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“Do I really need a guide?” is usually one of the first questions asked from anglers going on their first fishing trip. It’s impossible to accurately answer that question with a “yes” or a “no”, but we can give you the information you need to know to answer the question by yourself.

Guides can be worth having as long as you know exactly what you’re getting. For example, most people don’t realize hiring a guide is no guarantee you’re going to catch a trophy fish. The guide will take you to the places known to have fish, but catching them is still up to you.

If you don’t know what you’re doing, the guide can only help you so much. However, if that’s the case, a guide may be well worth it to you. Since you will be arriving at a lake you’ve never been on before, and you only have a few days to catch fish… a guide can really be a big help. Without a guide, you could spend days just trying to find out where the fish are.

Most guides are great anglers themselves. They spend all spring and summer on the lake and know what works and what doesn’t. Here are some things to discuss with any potential guide so you can see if you want to hire him:

-The type of fish you want to catch
-Whether you’re looking to catch lots of fish, or just trophy sized fish
-Has the guide ever fished for the species you’re after?
-What technique will the guide expect you to use?

This is what you’ll typically get when you hire a guide:

-Expert advice on the best locations to fish
-Expert tips on how to best catch your fish
-A well prepared, delicious shore lunch

You must decide if the above is worth paying the price for a guide.

Not to be overlooked is another option to considered. You can hire a guide for just a day or two (be up front about this) and then use his (or her) advice on what to do the rest of your fishing trip. This will save you money and still get you that expert advice you’re looking for.

Now, if you’re going on a fly-in fishing trip to a lake that you know (from your research and talking to others) is full of fish… you probably don’t need a guide! There, I even answered your original question for you. That’s because lots of the remote lakes have so many fish that even a beginner couldn’t help catching all they want.
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Purchasing a rod can be one of the most difficult parts of getting started in fishing. There are a dizzying array of options available, all claiming to be superior to the rods next to them. Before you jump into a decision you will regret, it always pays to educate yourself on just what it is you need to, and therefore should, acquire.

The first step in acquiring a fishing rod is to purchase a blank. This refers to the rod proper, which is a shaft of varying materials on which you mount a reel and some line. Shafts can be purchased in three different materials: graphite, fiberglass, and bamboo. Bamboo rods are generally used for fly fishing and can be quite expensive. Fiberglass rods are generally for beginner use, and are the type you find at your local Wal-Mart or other department type stores. Graphite is the material of choice for serious fisherman, and can be found many places online, or at your local sporting goods stores. For this article, we will concentrate on graphite rods.
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One of the first things you must do to plan a great fishing trip is to identify your priorities. You need to be more specific than just saying you want great fishing. Great fishing may mean different things to each person in your fishing party.

One person might be happy with catching 20 fish per day, while another might be expecting 30 fish per hour. So, you need to decide this up front.

Let’s take a look at some of the most important things to consider when deciding where to go on your fishing trip.

What type of fish do you want to catch?

While this may seem obvious, it is something that needs to be discussed. One person may want to fish for walleye and northern pike, while others may want to go bass fishing. Since many northern lakes have water too cold for bass, you may end up at a lake that would really disappoint the bass fisherman.

Do you want tons of action? Or trophy fish?
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The Humminbird 981 is a great tool to have for your next fishing trip. You will be able to take full advantage of the adventure with this fish finder. If you’re out to find the fish, to score the biggest one in the lake, then you need to be equipped. That is just what you will get. Here are some additional details about this awesome tool.

First, your goal is to have the best view of the bottom, and then you will appreciate the picture like details that you’ll get with Side Imaging Sonar. Why do you need this feature? By being able to see the bottom of the lake, you know what’s hiding down there. You know where your prey is and you can lure it in then. This is a GPS ready fishfinder with full screen trackplotter which will help you find where you are and where you are going. Your fish finder is protected from saltwater and freshwater and if you do drop it in, it will float. So, no matter how tricky your adventure gets, you won’t need to worry about ruining the equipment.
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