Guides on the River

[Texastroutfisher]

I know this will probably be a touchy subject but wanted to get the forums thoughts on this. Does it seem like the guide services on the river have exploded in recent years? We go up several times a year to fish and it seems like there are more and more guides on the river each time. I’m definitely not knocking guides, that’s how we learned to fish and always stop by the fly shop and spend some money to support them.

However, between the various facebook pages I see and the pictures they post, more than a limit on a stringer, very nice fish being harvested, I was told one spin guide has connections with the group that stocks and knows where the brood fish are put in, in addition to guides that have so many clients fishing at the same time, there is no way anyone is learning anything. 

All that to say this, is anyone monitoring this and the potential impact it has on the river? We have learned via the fly shop in the park and the great guides they have. I know there are limits and regulations in place to protect the fishery but from what I have seen over the last few years it seems to get worse every year. 

[FlyAndStream]

At the end of the day, the LMFR is intentionally a put-and-take fishery. It's just a neat coincidence there are stream-born trout at all. Most of what you see hanging from stringers are fresh stockers, caught not far from where they were just dumped in, which get added quite regularly. I think it's missguided to think of this river other than that. Better off fishing here in between traveling to other wild places for those experiences, then maybe you can enjoy the LMFR for what it is... that's my personal take anyways.

[huntnfish2much]

Mar 11, 2024 19:33:03 GMT -6 Texastroutfisher said:

I know this will probably be a touchy subject but wanted to get the forums thoughts on this. Does it seem like the guide services on the river have exploded in recent years? We go up several times a year to fish and it seems like there are more and more guides on the river each time. I’m definitely not knocking guides, that’s how we learned to fish and always stop by the fly shop and spend some money to support them.

However, between the various facebook pages I see and the pictures they post, more than a limit on a stringer, very nice fish being harvested, I was told one spin guide has connections with the group that stocks and knows where the brood fish are put in, in addition to guides that have so many clients fishing at the same time, there is no way anyone is learning anything. 

All that to say this, is anyone monitoring this and the potential impact it has on the river? We have learned via the fly shop in the park and the great guides they have. I know there are limits and regulations in place to protect the fishery but from what I have seen over the last few years it seems to get worse every year. 

If you think it’s bad now, just wait till the casino opens. All these high rollers will be thinking they’re going to land a fish like the one in FlyandStream’s profile picture, and the stream will be filled with wide-eyed novices! There won’t be a spot to squeeze into!

Or maybe the ODWC will see the opportunity to make some really big money and start selling ‘beats’ like they do on British chalk streams!!

Any way it turns out, there will be more and more ‘guides’ giving you ugly looks for crowding their clients. No offense meant, FlyandStream. I’ve never encountered you on the stream, but I have been on the receiving end of a few of those glaring stares.

As mentioned, take it for what it is… a put-and-take fishery that is managed (a term used very loosely) as such… and enjoy the scenery.

All that being said, I managed to bring close to 40 fish to hand the last trip I made to Beavers Bend. I certainly don’t expect to have many more of those days once the casino opens.

JR

[FlyAndStream]

To be clear, I'm not a guide – just a guy who sometimes gets to fish 😆

[kayl]

I have never had a bad experience with any of the fly shop guides, all my interactions with them have always been positive and respectful. There is one guide out on the river however, (not related to the flyshop although he pretends to be) that set up 4 guys right at the end of my drift at the bluffs about a year and a half ago. He can suck eggs.

[jonbo]

Mar 18, 2024 16:16:15 GMT -6 FlyAndStream said:

To be clear, I'm not a guide – just a guy who sometimes gets to fish 😆

You don't have to explain yourself, dude. We know who you are.

[FlyAndStream]

Where did everyone go, jonbo? 😆

[jonbo]

It's a mystery, A. But anyway, my wife and I camped last week at Fern. She's a big planner. She'd had us booked since last year. I guess she forgot to check the Texas Spring Break schedule, or didn't know to. It was absolutely jammed. I barely tried to fish. We tried to hike. Couldn't even do that, hardly, a complete zoo. Saw Debra, had a nice chat. Neat. Fished with David and had dinner with him and his wife. Very Fun. We ran into Peter. He'd come back to help with the spring break demand. That was really cool.

I don't ever see you out there no more when I fish on week days. Where you at?

[huntnfish2much]

I’m glad now that I didn’t let my wife talk me into going there that weekend. I believe OK is on spring break this week. I may try to go in the next couple of weeks.

JR

[captwoody]

Mar 22, 2024 12:00:38 GMT -6 jonbo said:

It's a mystery, A. But anyway, my wife and I camped last week at Fern. She's a big planner. She'd had us booked since last year. I guess she forgot to check the Texas Spring Break schedule, or didn't know to. It was absolutely jammed. I barely tried to fish. We tried to hike. Couldn't even do that, hardly, a complete zoo. Saw Debra, had a nice chat. Neat. Fished with David and had dinner with him and his wife. Very Fun. We ran into Peter. He'd come back to help with the spring break demand. That was really cool.

I don't ever see you out there no more when I fish on week days. Where you at?

I timed it a week after you which happened to be oklahoma spring break. Even worse!