You do have many guides to choose from on Lake Guntersville because over the last 5 years the lake has experienced a surge in fishing guides.  Every spring Guntersville starts out with 30 plus guides but it always dwindles down to just a hand full making their living guiding every day. Guides pops up all the time with little to no experience on the lake.  They have a boat and a fishing rod, so now they call themselves a fishing guide.  There are also some retired guys out there and their motto is, “I’m going to fish anyway, might as well get paid for it”.  These types of guides don’t care if you come back as a client because they have another income.

You will also find guides that say they are accomplished tournament anglers but cannot furnish any evidence that they have won anything on Lake Guntersville. As the ole saying goes, “Anyone can catch a fish and be whoever they want to be on the internet”. All they have to do is write it and post it on a webpage. I suggest you be careful in who you hire, take the time to do a little research on your next fishing guide. Don’t just believe a fishing report you saw online. Ask around for references and call the local tackle shops to find out who is worth taking a trip with. Don't be afraid to ask your fishing guide questions, before you book a trip. Find out how long they have been guiding on Lake Guntersville. The internet is not new, so you can go back a long ways to see if their story checks out.

Check your possible guide’s credentials and qualifications. All guides on the Tennessee River are required by federal law to be United States Coast Guard Licensed Captain. If they are not you may be putting yourself and your family at risk. You have every right to ask to see your guide’s license, so ask for it. Almost every bass fishing guide will say they are the best, so use your discretion and remember if its sounds too good...it probably is. A guide's reputation is the most important part of his business.