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How do you pick a guide? If you are
heading for warmer climates and staying at
a fishing lodge or camp, do you have any choice? Want to catch your first steelhead?
Or fish some new water? Dreaming up a fishing trip to British Columbia or Nova
Scotia? The right guide can make the trip terrific or a terror.
Plan ahead. Don't blindly charge off and hope you will get it right. Hiring a guide,
or staying at a fishing destination is not cheap. Spending money on a rotten time can
flavor more than one trip. One bad experience can make you very gun shy about
ever taking another trip. Or at least hiring a guide.
Let's start with the fishing destinations. Pick the destination based on the kind
of fishing you want. Places that specialize in big fish can usually put you on fish.
There is a trade-off though. If for some reason the big fish don't show, you may not
get any fish. Make sure you have options ... are there smaller/other fish in the same
region you would enjoy catching? Are you willing to go fishless if there is a
possibility of connection with real trophys?
Our last bonefish trip to the Bahamas had a lot of options. We knew the
reputation of Deep Water Cay Bonefish Club. We wanted to catch bonefish. Any
other neat fish would be a bonus. Some folks heading to the same place go when big
permit are an option. Others are after barracuda.
Once our guide decided our casting was adequate we went after big bones. We
could have caught literally hundreds of small bones (2 to 4 pounds). We had the
option of going after big ones. For more information and photos on that trip, check
out Bonefish Party.
Some saltwater destinations have large fish, others great numbers of small fish.
Or the fish may be there, but the local wind conditions blow you off the water. Hard
to take sitting on the beach when you paid for fishing.
Guides at fishing destinations are usually assigned by the manager or senior
guide. If you need help with your casting, make sure they know before you go. Some
guides know how to help you with your casting. Others don't or won't.
If you have a health problem that won't allow all-day-fishing, let them know. If at
the end of a day you are unhappy with your guide, you have the option of changing.
Reputable places have a guide pool — more guides available than guests. You can
change guides ... it is your money! I personally wouldn't make a change because I
didn't like the way a guide parted his hair, but if you can't understand what he says,
or if you feel your wishes are not being honored, talk with the manager.
Some outfitters (the guides' boss in some states in the US — the late Dan
Bailey of Livingston, MT comes to mind since JC and I both guided for him) are
very firm about what was expected of his licensed guides. Lunch (provided by the
guide) was to be of excellent quality, a 'split' of wine for the client could be included.
None for the guide.
Dan also expected his guides to be prompt, well equipped (spare rod and lots of
flies,) physically army-inspection-clean and pressed. Courtesy and hospitality ruled.
A rude or crude remark could get a guide fired. I'll bet old Dan was whirling in his
grave when he saw JC & me fishing with a beer guzzling "recommended" guide on
the Bitterroot a couple of years ago.
You certainly should expect to be treated well. A guide should know more about
his particular fishery than you can read in a book. For him to do his job well, you
need to let him know what you want. If you have friends who successfully hired a
guide in that region, ask for names. Ask a potential guide for references - then call
and check. Is he licensed? Ask to see the license.
Driftboat fishing can be very effective. It does require that you can put a cast
where the guide directs. (And not hook him either.) Practice your accuracy casting
before you go. Once you have drifted past a good lie, you won't go back upstream
and try it again.
If you prefer to walk and wade, the guide needs to know that. Not all water is
wadable. Access to good water can be very limited, if arrangements have to be made
for access by the guide, it has to be done in advance. Want to fish small rods and tiny
dry dlies? Don't ask the guide to take you somewhere that has size 6 salmon flies
blanketing the water.
Develop a relationship with your guide. Talk to him. Don't just call or write and
make a reservation, have a couple real conversations. Find out what your guide
specializes in. Most guides have special interests. It makes a better trip if their
interest and yours match.
Doing something entirely new? Tell the guide you have not done this before.
Take his lead. He may suggest a better place — or time — or guide.
Ask specifically what to bring. What weight rod(s), floating or sinking tip line.
What leaders? What flies? If you tie you may want to catch something on a fly you've
tied. Super, if you tied the right flies. Should you bring a lunch? Coffee or pop?
Better to ask than to wish you had.
Make sure you know what the guides fee is, and how it is paid. Some guides
require a deposit. If you are fishing private water, it may require a deposit. Guides
are not banks. Do not expect them to front your fishing expenses.
Be on time, make sure you have the proper license when you show up. Bring
proper gear; be nice. Have a great time! ~ LadyFisher
If you would like to comment on this or any other article please feel free to
post your views on the FAOL Bulletin Board!
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