Tips For Choosing The Right Fishing Guide For Your Next Trip

Choosing the right guide can make the difference between an unforgettable fishing trip or a nightmare of an experience, that you wish you could forget, but won't for a long time. I have tried to put together some tips to make your job easier when you start the process of hiring the "Right" fishing guide for you.

Okay let's get to work on learning how to hire the right guide! First take out two sheets of paper and a pencil or a pen (if all you are allowed to use is a crayon that will work too). Label one sheet "My Questions" and the other sheet "My Information". On your sheet called "My Questions" list the following items:

How much is the deposit and what is the total rate for the day?
When will you start and finish fishing?
What type of tackle and bait is furnished?
What type of boat will they be using during the trip?
What water(s) are going to be fished?
What type of instruction will be furnished?
Does the guide specialize in the type of fishing you want to do?
What are your trip expectations?
Can the guide provide references?
Does the guide fish along side their clients?

These are the questions you want answers to when you talk to a guide, if they won't or can't answer these questions, thank them for their time and move on to the next guide on the list. Let's discuss these questions a little further.

Find out how much of a deposit is required and when and how it must be paid. What is the rate for the day of fishing, what does the rate cover, what doesn't it cover, how and when does the balance have to be paid? By have this information up front there won't be any nasty surpises the day of your trip.
As we all know time on the water will fly by, know when the clock starts and when it end. You would be surprised at the number of guide that start the clock as soon as you meet at the ramp, and make sure that they are back at the ramp exactly 4 or 8 hours later. Try to find a guide that is going to give you the maximum fishing time. I know that's easier said than done.
Will you have to pay extra for fishing tackle and bait? You should already know the answer to this question after the guide has answered question number one.
Don't laugh, all guides aren't running around in 20 foot, $30,000 rigs, wouldn't you hate to show up and find that you will be fishing out of a leaky rowboat for the next 8 hours.
This question may or may not need to be asked. If you are booking a trip on a particular lake, you already know which body a water you will be fishing, but if you are booking a trip for a certain species of fish you will want to know were you will be fishing.
Does the guide provide instructions on how to catch the species of fish that you are trying to catch, or are they just acting as a taxi service on the water for the day. Ask questions about the species of fish that you will be fishing for, see what the guide knows and then decide if they will meet your needs.
Make sure you are hiring a guide that specializes in the type fishing and species of fish you plan to fish for. If you want to go fly fishing, you don't want a guide that doesn't know the difference between a tippet and a towing hawser.
Be up front with the guide before you book a trip, if you are looking to catch a large number of average fish or are you looking for a trophy fish. This will allow the guide to pick the best possible place(s) to fish, so they can have the trip meet your expectations. If you opted for a numbers trip don't be upset if no big fish are caught, remember you normally get what you asked for.
A word of warning about the guide's references.
- People will only list people who will say good things about them.
- Therefore everyone will have good references.
Some things to look out for!
- Guides who fish along side their client. The guide should spend all of his time and energy coaching their client.
- If you want the guide to fish, give them permission, but then the guide should insure that you are given the first chance at the best spots.
- Beware of guides who hooks the fish and then hands the rod to the client. Remember you're out there to learn and benefit from the guide's experience, not to have the fish caught for you.
On your second sheet called "My Information" place the following items:
1. Any special needs you may have.
  - Let the guide know of any special needs that you may have ... if you are in a wheelchair ... just got out of the hospital after a triple by-pass ... or are on any medication ... don't keep any secrets from your guide, he needs to prepare, to be able to handle your needs. If any of your problems bother the guide ... well just scratch another guide from your list. The whole idea is, no one wants surprises to ruin what could be your trip of a lifetime.
Now you are prepared to talk to various guides in the area you plan to fish. But how do you find a guide in the area?
1. How about the fancy brochure with the full color pictures?
  - Guides who are busy have little time to advertise extensively.
  - Their reputation is their main source of advertising.
  - Most of their clients are repeats and referrals from satisfied customers.
  - They will always have some openings, but most business comes from referrals, so don't expect the prime dates to be open for booking.
2. How about membership in the local chamber of commerce or one of the guide's association?
  - Most of these organizations open their membership to anyone who can pay the dues.
3. So what are you options?
  - Local tackle shops and lodges, who do this sort of thing everyday are a good source of information (it may be bias, but usually true).
  - Talk to your fishing buddies, one of them may have fished with a guide in the area you are planning to fish.
  - Check out some of the various Fishing Bulletin Boards or Chat Pages on the Internet, you should get plenty of both positive and negative feed back on various guides.
  - Do a search on the web using the various search engines. Don't limit your self to just one seach engine try at least three or four different engines, (you never know who or what will show up with your search).
One final word "TIP" remember the guide you hire is providing you a service. If they have done a good job, worked hard all day long to make sure that you had a good time, and that the trip was able to meet or beat your expectations, you should tip them at the end of your trip just like you would tip a waiter or waitress that has done a good job serving you. Even if the fish had lockjaw, did the guide do everything humanly possible to try to get the fish to bite for you, if the answer is yes, once again tip. Enough said just use good judgement when you are deciding if your guide deserves a tip for his days work.