I will be graduating highschool next year, so I have been contemplating many careers. I’m seriously considering becoming a FFishing, and touring guide. My question, is there a possiblity this could be a year long career? or would I have to also rely on a second job? Also, what types of classes, liscenses should I pursue to achieve this? Thank you for any input.
-David
“Fly fishing is a skillful art, on where man can pit his wits against natured, and at the same time, be at one with the world around him”
Martin Ford “Fishing Flies”
Staying out of ‘the pitfalls of guiding as a career’ stuff:
Whether you can operate a guide business year round depends primarily on where you are.
If you can be mobile, try to select a spot that has good fishig all year, has enough ‘stuff to see’ (natural or manmade-not just a ‘fishing’ spot, but something for the rest of the family to do as well) in the area so that folks will be coming there all year, and is enough well known for it’s fishing that fishermen will be looking for a guide when they are in the area.
Don’t be surprised that will be LOTS of guides in any such area…
Ooops my bad! I wasn’t trying to say I would own a company, I would like to work for somebody. I have been doing some research on areas and I believe Fernie, BC looks like a great place try to get started. Lots of summer activities, and many great fisheries. Thanks
-David
“Fly fishing is a skillful art, on where man can pit his wits against natured, and at the same time, be at one with the world around him”
Martin Ford “Fishing Flies”
Fernie would be a great place, but tough to guide in. New regulations limit the number of guide hours on the water and all guiding companies must have licences. With the great fishing, the resort facilities, and the excellent scenery, Fernie is one of Canada’s top fishing destinations. Like mentioned before, everyone and their dog heads to these types of areas, either to spend money- or make it.
Try looking to a northern fly-in location if you are thinking Canada… They are trying to increase the flyfishing aspect of some of these locations. Its only summer work though and very remote.
Becoming a guide is like becoming a muscian. Neither will usually pay the bills. One of my son’s is a very good musician, he is also a skilled wood floor installer. He is travelling around the world on cruise ships, playing his music and repairing the ships floors. A very good friend of mine is a guide in the U.P. of Michigan, he is also a guard at the state prision. Learn a skill you can do anywhere in the world as your main job and guide in between. Some skills to consider that you can use almost anywhere in the world and alow you to be flexible:
Carpenter
Locksmith
Auto / marine Mechanic
Cook/Chef
Waitress
Now get on that cruise ship and be a guide too.
David, I have been guiding a long time so let me offer you some advice.
Put together a resume and send it to a number of different lodges in Alaksa.
Lodges up there usually will hire inexperienced guides.
Prepare for a tough job that is not nearly as glamorous as it sounds.
Get your in fishing now, because once you become a guide you will not probally being doing alot of fishing on your own.
After the end of the season you will be ready to make a educated decision if guiding is really your true calling.
Unless you can get a job guiding in a tropical setting or in the southern hemisphere, (neither very likely until you get alot more years of experience)you can forget about making enough money to not be working in the winter doing something else.
If you really want to try it then give guiding a shot but get a college degree of some sort also.
Most of the guides I know tend to live from paycheck to paycheck.
Rob
[This message has been edited by idahofisher (edited 17 May 2006).]
I guided for 5 years. The best advice I can give is to make sure you have a back up plan. At times it is the best job in the world then other times it can be very frustrating. I used to call it adult babysitting. If you are going to do it, do it before you are married and have kids and other responsabilities. Like I said somtimes it is the best job in the world but other times you can get pretty hungry.
I agree that you should think about college. Take out some loans if you have to. Go to college in a fishey place and fish every minute you can because the older you get the less time you seem to have to fish.
I still struggle to make it through the winter and it isn’t really feasable to guide somewhere else in the Montna off season. I don’t think I’d want to do it all year anyway. I would get burnt out.
In the off season have worked in some trades: concrete construction, electrical, landscaping… I like building but I’d rather work in a field that payed a little better, the problem is that there aren’t many jobs that you can walk in and out of for 6 months of the year in the off season. I think that one day I will have worked enough phases of construction that I’ll be able to general projects, but that’s not really what I’m shooting for.
You really should (imho) keep a backup plan in mind. Not an iron clad trade or degree, … ust remember that a few years down the road, … an accident, bad luck, … anything can cut short a Guide’s on the water career.
Not to be a Party Pooper, … but life’s like that. A degree isn’t a bad idea, … or a trade.
Question, … Have you ever been out with a Guide ? Could give you an indication of the real job.
Rob has some really good points and ideas.
Lastly, … It’s YOUR life, … if that’s what you want to try, … Go For It!
My 2 cents worth: I have no advise to give to you but to remember that you will one day wake up and find out that you are 60 years old, your health is not what it used to be and you have no retirement built up anywhere to fall back on. These are things that you need to have covered now before you get to 60 so, you need a back up plan that will provide some sort of security for down the road. For instance, IRA account, 401 account, life insurance, health insurance, etc. Just remember that you will not remain young forever and as each year goes by, they get faster. These are just the things I think about.
Haven’t used guides as a rule. Usually in an area where I am unfamiliar with the regulations. The best guide I ever had was in Colorado. He was a student at the University in Boulder, guided in the summer Nat’l ski patrol in winter. He really was great with my 14 year old son. It’s awful hard work. Don’t give up on your dreams. I’m still trying to figure out what I want to be when I grow up at age 48. God bless and good luck.
Thanks to everyone for your input! I’m planning on submitting resumee’s to alaskan guides. I will try to work in the summer guiding, then travel the country working on coal plants with the step-dad in the off-season, good money. Sounds easy…we’ll see Thanks!
-David
“Fly fishing is a skillful art, on where man can pit his wits against natured, and at the same time, be at one with the world around him”
Martin Ford “Fishing Flies”
i think if you want to make it a viable long term career then you need to be looking into ownership/management of a flyshop, lodge, outfitter whatever in the long run.
Try to take post-secondary courses dealing with business management, accounting etc. That way even if the guiding business doesnt work out you have soemthing to fall back on.
Thanks!