A Checklist for Guides

[Todd Oishi]

Like many of you, I have hired the services of guides while traveling to fish distant waters. In my situation, this is generally done in preparation for an upcoming competition or to learn a specific technique. Here are a few of the qualities that I look for in a guide:

1) Extensive knowledge of that particular fishery and its fish
2) An above-average level of expertise
3) Knowledge of a wide variety of techniques and patterns
4) A professional and courteous attitude
5) A good sense of humour or at least an ability to carry on a conversation
6) Ethical treatment of animals and the environment
7) The ability and sense to leave his (or her) cell phone turned off while we are paying for his (or her) time...

Please feel free to add to this list and explain where and why you would hire a guide.

[Dejon Hamann]

I would hire a guide to reach otherwise unreachable water via  private land rights or drift boat, float plane etc.  And also on occasion, as you mentioned, to get detailed info on an area for a competition. 

As a guide myself, I also seek out guides who don't "stagger" trips.  It's a pretty industry standard trick that I was taught when I first guided all those years ago up in Alaska, but I could never really adopt and have come to despise over the years.  It's the "only give em' a little the first time around so they come back for more" mentality.  I always endeavor to put my clients on the very best fishing in that area for the day AND to impart any and all knowledge freely.

[Chris Puchniak]

This is decent information I can file away for if or whenever I do hire a guide.

One thing that I have noticed that some guides do, and others don't, from watching them merely on tv and such, is that some guides cannot seem to resist doing everything for their client - even if their client has been fishing longer than the guide.  Likely this is a subjective matter for me, as I assume some people feel that IF they are hiring a guide for $400-1000 per day, they want that guide to make sure their drag is right, the fly on the end of their line is optimal (and TIED on by the guide), to tell them where to precisely cast (not there, 6 inches to the right...), and to tell them WHEN to set the hook (ok.. ready... ready...  now... Now! NOW!!!).  For myself though, if I was with a guide who did this, I'd be put off pretty fast.

So, I'd want a guide who can give me insights to the local waters (roughly where the fish will be in the river or lake, give the time of year, or what should be hatching, etc...), to help correct me if I am doing anything glaringly wrong (after 25 years I think I have some bad habits...), but to still let me do the actual fishing.  Or, to provide the boat where needed.  I want to be educated but not coddled while fishing.  I'd be hoping he'd show me a better fly pattern, a better way to present the fly, a better way to read the water, etc... not just be a person physically pointing to the fish and doing everything except casting the rod for me (though I suspect many people want this).

In other words, I probably want a guide who fishes alongside me and explains some of what he's doing that I might find interesting or helpful.  Not one that's acting like a 3rd grade school teacher, and considering me his 3rd grade student, preaching and tying my flies on!

Less importance on the catching and more importance on the learning.


This probably all falls under Todd's point #4 or #5.  Attitude and personality.

[Josh Wobniare]

Very easy......just let the guide know what you want!

"i like to tie on my own flies, but thank you"

Etc etc..

You are paying 50-100/hr, so expect full service!...but its best for all to communicate what you want. The guide may be equally confused as you are annoyed.

Its your money, set the stage if you want things a certain way. Everyone will have a better day this way. 

[Chris Puchniak]

One place I could really see myself hiring a guide is on waters where there are "vague" land rights issues, such as some of the areas of Southern American.  In areas where it is not clearly defined as to where you can and cannot go (and often finding the landowner is difficult), I think having a guide who has already established the lands rights/trespassing issues would be very valuable.

Having references is something I think I'd want.

I'd like to suggest:

7)  Does the guide have any references (most often, I think I would only be hiring a guide I already know of, or has been referred to me)?  I'd like to know he's done this before .
  Does he have licensing to do what he is doing (I know this is a issue in BC, and I assume elsewhere)?  I prefer to fish with someone who is doing it within the rules of the law.

[Chris Reid]

Having done a little "guiding" myself I would also add to the list the following items...

1)  An itinerary of items needed for the upcoming trip...example: For Steelhead fishing on the Cattaragus Creek in the fall you will need the following items...Type of fly rod, specific flys and patterns, clothing best suited for the environment/s that we will encounter, Seneca Nation fishing license, NYS Fishing license...etc

I like this as it sets the tone for the trip, better prepares the client and helps to keep the client's interest peaked prior to the excursion.

I also like a guide to be proactive with their expectations for the client...I myself will cover a "ton" of water throughout the day and I like to give the client the expectation that they will be doing a-lot of walking.  This lets the client prepare for the physical activity by hydrating properly, eating accordingly, and not getting completely and totally $hit faced the night before.  Obviously the client and their preferences are the most important so a conversation or 2 before the trip is integral to both parties maximizing their experience.

I would also add that I like a guide who asks..."what are you looking to accomplish from this trip?"  Some people just want to slay as many fish as possible and others want to learn about the waterway and the techniques necessary to catch the species in question.  This is an important distiction and one worth having before you get to the stream.

Finally, I would add to the list any specific requests that either the guide or the client may have...example, I am a catch and release fisherman/guide and I would therefore ask my perspective clients to have a like minded approach to the fishery.  If a client wanted to "keep a trophy" so to speak, then I may not be the best guide for them and I might refer them to another guide.

Just my $.02 on the subject...

Tight Lines,

Chris
    

[Loren Williams]

You are paying 50-100/hr  

Where?  I wanna go there and work!

On a serious note:  Communication is THE most important part of all this.  Guides:  don't sell something you cannot provide and don't provide something your not selling.  Be honest and frank.  It's better to pass on a trip than to take a mismatch. Clients:  don't ask the guide to do something he is not prepared to do.  Be honest about your abilities (fishing and physical)  If you can't cast 30 feet don't tell the guide you are good to 50--it will screw up the entire gameplan.  I can promise I am not going to work hard for someone who shows up drunk or really late and with a hangover.  If our trip is not important to you then how can it be important to me?

I hate the proverbial: "I have fished all my life, all over the world, just put me on fish."  Translation: "I am too rich for my own good and I view you as my slave for the day."

[Rich Strolis]

I send out a brief questionnaire to all of my new clients so I can get a gauge of what they are looking for from the day, a general idea of their skill level which usually is learned in the first 5 minutes on the water anyway, etc. etc. Helps out the guide and the client to get dialed in a bit prior to heading out...

[Frank Muscente]

I recently had the chance to go out with Loren Williams on a guide trip and I have to say I had a blast. We communicated back and forth and Loren asked me what areas I thought I needed help with. I explained to him what I was looking to accomplish before the trip and everything went perfectly. I not only learned some new and exciting techniques but he taught me more that I expected. Loren was honest and patient, absolutely no ego, and even remembered to bring more than one fly!!! (  I threw a couple in the trees with no luck). Thanks for a great day Loren.

[Rashed Abdullah]

. I always endeavor to put my clients on the very best fishing in that area for the day AND to impart any and all knowledge freely.

I can vouch for that....I had my best steelhead day on a river in all my life with Dejon!!! He knew where the fish were and wha they wanted......and wow what a great day!!