and damaged. After almost every trip the guide has to check the rods for damage to prevent the loss of a fish in the middle of a fight.
Flagging Juglines-
The same goes for jugs like rods, constant relining and hook sharpening in my case.
Reels -
Each type of fishing requires a different type of reel. If you are bait fishing, many guides will have Bait Casters, Others will use spinning reels for light fishing and casting since the normal non fisherman can operate and cast these much easier. Spin Casters are almost only used for light fishing like crappie and bluegill. The extreme ease of operation is the benefit, and all of these reels require a daily check of the fishing line. Good fishing line is a must if the guide does not want to change line daily which is time consuming and expensive.
Electronics -
That depth finder is not the only piece of equipment any more. Many guides will carry GPS.These also require time and effort to maintain.
Motors -
Not only the main motor which has to have regular maintenance and care, but the trolling motor means keeping track of that wear and tear. Also each motor has a propeller and these must be checked regularly for wear, nicks, more importantly for anything that could foul the prop.
Batteries -
Everything in a boat that runs has to have a battery. The live bait well, the boat motor, most of the newer batteries do not require much care other than making sure that they stay charged.
Bait -
If your guide uses Live Bait, most likely he is catching it. This means that with some baits he has to have expensive equipment to keep the bait alive. This equipment is going to have to be maintained as well. Cast Nets and the time to go and get the bait can be short.
So the next time you think its a easy job, remember, for every 8 hour trip you take the guide is most likely going to spend another 4 to 8 hours keeping track of the equipment that keeps you and his clients fishing. Not to mention the time spent getting bait. There is more, book keeping and other duties that the guide has to take care of requiring a computer and other accessories.
These are my thoughts and how we run our service.
**NOTE - This article brought to you by Texas Fishing Guide Tim Roberts Visit Tim’s Website - Fish n’ Friends
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