Becomeing a fly fishing guide apprentice(mate)
- Thread starter willdeb
- Start date
stevehalupka
Member
- Joined
- Jan 21, 2010
- Messages
- 772
go to guide school
Will,
As they say "GO WEST YOUNG MAN". Today the accredited schools to learn to be a guide are out west, usually takes a few weeks to a month or two. This is a foot in the door way to go about it.
Years ago here in Pennsylvania, a guy/gal could call himself/herself a guide , take folks out , maybe he/she knows how to fish certain streams or where the fish are, put said folks on the fish and ..walla he/she is a guide.
There is more to that if you want to be a real "Guide". A guide should be able to instruct his/her clients on the various aspects of flyfishing, from rigging , Arbor knot/backing /flyline connection,flyline /leader connection, leader to tippet connections,application of indiactors for nymphing, Newer nymphing techniques {EURO, Right Angle,ect.}lso Weight placement, Casting techniques for given situations,casting instruction.Rudiments of various Dry Fly Tactics and Casts that apply to different situations.
Also a great guide knows a lil more than just flyfishing,He/she knows various plants and animals ,local history, sometimes geology,as well as many other waters given the fact that sometimes in one valley the water conditions will dictate that that water is not fishable and you will have to overcome/adapt/compensate for given conditions.
All guides and ghillies should be very certified in First Aid also, remember you are responsible for a clients well being on their booked trip, preferably American Red Cross Certified also the fact that that should always be kept up to date.
if A guide/ghillie has clients for full day he /she should also know how to keep the troops fed and watered, and any guide that charges you $150.00 or more for a guided trip for a full day should feed and water their clients included with their fee.Half days only apply with keeping folks hydrated unless arrangements have been made before hand.
A guide should also be open to inquiry about information as well as laid back.
A guide is someone that teaches you his/her method of how they catch fish where they fish.A ghillie is just someone that knows where fish are and knows a few flies and methods to catch fish.usually just hangs out and also lands and releases fish for clients.
More to it than just callin yourself a guide ..get an accredation and also all yer ducks in a row.
Tight Wraps & Tight Lines
Rick Wallace
As they say "GO WEST YOUNG MAN". Today the accredited schools to learn to be a guide are out west, usually takes a few weeks to a month or two. This is a foot in the door way to go about it.
Years ago here in Pennsylvania, a guy/gal could call himself/herself a guide , take folks out , maybe he/she knows how to fish certain streams or where the fish are, put said folks on the fish and ..walla he/she is a guide.
There is more to that if you want to be a real "Guide". A guide should be able to instruct his/her clients on the various aspects of flyfishing, from rigging , Arbor knot/backing /flyline connection,flyline /leader connection, leader to tippet connections,application of indiactors for nymphing, Newer nymphing techniques {EURO, Right Angle,ect.}lso Weight placement, Casting techniques for given situations,casting instruction.Rudiments of various Dry Fly Tactics and Casts that apply to different situations.
Also a great guide knows a lil more than just flyfishing,He/she knows various plants and animals ,local history, sometimes geology,as well as many other waters given the fact that sometimes in one valley the water conditions will dictate that that water is not fishable and you will have to overcome/adapt/compensate for given conditions.
All guides and ghillies should be very certified in First Aid also, remember you are responsible for a clients well being on their booked trip, preferably American Red Cross Certified also the fact that that should always be kept up to date.
if A guide/ghillie has clients for full day he /she should also know how to keep the troops fed and watered, and any guide that charges you $150.00 or more for a guided trip for a full day should feed and water their clients included with their fee.Half days only apply with keeping folks hydrated unless arrangements have been made before hand.
A guide should also be open to inquiry about information as well as laid back.
A guide is someone that teaches you his/her method of how they catch fish where they fish.A ghillie is just someone that knows where fish are and knows a few flies and methods to catch fish.usually just hangs out and also lands and releases fish for clients.
More to it than just callin yourself a guide ..get an accredation and also all yer ducks in a row.
Tight Wraps & Tight Lines
Rick Wallace
gutcutter
Member
- Joined
- Apr 18, 2010
- Messages
- 427
before you accept a fee to guide someone (take money for services) you are required in PA to be permitted ($100 annual) by the fish and boat commission, have BLS certificate and carry insurance. it would also be a good idea to have a business license
http://www.ehow.com/how_6495803_become-fishing-guide-pennsylvania.html
http://www.ehow.com/how_6495803_become-fishing-guide-pennsylvania.html
stevehalupka
Member
- Joined
- Jan 21, 2010
- Messages
- 772
actually,
the courses are only one week, some two. If you want to go big and waste money, attend Orvis school..
said it over and over but 2 of my friends both attended sweetwaterrivertravel's school and landed jobs a week after getting certified. You'll have the trip of your life. Don't expect to "get" what guiding is about at the school though. It's not until you are dropped out off a few hundred miles in the wilderness that it sets in.
You'll start as the grunt... cleaning fish, oiling/cleaning drift and jetties, cooking, etc. but with time, earn your respect.
go for it man... and all these guys that think it's for the young, that's because they have become accustomed to chairs in their office and have to suck in their stomach so they don't miss the toilet.
the courses are only one week, some two. If you want to go big and waste money, attend Orvis school..
said it over and over but 2 of my friends both attended sweetwaterrivertravel's school and landed jobs a week after getting certified. You'll have the trip of your life. Don't expect to "get" what guiding is about at the school though. It's not until you are dropped out off a few hundred miles in the wilderness that it sets in.
You'll start as the grunt... cleaning fish, oiling/cleaning drift and jetties, cooking, etc. but with time, earn your respect.
go for it man... and all these guys that think it's for the young, that's because they have become accustomed to chairs in their office and have to suck in their stomach so they don't miss the toilet.
wetnet
Active member
- Joined
- Mar 20, 2008
- Messages
- 1,412
All of the advice is well put but there is more...When a client expects the catch of a lifetime and those who watched a "River Runs Through It" and has no talent at all. Your job will be to address those dreams and wishes and demands. If you don't have that up front it's not for you. If you expect to have a guide train you and show you all of their secrets you have some more fishing to do.
