To be honest, it is entirely possible and actually most likely that a guide could be fishing in 30' in the backs of the creeks and you would not be doing it wrong fishing the main lake! It happens much more than you think. Stripernut and I rarely fish similar water and, in fact, haven't all the way up until this past weekend. Research has found that stripers us much more of the lake than previously thought and they have upped the stocking rates based on those adjusted findings. The one thing that really serves me well is to do my thing and not worry too much what others are doing. There is a saying... It's really hard to catch someone else's fish and I think there is a lot to that. Last weekend I was catching my fish on the surface and really shallow when most people were fishing deeper. I picked up some deeper fish, but I didn't catch limits doing it. And I caught one at 55 when most were focused on 20-35.
I hate to say it, but a top guide trip probably wouldn't go the time limit from now until late summer. LOL You split the guide cost with a buddy. Let your buddy do all the cranking. You ask a ton of questions and take notes. Tell the guide before the trip that you are on an informational trip. A great guide will welcome it. I know of guides that will go on your boat if they know you well enough. If you do hire a guide, pick a time frame when you might struggle the most. And forget the month of May. Everyone has scratch you head days in May. Golf or play put put in May. HA!
Two pieces of advise: Learn to trust what you see on the screen. I use side imaging much more than others looking for bait and fish. And make minor smart changes. See marks at 20 and you aren't getting bites at 18, move up to 16. Not marking? move in and out to see if you can find bait or fish. Sometimes being over 90 foot of water may show nothing but you move in to 70, or out to 110 and you find them.
Right now is a great time to fish on your own if you are a beginner because the fish are still scattered which makes it easier to run into a few. They are starting to group up but the groups are small.