Thread: What does a guide owe the public?

I got a semi scathing e-mail today after I posted a fishing report this morning. My previous report was April 2nd, when we were forecast to get 10-15 inches of rain. We got 17”at my house! I had mentioned then that a flood event like that would mess up fishing for a while.

My report today was based on guide trips from Tuesday thru Thursday. I was brutally honest in my reports, as I always am. I mentioned fishing a different tactic each day and our results.

A guy who fished this week disputed my report since his results were much different than those of my clients. He was upset that I had not taken to social media and warned him and his friends that fishing was bad and they should not come to our lakes! He essentially said they had done every tactic I reported but caught zero crappie. His tone almost attacked my credibility as a guide and accused me of them wasting their money and time. I don’t even fish the area they fished.

I thought my reply back to him over for several minutes. It would have been very easy to have used a different tone than I did.

I told him I am sorry they had a bad trip but it isn’t my place to go on a public forum like social media and warn people to stay away. I do reserve that warning for my clients who have booked during that time frame or those who personally reached out to me for guidance as to whether they were going to continue their plans.

I cancelled well over a week’s worth of bookings and refunded all deposits glad-fully. My wallet took a major hit! When my clients for Tuesday-Wednesday said we are coming regardless, I was obligated to take them and give them the best trip possible. The first day was tough with the lake falling almost 8 inches each day. The second day I changed tactics and we had a good day with one of the guys catching his new PB. Thursday I changed tactics again and we had a decent day given conditions.

I work closely with several marinas,resorts, and other guides. I feel it is my place to tell each of them of conditions but up to them to decide if they want to turn away their clients/customers. My gut tells me I might be run out of town on a rail if I made a blanket announcement on social media for folks to stay home! The local tourism industry would love me for that!

What are your thoughts? I know some don’t care for guides and that is your prerogative. I will say I fielded tons of calls, texts, and inquiries from folks curious about what I thought they should do. Most were not even clients. I actually felt sorry for some who had AirB&B and other rentals that would not refund deposits. I responded to each person honestly, but told them the final decision was theirs. Most all of them took my advice but it was private, between the two of us, not a public service announcement.

Let me know how you think this situation should be handled?


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Another factor not mentioned, or at least if it was I missed it, the size of the lake that was fished. You all could have been real close to each other, or a long ways apart. Don't matter, Doug, Keep being you and don't worry about the hatters...Your customers are what mattered. They caught fish, had a good time, felt they got their money's worth. That's what's important.