Who would you vote as the single most successful fishing guide in our area?

A guide who “is the nicest guy around, and has lots of funny stories”, etc. is great, but, here, for sake of argument, let’s just talk about who catches the most and biggest fish.

Any species, any techniques.

Ideally, please don’t mention someone just because he’s a friend of yours, or you have commercial ties with him, unless you honestly believe he gets his clients into more fish than any guide you know of.

I KNOW that fishing is about way more than just how many/big fish you catch, but if I'm going to spend my hard-earned money on a guide (and they ain't cheap), it would be nice to spend it with the best. We’ve gone with guides who take me for a boat ride, and we don't need to pay $400 for a boat ride. But most of them have been great guys, and a good time was had by all.

"Keep yer tip up, boy!"

If you are fly fishing on the Yakima, I'd vote for Charles Cooper.

The smart money around these parts is on Bob

I had the opurtunity to fish with Bob Ball a few weeks back on the Hoh. I've only fished with him once, but hands down I think he is the best guide I've fished with in the Forks area. On that particular day we outfished all boats on the river, not because of luck, but because Bob was willing to work harder and was always trying to figure out what to do next. I've fished 7 or 8 Forks area guides, enjoyed them all, but felt Bob worked the hardest to put me into the fish. For the Chehalis area hands down I say Chuck Wicken. He has two sleds and a drift boat and is willing to move around to find the fish.

This is a tough question! I don’t think you can say that there is only one ‘best’ guide. It really is dependant on the specific fishery that you are evaluating. For example, Clancy Holt has got to be way up there when you are talking about the Cowlitz and lower Columbia, Scott Amerman is the man down in his part of Oregon, and Bob Ball is clearly one of the very best on the Oly Pen.

If I had to only choose one guide, my vote would go to Bob. Not because he runs this site, but because of his skill, and ability to consistently put big fish in the boat. I used to think I was pretty good at fishing kwikfish for fall salmon, until I took a trip with Bob. I discovered that I was but a rank amateur!

The last point to consider is that each guide will appeal to different folks due to their compatibility with the clients individual personality. Someone who is dead set against releasing wild steelhead might have a tough time with some guides, and not with others.

SA

For Cowlitz, Tillamook and the Columbia I would have to rate Clancy Holt as one of the best.

For around here I would say it is an even toss up between Scott Weedman, and Dave Lee. They really do know the local rivers!!!

If by successful you mean someone who is honest, knowledgeable, reliable and has a several year proven track record of putting customers on quality fish during enjoyable and memorable outings on the river--and has people ringing their phone off the hook to book with way in advance, I'd vote for:

Letty Potter.

I think the most well known is Clancy Holt.

Although everyone I've talked to that has fished with Bob loves it.

I've only fished with a few on the peninsula, and Jeff Woodward is by far the winner.

Before passing on, Jeff Sahar. At the take outs on the peninsula, we always had more and bigger fish. I really don't ever remember seeing Bob there though.

Peninsula - hands down - Bob Ball.

Southwest Rivers - without a doubt - Mike Sexton.

Captain

Bob Kratzer, Anglers guide service on the Pen/ alaska. He's the man.

Geez, if I go tellin ya the real most sucessful guide, he wouldn't be available for me to fish with. But let me reassure you when I say, "there are none better"!

I never have ever heard a bad thing said about Robbo. He fills all the criteria for this thread. Rob Endsley, he da man!

Beezer

To many guide friends and aquaintances (that all all top notch) to vote on this one. I think instead of voting on the best, we should give kudos to all these guys. They're on the river every day and have to put up with all forms of human nature. I couldn't do it, I know because I tried.

Keep it up guys.

Narrow it down to a certain area or river system.That's how you'll get a better response.Good luck,
STRIKE ZONE

John Steed from Fishin' with John Guide Service. Unbelievable knowledge and flat puts you into fish.

I will add my 2 cents for Rob Endsley.

Haven't fished with any guides up here, but John Ball of Gimme-A-Go Guide Service has been fantastic. He fishes for pretty much anything in the Columbia River with focus on sturgeon and salmon.

Easy answer Rob Orzel on the Kalama River, no one touches him,and Eli Rico owner/operator of Hot Shot Guide Service takes the State and national award for all I am concerned. You can put the guy any where in any situation and there is nothing he can't do. No one can touch him on the Cowlitz, Drano, Sky, Peninsula, etc. Both Rob and Eli are the best at what they do and provide more than just a fishing trip, they are gems as people as well.

I have never fished with a guide on the Op but It sounds like I would definitely go with Bob when I do!! For southern Washington fishing, I'd say Ron and Clancy Holt. I haev been with Ron on two guided trips and he was great...got us on fish even when it was slow for everyone else...

Last summer, he remembered my fishing buddy and I and gave me a great tip as we passed him in my boat...I promptly got a fish not ten minutes later!!!

Which river system? Fly/Gear? Jet boat - drift - walkin? I agree - it would be better to narrow it down.

I will say that for versatility of technique, knowledge of the local rivers and steelhead, and sheer hard work TRBO has my vote. Plus he's just a damn fun guy to spend a day on the river with.

We did a float with Bob Monday before last. Brats were a bit scarce, but he had us walking in places we'd never been on previous trips. AND we found fish there.

I've been on trips with guides where they take you on the float and if you don't catch fish, well too bad - that's just steelheading. Not Bob - he's on a mission to get you into fish!

Just my .02 - there's a reason we go back every year.

Down here in Rogue country Todd Puett is as good as you can get. Pete : this is from personal experiance

From the past, Sam Windle in the 80's was always a good ride. Lole Fergerson on the Hoh in the early 80's put us some 15 fish days each.

a guy named antone on the upper salmon river..met at about 9am, already had 3/4 of a fifth of wild turkey down, sipping a milwaukee's best ice tall boy(him, not me), ate sh#t on the muddy trail to the hatchery holes, fell about 8 feet from a log into the river(it was COLD that day)...well i'm not sure if you can consider him a guide, just a guy who will take a few bucks(and i do mean a few) to let you fish on the reservation portion of the river...i just wanted to check it out, i ended up getting some of the funniest stuff i've seen on the river for a while

Been fishing the OP for years with the same guide and never been skunked.. Jim Mansfield. Have two trophy fish with him 29lb steel and 55 lbs King