By Todd Inman
Hiring a fishing guide can be a wonderful learning experience or a totally frustrating experience. So from my experiences this is what I recommend. First pick the location, type of fish, and method of fishing you would like to do.
What you do is get online and do a search for guides in the area you will be fishing and put together the 5 that sound the best to you. You can also look up internet phone book listings. Then e-mail each and see who responds the quickest. Choose the first 3 and call those guides, and ask about who will be taking you fishing. Is it the guide that is the namesake of the outfit or a hired guide. Often times hired guides have only fished the area for a short time, if at all. What you want is a guide that knows the area and all the local tricks. Ask them for at least 3 references that are from out of state, (not his neighbor) a good guide will have no problem with the questions or the references. Always listen for demeanor too, you do not want to spend your money and your time with a grump. Unless of course you like grumpy people. I prefer fun energetic guides that not only teach about fishing techniques but offer knowledge about the local area.
The next question to ask the prospective guide would be what you get for your money, and what is required of you. Most Guides will supply all necessary gear, rods lures etc. Some also include lunch, so make sure you ask. I have a very nice collection of rods and I like to use my own equipment, but I always ask if the guide is ok with that. If they are not I will quiz them on their equipment, like rod and reel manufactures, line,etc. If they are not using quality equipment, go elsewhere! And always ask what you should be prepared for in regards to weather, its better to be prepared than miserable. Its better to take a little too many warm clothes, snacks, drinks than to be wet, cold hungry and thirsty. If you have any special needs always let your guide know before you book the trip to ensure they can accommodate your needs. This is your trip and your money after all.
So when you have talked to at least three fishing guide outfits, use your own intuition and who you feel the most comfortable with. I can usually tell who I will hire after the first phone conversation, but I still always check references unless recommended by a friend or another guide in the area.
Call a couple weeks before your scheduled trip to make sure all is still well, and to confirm pick up time and meeting location. If they say they cannot make it but have lined up another guide, demand your deposit back! I have had that happen and got a guide that had no experience at all and it was a $400.00 boat ride in Alaska.
So if you follow my recommendations I can almost guarantee that you will have a good time, meet a new friend or two and have a great fish story to tell.
A trick I learned in Alaska quite a few years ago was to hire a guide the first day I would be fishing an area learn all the tips tricks, baits, what rod to use etc and go back to the tackle store and get the right terminal tackle and go back to the same area and bank fish the next day. It works great caught almost as many fish without the guide but saved a bunch of money. Making hiring the guide very worth while and I always like to hire a guide first when fishing a new body of water, whether it be a river, or lake.
Tight Lines and good fishing.
Todd Inman, Owner of Western Outdoor Supply a e-commerce retail web site that sells the finest in outdoor, hunting, camping, marine electronics and GPS. http://www.westernoutdoorsupply.net
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