Guiding has done a lot to promote tourism in the Brainerd lakes area

Last week I wrote about two bitter fishermen that I came across on one of the local lakes. They didn't like guides and I know they aren't the only ones.

I've tried in the past to help people understand that the fishing guides of the past were more into catch and keep than catch and release. Times have changed. But there still are people who think that just because they aren't catching walleyes like they once did it's because of those "darn guides" or maybe those "darn muskies."

Yes, there still are times when my clients keep some of the fish they catch. But if people knew how many we release I think they would be pleasantly surprised. We put way more fish back into the lake than we take out.

I talked with Tim Edinger, a member of my guide service, about the run-in I had with the bitter fishermen and he gave me some pretty good stuff. Tim is one of the best guides in the area and he had some facts I'd like to pass along.

Tim fished six days last week (two trips per day) and cleaned fish for his clients on just one of the half day trips. That's one time out of a possible 12 where he kept fish.

Guides will get a bad rap no matter what, but I ask people to look at the facts before they make a judgment. We're making money guiding our clients to a natural resource that's kept in check by the DNR. A look back at the history of this area reveals what fishing has done to stimulate the economy through the years.

Golf is great, but wasn't it fishing that got our area's tourism rolling? It doesn't reflect well on this area when a disgruntled fisherman tells a guide off in front of his clients. Will that same person scream at golfers as they cruise the courses and ask, "What are you doing hacking up that nice green grass?"

Tourism is huge in the lakes area. If we want people to return year after year we better not anger them. I ask lake home owners who feel protective about their lakes to work with guides and not against them.

Yes, there are many sides to this issue. Rather than continue to pound my point I'll just go about my business of showing people how to catch fish and how to appreciate the resources of this area.

Q: Walleyedan, what fishing line do you use on your Lindy Rigs?

A: Berkley Fireline is my current favorite. It doesn't twist like monofilament. For the snells I use fluorocarbon.