Why it pays to hire a guide...

[Stan Fagerstrom]

Just finished Part Two of my column!

Enjoy!

Thank you,
Stan

[Crappie Chaser]

Good article,Stan.You nailed it about the overhead casting and helping to keep the boat level.

[Wannabe]

Good article....Steve Fleming is a class act.
&lt))><

[halomidge]

Stan, totally agree - Guides are a great resource and I'll continue to use them not expecting to catch fish but to fish educate myself. I would also recommend anyone using a guide - Don't build unreasonable expectations (quantity or quality) just get out, enjoy and educate yourself. As for Steve F. I have not personally floated with him but he has provided excellent, friendly, information and I recommend him every chance I get.

[Stan Fagerstrom]

Thanks for your kind words with regard to my column on working with a guide. Guiding, as some of you have discovered, is a tough, demanding way to make a living. It means so much when a guide has good natured, understanding clients to work with.

Stan

[Stan Fagerstrom]

Thanks for your kind words with regard to my column on working with a guide. Guiding, as some of you have discovered, is a tough, demanding way to make a living. It means so much when a guide has good natured, understanding clients to work with.

Stan

[rebell]

Several years back at a N.W. Steelheaders banquet, my wife and I decided to bid on a guided trip offered by Phil Simonsky. It involved 1 day of fishing and a 1 night stay at his B&B. It turned out to be one of the best investments we ever made.

First, it was our first stay at a B&B. It was awesome! I would recomend that everybody look at this option when planning a vacation anywhere. Then there was the fishing, good lord we caught fish. It was nothing short of incredible. Phil took care of my wife all day while I sat in the back of the boat catching smallie after smallie. For the day, we boated over 200 fish. My wife was hooked on smallmouth fishing to say the least. We booked a trip the next 3 years up untill Phil decided it was time to retire.

Now for the best part :smile: . I took what I learned from those trips on Brownlee and Oxbow with Phil the last couple of years and went searching for new water. With what I have learned here on the Columbia and Willamette, I was able to locate a bunch of good fish on Oxbow.

Bass are bass, river or resevoir. Thanks to hiring a good guide, I was able to find water on my own that held lot's of fish. It was money well spent!

[Stan Fagerstrom]

Rebell:

Phil invited me to fish with him years ago, but I never did get around to it. I wish I had.

Incidentally, if you and your wife want want a great experience, visit the Big K Guest Ranch on the Umpqua River sometime. It's a beautiful spot with people to match. Line up a trip with guide Scott Wolfe. Try to make the trip in July, August or early September. You'll love it!

Stan

I'll bet Jennie will tell you the same thing.