[size 4]Here are a few things I have noticed over my many years as a fishing guide.[/size] [size 4]"How many fish can I expect to catch in a day?"...... is totally dependent on your casting ability..... and the weather.[/size] [size 4]Out in the boat fishing is NOT the time to learn how to cast.[/size] [size 4]An accurate cast is more important than a long cast.[/size] [size 4]Single hook lures rigged weedless don't hang up in trees as much as lures with two treble hooks. (see above)[/size] [size 4]Barbless hooks catch more fish and are easer to remove from the fishes mouth, your hat, your shirt, and your ear.[/size] [size 4]Long pants, long sleeve shirts, wide brim hats, and sunglasses protect your ears better than an application of sun tan oil. (see above)[/size] [size 4]When casting, always be aware of what is behind your client... they won't.[/size] [size 4]Re-spooling a fishing reel with expensive new line will almost always guarantee the next client to use it will be a beginner.[/size] [size 4]Cranking really fast on the handle of a spinning reel while the fish is taking out line will result in a twisted, tangled, kinked up fishing line.[/size] [size 4]Some "bird nests" in a reel are so tangled that only a pair of scissors will help.[/size] [size 4]When fishing with beginning anglers it's a good idea to have 2 or 3 rods rigged and ready to go..... per angler.[/size] [size 4]Sight fishing for spawning peacock bass is not as simple as most people tend to believe it is.[/size] [size 4]When site fishing for spawning peacock bass, you must be able to see the fish.[/size] [size 4]You can see the fish a lot better if you remember to bring your polarized sunglasses.[/size] [size 4]Locking down the drag on a fishing reel will result in broken line or bent hooks. (lost fish)[/size] [size 4]It's a good idea to frequently check (and loosen) the drag setting on the reel of most clients.[/size] [size 4]There is no such thing as a "fool-proof" fishing reel. (Fools can be very creative)[/size] [size 4]Women anglers listen to the advice given by the fishing guide.[/size] [size 4]Where skill is about even, women anglers will catch more fish. (see above)[/size] [size 4]Many beginning anglers, when hooked up to a fish, loose all hearing in both ears.[/size] [size 4]Any fishing rod laying in the bottom of the boat will be stepped on.[/size] [size 4]The more expensive the fishing rod, the more likely it will be laid down in the bottom of the boat.[/size] [size 4]Electric car windows and ceiling fans eat rod tips.[/size] [size 4]Fishing with live bait is not as simple as most people tend to believe that it is.[/size] [size 4]When using tilapia as live bait, they will always quickly swim into the thickest cover available.[/size] [size 4]After the live tilapia swims into the thick cover, it is usually quicker and easier to break the line and tie on another hook.[/size] [size 4]Always buy fish hooks in the 250 package size.[/size] [size 4]Learn how to tie one or two good knots....... and how to tie them quickly.[/size] [size 4][/size] [size 4]Aloha,[/size] [size 4]Stan[/size]
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Thanks for sharing the good, sound advice. I'm sure you run into alot of the beginners. I frequently see them myself when I go on an open party boat. You never know what to expect.[cool]
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LOL, nice. But, a lot of what you wrote doesn't just apply to charter captains either. I'm a USCG Captain myself, but i've never taken a charter before. However, I run into those same scenarios every trip. I take friends sometimes that haven't been on the water too much, and when they get excited, it's like a human tornado comming through the boat when a big fish gets hooked up. The clicker on the reel is SCREAMING, they are SCREAMING, and then I have to start SCREAMING so everyone will shut up long enough to get the belt on who's next, get the clicker off, clear the lines, and get rockin'. I feel like a kindergarden teacher sometimes out in the boat, and i'm not even getting payed for it. LOL But, that's fishing. [
] Luckily, the only rods that have broken have been a direct result of my own misfortune or neglect. And I haven't messed up too many reels. [
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We are all so lucky to have these "adventures".... otherwise, what would we have to laugh about when we get together and swap fish stories.
LOL
Stan
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I just tell every new guide that I've never fished before.. It takes the pressure off of me
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I tell all the guides I go out with that I don't even care if I catch any fish... I just want to get away from my wife and the rest of the tour group for the day.
That "never fished before" won't work with me... I can hand you a rod and reel and tell how experienced you are just by the way you handle it.
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That is a good one. I haved pulled stuff like that before too.
I like playing the game of "What does this do?" as you are sitting in 300 ft of water and click the release on a conventional reel.
Ffffffffffppppppppptttttttthhhhhhhh! Biggest birds nest you ever saw! hee hee.
When I see other doing the same thing, I gently remind them about rule #1 of conventinal reels.
#1: Don't be dumb! Use the thumb!
[laugh][laugh]
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I try to fish Lake Michigan 3 or 4 times a year with different guides, mostly with the intention of writing reviews of their service, so playing somewhat dumb is a good way to find more things out.. Especially when we bring the wives who really don't know all that much about fishing, but still love it.. I definitely have a few that we will never use again..
But mostly I just want to go out an have fun.. I've been with a few guides that get so wrapped up in putting us on fish that we never have any fun.. I understand that his job is to help us catch fish, but relax, it is just fishing after all..
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When I go to california next year I'm not bringing any fishing utincils. I'm just gonna tell the guide to bring the beer, bag the fishin and we'll just get drunk and make Macfly55 drive us all home.
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Dumb misfortune doesn't just happen with the inexperienced angler. Just this last fall, I took my dad out. He picked up a rod, dug into my tackle box, picked my brand new $8 Rapala put it on the snap swivel, and casted. Only he forgot to close the snap swivel, and I watched my never been used expensive lure go flying up-up-up and away into the reeds....
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I don't know if you call it misfortune, but I have a "dumb" moment from time to time. Like last year, I was showing a buddy how strong one of my Quantum ultra light rods was, and I bent it too far and broke it. LMAO!!!!!!!!!!!! See, just plain old dumb. I guess you could say I have more faith in some of my equipment than the manufacturers did when they made it. Needless to say, all my ultra light equipment is now ugly stixs. It's kind of a good thing though, i'd much rather that rod have broken with me screwing with it than breaking and causing me to loose a trophy fish. [unimpressed]
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