I think the cost is relative. That is to say, some guys can spend $500 on a days fishing and not break the bank. Others (including myself)...no way! Fortunately for the Guides, their are enough anglers out there who don't see $500 as a fifth or thereabouts of their monthly income....but many do...
Like I say, it's all relative...
Musky Guide?
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Lunker Larry
- Bronze Participant
- Posts: 463
- Joined: Tue Jun 21, 2005 1:25 pm
- Location: Ottawa (Orleans), Ont
Spring is around the corner and I'm in a great mood today so please read this like we're good friends having a casual, mutually beneficial conversation.
Wherever there is a demand there will be a business. As we all know it takes time to learn how to read water and adjust presentations to conditions. If your a business man with limited recreational time or just starting out, then a guide can give you that concentrated learning curve along with practical experience. Also, it takes quite a while to figure out a body of water on a good day, let alone if the conditions are against you. If you're travelling a long way then a guide can provide you with that comradery we enjoy as fishermen plus knowledge exchange and a better chance at putting something in the boat. The reason I joined MC was because no matter what video I watched or article I read, it never looked like any of the water I was fishing and gave me absolutely zero confidence in how I was fishing it. Now, with the help of fellow MC members, I have a better knowledge of what to look for and can adapt better to new water. I know that pounding the water for 10 hrs and not seeing a fish is part of musky fishing. What I like about fishing (like Mat mentioned) is the hunt. Trying to figure it all out and experiencing success is what its all about. For the guide, he's got an arsenal of tactics that gives him the success to promote his business. It's only practical to hold back on a few secrets. If the guide is catching fish when others aren't, then it justifies the expenditure of the client. A guides success depends on his reputation. There are many levels of fishers (I hate that new term). A guide may not be for everyone, however, the fact that a guide can keep their calender full of clients throughout the season means that they are providing a service that is in demand. Don't forget, they're also teaching fish management to neophytes in your body of water which benefits you. I know TrophyMusky has his secrets, yet, if you ask him for advice he will help you out without hesitation. That's valuable when the info is specific to fishing your body of water.
For those of you who really think fishing musky is that easy, then I hope your confidence pays off for you. But just think about how many times you've gone to the "greatest bass lake" around, where everyone says all you have to do is drop your line in to catch a fish, and been skunked. For musky, even on a good day they're few and far between.
Right now, I'm even looking forward to the bad days!!!
Wherever there is a demand there will be a business. As we all know it takes time to learn how to read water and adjust presentations to conditions. If your a business man with limited recreational time or just starting out, then a guide can give you that concentrated learning curve along with practical experience. Also, it takes quite a while to figure out a body of water on a good day, let alone if the conditions are against you. If you're travelling a long way then a guide can provide you with that comradery we enjoy as fishermen plus knowledge exchange and a better chance at putting something in the boat. The reason I joined MC was because no matter what video I watched or article I read, it never looked like any of the water I was fishing and gave me absolutely zero confidence in how I was fishing it. Now, with the help of fellow MC members, I have a better knowledge of what to look for and can adapt better to new water. I know that pounding the water for 10 hrs and not seeing a fish is part of musky fishing. What I like about fishing (like Mat mentioned) is the hunt. Trying to figure it all out and experiencing success is what its all about. For the guide, he's got an arsenal of tactics that gives him the success to promote his business. It's only practical to hold back on a few secrets. If the guide is catching fish when others aren't, then it justifies the expenditure of the client. A guides success depends on his reputation. There are many levels of fishers (I hate that new term). A guide may not be for everyone, however, the fact that a guide can keep their calender full of clients throughout the season means that they are providing a service that is in demand. Don't forget, they're also teaching fish management to neophytes in your body of water which benefits you. I know TrophyMusky has his secrets, yet, if you ask him for advice he will help you out without hesitation. That's valuable when the info is specific to fishing your body of water.
For those of you who really think fishing musky is that easy, then I hope your confidence pays off for you. But just think about how many times you've gone to the "greatest bass lake" around, where everyone says all you have to do is drop your line in to catch a fish, and been skunked. For musky, even on a good day they're few and far between.
Right now, I'm even looking forward to the bad days!!!
So Richard I am confused.Are you saying you give 2 different amounts of effort on a guide date depending on where the client is from? First of all-a client is a client no matter where they are from.If a local hires you for a day and you don't take him/her to your "A" spots or show him/her your "A" techniques then shame on you.From what I read you would charge a local 450 or 500.00 (which is it) and NOT give that 110% you claim to give.Your replies here are a little contradictary. No way am I saying you don't deserve to charge what you do-BUT I,as a hypothetically paying client would not pay you had I known I would not get my moneys worth because I was not an American or that I lived in close proximity to where you are.
Trophymuskie,
This is weird , as much I do understand that taking locals might open some of your secret spots or techniques I have hard time to swallow your thoughts here.
450 or 500$ at day versus 2000$ for 4 days is the same thing.
Why would you take money for someone and not give your best ?
very good advertisement for http://www.trophymuskiecharters.com/ ?
"certainly ain't doing this for the money like Steve alluded too, my wife has a good job and as long as I am happy and pay my small share of the bills it's all good"
This is weird , as much I do understand that taking locals might open some of your secret spots or techniques I have hard time to swallow your thoughts here.
450 or 500$ at day versus 2000$ for 4 days is the same thing.
Why would you take money for someone and not give your best ?
very good advertisement for http://www.trophymuskiecharters.com/ ?
"certainly ain't doing this for the money like Steve alluded too, my wife has a good job and as long as I am happy and pay my small share of the bills it's all good"
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Trophymuskie
- Gold Participant
- Posts: 1023
- Joined: Tue Oct 08, 2002 12:00 pm
- Location: Ottawa River
- Contact:
That is what I have been saying all along, I've been in business in the service industry long enough to know even the smaller jobs deserve the same attention as the big ones do. People are paying for services and they should be getting what they pay for.
In my guiding business it is the same, everyone who hires me gets my 110%. That is why I may refuse to take out locals or even guys from the states if I know their intentions are to hire me for a day or two and fish on their own the rest of the week.
Muskie fishing is such a different ball game no one can understand it untill they have been at it for a while. It's more like hunting then fishing so it's a different ballgame, spots are few and far in between and local knowledge really helps find the right lure at the right time ect ect. Most local muskie fisherman are averaging 10 hours of fishing per muskie, I am at 4 hours. That may not necessarely mean that I am that much better then everyone else it could be all the extra time I am spending out hunting these fish. BTW I had the same hours per fish when I was a weekend fisherman but I did fish peak times of month and day mostly.
Maybe I am making more of it then it really is but this is my business and just like any other business I have to protect it from the competition. I know guys who just refuse to hire help because these guys are going to learn the ropes and then start on their own and become the competition. This is good for any and all business out there.
One thing for sure is that I can take 100 guys by the hand and show them how it's done and I bet 95 of them just won't get it. But it's still a risk to have that much pressure on my fish ( I don't own them but I do take them for a swim and a picture now and again).
As for the $$$ thing, my rate is $525 Canadian per day, I offer a discounted rate for multiple days and also offer full American rates including meals and lodging. I normally will charge a local $500 as he can supply his own food and drinks for the day as well as sometimes another $50 discount if I can squeeze them in between trips on short notice. It's pretty hard for me to book a local for one day in the middle of the week months ahead of time as I am losing the oportunity to book that entire week. Everyone out there is looking for a deal, I try my best to accomodate everyone in both my businesses.
I'm sure some here will never understand or just misinterpret what I am saying but I am trying my bets here.
In my guiding business it is the same, everyone who hires me gets my 110%. That is why I may refuse to take out locals or even guys from the states if I know their intentions are to hire me for a day or two and fish on their own the rest of the week.
Muskie fishing is such a different ball game no one can understand it untill they have been at it for a while. It's more like hunting then fishing so it's a different ballgame, spots are few and far in between and local knowledge really helps find the right lure at the right time ect ect. Most local muskie fisherman are averaging 10 hours of fishing per muskie, I am at 4 hours. That may not necessarely mean that I am that much better then everyone else it could be all the extra time I am spending out hunting these fish. BTW I had the same hours per fish when I was a weekend fisherman but I did fish peak times of month and day mostly.
Maybe I am making more of it then it really is but this is my business and just like any other business I have to protect it from the competition. I know guys who just refuse to hire help because these guys are going to learn the ropes and then start on their own and become the competition. This is good for any and all business out there.
One thing for sure is that I can take 100 guys by the hand and show them how it's done and I bet 95 of them just won't get it. But it's still a risk to have that much pressure on my fish ( I don't own them but I do take them for a swim and a picture now and again).
As for the $$$ thing, my rate is $525 Canadian per day, I offer a discounted rate for multiple days and also offer full American rates including meals and lodging. I normally will charge a local $500 as he can supply his own food and drinks for the day as well as sometimes another $50 discount if I can squeeze them in between trips on short notice. It's pretty hard for me to book a local for one day in the middle of the week months ahead of time as I am losing the oportunity to book that entire week. Everyone out there is looking for a deal, I try my best to accomodate everyone in both my businesses.
I'm sure some here will never understand or just misinterpret what I am saying but I am trying my bets here.
Catch and release them all
Richard Collin
Richard Collin
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Lookinforlunkers
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- Location: Morrisburg
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Trophymuskie
- Gold Participant
- Posts: 1023
- Joined: Tue Oct 08, 2002 12:00 pm
- Location: Ottawa River
- Contact:
I'm is sync with you 100% Trophiemuskie
As a local angler I would be concerned if you were pumping out 6-10 new local anglers per week
Can you imagine haw quick the waters would be full of guys who fish your spots!!
Trophiemuskie is not inly the most knowledgable muskie anglers I've ever had the pleasure to fish with ,but he also has our rivers and thier stock as a huge priority in his life.
His morals are 100% in line in my view
I've had some great outings with TM and i'm sure he didn't take me to the spots where he makes his money at , and I would have more respect for him than to ask him to show me the primo spots.
But he tried 100% to catch those days and never came up short
His commitment to Musky and the fishery in general , along with his longevity and contribution to Muskies Canada ---speak for themselves
As a local angler I would be concerned if you were pumping out 6-10 new local anglers per week
Can you imagine haw quick the waters would be full of guys who fish your spots!!
Trophiemuskie is not inly the most knowledgable muskie anglers I've ever had the pleasure to fish with ,but he also has our rivers and thier stock as a huge priority in his life.
His morals are 100% in line in my view
I've had some great outings with TM and i'm sure he didn't take me to the spots where he makes his money at , and I would have more respect for him than to ask him to show me the primo spots.
But he tried 100% to catch those days and never came up short
His commitment to Musky and the fishery in general , along with his longevity and contribution to Muskies Canada ---speak for themselves
still don't understand why.......
......Richard keeps up with the contradictions??On page 1 he says re:taking out locals "naturally I won't be fishing my A spots or my special techniques" but he keeps on saying through out this thread that he gives his 110% best effort.
Re: still don't understand why.......
Whatever---Darsky wrote:......Richard keeps up with the contradictions??On page 1 he says re:taking out locals "naturally I won't be fishing my A spots or my special techniques" but he keeps on saying through out this thread that he gives his 110% best effort.
obviously taking out lots of locals is a conflict of interest for him----leave it at that -----if he doesn't take out locals then he doesn't comprimize his business----pretty plain logic ---don't ya think
I kind of liken it to a guy who decides he's going to sell brooms for a living , but before he opens his business he teaches everyone in town how to make their own
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trexellunge
- Bronze Participant
- Posts: 261
- Joined: Mon Sep 15, 2003 7:47 pm
Boy, you would think that by the tone of this thread, some locals think that trophymuskie is "selling out" to rich Americans. I believe he still accepts the Canadian dollar...although it doesn't really matter much anymore. In my mind, it all comes down to protecting your business secrets and livelyhood against those who could make it rough on you.
That's it. It's no more complicated than that.
That's it. It's no more complicated than that.