I titled this the "common sense guide", but you would be surprised at how many people don't know, or do know and just don't practice the things I write about here.
Part 1
How do I find a guide to hire?
So, you've decided that you want to hire a guide to take you on your next fly fishing trip. Maybe you're fishing new waters for the first time. Maybe you're tired of getting skunked on a particular tailwater. Or maybe you think you could learn a thing or two from a good guide. Whatever the reason is, how do you find a good guide, and more importantly the right guide for you? I have a list for you below. Starting from the first place you should start from the last.
1. Ask your friends- Odds are, if you fly fish you have at least one buddy that does too. Ask them if they know of a good guide for the water you want to fish. Even if they haven't fished with said guide at least that gives you a starting point. If your buddies don't know of one, have them ask around.Chances are,they will know somebody that knows somebody. I listed this as #1 due the fact that this where you're probably going to get the most honest reference.
Plus, you can ask your buddies questions you can't ask other people. Like,does this guy/girl have bad breath? Do they have B.O.? Do they cuss? Will they mind if I smoke? Now, you may be asking yourself. "What the hell does any of that have to do with them being a good guide or not?" Well, you're looking for someone that you'll be spending either a half day or full day with. Believe me, you don't want to be in a drift boat all day with a guy/girl that showers once a week and doesn't believe in deodorant.
2. Message Boards- Even though message boards are impersonal and anonymous.That's also exactly the reason that you can find honest information on them.People will give you their honest opinion without fear since no one knows who they are in real life in most cases. You can find a message board on just about any fishable water anywhere. Whether it's a local fly shop's forum,or on a sub-forum of one of the bigger sites. A lot of the time you'll find guides posting fishing reports in these forums. They will almost always have photos of trips,clients holding fish, and a link to their web page. This can be a good starting point for you, but don't stop there. Jump in there and start posting! Don't be afraid to post a topic like "I'm looking for a good guide,know of any?" Ask more questions once you start getting responses. Private message questions to your responders if you don't want to ask a question on the open forum. As I said above you can get some really good honest information this way. However, you can get some completely bogus responses from people who have no idea what they're talking about too. So, don't just go off of what one person says. Double check, and do your best to fact check everything.
3. Fly Shops- Almost everyone goes by the local fly shop before they hit the water. To ask what flies are working,to buy some gear, and of course the always popular "where are the fish!" You might as well ask about guide services while you're there. Or better yet call ahead to the fly shop and ask. Guided trips have to be booked in advance anyway. Good guides are busy, and are booked weeks out. If a guide is available right away that's probably not a good sign.
This isn't my favorite way to find a guide, because many fly shops have guides that either work for them. Or,on some type of consignment basis. The guides that they are affiliated with the fly shop may not be the best guide, or the right guide for you.
4. Search engines(Google,Bing,etc.)- My least favorite way of finding a guide. It's impossible to tell anything about a person's personality or what their customer service might be like from a web site. Plus, it's not cheap to hire a guide, and picking one with no recommendations at all can be scary. Just because someone has a fancy website doesn't that they're a great guide, and there are some really awesome guides out there with no website at all.
"Ok, I've narrowed it down to a few guides I think would be good. What now?"
Call, don't email, call the guides on your short list. Even if you just read this and have already emailed them. Call them. The reasons for this are many.1. You can get a much better idea of someone's personality, and if they are a nice person or a jerk over the phone. Can't do that with email.
2. If they answer the phone right way, during the day, during the busy season, that could be a bad sign. Remember, the good guides are busy. So, you're probably going to have to leave a voicemail. This will also give you an idea of their customer service as well. If it takes them a week to call you back. That may mean the rest of their service and attentiveness is lacking too. If the number is a cell phone and they answer your call streamside.... How would you feel if they do that while on your trip that you paid for?
3. It gives you AND the guide a chance to ask questions. Interview them just like you would interview anyone else you were going to hire. Ask them about their fees. Even if you already have fees from their website ask anyway, because they may have changed and the website isn't updated. Or, if you were referred to the guide by someone you might get a "brother in law deal" Just ask. Ask if they charge for flies,tippet, etc. while on the water. Yes, there are some guides out there that will charge you for every inch of tippet used,every fly lost,every sinker, and strike indicator. Make sure you ask so you don't have a bunch of surprise add on fees when you settle up after the trip.If you're a beginner ask them if they guide a lot of beginners. If you're bringing your young son or daughter along. Ask them if they have experience guiding and instructing kids. You're hiring them to catch fish. So, don't be afraid to ask them what an average day's catch count is for their clients. I also always ask about lunch...hey, I like to eat! Bottom line....ask lots of questions!
The guide may ask about your skill level. Be honest, this is very important! If you're a beginner, or just don't cast well. You don't want the guide to take you to spots where you have to be able to double haul to present the fly to the fish. Plus, it gives the guide an idea of what type of and how much help and instruction you might need. As well as if the species you're wanting to fish for matches your skill level. If you've never fished salt water before, and you're wanting to go right out after bonefish. Your guide is most likely going to save themselves and you a lot of frustration. By suggesting that you go after a species that you'll actually be able cast well enough to catch. The guide will ask (if you haven't already told them) what type of trip you're looking for. Wade trip,float trip etc. So they can tell you what they have to offer.
Take good notes during your phone conversations. It will help you decide which guide to hire.
"I've decided on my guide!"
Once you've made your decision call the guide back and book your trip! I like to take some time off from work and go during the week. Just because it tends to be less crowded. That's no guarantee that there won't be a lot of people on the water,but it helps. You're paying a lot of money for this. So, try to give yourself every possible edge towards making the most of it!Thanks for reading!
Part 2 -The Common Sense Guide to Fishing With a Guide coming soon
Tight lines!
Shawn
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