Going Fishing With A Professional Guide

There are few things that will improve your outdoor experiences as quickly as going with a professional guide. In order to get your money’s worth, think teacher, not guide.

Every trip with a guide should be a learning experience. Finding fish is easy. Tying knots is easy. Casting is easy. Choosing the right fly is easy.

Any skill can be mastered with time. It is however hard to refute the old saying that time is money. Given work schedules, rising fuel costs and other activities that require your attention, guided trips offer a real and tangible way to lower your costs to become an independent and successful fly fisherman by reducing the learning curve.



Choosing a good guide is not as difficult as it may seem. Many fly shops have guide services available.

Go to the shop and assess it for yourself. Is the staff friendly and engaging? Is the shop clean? Does the shop appear to be in good repair? Does the shop appear to be organized? How does the staff dress? Is the shop service oriented?

It is no mere coincident that first class fly shops generally have first class guides or only recommend first class independent guide services. Here’s the odd part, most trips cost about the same regardless who you choose, so you probably won’t save anything by lowering your standards.

Independent guides, those not working through a fly shop, can be easily found through the internet. Guiding is something most do until someone near and dear to them says, “get a real job.”

There are a high percentage of career guides that work independently. Many shops take a huge percentage of the guide fees for themselves leaving little for the lowly shop guide to buy groceries with.

 The next thing to do is book a trip. Pick something that interests you. Remember, this is supposed to be a learning experience as well as a fishing experience.

Nearly all shops require a deposit. Check on the cancellation policy. If given the opportunity, meet with your guide in advance of the trip.

Guides often hang around their respective shop on off days. Many guides work in their respective shops a couple days a week.

 Preparation prevents poor performance. Always ask what you need to bring. Make sure your gear is ready to go. Nothing ruins a trip like fiddling with gear that doesn’t work.

Most guides have “loaner” equipment. This can be a great way to try out different rods and reels. Make sure you have good serviceable waders and boots if appropriate.

Nothing ruins a day like leaky foul weather clothing. Never count on your guide having a camera. Cameras don’t last long when you’re outside five days a week, 50 weeks a year.

 You’ve picked your adventure, you’ve picked your guide carefully, and your gear is ready to go; now it’s time to have fun. You, the client, have as much to do with the quality of your trip as the guide does.

Guides know how to catch fish, they are not mind readers. Be honest about your skill level. Any river offers a variety of opportunities and challenges. Over state your skills and you may end up fishing techniques or runs that are way over your head.

Be honest about your expectations. Do you want to catch a lot of fish or big fish? These are often two entirely different things. If you have problems with some technique ask for some help.

If the river is new to you but you plan on fishing it on your own later, tell your guide exactly that. If you want the day to be a learning experience, say so.

Using your guide as an instructor is probably the best use of your money. You can circumvent spending thousands of dollars, thousands of miles and years of frustration by fishing with a good guide just once. Remember, it’s your dime, make the most of it.

One thing you can do to improve your experience is to make sure you’re “warmed up.” If you are a sporadic angler, break out that fly rod and practice a little. Time spent doing this will only add to the quality of your experience.

Have fun! Great guides love to fish. It’s more a passion than a job. Guides have fewer secrets with enthusiastic clients. I recently had a client on a headwater adventure for brook trout (specks).

This guy was a good fisherman but more importantly he was just a good guy. His enthusiasm was infectious. When the eight hours was done, no one noticed or cared.

I even fished a little after my duties were done. He caught fish and wore a smile all day long and I’d like to think he picked up a little something to improve his game. That’s what guided trips are supposed to be about.

Once on the water, NEVER guide the guide! This is their water or it is supposed to be. If you are an experienced angler an exchange of ideas is not a bad thing, just ease into it.

In decades of taking people fishing I have never failed to learn something from a client. You should be asked if you have any allergies or other medical conditions that might present a health risk.

You should also be asked if you have any medication on you to deal with sudden medical concerns and where it is. You should be asked if you can swim.

These are all questions that an experienced guide will ask right up front. If for some reason these issues are not raised, volunteer the information yourself.

Professional guides have spent years in the snow, wind, rain and blazing sun to hone their skills. Most fly fishing guides also tie flies. If you want to up your fly fishing game quick, fast and in a hurry, book a trip.

Whether wishing to understand a particular river for later solo trips or improving your skill level quickly, guides/instructors are a great way to save time, money, and frustration.