Often times when one is planning a fishing trip, the question of a fishing guide comes up. They are costly so the first reaction is to forego a guide –after all, you already know how to fish right? This may or may not be true. You might very well be an expert fisherman that can get along quite well without a guide but if you are travelling to a venue far away in a area you are not familiar with and have no information about the fishing there, then a guide could come in handy.
Now having said that, I will say that a guide is simply that … a guide. He can tell you where he thinks the fish will be and even help you land one but the real work is up to you. Just because you spend the money on a guide does not mean you will catch a fish or even see one but the chances could greatly increase if you use one.
Most guides are great fishermen themselves and know the local area like the back of their hands. They are up on current conditions and they know where the fish are at the time you want to fish. They spend all their time fishing the lake or river and probably have for many years so they know where the best fish are to be caught. Without a guide you can waste a lot of your time just trying to find those fish.
If you do decide to hire a guide you need to make your fishing goals clear to him or her at the outset in order to make sure he can deliver what you want. Some things to discuss include the type of fish you want to catch, if you want to catch a lot of fish or just a big one and the technique you prefer to use.
You should also find out if the guide has experience in your desired area. During these discussions you may find out that the guide recommends a different fishing style that what you have proposed in order to catch the kind of fish you want. These are things you will have to consider.
A guide can cost you anywhere between 55€ and 100€ a day depending on what’s included and how far you are travelling. Remember, even if you don’t catch fish, for your money you should get expert advice on the best fishing location and the best baits to use at certain times. You can then apply this information to your own fishing trip at a later date without the guide.
Many anglers do just that… they hire the guide for the first one or two days and then go it alone. This way you can benefit from his advice and save a few Euros too. Don’t be afraid to let the guide know your intentions as he might be able to leave you with some parting tips so the rest of your holiday is as good as the first part.
The question of whether or not the guide is worth it does not have the same answer for every angler. If this is your one big holiday and catching fish is of the utmost importance, then opting for a guide is probably well worth it.
Do your home work and use an established guide with years experience fishing the area you want to fish. Ask around - the best fishing guides will come highly recommended.
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