johnstone outfitters & guide service review

[LabChamp]

Yeah there is no fishing review bc the guy decided to call and cancel when the rest of the reputable guides are out on the river catching fish. (See letty potters Facebook page) I called him on Tuesday night to confirm our trip and he said although we will still be paying for a jet boat trip 200, we are doing a walk in on the lower tidal water. Reluctantly, I agreed bc I was supposed to be  fishing the Quinault, like we originally agreed on, in a jet boat. His price on his Internet page specifically states two different prices for walk in and jet boat trips. Red flag number one. The second red flag was me calling on Tuesday night to confirm because being a fishing guide myself I had been watching the river conditions and they were not good at all and not calling for any rain. He told me no worries, we were going to fish the tidal water instead. Cool.... My wife and I leave for the coast on Wednesday to stay an extra day at the Quinault Casino before our trip. Thursday comes and around 230 I get a text saying fishing doesn't look good for tomorrow. WTF?! Letty is consistently putting her clients on fish in low water, and after I called on Tuesday afternoon to confirm he wants to cancel? Whats the deal, he can't find fish or what? The part that Pisses me off the most was him not offering to take care of us after we had taken two days off of work unpaid, paid for 200 plus dollars in hotel rooms, and driven half way across the state for nothing. I would be very wary of him because I would not wish anyone to be stuck in our shoes loosing hundreds of dollars in lost wages, on top of the wasted gas money and lodging. Total birth day let down. I will be telling everyone that I know to avoid him at all costs.

[lucky7]

Thanks for the headsup. Letty wasn't available?

[Coastal_native]

Sounds like a pretty bad experience, but to be fair Letty was using a driftboat to access portions of the river that most sled operators wouldn't dare.  I took my sled down last Saturday with about 7 other sleds (and Letty in her drift boat) and everybody was already talking about it being too low for a sled beyond Sunday.  The fishing was getting pretty dismal in places where most jet sleds could reach.  There's some good guides on that river (Letty being one of the best), hopefully you'll get to experience one of them.  I'd be pretty upset over the lost time and money too.

[LabChamp]

Thanks for the headsup. Letty wasn't available?

No problem. No she is booked over a year out on all her trips. Booked several dates for next year though.

[LabChamp]

Sounds like a pretty bad experience, but to be fair Letty was using a driftboat to access portions of the river that most sled operators wouldn't dare.  I took my sled down last Saturday with about 7 other sleds (and Letty in her drift boat) and everybody was already talking about it being too low for a sled beyond Sunday.  The fishing was getting pretty dismal in places where most jet sleds could reach.  There's some good guides on that river (Letty being one of the best), hopefully you'll get to experience one of them.  I'd be pretty upset over the lost time and money too.

Yeah I'm pretty upset he didn't offer to make things right or even offer a discount on the next trip. But the best thing I can do now is let others know ow about my experience and hope others don't get pulled into the same situation I'm in.

About the boat subject. I don't feel bad for him not having a drift boat. If you are a fishing guide on the coast and DON'T have a drift boat, I will start to question if you are truly an avid fisherman in the first place. He makes plenty of money from his guided trips to pay for a cheap 3k drift boat to insure his clients success in all river conditions. Especially while fishing the closed coastal tribal rivers. Heck if he would have known how to get to the fish my wife and I brought 500 bucks with us to fish with him on friday. 200 a head and 50 bucks for a tip from each one of us. Again being a guide I tip well, it's hard work and good guides earn it. That's almost 20% of his new 3k drift boat. But it's not up to me how he chooses to build his business, and in this case... His lack of overall fishing knowledge (couldn't find fish while other guides had no problem) and reinvestment (no drift boat to get to the fish) into his company cost him a trip, money is his pocket, and a bad review on his business.

[Coastal_native]

Yeah, no excuses for him on my end. He could've made it clear that the river isn't fishable without a drift boat below a certain flow rate and that he doesn't use one.  If I was I guide on that river I'd definitely want a drift boat.  Most of them don't have one and those that do rarely use them (except Letty and maybe one or two others).  I think the turn around time on that river has something to do with it.  It's gotta be one of the worst.  lots of rough logging road on each end.  Letty actually hires someone to shuttle her truck and trailer. 

I figured most of the guides would start cancelling trips early last week because they couldn't get their sleds very far from the launch.  That was the only thing that threw me for a loop about your review...was that everyone else was still out catching fish in sleds.  Not necessarily trying to invalidate anything you said.

Glad to hear you booked for next year and sorry it went so bad this time around.  The river was loaded with fish the last couple of weeks.  I heard a lot of people's clients saying it was some of the best salmon fishing they'd ever experienced.  Hopefully you'll be saying that next year.

[LabChamp]

I thought the guy would have had the decency to cancel when I called on Tuesday to confirm, but he didnt. I tried to throw the guy a rope. Instead, he said we are going to go fish the tide water. He knew what was going on, was scrambling for another option bc he wasn't on fish and failed. Straight up. His mistake cost my wife and I hundreds and ruined my planned birthday weekend. (I booked in July) I can't even go deer hunting bc my budget has been exhausted by someone who couldn't do their job 

[Seatown5]

It's total bs. To many guys are getting boats and calling themselves guides. Ther
It takes a lot more than catching fish to be a guide. You need to be organized , personable, punctual, reliable, honest and a whole list of other things. Sorry for you and your wife. I got hosed by nate treats guide service earlier in the yeaR.

[Panic Minnow]

Lord help those if OFFDAHOOK ever tries to become a guide......Imagine a day of fishing with him?

[RaffleMule]

Was it Dean or Shawn Johnstone?