Some frequently expressed complaints from the guide's standpoint:
A fisherman who comes to a camp for the first time and immediately tells
the guide where and how to fish his waters
A fisherman who continually spouts off about how great the fishing was at
another place. If it was that good, then what is this guy doing here, most
guides are left to wonder
A guy who brags about how much money he makes, but leaves a meager tip--or
no tip at all
People who use abusive language or cuss too much
The guy (or gal) who can hardly cast, sets the hook too late, loses fish
through ineptness, and then blames the guide, the waters, or the fish camp
On the positive side, characteristics that are appreciated by guides:
When weather conditions are unfavorable, the guy understands that fishing
is likely to be poor and doesn't expect miracles
Someone who has an appreciation for the beauty of the land
Someone with an upbeat temperament, even when fishing is lousy
Someone who'll lend a helping hand with chores
A client who offers a pat on the back or a couple of words of appreciation
when a guide does a great job in landing a fish or performs any of his other
duties well above the norm
A fisherman who promises to send an item or photos and follows through on
the promise
Treat your guide as an important member of your team and chances are that
he will produce good fishing for you
But, what happens when, for one reason or another, your guide is
uncooperative, surly, or totally inefficient?
"It's best in this situation," says Chapralis, "to mention it to the camp
manager or owner. Let them know while you are at camp and maybe something can be
done about it."
Too often, moan camp owners, we never hear about it, or, when we do, it's too
late.
Native Floridians can certainly relate to some of the guide's gripes.
For example, how often have we heard a "snowbird"--or someone who recently
relocated to Florida--tell us:
How to run things the way they did in New York?;
How much better things are in New Jersey than in Florida?;
How much more money they made in Michigan?;
How much nicer the weather is in Pennsylvania than in the south during the
summer months?;
People who talk "Brooklyn" ridiculing those of us who talk "south"?;
How much smarter Boston people are than southerners?
Oh, well, you get the idea.
Thanks much to Herb Allen for submitting this article.
Copyright (c) 1996 Herb Allen. All rights reserved.
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