What is OK to take out with a guide?

[TrepMan]

Meeting Mac Farr at 6am tomorrow WITH MY WIFE, for my guided trip. YEA!



What is OK to take with me. I'm thinking of stuff to take notes with, definetly will have a pen/paper. I know to bring drinks and snacks, but is it bad form to take my GPS to mark spots we catch fish? I don't want to look like an idiot if he is going to get mad if I mark spots we get fish on.



Thoughts? And anything else I should consider?

 

[Rob LaMoy]

Oh boy, OK, Trep, first thing, is call him and ask before hand. He will be respectful that you did. The one thing most guides and captains ask, is if you live nearby, do NOT mark their honey holes or revisit them or advertise them to others. Good way to burn a bridge there. Remember that is his livelyhood there, his natural resource. Taking notes should be fine, but again, just ask him. If your wife plans on fishing only part of the time, bring a camcorder and ask her to tape you. I have often reviewed tapes later, and picked up on subtle keys I missed while on the water about the strike, or my retrieve that later can be useful. Also ask him what baits he recommends you bring. By doing so, you are paying him the ultimate respect as a professional in his field. It amazes me, that just because we watch a show on TLC, we don't tell our dentist how he should perform our next root canal, but will book a guide and tell HIM how to catch fish on his water. I usually ask those guys, "If you know it all, why did you book me?" You'll be fine, but I would leave the GPS home. My opinion as a guide.

Rob

 

[Bill McElroy]

Put yourself in his position and then ask again,.."If your livelyhood depended on putting people on fish,..would YOU want them GPS'n all of your spots so they could come back later and pound them??"

I think if you politely asked him if he cared if you saved them,...he's much more apt to say okay,..but if you just start saving all his spots,..he may take you to lowsy spots all day and just blame it on something else!! I'd ask before you "SAVE". Take a camera, a jacket, your food and maybe a rainsuit and maybe a couple rods if you'd rather use your own equipment. Relax and have fun....he's a professional, so you can expect a good time!,..but deffinetely ASK him if he cares if you come back to those spots. just my .02!!

Mac

 

[TrepMan]

Thanks Mac and Rob - I knew you'd give me the right perspective! I want to learn as much as I can and don't want to piss him off too!



I am realy hoping the wife ties into some good ones, so she'll get reinterested in the sport with me!



Completely forgot about the camera Mac!



He asked me if I wanted to bring any of my rods and I think i might bring my 1 good one (don't want to look like a complete idiot backlashing his reels LOL). But since I don't have that many really good combo's I want to see/try what he uses too, for ideas on my next shopping trip.

 

[Tom(fishfafun) Lutz]

I'm not a guide nor have I been with one, yet....but on April 12th that statement will change.



The guide that is taking me out is very well known for his knowledge of this particular body of water and when I talked to him ealier I mentioned my gps and got no reaction from him. But I should also make this clear, he is NOT into tourney fishing and probably guides hundreds of clients every year on that lake and may not mind. He knows I don't fish the lake often (only twice in my life) and my reason for the trip is to pre-fish/learn what I can for a small club tourney that's there the next day.



Maybe Mac and Rob are be right about the gps, maybe he won't put me on his best stuff if I got it with me? I can see their point of veiw and will make sure to ask him about it again when I re-confirm before the trip.

Thanks for the info....



Tom(fishfafun)

 

[gone bye bye]

I wouldnt take you to the good stuff with a GPS in your hand......



Mini

 

[Rob LaMoy]

No No, really, all the big ones are out here in 125 ft of water. We catch 'em here all the time. Did I mention the trip is not guaranteed, and your payment is non-refundable. And TEE, if I found a previous client on my spots, any way he managed to get back there, he would never go with me again, and let's just say, he wouldn't catch many fish if I stuck around! It's a professional courtesy, like in tourneys when you pull up to a spot and someone else is on it, you don't just go in and cut them off and start fishing in front of them. BAD JUJU!

 

[Dan J.]

Trep - I've known and worked with Mac for too may years to admit.(LOL!)Seriously, he's a good friend and a great striper guide. You'll be in a big boat, brand new 22' center console w/Honda four stroke 225. He'll be ready when you get there in the morning.(Probably Lanier Harbor?)His equipment is the latest and the greatest for the sport. I'm sure he'll tell you to bring whatever, just be up front that you are local on a fishfinding mission as well as catching a bunch of stripers. Our little 38,000 acres gets even smaller pretty quick with 23-24 Million visitors anually.(Highest in the USACOE!)I'm sure Mac will tell you that there's not much secret about anything on this lake. During the course of the day he'll probably point out several places that are seasonal fish holding areas. Keep them in mind when you're out here on your own. Most of all, Mac will make sure you and the wife have an awesome day on our pond! Relax and enjoy. Post some pics on your return. Good luck!

 

[TrepMan]

Dan - Thanks for the confidence in Mac (the other one here in ATL) I know he was at the store last night for a seminar. I'm going to push him in a different direction (talked to him twice in the last month on this) i'm after Spotzilla and Bucketmouth, not interested in the Stipers. We're taking his 20ft Skeeter out.



Let me tell you how bad my wife wants to go, and she is NOT the fishing type lately...



Yesterday at around noon she was taking a brisket out of the oven (precooking for passover) and had too much liquid in the pan and spilled 400 degree soup all over her right let. We rushed her to the DR, they put on a medicated creme and told her to keep an eye for blistering and if so to come back on Friday to check for infection. Well, she didn't sleep real good last night, but during breakfast when I asked her if I should call Mac and reschedule or just go myself she said "and WHY can't I go? The swelling's gone down so my shoe fits, i'll wear loose pants and i'm GOING!" This from a girl who in TX would not fish unless the morning temp was the high side of 60, and tomorrow it's going to about 40 in the morning! What a TROOPER!



So, my folks are back from FL to take care of the boys in the morning and we'll be at the Lanier Harbor ramp at 6am SHARP!

 

[Rob LaMoy]

What a WOMAN! Man, wish my wife were that eager about fishing. When I ask her to go, she says, "do i have to?" "Nope, I'll take my girlfriend!", Is NOT the right answer BTW! LOL Even is she KNOWS you're kidding. A bass boat is NOT comfortable to sleep no matter what you've heard! LOL

 

[Mike Mann]

My wife tells me to take a sweater! Post some pic's when you can.

 

[TrepMan]

Guys this surprized me more than anyone. I figured she'd be LOOKING for an out, but MAYBE just MAYBE i'll get her hooked (pun intended) again on fishing! It'll make those trips to BPS that more frequent!

 

[Rob LaMoy]

Take a sweater, I LOVE it! Mine usually opts for the sex, she must figure, "hey what's 5 minutes for a whole day's worth of chores!" LOL

 

[TrepMan]

I'm giving her my coveralls so she will be nice and toasty!



Rob - Was Not gonna touch that one, but man you are FAST!

 

[Bill McElroy]

As loyal and faithful of an American as Rob is,...there's no doubt that reincarnation is TRUE!! He was a Minute-man in the Revolution,...and he STILL is today!! God bless the USA and the Honey do list!

HA!!

 

[Rob LaMoy]

Three and half minutes, maybe even FOUR! LOL That's a saying my brother taught me when he got home from the army! Don't even want to know! If that were true, I'd be divorced! LOL But if the fish are biting.....well never mind! It makes winter go by faster! LOL