I don’t have much experience with guides but I’m guessing it can be a tough business, especially for clients who just want to “catch” as I don’t have to tell you both that even the best of us can’t guarantee that the weather, or fish will cooperate on any given day.

That is why I have always guaranteed my trips, it takes the pressure off if for whatever reason, it isn't happening I just say maybe next time and everyone relaxes. Now out of a season with 140 client trips, I might giveaway 4... And most of those because they would not / could not set the hook when I told them to... My most popular trout trip these days is half the day fishing/instruction and half driving around showing the client where to fish and how to fish each spot. I most often include a map that gets marked up as we go, so they can find their way back...

I did that Pat.  I went and fished with Dom from troutbitten to enhance my euro game and that was time and money well spent.  I was really more interested in learning penns creek to start and then when we got to the fishing the stuff he taught me has been in my bag of tricks since.

I don’t have much experience with guides but I’m guessing it can be a tough business, especially for clients who just want to “catch” as I don’t have to tell you both that even the best of us can’t guarantee that the weather, or fish will cooperate on any given day. 

I do know that my son hired a guide in the Bahamas for bonefish (his first time chasing them) and he caught 3 with the guide and learned a ton about the location, stalk and gear that he parlayed successfully in other parts of the Caribbean.

His best friend recently hired an ADK guide to teach he and his wife how to fly fish and they caught some trout, learned the basics, and have since bought their own gear. They had a blast.
 
So I guess it’s what you want to get out of it, so you’re both right. I’ve always been one to try to figure it all out myself all these years but teach others what I’ve learned along the way.

Or you can just YOU TUBE IT now.   

I think a guide will help shorten the learning curve.  I spent countless years getting skunked on the salmon river for steelhead.  There are a few tips and tricks I've learned over the last few years that seem to have made a big difference.  If I had a guide show me the ropes I think it could have meant more success early on but I'm also stubborn and like to learn things on my own.  Especially for new water or new species I think it will definitely benefit you.  But overall I feel like it is going to be what you make it.  If you approach with an open mindset and an appetite to learn then I think most guides will cater to that.  I'll admit I've only got a guide twice and it was alongside my girlfriend.  For the most part I let him deal with her tangles while the guides brought me to fishy waters, gave me new flies to try and applied some floatant.  But I'd even like to take a guided lesson for something like euro nymphing or even dry fly tactics as its something I haven't had the time to practice.

this time of year i would be happy to get it back in a timely fashion, 168 bucks is fine for that job. having to wait a month for it this time of year would kill me

I don’t have much experience with guides but I’m guessing it can be a tough business, especially for clients who just want to “catch” as I don’t have to tell you both that even the best of us can’t guarantee that the weather, or fish will cooperate on any given day. 

I do know that my son hired a guide in the Bahamas for bonefish (his first time chasing them) and he caught 3 with the guide and learned a ton about the location, stalk and gear that he parlayed successfully in other parts of the Caribbean.

His best friend recently hired an ADK guide to teach he and his wife how to fly fish and they caught some trout, learned the basics, and have since bought their own gear. They had a blast.
 
So I guess it’s what you want to get out of it, so you’re both right. I’ve always been one to try to figure it all out myself all these years but teach others what I’ve learned along the way.

Or you can just YOU TUBE IT now.