The best fishing guides have an unyielding work ethic. They spend time in the water when others are at the bar or swiping on dating apps. They rush home to tie up the lures if the cause of the success was a pattern or a special variation. They have well-maintained trucks and boats and take pride in both.
Every spring I receive a few messages from young men and women who have decided that they want to try their hand at being fishing guides and are looking for advice on where to start. Whether they want to spend one or two summers working outdoors before joining the “real world of work”, or they simply can't let go of that call to be in the water and want to make it a full-time career, I tell them: “I'm delighted for you. I think highly of most fishing guides. To a great extent, guides are the living conscience of the fishing world.
They are resource managers, sports advocates and, at their best, they are excellent teachers. You must have at least a good understanding of fish behavior, patterns, fishing tactics, and boat craftsmanship if you want to be a successful fishing guide. Customers pay them a lot of money for their expertise and the hope of catching good fish. If you don't know what you're doing, people will notice that.
Fishing guides who can secure sponsorship agreements with fishing companies can really reduce their operating costs. In reality, there is no room for monotony and boredom with fishing, as there is always something new to look forward to and new places to fish. Marinas, lodges, fishing service providers, quality fishing stores, bait stores and even some hotels are always looking for new fishing guides to manage fishing operations. Like any other profession, being a fishing guide involves mastery of skill, years of experience, countless hours on the water perfecting your skills, along with an ardent passion and commitment in everything that fishing guides do.
However, fishing guides can spend between 4 and 48 hours (or more, depending on the type of boats they operate) on a boat with new people every day at work. For a fishing guide, it's quite remarkable to know that they're basically catching these record fish with their customers. When I was in the financial services industry, one of my favorite activities was to rent a private boat with a fishing guide and bring out my main customers. Regardless of whether they are helping a new fisherman learn to cast, to fish with their “big customers” or spending hours without a bite in their “honey pit”, patience is something that all fishing guides should possess.
For fishing guides, beginners and experienced anglers alike, every fishing trip is a new learning experience worth keeping for a lifetime. Having a fishing intuition is great for delivering fish on deck, but good judgment is important for making sound decisions that keep everyone safe and improve the customer experience. Fishing guides are in the water almost every day and are aware of what the fish are doing and where they are going. When an angler tries to get a record fish or targets a species of fish he has never caught before, he rarely goes out alone and tries to “fly with wings”.Get fishing tips and tricks and read personal stories of fishermen who live and breathe fishing and boating.
Regardless of whether you sail by boat to fish or dive into the water to do so, your guide should know the best places to find and fish.
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