Quote Originally Posted by JTM View Post
Thanks to all for the help. I've never hired a guide before. I have my own boat and am only fishing artificial lures and we're really only looking to catch trophies. I could care less about numbers. I'm wondering if that makes a difference in terms of who I should hire. Or for that matter if I should do half day or full day.
I'm in no way a guide so I can't speak for them, but I've hired several over the years - if you're only looking to catch trophies it won't matter which guide you hire (as they will all tell you that they can catch the trophies), the important aspect is when you go on the guided trip. The prevailing thought is that the lunker girls come up in early spring just before the spawn and that's the easiest time to catch them. On Guntersville that's mid/late Feb. through mid March depending on water temps. As far as full or half day, the obvious answer would be full day...more time on the water with someone who knows the lake = greater chance of catching a trophy.

I second Mike Gerry as a quality guide down there. I hired him three years ago and we caught fish all day long, biggest being over 6 lbs. He knows the lake and is glad to share info. Another name is Tee Kitchens though he might be retired at this time. I don't think God put a nicer human being on this planet than Tee - as an added bonus the guy can flat out put you on fish on all parts of the lake.