What to do! What to do!

[Dave Stewart]

Different guides have different rules in their boats. You need to make sure when you book a trip that you and the guide are on the same sheet of music as to how long, how many, etc. I do know that most of the striper guides offer so many hours or until you get your limit..which ever comes first. This is because the stripers survival rate after release is very low in the warm water months. Nothing wrong with that as long as you and the guide understand the rules.

For instance: I am a catch and release, artificial lure only bass (LM/SM) guide. We don't keep the fish in my boat..they all go back in the water whether they weigh 1 pound or 10 pounds. I have had a lot of potential clients argue with me over this...they seem to think that if they pay me, I have to keep the fish if they want to keep the fish. Ain't gonna happen in my boat. I run my business the way I see fit and if they don't like it they can book another guide. But, I always talk to new clients about this before we go out if there is even possibly a chance for a misunderstanding of this rule. I always also talk to my clients to try to find out what they want to get out of the trip...a lot of fish or more teaching etc...everyone is different and I try to tailor my trips to the client as long as it does not break any safety rules or my catch and release policy. That is why I am the Captain and they are the client.

Not sure of the circumstances here so can't really say one way or the other who should have done what.

[Trophycats]

Dave..well said. Once again...the client/guide have to be on the same sheet of music or it is going to be a miserable trip. I make it VERY clear that all cats 10lbs or over are CPR. They are allowed to keep the eater cats if they so desire. That in itself can pose a problem at times, as after a hard day of fishing and a livewell of eater cats, they get to the dock and decide they dont want to keep them. And even after being kept in a livewell all day, some of the cats wont survive. I make sure that the client knows that if they state that they want to keep eaters then the eaters are going home with them, no matter how tired they are. I also make it clear that, I DO NOT clean them for them, thats the last thing i want to do after a hard day of fishing. All of this is clarified on the phone prior to them booking the trip, I dont want any suprises.

Dave, how have you been doing? I feel for ya if you have been fishing in this hot weather. I think you and I had a couple of the same clients this fall, they spent a day or two with me for cats and went to fish with you for bass.

Warren

[cra97]

I, as well as most of the people on here, REALLY appreciate what you, and Warren from the sounds of his policies too, are doing with the "Catch and Release" Policy. It would seem to me this would come up only once in a while, as well as you are known and reguarded, but it is good to hear that no amount of money will alter your morals on this. I appreciate that and quite honestly would want more "teaching" from you, if it were me, anyway. I hope to book with you later this year when things settle down and you can rest assured I don't want to keep anything as I don't even eat fish (unless I kill them by accident, then I will since I was raised not to kill anything you won't eat)....lol
Good thread and responses on this though, thanks to all who responded.


Rob

[onemorecast56]

well i agree with both Dave and Warren,when i was guideing it was understood that I`d give them a full 8 hours for my work,,,but it`s different on the Ohio River then Ky lake and Cumberland River. We`d catch fish,the bigger the better then after they was happy,I`d do a river 101 and give them some teaching for them when they go to another river,,,,now when i did Cumberland,,,striper till they stopped,,,then smallies,,,,a good shore lunch,,,and did what the customers wanted,,,,gave them a good 8 hours,,which i had as much fun as they did...but that was just me....

[scragley]

I would first find out what, where, and how they caught those fish.. I went Sunday night and never got a bite.. The only thing we caught was being in the middle of a horrible thunderstorm.. We did find a big rock on the bank to hid under until the lightning let up..

[Dave Stewart]

Hi Warren: It has definitely been hot out there this past week....no wind, flat water, and no current makes it all a challenge for sure. Luckily, almost all my trips lately have been focused teaching trips to learn ledge fishing and how to eliminate water (including ledges). This trip has 5 hours on the water and 3 hours of class (on shore in the shade or inside in a/c). So I have been off the water around 10:30 every day lately except one so missing most of the really hot part of the day. We did share a client or two this past fall, they fished catfish with you and bass with me.

[Dave Stewart]

I, as well as most of the people on here, REALLY appreciate what you, and Warren from the sounds of his policies too, are doing with the "Catch and Release" Policy. It would seem to me this would come up only once in a while, as well as you are known and reguarded, but it is good to hear that no amount of money will alter your morals on this. I appreciate that and quite honestly would want more "teaching" from you, if it were me, anyway. I hope to book with you later this year when things settle down and you can rest assured I don't want to keep anything as I don't even eat fish (unless I kill them by accident, then I will since I was raised not to kill anything you won't eat)....lol
Good thread and responses on this though, thanks to all who responded.


Rob

No problem..whenever you are ready to go, give me a call and we will try to work you in, I pretty much get booked 7 days a week so if you want a fall trip you might want to book soon or I may not be able to get a date for you unless it is in November...which by the way is a great time to be here and I normally do not get all my November dates booked because so many bass anglers go hunting and all the tournaments are over. As far as my C&R policy...it would make no sense to me to kill the fish that is providing me with my living. I have no problem if someone wants to keep their limit of small bass to eat and keeping a trophy is their option...just not in my boat.

[Duayne]

The guides on Cumberland that are worth anything will customize a trip around what you want a head of time. But changing up after catching a limit of stripers isn't practical. I don't know of any striper guide boat that has a rod locker and they are already taking 20 rods set up for live bait. Asking them to also bring set ups and tackle for bass and walley might be a bit much but if you want to chase bass or walley they can accommodate. Many of those boats aren't laid out well for casting and a few of the guides have separate boats for those type trips.

As for customizing a trip, I have talked to one of the guides about hiring them, but using my boat, my equipment and my know how. His job will be to offer suggestions on any little detail that he sees fit.

[AJM]

I've been out with Lance Sasser, of Sassers Guide Service. There were 4 of us being guided one morning in the late summer. We pulled up on a spot, and had our limit plus a few short fish in less than 20 minutes. It was pretty impressive to say the least. He took us on a little boat ride and we went on with our day. I believe he was scheduling back to back trips at the time. Thats how you know your on some fish!!

Also as stated and reiterated above, it is not good or suggested to release legal striper during the warmer months.

[FlyLie]

Never thought it would happen to me...BUT went out on Lake Cumberland by myself this morning and BANG. Caught a 29 inch fish a 5:08am and a 33 inch fish at 5:20am. Thats it, two's the limit....take her home.

Link to Photo Board:
http://www.fishin.com/forums2/showth...230#post373230


Both fish caught trolling shiners 30 feet deep in mouth of creek near main lake.

[btlspin]

I've never fished for them, why can you not catch and release a striper in warm water?

[PRO V LE]

I've never fished for them, why can you not catch and release a striper in warm water?

They fight so hard that the lactic acid builds up in their system and becomes lethal. They also must have cooler water with O2 to survive, more so the bigger they get.
Even if you release a striper and it swims away it will die soon after.