As far as guiding goes, I'm with the Kid on this one. Many people hire guides for many different reasons. Some are the couple from New York, in town primarily for another reason entirely. Some are like some of you, that simply hire the guide so that they can learn the holes and techniques of a new river. Some people NEED the guide to set the hook for them, to keep from crackering off every fish that hits the plugs. Others are accomplished fisherman with no need for this. I personally have no problem with a guide setting the hook on a strike, and handing the rod off. I believe it was stated fairly recently on one of the BB's that the state considers the person that lands the fish as the person that tags it. Nothing matters beyond that if that is the case.

As far as a guide having a rod in the water...who cares. The guide is licensed, they can fish. We all know that more rods in the water = more chances to hook up. I can't believe some of you guys are so anal about how many fish the guide boat is gonna catch. Have some confidence in your ability and put the time in on the water that they do and you will catch just as many, if not more, fish than they will, because you're not babysitting four rods for the Bundy family from Wisconsin like they are.

Immediate control-- This is a joke, right? Any rod that is in a rod holder is not in anyone's direct control. Do you really think that Joe Guide told you 'that rod over there is yours' makes that rod in your immediate control? Whatever.....

Cowlitzfisherman-- Your example at the beginning of this thread does not compute. A guide shoots your 6-point bull for you and tells you congratulations is the same as him hooking a fish and handing the rod to you? Naaahh...don't think so. The guide drops the bull, game over(except for the gutting and packing, which for 4 grand, he BETTER do). The guide hooks the fish, SO WHAT. The game has just begun. Anyone here ever lost a fish during the fight??? Again, let me say that if you choose to hook and fight the fish by yourself, go for it. But, that isn't everyone's gig, and I personally don't see the harm in it.

[ 06-27-2001: Message edited by: backlash2 ]