fishing in February?

[rancocasrich]

Folks, I am a forum newbie and will be visiting family in Moclips on the Pacific for a week in February. I would very much like to "wet a line" during my visit. My "home" fishing grounds are the fresh and salt waters of New Jersey. Are there any good possibilities in the area in February? If yes, what kinds of tackle should I consider to bring with me? Thanks.

[Derrick-k]

February is prime time to C&R native steelhead.

[A9]

Hire a guide if you've never gone steelheading...

[rancocasrich]

thanks for the speedy replies. I am "on the road" now and will do more research for my trip when I get back home. I do plan to use a guide and will research that further. Unfortunately, when fishing alone, the cost of a guide and boat is quite expensive. Any suggestions? Thanks.

[lskiles]

thanks for the speedy replies. I am "on the road" now and will do more research for my trip when I get back home. I do plan to use a guide and will research that further. Unfortunately, when fishing alone, the cost of a guide and boat is quite expensive. Any suggestions? Thanks.

craigslist has guides at reasable prices and you can check that from anywhere!

[A9]

Unfortunately, when fishing alone, the cost of a guide and boat is quite expensive. Any suggestions? Thanks.

Get a hold of a guide and see if they have any other "single" out there who would want to go with you...

Most of the guides out there operate on drift boats anyways (no one uses jet boats really on the OP rivers) so you are only looking at a 2 (maybe 3) person boat plus guide...

I'd avoid craigslist guides. Most of them are definetely better priced but are also going to be the ones that are desperate for clients. Stick with a reputable guide and you should be good to go. It'll better your chances of hooking a nice native steely...

[lskiles]

I'd avoid craigslist guides. Most of them are definetely better priced but are also going to be the ones that are desperate for clients. Stick with a reputable guide and you should be good to go. It'll better your chances of hooking a nice native steely...

Why would they be less reputable?

Why would they be desperate for clients?

Have you ever contacted any of them?

I think smart business is using the least expensive broadest base for getting the word out and that may include craigslist or newspaper want ads or fliers stuck in screen doors.

To characterize all the guides who advertise on craigslist as desperate deficients with leaky boats and questionable reputations is very elitist.

[iPodrodder]

Question:

Do you see good guide services like Darrell and Dad's on Craigslist?

No. Many (yes, I'll give it to you, not all) of the better guide services can operate from word of mouth and an occasional ad in the paper. Some do take the Craigslist road, but I would definitely want to have a guide from the paper or word of mouth than some random guy off Craigslist.

[cavdad45]

Visit Sportsman's Warehouse or Joe's and they can hook you up with a variety of reputable fishing guides. Or maybe you can try a bottom-fishing charter in the Sound, but most will be off for the winter.

[Shane]

I'd avoid craigslist guides. Most of them are definetely better priced but are also going to be the ones that are desperate for clients. Stick with a reputable guide and you should be good to go. It'll better your chances of hooking a nice native steely...

Why would they be less reputable?

Why would they be desperate for clients?

Have you ever contacted any of them?

I think smart business is using the least expensive broadest base for getting the word out and that may include craigslist or newspaper want ads or fliers stuck in screen doors.

To characterize all the guides who advertise on craigslist as desperate deficients with leaky boats and questionable reputations is very elitist.

I agree. Just becuse there on craigs dosnt mean that there not good. that sounds like a stereo type to me.

[Marc Martyn]

I would make sure that he is licensed and insured. References if available are good also.

[A9]

And watch out for craigslist guides. Make sure they are legit before shooting money their way...

[michaelunbewust]

gosh sam, sounds like you have a thing against craigslist. unfortunately, you have not done your homework on your comments. there are reputable guides on craigslist, in fact, some of the ones that you find with advertising, still use craigslist some, to build thier client based, and, if there desparate for clients, they could cut thier rates in half to build the client base, then up the prices. i dont think they are desparate just because they utilize craigslist. im not licensed (except thru my job), but, i advertise on craigslist to be a consultant for company's that have freight problems, and want to save money. ive used craigslist to purchase boats, outdoor equipment, and a guide once on lake washington. he showed me how to find the schools of perch (12-13 incher's), let me gps some spots, and dropped me off at my condo downtown renton when we were done for half of the better known guides. he was licensed, but i carry my own insurance, so, i was covered. you usually have researched something before you spout off sam, whats going on?? grades slipping?? i, as well as, other wl.com'ers have utilized services on craigslist. it is the poorman's alternative to not so well known deals.

[zen leecher aka Bill W]

I too would be leery of any "guides" advertising on craigs list. I put weight on references that come from local sporting goods stores or satisfied clients.

[A9]

First of all michaelunbewust, please don't rush to judgement and say I have a "thing against craigslist" and say that I have not "done my homework...." I think you just misinterpreted and took some of my comments to the extreme...I realize this is probably a misunderstanding on your part and you are jumping to conclusions with your statements. That's why I'd like to explain my end so you can see my thoughts/opinions before judging them yourself..

I have no problem with craigslist. I frequently turn to it to sell all sorts of stuff, and I enjoy every transaction I make on that site. It's fast, easy, and it's all local. No dealing with shipping like selling on ebay. Craigslist is on my favorites list on my internet browser and I visit it frequently.

As for fishing guides using craigslist. I've seen some of the ads for "fishing guides" on craigslist. Some of them are pathetic. You'd have to be an idiot to hire them. I've seen a lot of them, and some are very professional. They mention that they are licensed, insured, and give a good description of what they do and have good pictures to show off their ad. Some (not all michael) are the other way around. They look like they spent a minute putting together an ad, have horrible grammar, write a few words and post it. No pictures.. Would you spend money on that guy? That doesn't seem too legit for me. A reputable, legit guide would spend his time by putting together an impressive ad to attract clients...I'd put my money there.

I've heard of a few ebay and craigslist guides who stiff their clients who buy the trip and are either no show's or don't give them their trip. And I've heard of the emails exchanged back and forth, sometimes the guide chewing out the customer who just lost his money on the guide who wouldn't honor his purchase.

Michael, I am aware that craigslist is often where guides who need to build a client base come to. With the intense competition and difficulty to over advertise the big guides (and any business or service in general), craigslist is often a good spot for a new guide to try and kick his business off to a successful start. I have no problem with that.

But the biggest and most reputable (word of mouth, reviews, client base, etc...) are usually not advertising on CL. (Not to knock on the small guys here....)They have built a BIG client base and are often times the most successful and enjoyable guides to deal with. They are always booked full, are tough to get a day with and are talked about frequently? Why? Cause they've been doing it right, and for a while. People enjoy their services with that particular guide, tell others about it, and they turn to use the same guy their friend referred them to. These guides are usually the big ones that Joes, 3 Rivers, or any of the big fishing/outdoor stores will refer their customers to. The biggest guides are usually where I'd put my money for a days worth of fishing.

This isn't to downplay the small guides. Small businesses in todays economy have proven that they can do business even with the big guys running around. Small business/guides can often be just as enjoyable if not more then the big guys. They can offer better prices because they just need to try and gain customers by offering a lower price. There's no problem with these guys, but just make sure they are not the phony guys on craigslist. Fraud on craigslist is everywhere. Just make sure the guide you are dealing with isn't one of those guys. Very few are, but just make sure that he's a legit guide before you decide to spend a day and your money with him.

lskiles, I believe you also took my small comment completely wrong and twisted it the other way, and now you are judging me on your twisted interpretation of what I said. Where did I say that CL guides are desperate deficients with leaky boats? Please don't alter peoples little comments into something completely different and then call them out for it...

Like I said earlier, the guys who need business turn to craigslist to advertise. The big guides are always booked and don't need to advertise anymore because their client base continually uses them and refers them to others. The small guys need to advertise to build that client base they don't have. There's no problem with that. And there's no problem with hiring these guys if they are real guides advertising on CL. Unfortunately there are some guys who are frauds out there on the internet who ruin it for the rest of us and all the others advertising on CL, and it just takes a little time nowadays to make sure you are not dealing with one of them.

It's important to put your money where you know it will be worth it. If you feel that you are best off dealing with someone off craigslist, then go for it. No problem with that. You'll probably save some money and get a guide who needs some extra clients or is entering the profession. There's no problem going with these guys. They have something to prove and their job is there for them to gain, so they are probably going to do a good job so they can grow. My problem with them? They aren't tried and tested like the big guys. If you want to do business with a bigger guide who has built a big client base and has a lot of positive talk about him, you are probably safer, but are also spending some more money.

If I were in ranco's situation, and could afford it, I'd go with one of the top guides in the area. Someone that everyone knows and hears good things about... Fishing with a top guide on a steelhead river on the Olympic peninsula gives you the opportunity to hook the fish of a lifetime. I'd want to cash in on that opportunity. Personally, I'd spend a few extra bucks and go with the guys who have been doing it right for a while and have a lot of customers. They must be doing it right if they are always booked and are always talked positively about.

[A9]

I understand that was super long and lengthy, but I'd like it if all who misinterpreted my earlier claims and then held them against me would read it in entirety to clear out any misunderstanding...

[A9]

[michaelunbewust]

yea sam, we are reading it right. the "big" guys this, the "big" guys that. some of the best, if not the best, guides in our state are small to medium sized business's, and, advetise on craigslist. levi meseberg is a small guide that guides on potholes res., he is moderately priced, but, will catch big fish after big fish, limit after limit, and refuses to be in the "big" guide business. his family runs the huge DuckTaxi service already, so, he could be huge as a bass guide. the martinez brothers in moses lake, the same story, small, and do not want to be big, and also, grew up on alot of the areas they hunt/fish. the "big" guides are tried and true, but, you have to alot of times schedule your trip on what they have available. the guide i used on craigslist for lake washington, i called 2 days before i went, and he has clients out on the water 7 days a week. fraud is everywhere, not, just on craigslist. you are right to use caution, just do not generalize, because i for one do not want to turn anyone off on craigslist, due to the fact, i sell so much crap on it. another thread possibly, but i often times invite anyone on here for a free guided trip on my mighty 12 ft. valco, because i know where they are at from guides or experience, but need someone to show me how to catch them!HA! if your ever interested sam, drop me a line.

[A9]

I understand that a smaller business can often times offer much better customer service and is more flexible with customers because they value them more. And the same holds true with the fishing guide business. I did mention though that it is tough to get your exact day you want with the big guides, which is a downside. But yes, I understand I mentioned fraud with CL and I don't think that it should turn anyone away from it. Craigslist is a great site no doubt.

And I like what you are doing with the offering your boat to go out to lake washington stuff. I'd like to have this site more personal, like board members who know each other, who often fish with other members and can put a face to an internet name, and that's what your doing michael, so good work...

[Jake Dogfish]

My stepdad was a guide and he never paid anything for advertising other than a business card. Word of mouth is the key to finding a good guide. If you want a deal, craigslist may be ok but most established guides dont need to advertise much... Good chance of finding a newbie or unestablished guide IMO.