I have nothing against any pay-to-play fishing options regardless of their rates or membership.

I have been invited as a guest to several, but haven't yet taken anyone up on the offer.

I once belonged to a shooting club that had a pond on their property, but that was years ago although I am planning on joining another soon.

The biggest reason paying or clubs don't interest me is: I am a bit of a wild trout snob and where I live there are TONS of open public streams with wild trout. I have a really weird perspective on stocked fish and the thought of chasing huge stocked fish on private water really doesn't hold much interest to me.

I would however, gladly pay to fish a wild trout stream or section that was otherwise unavailable to me except as a paying guest or member provided it didn't cost me more than a round of golf on a decent public course.