Contacting your Guide pre-Trip

[td566]

Hi everyone.
Grand Teton and Yellowstone family vacation coming up in September. I have reserved a guide to float fish for half a day on Snake (or wherever they recommend).
The reservation includes the guides name and phone number. My question is:
Is it recommended to contact the guide directly before the trip? The company already has my info on experience level etc. What advantages are there? Is it customary to contact pre trip/ do they expect it? I was planning on a short contact conversation maybe 2 weeks before but don’t want to be bothering them much more than that.
Thanks for your help. Tim D

 

[wildtrout2]

Is it recommended to contact the guide directly before the trip? The company already has my info on experience level etc. What advantages are there? Is it customary to contact pre trip/ do they expect it? I was planning on a short contact conversation maybe 2 weeks before but don’t want to be bothering them much more than that.
Thanks for your help.

If I were in your shoes, customary or not, I'd want to do exactly as you describe. A pre-trip contact conversation to give you answers to any potential last minute questions you might have, and to provide you with confidence in your decision to use said guide. JMO

 

[TheDuke44]

If you've already spent the money to reserve a date/time for your trip, I would feel free to contact the guide. Like you said, just a short call to touch base and ask any questions you have can only improve the trip for both of you.

I've only used a guide once, but he was happy to chat with me about what gear I needed to bring, clothes to pack, and he even gave me a couple of patterns to tie and bring with me since I wanted to catch some fish on my own flies.

 

[greywolf]

If I were in your shoes, customary or not, I'd want to do exactly as you describe. A pre-trip contact conversation to give you answers to any potential last minute questions you might have, and to provide you with confidence in your decision to use said guide. JMO

I highly recommend doing this. I have done a lot hunting and fishing trips over the years and arrangements get messed up more often than you might expect. I have arrived at locations to find the outfitting expecting me a different day or time of day, even when had clearly communicated my details in writing several times. I have arrived to find something had happened to the guide / outfitter / area so plans had to be completely changed. etc. etc. Always a good idea to make a list of details you want to verify and check with the guide / outfitter a week or two before leaving

 

[Broodstock]

Yes, for sure contact the guide ahead of time. I try to be as efficient as possible with the back<>forth communications, since guides that work a lot are busy, work long hours (lots more than just on the water) and tend to be tired in season.

In addition to standard details like where/when/what to bring etc. I would make sure you ask about what approach they use - ie do they anticipate dragging a worm behind the boat under an indie? Does that match what you want to do for the day? If you want to fish dries at the bank, get out to wade fish, or fish streamers the guide should know that, and the guide should be open to helping you fish the water you want the way you want - ask the outfitter for one that is a good match. My experience is that guides love to take people who are skilled, passionate anglers out on the boat - as opposed to "fish tourists" - and let them fish.

The guide is a teacher, and should help unlock a river that is new to you. They should also help you enjoy your day, allowing you to expand your tactics and methods and you should be open to learning new ones - even if it means worm dragging.

 

[rancid waders]

Yes call them or email as it's their busy season working probably long days. Just my 2 cents

 

[fcarp]

Yup contact the guide (and recommend if they don’t answer text them instead of Vm, it may be easier or simply more possible for them to respond that way just due to time difference and availability).

Explain what you want to do but also realize they cannot deliver you catching 100 24”+ fish on dries so ask them, for example, if there’s a way you can fish big dries all day or let them know if you want to catch the most fish in a particular way or something, especially because they may need to pack different stuff that day. Also they may not have the plan for the day completely worked out 2 weeks before so also let them know if you’re flexible on start time or need to be done at a specific time etc. and have fun!

 

[tjsingle]

You can contact them if you want, there's no harm in that. When I went out to Jackson Hole last year I had a few questions before the trip and they answered it quickly no problem.

 

[Gibbon]

Also keep in mind the time difference. I would wait until at least 8:00PM EST. Call earlier and they may still be one the water with a client.

 

[JeffK]

Contacting the guide is a good idea. The better the guide knows your expectations the better they can meet them.

 

[NRD]

I just called four outfitters yesterday:
1. Good to go.
2. Primary river is too low and warm, plan B is high and muddy, but should get better, backup plan is inaccessible due to mud slides : (
3. Water levels have just dropped, and that should be a good thing.
4. Full day floats will probably become half day floats because water is low and getting too warm by noon : (

 

[SBecker]

As a guide, during the season, I appreciate a simple email or text to arrange a time to talk. A lot of clients forget that most of the time we are on the water with other clients. I am usually able to respond to that text at some point of that day or the next. I think most guides appreciate being able to schedule a call.

 

[PennKev]

I just called four outfitters yesterday:
1. Good to go.
2. Primary river is too low and warm, plan B is high and muddy, but should get better, backup plan is inaccessible due to mud slides : (
3. Water levels have just dropped, and that should be a good thing.
4. Full day floats will probably become half day floats because water is low and getting too warm by noon : (

Can you provide more context?

Generally speaking, if a guide tells you it's bad. Then it's pretty bad.

 

[PennKev]

Also they may not have the plan for the day completely worked out 2 weeks before so also let them know if you’re flexible on start time or need to be done at a specific time etc. and have fun!

The more specific your plans, the more you set yourself up for dissapointment.

Also, all the dry fly or streamer fantasies fall to the wayside after a couple hours of no action.

 

[NRD]

Can you provide more context?

Generally speaking, if a guide tells you it's bad. Then it's pretty bad.

The San Juan is good.
The Gunnison is low and warm, because they have dropped the flows out of the dam. The Uncompahgre is up and muddy due to thunderstorms in the area, which have also caused mudslides closing the road to the East Portal.
The Green is good.
The Colorado (above Dotsero and Wolcott) is currently mornings only due to low water warming up by noon.

 

[TimMurphy]

The San Juan is good.
The Gunnison is low and warm, because they have dropped the flows out of the dam. The Uncompahgre is up and muddy due to thunderstorms in the area, which have also caused mudslides closing the road to the East Portal.
The Green is good.
The Colorado (above Dotsero and Wolcott) is currently mornings only due to low water warming up by noon.

Dear NRD,

The OP is going to Montana. Colorado is absolute trash right now and for the foreseeable future. I know that because my brother has lived there since 1985. He's going to NE to fish for bass and sunnies this weekend because CO is trash right now.

But, again, the OP is going to Montana, in September!

Regards,

Tim Murphy 🙂

 

[TimB]

Some day, I may write a book about my experiences with guides. I have some pretty funny stories... Some good, some definitely not-so-good.

I think it's a good idea to have a conversation in advance, so each of you can share any expectations. Usually, I send an email and let the guide contact me at their convenience. That being said, about half the time, the guide completely forgets the conversation.

 

[PennKev]

But, again, the OP is going to Montana, in September!

A critical consideration.

Montana went into the summer looking at very low flows but a couple spells of wet weather have helped quite a bit. Flows are much closer to normal than anyone would have expected given the conditions in June. There are still hoot-owl regulations in effect, but that has become the norm for mid through late summer.