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