Is Hiring a Crappie Fishing Guide a Good Investment?
Many fishermen have thought about hiring a fishing guide from one time or the other. The question most of them have is “Is hiring a fishing guide a good investment?”. Let me start by saying that I am not a fishing guide nor do I know any personally at the time of this writing.
Traditional Cost of Hiring a Fishing Guide
But to answer to the question at hand depends greatly on what you hope to accomplish with your time with the guide. Most guide services start at around $150 and up per half day and $250 for the whole day. But usually you are able to add on a buddy or two for a little more and be able to split the cost, making the trip much more affordable. However there is a maximum amount of people that the guide will allow due to the weight limits of his boat, and the ability of your party to be able to comfortably catch fish given the boat’s size.
Many fishermen get sticker shock when they first call to get a price from a fishing guide. But break it down in practical terms. This professional angler is going to spend 4-5 hours with you, using his boat, his gear, his bait, his gas (which is becoming increasingly more expensive), and he is even going to pay the boat launch fee. On top of that he brings his professionalism, and knowledge of the lake.
In addition you need to factor in that the guide has to clean and put his boat up upon return. So, on a 4 hour fishing trip, a guide has a minimum or 5 1/2 – 6 hours invested in it. Do the math and you are essentially getting professional “tutoring” for around $30/hour, which is a bargain.
Will You Benefit from Hiring a Guide?
If you are a seasoned old veteran fisherman, you may not learn much from a fishing guide. Although even old dogs can learn new tricks.
If you have been fishing for many years and are trying to learn a technique, then it could speed your learning curve. Be sure to ask the guide you are looking at hiring if they know the technique you are trying to learn. And once on the water, focus on learning that technique…not bragging about how you usually catch ‘em.
But if you are new to the sport of Crappie fishing, then probably the best thing to enhance your learning curve is to take a trip out with a guide.
Tell him your experience level and ask him what he would recommend as the best way for you to catch fish in the future. Ask him to show you particular techniques.
If you are a newbie, this would be a good chance to ask an expert what fishing tackle he would recommend for you as well.
Hiring a Fishing Guide Doesn’t Guarantee Results
Fishing guides cannot control Mother Nature, so there is no guarantee that you will catch fish just because you hired a guide for that particular day. You just have to approach it with the right attitude.
Unless you are on vacation down in the Caribbean on a once in a lifetime Marlin fishing expedition, a fishing guide trip is more about learning how to catch fish, rather than actually catching those fish in a particular 4 or 5 hour period. No one can guarantee that you are going to catch Crappie, but if I had to put money on boats leaving the dock, mine would be on the fishing guide’s.
Hiring a Crappie fishing guide can be a good investment as long as you go into it with the right attitude. Remember, it is more about learning, than necessarily catching fish. A good trip out with a Crappie fishing guide will even put your knowledge level ahead of people who have been fishing for years.
Get the Right Color Fast with the Lindy X-Change Jig System
A new product is out specifically designed to make jig fishing much easier. The Lindy X-Change jig system helps you change jig head color or weight, without having to cut and re-tie your line.
Successful Crappie Fishing Requires the Ability to Detect the Bite
I got a chance to go fishing Saturday night for a few hours. I love Crappie fishing at night this time of year because there is virtually no boat traffic, and you’re not sweating to death because of the heat. In a month or so, it will start to warm up a little more down here in Texas, and even the nights will be a bit warm then.
If you are an inexperienced Crappie fisherman, then sometimes you will miss the bite. Such was the case Saturday night.
The way they were biting was that they would bump the bait, (we were using live minnows fished under lights), and then a couple of minutes later, they would start pushing the line sideways. I should also mention that we were tight-line fishing.
Experienced Crappie fisherman know that this is a Crappie, and set the hook. But if you don’t know what is happening, the fish will take your bait in nothing flat. Once that line is going to the side, lift up and reel, and you’ll have your fish.
My last trip out they were biting totally different. They would bump the line, and then there would be a bunch of slack. When you see this slack, the Crappie has the bait in his mouth and is pushing it up. Firmly jerk your rod and reel up, and you’ll have him hooked.
Be careful though, because when they are biting like this, they don’t always give you the “courtesy” bump first. You’ll just look and all of a sudden have a bunch of slack. If you are too late, he’ll have his dinner, and you will have none.
Crappie will on occasion just hit the bait, but more often than not, they will use one of the biting methods discussed to obtain their meal.
If you are using a cork, the principle is the same. If you see your cork heading sideways, jerk back in the opposite direction and start reeling. Make sure that whenever you are Crappie fishing, that you do not set the hook too hard, because it will rip out of their mouths. Many fisherman have nicknamed Crappie “papermouths” for this reason.
It can take a little practice to get the feel for how Crappie bite, but once you get the hang of it, you’ll be able to catch all you want.
Spring Crappie Fishing Tips
The spawn is on at many lakes across the southern US. The water temperatures have risen and if you can catch the conditions just right, you should be able to land a few slabs. The #1 bait for catching Spring Crappie is without a doubt a live minnow. It has been estimated that over 50% of all Crappie are caught on live minnows. I am not totally sure of the accuracy of that quote, but I happen to believe it. The problem is that sometimes the local bait shops will run out of minnows if the fish are really biting. Other effective live baits you can use are crickets and
If the Wind Is Blowing – Don’t Forget to Fish the Windward Bank
After about an hour of catching no fish, I realized that we should have moved when the wind shifted directions. I took a look toward the bend about 200 yards down river, and noticed a bunch of bait-fish jumping around.
The Thermocline and How it Affects Summer Crappie Fishing
If you are going to be a successful Crappie fisherman in the Summer, particularly in Southern climates, you need to understand the thermocline and how it works.
Submerged Brush-piles Provide Hot Summer Crappie Action
Summer Crappie fishing can be smokin hot if you know where to find them. Tips on How to Catch Crappie in the Summer months.
Get Ready for Spring Crappie Fishing
Time to get ready for Spring Crappie Fishing. Make sure your tackle is ready, and know where to look for those slabs.
How to Rig Your Line for Crappie Fishing at Night
My method of rigging your line for tight-line fishing for Crappie at night. Loops allow the minnow to move about creating a more lifelike offering.
11 Quick Night Crappie Fishing Tips & Tricks
When the sun goes down, the action often heats up for Crappie. Sometimes it is difficult to fish a body of water during the day due to the heat and the constant stream of boats churning up the water. If you have experienced these frustrations, then try your hand at night Crappie fishing.
The following tips should help catch your limit of Crappie and help keep you safe on the water. Read more…
