Guide endorsement Dave Stewart/ Fred McClintock

[plowboy]

[font size="1" color="#FF0000"]LAST EDITED ON Mar-22-06 AT 05:56PM (EST)[/font][p]I think yahoo photos would work. It allows you to share on the web. also shutterfly.com try to link to this to see if it works. These are a couple of bass that I caught in Florida. I was about 20 lbs heavier then so I'm not crazy about showing the pictures but the fish look good. http://tacoma200.dell.shutterfly.com...21b334c1c965de

[thebassman30]

Thanks for the tip....I posted our Dale trip photos under the Dale Trip discussion.

Nice fish....I've caught a few of those on shiners....yeah...I was cheat'n......My wallet felt like I was buying Lucky Craft Shiners though. $18/dozen is rough.

[plowboy]

Auctually they were caught on a worm and senko. A cold front came through the day before and the wind was so high they (bait suppliers) could not cast for shinners. But we still managed a few good fish. The guide has access to private lakes with lots of big fish. But shinners were the game plan we just couldn't find any, sold out before we could get any. Three trips to Florida and three cold fronts. Surely one day I'll get there during stable weather.

[plowboy]

One more note. One thing that both of these fishermen showed me was how to get off the bank. Most of us (me anyway) always looked for something to cast to, log, laydown, bridge, rip rap, docks, etc. They were very good at showing how to hit hidden stump beds, grass, drop offs, channel edges, etc. Nothing wrong with fishing the traditional stuff but you can catch alot of fish further from shore during the right conditions. Dave watched me carolina rig a lizard and after politely correcting my retrieve I caught a bass the very next cast. Now that's good instruction. Also lots of times it looked like Fred was in the middle of the lake when actually he was fishing the edge of a large flat where it dropped into deeper water. I have seen some post that you must have 4-6 lbs line and small lures on Dale Hollow and was surprised to find out many of the largest smallies are caught on very large baits while musky fishing.

[KYHorseflys]

Thanks for the recommendations fellas... I've been thinking of going on a guided trip (when I can afford it) to learn and just spend a day on the lake (somethin' I don't get to do often!) - now I know who to go with. I was already thinking about trying to get a trip set up with Dave Stewart, just for the simple fact that he's always on here posting real good information, now I've heard it from y'all that he's a real good guide. Well I can't beat that - Dave, as soon as I can save up, I'll be callin'!

I'll look up Fred's service too!

As many of you may know, I'm no pro at bass fishin' (and well, sport fishing all together really, other than fly fishin' and that was 12 years or more ago) and have been thinking a guide service would be invaluable to gettin' good info and techniques. Being a novice and all. Anyways... I think a guided trip would be a smart move/investment.

Thanks again for the info fellas!

[plowboy]

After you give Dave a try, Fred does trout fishing as well as bass and striper. Alot of good talent close to home. That cumberland river is the easiest place in the state to catch fish in the summer, I don't fly fish much but 10-50 trout days are the norm when the waters right. I go on guide trips to learn more than catch trophy fish. I enjoy watching and learning from more experienced anglers. Most of us that work regular jobs will never have the time to develop the skills that these talented guides can share. Like I said $250-300 dollars seems like alot of money but its easy to run out that much in gas and not learn as much as with a good guide. Probably other great guides in the area but I can only vouch for the ones I've been with. The best luck I've had in Florida was with a guide named John Fox who has guided Roland Martin. I think he had his own show at one time.

[KYHorseflys]

Oh, I don't fly fish anymore - haven't for years and that was in SE Alaska when I lived there for a year back in college days... though that's not THAT long ago - only about 16 years ago after thinking about it - gosh! I guess it is a while ago! LOL! Anyways... haven't fly fished in a long time.

Hey, if anyone here would want to split the cost of a trip (all day @ $275 means about $140 ea. - that covers two people) email me and let me know: [email protected]. Remember though, I'm a newbie and if you're real experienced may end up thinking it's a waste of your time since I'll be learning pretty basic stuff. We'd have to agree on a few dates that would work, then contact Dave to see if there's an opening. I'd be coming from Louisville, so we could split the drive costs too if you're from this area.

Come to think of it... if this were to work out, I'd/we'd be able to afford a trip with both guides! Just a thought.

I really think a trip with a guide would be a great way for me to learn - better than reading books and watching DVDs!

[thebassman30]

great idea man!

[KYHorseflys]

[font size="1" color="#FF0000"]LAST EDITED ON Mar-22-06 AT 10:30PM (EST)[/font][p]Any takers? Email me: [email protected]

Hey Dave, if you see this thread, am I right on the pricing? $275 for two people, full day? Just want to be sure I'm right...

Thanks

[Dave Stewart]

You have it...275.00 for full day (8 hours). Hope you guys make it...looking forward to it.

[elnutsmalljaws]

I second what Plowboy said about Dave Stewart. Been out on 3 trips with his service and have been invited to go on another(Thanks Doug) at the end of April(Already looking forward to it), and had excellent trips every time. One thing with Dave is that he does not fish tournaments, which means he will take you to his best spots for that time of the year or conditions. You can't tell me that a tournament fisherman / guide is going to take you to his honey hole for $250. The same hole that he plans on winning the next tourney in a couple of weeks worth a couple of grand and he is taking you to it for the heck of it. Dave will also answer any question that you ask and helps you understand what you are doing to catch fish. Have I ever had that ABSOLUTE incredible fish catching day with any guide service, Dave 3 times, John Davis at Dale Hollow 1 time, Gerald Bates Stripers Cumberland 1 time, NO. Every trip we caught fish but most of all I learned every trip out how to catch fish, a new technique, lake navigation, safety timp or something else that was well worth the money. So what if you spend $300 on a guide that takes you out for that one day of a lifetime and you catch one right after another. You now know that spot but what happens if the fish move 40 yards or the conditions change. If he does not teach you or help you be a better fisherman then what happens the next day when you are on your own. I believe Fishing guide services have their niche in our hobby/sport. Personally, I could never be a guide for I put so much pressure on myself when I take someone for I feel responsible for putting them on fish. This is personal pressure that my buddy does not place on me for he is just glad we can get together for a couple of days to talk about the old days of playing kickball in the street or sports as kids. I can only imagine what it would be like to have someone in the boat expecting to catch fish and he is paying you to produce. More pressure than I want. Dave Stewart is an excellent guide for Ky an Barkley. Anyone wanting to learn the lake or learn about fishing in general would spend money wisely to hire him. My buddy and I went out with Dave last Friday. Did we catch fish, yes. They were not monsters nor in great quantities but what do you expect in cold front conditions in March with a North wind, no sun, water clarity not the best, with monsoon rains that recently washed thru the system. But Dave did an outstanding job. So much that my buddy, who is in the boat market for himself, plans on hiring Dave to spend a day with him to teach him about his boat (safety, electronics, operation, and varous other info) after he makes his purchase. I would highly reccomend Dave to anyone. I never fished with Fred McClintock, but the Striper trip on the Cumberland River, is my next personal guide investment that I plan on making. That trip, I will learn about the river striper fishing but also hope to catch the 50 pounder. If we don't catch her that day, I will have learned the basics to try to catch her myself. Either way it will be money well spent. The Striper success at Cumberland, Smallie success at Dale and Large and Smallie success at Ky are all in proportion to the successful guides that I hired to help me learn on a fast-track. Gerald, John and Dave keep up the good work.

Tight Lines

[thebassman30]

you had me until you threw Canada in there....I fish Quetico every year...last week of May, 1st of June....cost with gas is less than $500. Best trip I go on....100 fish days...last year we caught 200 in one day with 100+ over 2.5 lbs. Fred and Dave are great...but not that great. We use CBO out of Ely...which is the same outfitter that Mary and Harry use that guide Jerry McGinnis and Bobby Knight. Best week of my life every year.