Becoming A Fishing Guide
I was recently asked to do a podcast regarding how to get into guiding and what it takes to be a guide. There are plenty of articles out there regarding this subject, some written by guides and some not. This isn’t a new subject to fly fishing but it is a subject that constantly needs addressing.
Guiding isn’t the easiest thing to get in to. At times it is a good ol boys group that most don’t want others to join. It can be full of pretentious assholes. So it can be intimidating to try and join the group and be one of the guys. So how do you get started?
I can’t tell you the best way to do it or the most efficient way. What I can tell you is how I did it and what worked for me.
GO FISH
If you’re wanting to be a fly fishing guide, most likely you already do a fair amount of fishing. So my first tip is a no brainer. Start fishing! Fish all the time and everywhere you can! This is the best move you could possibly make to become a good guide. Get to know the area you are wanting to guide and learn it well. Learn every nook and every cranny on that stretch of water. Try to remember every place you have caught a fish and what conditions were like. A good way to do this is to make a log every time you go fish. Make sure to note water conditions and weather and especially what bugs the fish were keying in on. It’s a great way to catch fish when the getting gets tough, and trust me, it will get tough. It’s great to be able to go back and look at logs from years past and be able to take that knowledge and apply it.
Again this seems like a pretty basic idea, to go fish, right? Well here’s the deal, the more you are out fishing, the more opportunities you have to run into other guides, shop owners, or company owners. This allows them to see you out there fishing and trying to hone your craft. A guide service loves to see this out of their guides. They want guides who fish!
The first company I ever worked for, the owner walked up to me while I was on a scenic raft trip and said “Hey! I’ve seen you out there fishing. You wanna work for me?” Being one of the busiest companies in the valley, of course I said “yes!” He said “I want guides working for me who I see fishing every day, and I see you out there every damn day! I call ya!” He was out of there about as fast as he showed up.
No less than a week and I was running my first guided fishing trip. I attribute my guide debut to being on the water as much as I could and exposure to other guides and companies.
So one of the easiest ways to get into the guide world is simple, get out and fish! Give yourself the opportunity to learn the water and gain exposure. This isn’t a fool proof method to gaining work but it sure helps your odds and you can increase your knowledge of the fishery.
FIND A MENTOR
A great way to get in with guides is to find a mentor that is a guide. I’m not saying to find some dude and use him for everything he’s got and milk him dry. I’m saying to find someone who is a bit older or more experienced that you enjoy fishing with, and go fish! Take in as much as you possibly can while fishing. Be observant! Ask questions. If the guide likes you, then he/she will most likely introduce you to their friends or co-workers and maybe get you a bit of work. This can be harder than you would think, as most guides already have a crew that they fish with and don’t need others. So buy them beer! We can’t resist beer.
GO TO SCHOOL
Probably one of the best ways to get into the guide scene is to go to guide school. There are thousands of fly fishing guide schools throughout the nation. Most of these schools will be alike and teach similar methods but not all cost the same. So make sure you are getting what you pay for.
Don’t hesitate to ask questions. Make sure you are getting the proper certifications for that area. In Colorado you need to have whitewater certification to run commercial float fishing trips, so this might be an extra fee tacked on, or might not be included in the course. Most of these guide schools will have everything outlined online and what they include.
Depending on the guide school this is also a great way to get work almost immediately.
I wasn’t financially fortunate enough to attend a guide school so I had to cut my teeth on my own. It can be done.
These aren’t every option for becoming a fishing guide but just a few. If you want to learn more check out Episode 34 of the podcast
Article written by Cameron Rhodes. Cameron is a fly fishing guide in Gunnison, CO and host of The Guided Trip podcast.