Pay to Fish???
- This topic has 20 replies, 11 voices, and was last updated Apr 5, 2007 at 8:15 pm by
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I was just wondering how many of you guys are members of private trout clubs or in general how many of u guys go on guided trips abroad…Just curious 😮 I know in essence we all pay to fish by paying for a liscense or what not
I pay to fish every chance I get, but its really a matter of context. I live in Alabama, own my own bass boat, am very familar with all the local water, so I don’t have to pay local guides to fish. However when I am on a business trip near new and different places to fish, I try to always take a few days off in conjunction with trip and fish. To do that successfully, you either need to know the area really well, or hire a local guide–they got the drift boats, the best access, and the local knowledge etc. Its averaging out to about 4-5 guided trips a year now. That might seem like a lot of $$ at $250-$400 a pop, but it really pays off on the second and third time to familar locations. Since ’98, I’ve floated the Arkansas River at least once a year with Ark Anglers, Salida, CO. But now, I can take three days of extra time to fish the Arkansas on a trip to Colorado, and not waste anytime finding good wading spots and access. The guided trips always make subsequent trips more productive.
If you can afford it, hire a guide in unfamilar waters. Especially if time is short. I know life is!
I like to pay a guide when I’m trying something new (winter steelheading was my most recent new fishing experience), or when I’m going to a new place (paying for a float trip in Montana this summer!).
I have mixed feelings about clubs, although I’d never belong to one (even if I had the money I think I’d rather spend it on guided trips in all sorts of different locations).
I just had the opportunity to fish, for free, a privately owned stretch of trout water in Virginia. The owner has put massive amounts of time, money and labor into transforming that stretch of water into a first class fishery, not to mention he buys fish to put in it. If it was on public land there might be a few trout in it but if it were stocked they fish would disappear because there are no c&r regulations there outside of his farm. I know some private clubs are very, very unpopular, and I’m not defending everyone. But if I was rich, owned a stretch of trout stream, transformed it into a really excellent trout stream, I wouldn’t hesitate to take steps to keep the riff raff out.
I have fished with guides and on private clubs, but it has always been either on assignment or on a friendly basis where the guide fished too.
I belong to a small private fishing club in south central Pa. that asks their members to take an active role in maintaining the stream. it’s far from elitist but provides a clean catch & release environment.the fishing is not easy but can be outstanding at times.
I’ve fished a few private “pay to fish” streams in Virginia that were nicely run and the cost ranged from 50 /day per rod to 100 /day per rod.
Most of my fishing involves hikes into back country in Va. and Pa. and in the Yellowstone area .we’ve found these places after years of recon trips and miles of hiking,so it’s a treat every now and then to have an easy access big fish water to fish that the private water provides. Wouldn’t want a steady diet of the private stuff but it’s a nice change at times. I never had a guided trip .
Best,
SteveTrust me, right then, the only thing I was thankful for was NOT having to go to that conference.
Zach,
Having survived 35 years of marriage, there’s more than one way you have to pay to fish!
I have some “hang-ups” about pay-to-fish streams and/or private “clubs”. I do fish a stretch of private water here in Virginia, Escatawba Farms, I know the owner and he runs a nice operation, although $100 a rod aint cheap! It seems to be quite the “fad” here in Virginia – if you’re rich you buy some property with a steam on it, run some piano wire or cow fencing at either end, over stock it with HUGE Rainbow and charge people to fish it. I spend a lot of time on the Jackson, catch nice fish and do it all for free!
What interests me about paying to fish private water is the potential to experience an unsullied fishery.
I also can’t imagine ever paying to fish private water.
For me, its not hard to imagine. Last September during a trip to Montana, I had the opportunity to spend a day fishing 5 miles of the East Gallatin River off the Milesnick Ranch (MZ Ranch). The price was $50 and they limit access to 6 rods per day. The day I fished only one other guy was fishing and he chose to fish the spring creeks. The ranch also includes several miles of spring creeks which I chose not to fish. I think this was the first time I’d ever paid to fish private access other than staying at lodges that had private water. As a point of comparison, the previous day I’d floated the Yellowstone with a guide and another partner ($375 + tip). The float provided some good fishing, but nothing that would compare with the day on the MZ Ranch. The following day, I did some wade fishing on the Yellowstone near Livingston, MT with about the same result of float two days previous. Cost: free. By comparision, $375, $50, Free, the $50 for a full day on some outstanding water was a bargain. The fish were bigger–browns and rainbows 16-22″, much more cooperative, and did what I live for–they were slamming Woolly Buggers all day. But the biggest joy was that I effectively had 5 miles of prime water to myself.
Last Sunday night my wife, cousin and I ate a typical Mexican meal at a location Mex restaurant ($50 + tip for an 1 hour of eating). I can live all day on granola bars and gatorade and am more than willing to pay $50 for a whole day of quality fishing.
Guys,
This is a very good question and all the replies are very interesting. I agree with what Zach said in his last post, to me though, there are good clubs and there are bad ones. I live in western Pa, and I have fished the Little J and what Donny “JACKASS” Beaver did there was just wrong! I do believe he gave a black eye to a lot of clubs that do not pratice what he does. I have been helping a friend of mine who teaches some high school kids to tie/fly fish. He annully takes the kids to a club to fish, no way better to get a kid hooked on flyifshing( or fishing in general) than to let them fish for the pigs and catch a few fish like that in a controlled enviroment like that of a club.
Now would I join a private club? Even if I became weathly the answer is NO. This sport is not about catching fish to me. Don’t get me wrong, catching a big fish from time to time is nice, but just being able to fish is rewarding enough!JH
PS. We should start a poll on this subject.
There are some pretty awesome answers here on this thread!!! ;D personally, I have fished a private owned stretch of trout stream up in the mountains of Southwest PA….My uncle is a member and so are a couple of his friends…the price is rights at about 40 dollars for 12 hours of fishing(For TU members (The price is slightly higher for nonmembers) The entire stream is fishable with hippers only and the campfire and pavillion at the entry of the camp amke for a nice day on the water. The stream manager is an extremely helpful person in selecting flies and what equipment to use. I don’t go often, but it makes for a nice trip. [smiley=thumbsup.gif]
There are some pretty awesome answers here on this thread!!! ;D personally, I have fished a private owned stretch of trout stream up in the mountains of Southwest PA….My uncle is a member and so are a couple of his friends…the price is rights at about 40 dollars for 12 hours of fishing(For TU members, the price is slightly higher for nonmembers) The entire stream is fishable with hippers only and the campfire and pavillion at the entry of the camp amke for a nice day on the water. The stream manager is an extremely helpful person in selecting flies and what equipment to use. I don’t go often, but it makes for a nice trip. [smiley=thumbsup.gif]
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