Quote Originally Posted by RoadToad View Post
Nonsense; you're plenty good enough. I have yet to make my first FnF cast, but just based on what you've already posted on this board for free, I'd have a pretty good idea how to get started. And if I were ever looking for a FnF guide and you were available, I'd jump at the chance. I'm sure a lot of other guys who read your posts feel the same way. Just something to think about, and I know you have other factors at play that might complicate the decision. And I certainly respect your willingness to share what you've learned for free. But if you don't do it, please don't say it's because you're "not good enough," because you ARE.

Good luck at Dale

I certainly do appreciate the kind words. I guess if EVERY client that I ever got, hired me to learn about floating the fly then I know they would be more than happy with what they paid for. But not all people who hire guides hire them for knowledge, they hire them to put them on the mother load and as anyone that has wet a line for any length of time, that just does not happen. I have been on 6 paid guide trips in my life and we never hit the mother load on any of them and these were trips that were scheduled during prime parts of the year for that particular species. I have had 3 with Dave Stewart a few years back, 1 with Gerald Bates for stripers on Cumberland, 1 with John Davis my first day on Dale, and 1 with Steve Headrick for night fishing Dale. The John Davis trip was probably the best catching trip in perspective because I did land a PIG on a silver buddy that is on his website and in his book in his cabins, plus landed my first 4 of many on the fly. But, what I did with all of the trips was talk to the guides in advance and let them know what I wanted out of the trip, lake familiarization, learn to follow the bait, FNF, silver buddy, troll for Stripers with planer boards and stuff like this. I will say without a shadow of a doubt that I was 110% happy with each and every trip and will be forever in the above guides gratitude for what they taught me on those trips because I still use the same information to this day every day on the water in respect to where and what I am fishing for. Having not worked but only 2 months in 2 years makes my resources a bit on the limited side and I would love to be on Dale every day this winter but certainly would not want to be away from my wife and kids that long and certainly can't afford it either. Maybe I need to talk to those that are offering to take me fishing at their hard earned expense and make sure they will get out of it what they want to make sure their money is going to good use. I don't know but I just have a hard time in taking any money value for helping a fella out fishing. I can't tell you how many homeade FNF bobbers that I have given away over the past 4 years, my guess is between 75-100 and when they retail for $5+ for 2 in the store and I can make them for about a quarter apiece plus my time, I just want to help them out by saving them several bucks if they bought them in the store. Mine work just as good, kitchen sink test everyone and have not bought one since 2004 and anyone that has ever fished with me has not bought one either. Heck I even gave Billy Redneckshadrap a handful on Saturday even though he smacked me around like a little red headed stepchild, (I want them all back Billy, so give them up, just kidding). Thanks for the kind words and if I can help anyone learn the FNF technique a little better just drop me a line with your number and I will call you and talk about it. Elnut

Elnutsmalljaws
"Certifyable Floatnflyable"