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Post by Fenwick on Dec 31, 2020 11:08:19 GMT -6
czoscar: Welcome to the board. I'm sure the dedicated long term posters within this board thank you for your observation and you should know the majority here are indeed license holding /fly only/barbless hook/catch and release types on the Lower Mountain Fork who abide by official fishing regulations and especially the code of good sportsmanship. You should know that up until about a year or so ago there were two locations along the river which had special restrictions whereby only artificial lures or flies could be used instead of ordinary bait / barbless hooks at that and only one rainbow trout or brown trout could be kept per day provided that one rainbow or brown trout measured 20 inches or more in length. Again these special regulations only applied to two particular areas of the river. Back then you'd observe a lot of fly fishermen in those areas and very few if any spin fisherman even though spin fishermen could indeed cast treble hooked spinning lures provided the barbs were bent down and there was no ordinary bait such as worms or salmon eggs or live minnows or power bait or what have you in use. Uncle Josh and Mike and Berkley jars and buckets and stringers were not welcome in these areas and spin fishermen often got the evil eye from we fly guys. Those cherished restrictions we fly guys found most appealing are now a thing of the past and the entire river is open to all types of fishing in order to provide park visitors with a more all accommodating fishing experience. As for game warden / park ranger / forestry agent law enforcement it was all but non-existent as far as fishing went even in the special regulation areas. The official entities claimed they had more serious crimes to deal with in and around the park environs as opposed to fishing infractions and so we got short shrift. In twelve years of fly fishing there I was only approached once by a state game warden, not a local McCurtain County game warden. He had been assigned to the park to alleviate the county wardens operating elsewhere in the county. He checked my Oklahoma fishing license and carefully examined the mashed down barb on my fly to ensure I was in compliance since I was in one of the restricted zones. Very professional, courteous and conversational. I thanked him for checking me. As you will surely witness the more often you visit the park there are indeed a lot more things going on requiring wardens and rangers attention than fishing infractions. Nevertheless we do what we can in the way of abiding by rules and good sportsmanship. I'll try and post a photo of the old special regulations signage that once existed in the park. The rules have since changed but we have not.
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Post by jesusandy on Jan 1, 2021 12:24:36 GMT -6
I want to give a different perspective of this post from my personal experience.
When I first came to LMF about 8 years ago, my wife and I had never been to the river. We came ready to bait cast because that was all I knew. However, I brought my Papa's fly rod and reel (over 60 years old and was given to me before he died). We caught several fish from the Cold Hole on shrimp. Then we stopped to eat our sack lunch and met this fellow and his dog "Magik" who were also taking a lunch break. Jeff (Golferjeff as he is now known) showed me how to assemble my Papa's rod, then proceeded to take my wife and I to a honey hole, show us what flies to use, and we both caught our first trout on a fly rod. He told us about Eddie and Roberta and the fly shop and suggested we hire a guide to help us even more. I have now been to the river over 100 times, I hire a guide at least twice a year, and my wife and I have found a love for fly fishing and the LMF.
The point is that if Jeff had not given me some "advice", I might not have ever tried fly fishing or came back. I don't think giving some advice to a newbee on this bulletin board is wrong. No, you don't need to go into minute detail of every honey hole, but helping someone out with where to fish, flies to use, techniques, etc. is not giving away the farm, in my humble opinion. If I have learned one thing from the likes of Peter, Cody, other guides, Golfer Jeff and Fly & Stream, the DRIFT is what it is all about, and that can only be learned through experience.
Will the river ever return to less crowded. Never!!! Is there still plenty of places to fish, and fish to be caught, most certainly!!! I would simply remind all that helping others with advice or information is a good thing. I'm glad Jeff took the time to give me some!!!
I pray that this post is not taken as condescending to anyone. May you each have Happy New Year and God bless!!!
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Post by coach33 on Jan 1, 2021 16:54:47 GMT -6
Have a guide tomorrow, quick question, what is the average tip for a guide and does BB fly shop sell licenses?
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Post by joelock74 on Jan 1, 2021 18:29:47 GMT -6
Not sure about tip but you can buy a license online.
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Post by dainw on Jan 1, 2021 20:15:54 GMT -6
Have a guide tomorrow, quick question, what is the average tip for a guide and does BB fly shop sell licenses? I usually tip about 20%, sometimes more depending on how the trip goes.
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Post by czoscar on Jan 1, 2021 21:05:14 GMT -6
Have a guide tomorrow, quick question, what is the average tip for a guide and does BB fly shop sell licenses? I usually tip about 20%, sometimes more depending on how the trip goes. I was told $60 for1/2 day $120 for full day but honestly a great question but a tough one with so many variables.
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Post by dainw on Jan 1, 2021 22:14:04 GMT -6
I mean, it’s a tip. There’s really no standard amount. Think of it like eating at a restaurant. 20% is a good tip and the amount can go up or down depending on the service. Same with fishing trips. If the guide puts you on a bunch of fish or gets you a really good fish then you can tip more.
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Post by czoscar on Jan 2, 2021 10:54:07 GMT -6
I mean, it’s a tip. There’s really no standard amount. Think of it like eating at a restaurant. 20% is a good tip and the amount can go up or down depending on the service. Same with fishing trips. If the guide puts you on a bunch of fish or gets you a really good fish then you can tip more. Hi Dainw - I agree there really is no standard amount outside of a range dependent on value to you of the service. But disagree with comparison to a wait person, hair stylist, etc. these “service” essential folks typically get a lot of customers, and for a waitperson in a high end restaurant- several customers with big bills. These guides are working and sharing their hard earned knowledge over a 1/2 or full day typically once, maybe twice, a day. We know the base rate for full day is $325.00 but do we know how much of that goes to the guide or shop? Let’s say 50% to the guide and 20% tip is rounded off $225.00 over a long full day with instruction, tips of how to fish certain areas, knowledge of the river, netting your fish, taking your photo, etc., etc. this is their livings and Coach and Roberta only hire and keep the best of the best. I don’t know what is a good range for tips for guides, I know what they are for restaurants, etc., and knowing the hard work and low pay, I tip well, but I have never hired a guide to fish or hunt before and I’m not sure what is fair. I’m retired with twins in college so hiring a guide was a special occasion for me but still want to compensate the guide for his unique knowledge and service. This was my thinking when I responded to the original question which means - I really don’t know what is a fair tip and thought it was a good question. Happy New year stay safe.
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Post by dainw on Jan 2, 2021 11:50:39 GMT -6
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Post by imdrift on Jan 3, 2021 13:09:13 GMT -6
First I am a new registered user...however I have been fishing the river when Sid’s fly shop was shared with the canoe and kayak building. I miss those good old days when Sid would drop by our camp site... I do agree the information on this river is easily obtainable with as much info that is out there..... problem I realized a long time ago the best kept secret there was this beautiful river........then one day a magazine in Dallas penned an article about Beavers Bend and the river...I have always been kind to fellows on the river....the gate was left open a long time ago...I would even (I am sure this will not go over to well) but TU I understand it’s a great group however when they turned their attention to the river.. Katie bar the gate.. So now it is what is......so if people our serious about their fishing there is plenty of info out there...
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