How about I post a list of all the legal guides for each river in Northern BC. That way if you are fishing with someone who is not on the list you will know that you are supporting an illegal guiding operation.

Good idea. Why not.

Get the permission of Bob before you post a list of guides. It is afterall, his business. Doesn't seem to me that he is in the business of doling out free advertising for other guides although I have seen him be very kind hearted
toward some posts on this board.

Bob is not guiding in BC therefore there is no direct competition. I would think that he would welcome any information that would help identify any illegal guiding operations especially on rivers such as the Kispiox and Bulkley.

Check this slightly dated list of licensed guides. I will try to provide an updated list in the future.
http://www.elp.gov.bc.ca/ske/fish/guides_class_waters_9899.htm

[ 05-15-2001: Message edited by: Catostomus sp. ]

You've got to be kidding me. So we can't use a guide unless they're on you're approved list? Why should I trust you? I think that I can do my own research before I book a guide.

Looking at the link provided, it looks to me like this is a government list. As trustworthy as anything from the government!!!

We were thinking something like this… At each tackle store, hotel and tourist bureau there will be a pamphlet front and center listing all of the legal guides within the area and the rivers they are licenses to guide on. The pamphlet will give a brief description of what illegal guiding is and how it is impacting our resource and economy. A few signs may also be posted at access roads listing the licensed guides for the river and the contact numbers for each.

Mr. Oregon

The list isn't mine. The list is the registered angling guides licensed to guide anglers on each of the mentioned rivers. If the guide is not registered or does not have rod days for those systems then he/she is operating illegally. I would think that every ethical angler would try not to support illegal guiding. Perhaps you should look into it more for your own piece of mind. I would hate to think you or someone you know has been supporting an illegal guide over the years. Remember ignorance is no defence.

Who needs or wants a guide on the rivers you mentioned ??? Checked one out last year - 2200 U.S dollars for 5 days of fishing and nothing else... thats no joke. If you doubt that contact the Maxwells and see if I am wrong ( that price is per person) I can do fine on my own. I don't think you have a problem with illegle guides.. I think you have a problem with us being up there at all. I have been up there several times and all the guys I ever see from the states are just avg. Joes who got togther and went on a fishing trip. See ya in the fall... Get over it.. If you don't like people from the states fishing up there say so.. and then get over it..

We don't want average Joe's we want to get the best return on our resource. I have no problem with visiting anglers. I just want to get as much return as possible on the resource. Illegal guiding is wrong and unethical. I don't think anyone in their right mind supports this. You should try fishing in Quebec or in Iceland and see how much you pay for 5 days of fishing. I think we have a better fishery and we should be compensated accordingly.

Dont you canadians have your own little bulletin board you can piss and moan on?

Personally, a list that would add real value to me is a list of rivers where guiding is illegal period.

I can't help it... I gotta say this... who the hell is the "we" you keep mentioning??? You act like 1> you own a river 2> you speak for the Canadian goverment. The thing I can't help but wonder is "who the hell are you." You are saying that you don't want avg Joes there fishing.. you want the big bucks, like you actually get any of the money

Post away ... I don't have any problem with it.

Hope you guys see a reduction in the problem ... it happens everywhere, in fisheries in AK and WA as well.

PS ... from what I know of the Skeena watershed, "you" probably ought to be watching the Europeans more than the Americans. Most of the US guys I know that go up that way have been fishing those rivers much longer than many of the 'locals'.

[ 05-15-2001: Message edited by: Bob ]

Who needs a guide up there? The Europeans use them like Bob said! I rarely ever see an American who uses a guide up that way. There mostly all rude and have to get in some kind of remark anyway when we float thru. Your biggest problem is us being there in the first place! But with your economy you need us!!! I spend alot of money in Canada every year and I love fishing there. So find a European board and quit whining to us! We all have the same problems everywere. I would turn in a illegall guide in a heartbeat but Im not gonna ask every one for there credetials. Thats what Fisheries and Oceans is for! If there aint enough money for good coverage then let us know and we'll bring more people to help your economy. But Im sure you dont want that either! Your just peeing and moaning. See ya this fall!!!

Oh, I forgot to mention...Most of us ARE avarage joes! You dont see a 90210 zip code here do ya?

Fisheries and Oceans has no authority over steelhead management or angling guides. This is a provincial issue that is enforced by conservation officers. How many of you have ever seen a conservation officer? The reason why I came to this board is that I see Americans as allies who are capable of understanding our plight. I will look into a list of rivers where guiding is prohibited.

If anyone can suggest any active european boards I will gladly post on this topic there.

Last fall I think we averaged one conservation officer sighting every three days.

Bruce

Its kinda hard to check out guide licences and sportfishers alike when he never gets out of his truck huh Bruce?. When I came back from the Queen Charroletes with my big boat we got checked by fisheries and oceans at the ferry terminal and again at New Hazelton when we stopped for fuel. They were very courteous but also did there jobs. Maybe they should be the ones checking the rivers in Steelhead season also. The conservation officer should be floating the rivers and checking. Thats what they have been doing in Forks and there bustin many bait fishers in no-bait zones. It keeps everyone honest not knowing when he will appear. He could at least stay in his truck at the popular takeouts. The ones me and Bruce saw never even looked twice! So its no wonder I diddent know fisheries and oceans diddent enforce Steelhead. We never get checked by anyone! We never cared who enforced it, We fish legal so we dont worry!!

Bob D

Moving on from the pissing and moaning, I also would like to see a list of the rivers that are not legal to guide. Better to educate us average Joes. Enforcement is a problem everywhere, no thanks to our government for stripping the needed $$ we need to keep our resource vibrant!