I go out with guides about twice a year, usually Charlie Cooper on the Yakima. With Charlie, I bring my own flies (I tie my own and prefer to use them) my own rod, leader, floatant, etc. I also bring my dog.

Does this make me a bad client? I don't think Charlie thinks so. He charges me a more than fair price, and is always willing to move his schedule around for me. Why? Because we get along really well, and I can fish. And because I tie a mean fly, and can in fact fish, we usually do pretty well. And my dog has excellent boat manners.

But would I be a crummy client if all I had was the positive attitude? I don't think so. I don't think Charlie would either.

AK, I can understand your frustration with folks bringing their own gear, and wanting to have input into how things are done. I think you could preempt this pretty easily, however. Seems to me that you could try to find a diplomatic way of saying, "Look, I'm happy to either put you in the place you want to fish to the best of my ability, or to help you catch fish with what's been working for me lately. Which would you like to do today?" You could also ask a client before they come if they want to use their own gear, and if they do, let them know what's appropriate for line, rigs, etc. Then, if they insist on goobering it, well, that's why the guide fishes a rod, too.

I AM sympathetic. I take a lot of guys out over the course of a year, and know how frustrating it is when someone insists on being a gomer and misses out on great fishing, because they won't listen. Oh, well...