This time of year I’m not sure you could catch any crappie without something to get on the water.

The only guide I won’t hire is a bass guide. I like to eat bass and every guide I’ve ever hired frowns on that. I don’t like to go on a non tournament trip and come home without a cooler full of fillets. If not in a tournament I’m a meat hunter.

Sometimes.

Marina docks and similar. Did it for many years before having a boat.

I used to bass fish out of a boat every weekend in my 20s. Way before Livescope. Don't ever care to anymore. I catch them at my lease or go to a pond and bank fish for them if I want. Too lazy to own a boat for sure.

I love fishing, but with work, other hobbies, and family obligations, I only get a chance to get out on a boat 2 to 5 times a year. If you aren't out on the water at least every other weekend, I can't see justifying buying a boat, so I just use guides or go out with buddies who have a boat (when I get an invite).

Still like to know how It makes me lazy to hire a guide at an out of state lake if my boat in gear is back home.

Didn’t know you can hire a lake…
Nothing wrong with that. I was referring to the guys that have the ability and people fishing their area lakes and coast lines. If your hundreds of miles from home and for whatever reason feel the need to fill a cooler then by all means!
This has gotten way out of proportion from my original thought, sure I didn’t think it through all scenarios. My main thing is that people have gotten lazy, will use their money to have someone else do the work for them. It wasn’t that way many years ago, and it seems to be increasing. Makes me wonder how many non guided boats there will be on lakes 10 years from now.

What does “didn’t know you can hire a lake” mean?

I wont take beez out before scouting an area just to learn the rules of the water too epically on the coast. And I ask the guides hey what is SOP here. Locals love to cuss you up one side and down the other for some stupid BS little thing. If my kids are on the boat I do not want that.

Something I heard a guy talking to an academy employee today was saying. Just included it in a reply, nothing towards you. Should have prefaced with that.

You really don't need a boat for big fish to find you. A pier works out too,

Rickym is a little full of himself with this thread. It's okay we all have our moments. He's just happy cuz the Rangers cant sweep the Stro's.

I've fished South Padre enough with and without a guide to know where to go. BUT, I have no boat cuz the one I want is around $100K.

I could find fish on Lake Fork through experience and catch a few

I would MUCH rather let the guide do all the work.

Guided fishing trip costs are through the roof. AND, if you notice. MOST of the guides will not "run" the lake finding fish. They don't want to put the hours on their boats not to mention the HIGH gas prices.

They will just make the all famous statement

"MAN YA'LL SHOULDA BEEN HERE YESTERDAY, WE KILLED THEM"

I plan my trips like I plan my hunts. Got to be the right moon.

Smart money let’s another man make a few bucks off them and go catch fish. Keeping a boat is expensive.

I’ve never been accused of being smart. Especially with money.

Sincerely
Man with 2 boats

Found a few today

Those are damn good fish C

you answered your own question. not every can afford an offshore boat or a bay boat or crappie boat or to do so or justify a here and there trip

Had a buddy who never really fished take two or three catfish trips…. Caught a couple 50+ pound fish. Paid close attention. Got his own pontoon boat and started catching more 50+ pound fish right away. I’ll land a decent one now and then hit nothing close to 50. I’d say it was worth it

Colt can find the fish, sadly I can not lol. I’m terrible at fishing. I actually think Colt has already caught more fish at 4 than I have my entire life.

My daughter 2006, monster Bluegill!!

My boy at Texoma recently and the kids a couple years ago in their first youth tournament. They couldn’t hang

Finally, Cbump reveals himself. Now I know who to look for when booking it around town.