View Full Version : Best rig for guiding
Researching
03-24-2001, 06:59 PM
Looking for some input on what you guides think constitutes the best possible boat, and motor for guiding. All opinions appreciated, big decision to make.
Thanks
Ware would you be guiding,River, lake, big water, or all of them. Would you be trailering the boat? How many people do you have in the boat most of the time. This information will help.
Why do you want to know ,for personal use or are you going to try and guide?Not to be arrogant,but you need a little seasoning to be a guide,at least thats the old ways of doing things.answer this ,and I wil tell you the best three boats!!
god fishing...www.garytheguide.com
Why do you want to know?
www.garytheguide.com
Wpg River Dude
03-24-2001, 10:29 PM
Speaking as a guide & not wanting to sound rude, I would think if you have to ask this question, you are not ready to become a guide.It takes a fair amount of work,experience & the ability to teach to become a guide. There is oh so much more to guiding than purchasing a boat & charging people to fish out of it.If you are serious about guiding why not consider working at a lodge or resort BEFORE you make the jump into a rig. Get a real taste of how hard the work is & how you won't become rich doing this sorta job. We "seasoned" guides do it for the love, not the $$$. It is a occupation that very rarely becomes a career, but can be a rewarding hobby.
Good Luck
WRD
it looks to me like the guides got a little jumpy there and complety tip toed around this ? my answer to you is get a boat where you would feel safe takeing your 5 yr old in and that is comfortable enough for your wife to sit in and a boat that will take the abuse of a 12 yr old (my way of judging boats and clients)add a little extra room and ta da its a boat you can use for guideing .the lund tyee series is a starting point and you can go either direction from there
Researching
03-25-2001, 04:58 AM
Easy boys, easy now. I've been guiding for more years than I care to think about. Was merely thinking of upgrading my boat, and wanted some unbiased thoughts on brands,interior layouts, size motors, etc.
I guide on big water inland lakes, usually two, or three people parties for walleye and perch.
You guys are like a bunch of racehorses stuck in th starting gate,chill out a little!
Terry/JNR
03-25-2001, 05:13 AM
You want to get a boat that your customers will feel comfortable and safe in. Also keep it clean as if you were putting it in a show. Where you fish and how you fish will determine the model of boat you get, tiller, side console, walkthru. If you make long runs in open water, a walkthru might be better. fishing small lakes or rivers, you might want a tiller model. If you want a tip on a brand of boat, in northern WI the single most used boat for guides are Tuffys.
Most guides will be quick to tell you that they want a bigger boat with more power. Lodges usually have 16 or 18 footers with flat bottoms. I'd suggest something with a v hull and open flat interior floor plan with pedistal seats, a live well, bildge pump and a gas tank. Avoid a carpeted floor if you are near sand. The 20ft. Lund Alaskan is a legend up in northern Canada. The natives and trappers have been using it for years. A few years ago Lund put a guide friendly interior in it and a v hull under it which makes it even better. For a motor I'd suggest a 90 hp 4 stroke Honda tiller. They are cheap to run, very quiet,powerful, smooth and extreemly reliable. They are almost bullet proof. If you put a good bunk trailer under this combo. you'll have a rig that almost any guide would be thrilled to work out of. The only draw back would be the cost. Even if you got out of guiding, you'd still have a great boat that would probably last you a lifetime.
Ron Anlauf
03-25-2001, 07:58 AM
I've been guiding here in Minnesota for a dozen years and with plenty of time spent on big inland water like Mille Lacs and Leech. For 2001 I decided on a Tournament 182 Crestiliner with a ninety horse Mercury four stroke tiller. The 182 is not over done with forward deck and gives you plenty of floor space. I often take three clients and need the extra room. I'm not even going to put an electric on the transom and will be relying on the four banger for back trolling, although I will have a bow mount for calmer conditions.
Ron Anlauf
FISH4U
03-25-2001, 09:15 AM
I run a 20'Alaskan w/walk-thru consoles w/115hp. -I AM NOT A GUIDE-
It is a great multi -species boat I fish all over ERIE with it. From 20 miles offshore to 12" water in its tributaries.
Very dry and easy to handle. Very roomy also.Easy clean up.
Handles 1-4 footers at ease.
Good Luck
P..S. THERE A PICTURE OF IT ON MY WEB-SITE
.
I do not FISH to LIVE.
I LIVE to FISH.
MY WEB SITE:
http://communities.msn.com/LakeErieSteelheadFishing
HEY RON, Did you go with Crestliner just for RCL? Many people are talking sell-out to I.J. Are you one?
Sorry,
Chig
Backwater Eddy
03-25-2001, 09:33 AM
The 20'Alaskan is a nice tough serviceable rig with a LOT of floor space and seating for client's, a good working boat choice in my opinion. I have been looking at one hard all winter.
I would consider a single console if long hall's across big open water is not something you do daily.
I'll third the notion for Lund Alaskan 20. A tiller model layout resembles the openess of a ballroom. The vinyl floor makes for quick cleanups, something you'll appreciate after a full day on the water. And I'd go with Olive drab paint. If you've had glass boats before, you'd appreciate no waxing and no wiping down. We just high pressure wash ours once in a while. The color looks serious as a guide boat too, in my opinion.
I think it takes tillers up to 80 which will push it mid 30's. Unless you run across the great lakes, that should be plenty. It seems to perform well loaded and unloaded. If I was going to guide, it'd be on my list.Right at the top.
Ron Anlauf
03-25-2001, 11:29 AM
Chig,
No, I am not fishing the RCL. I haven't fished a trail since '98, and don't plan on going back. I picked the Crestliner because I know that they are a well built boat and I liked the floor plan and features. Resale was another consideration.
Ron Anlauf
Winnie T
03-25-2001, 11:58 AM
I know seven guides who work the Winnie area. All but one run tiller boats. Theirs two Alumacraft competitors, four Lund Pro V's,and a Tuffy. As far as motors go, one runs a Honda 90, two run 90HP OMC's, three Mercs from 90 to 115 HP, and a 200HP Yamaha.
It seems like a lot of the guides who sell boats every year are starting to down size for resale reasons.
Take care,T
River_eye
03-25-2001, 12:52 PM
The quality of rig that you are running will also have to reflect on your rates. Take a look at your competitors rigs and prices. The only way you will be able to ask a higher price is if your rig is that much nicer, or you have made a name for yourself. That said, I think the only real requirements that guests have are that they have a comfortable seat, enough floor space to move around in, and enough storage space for shorelunch materials and whatnot. The rest is up to you.
I prefer tillers because then you can keep an eye on your guests, and their gear. You know as well as I do, that somtimes they bring way too much gear, and don't secure it properly.
My personal choice would be nothing shorter than 18', with a v-hull, the brand is up to you, although if you can flash a big name like Lund, Alumacraft, or Cresliner in your brochure, then it might catch some eyes. Carpet would be fine, as long as you have means of washing it out, like a high power pressure washer. Guests usually don't have much regard for how clean they leave the boat, so keep this in consideration.
As for motors, if you don't want to bother with an electric or kicker, I'd suggest going with no more than a 40 or 50. The four-stroke will probably be justified. If you are using it for trolling, it's nice and quiet, and being a guide, the fuel savings will definately pay off.
Good luck.
River eye
I have fished with a couple of folks who run the 20 foot warrior tiller with the 150. Great boat.
Plenty of speed to get across the water -
Lots of room for 3-5 folks and nice open layout.
Smooth ride - your family, friends, and clients - don't get hammered in the waves as some of the other boats.
With the 20 foot length - that helps a great deal on ride as well. At that length, you are spanning waves, rather than chopping through them.
Take care
REW
GullGuide
03-25-2001, 03:56 PM
O.K., here's my $.02...
When I first got into guiding, I started out with a plain 16' Lund with a 35 Evenrude. Very basic rig, but I did not want to go hog-wild into this until I knew for sure that I could do it and more importantly, if I liked doing it.
After a few years, I bought a used 18' Crestliner ProAm with a 70 Evenrude.
My advise is not to rush into it. Test the waters first, see how you do, then upgrade.
Main thing is, and I have found this to be true 99.9% of the time over my last 6 seasons of guiding, is that the clients could care less what kind of a rig you run. The most important thing is that they have a good time #1, and catching fish is a close second.
Being a guide does not mean having the biggest, baddest boat on the water. It means being an educator, entertainer, being able to take care of your clients and being someone with a lot of paitence. :)
Good Luck,
GullGuide
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