Guide Schools???
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So, I was playing around on the googler, and I searched guide schools just to see what i would get. That however, turned in to a two hour exploration of what was out there. I am tinkering with the idea of becoming a guide, and I was wondering what information or advice you guys have about getting lined up with a guide school that is good and reputable? My dad told me that Zach has written an article on guide schools or something to my effect, but i have been unable to find it. anything you can give me would be much appreciated.
Nick this is the school I went too. http://www.troutcountry.com/Guideschool/ I found it too be a great school with great instructors that covered all of the bases. I ended up benefitting a lot more than I thought I would.
Check out their website and let me know if you have any questions.
Joel
From what I’ve heard, The Sweetwater Guide Schools are the best.
Plus when you finish, they’ll help place you in a job with an outfitter or lodge…..maybe even one of their own. I know they have lodges all over.
Also, you might try getting a job at a local fly shop/outfitters. Good guides are hard to find and a lot of outfitters have taken to training their own.
A few qualities that help.
1. Single man or woman with nothing to lose.
2. Ability to survive on little to no money in the off season.
3. The ability to save money during season is a great quality.
4. The love for fishing and showing others.
5. Being able to go fishing without actually fishing. (Hard for some, easy for others)
6. Good people skills. Able to teach, listen, and make the best for every skill level you might encounter.
7. Being a good fly tier with some speed in doing it. You’ll go through more flys than you could ever believe.
8. Being able to roll with the punches.I imagine guide school would teach some of this. But I think most guide schools focus on boat handling and people management.
Either way, let us know what you come up with. I know the outfitters I work with would love to have another guide.
Rocky and Phil that is great advice. You can be a great fisherman and be a crappy guide. People skills with good communication skills are a must! Being able to roll with the punches and not getting frustrated will definitely keep you sane a lot longer!
Keep in mind you could fish all summer and be a ski bum all winter! š It doesn’t get much better than that!
Joel
I went to Sweet Water Travel Co.’s guides school in ’06. It was a good time and the instruction was solid. I did, however, at the end of the week find myself wishing I had learned more. You go out with two other students and an instructor. One student guides/rows and the other two fish. This is what happened with me most of the time. The time behind the oars was invaluable, as was the fly-tying time. I wish there had been more time spent on casting though.
As far as working for them after you are done, you better be damn good. But yes, they do help in placement. Look at their web site, then call Ron Meek. He will give you all of the details. He is an awesome guy. At the very least, some people treat it as a vacation where you learn a lot about the sport, and doing this vacation is cheaper than it would be if you stayed on the Bighorn R. or Yellowstone for a week and fished paying for hotel, food, drift boat, launch, etc., etc.
If you feel that one week is not enough, there are some other schools that offer two week courses, and others that offer month long courses which include fly-fishing, hunting, and a list of other skills. I think one of them is called Winterhawk.
Dusty
Nick,
I attended the Western Rivers guide school (http://worldcastanglers.com/school.shtml) last summer which was put on by WorldCast Anglers in Jackson Wyoming.
This little anecdote is for all the guides on this message board…..
I had an opportunity to fish with a well-known guide in Alaska in ’06. I was sharing his boat with a close friend of mine that has fished with this guide previously. There was one thing on that trip that really impressed me as a customer. The guide had obviously maintained a very detailed journal of my friends previous trips with him. While on the water the guide would make statements like:
“This run is where you caught that big rainbow in ’04 isn’t it?”
“I seem to remember you like to fish for pike?” Wanna give ’em a shot this afternoon?”
I hope it doesn’t rain like it did last time we fished together.”
“Are you still living in Atlanta?”
As I said…that really impressed me. I guess what I’m saying is this tactic might be that little extra that keeps customers coming back year after year along with referrals.
Just sayin.
great idea drifter! I’ll be sure to bring a journal on my trip this fall…
Hey shoot me a PM about your trip up here this summer, like when you’ll be where.
Will do Patrick.
Also…..I fished with Henry’s Fork Anglers last summer. This past Christmas I received a Christmas card from Mike Lawson thanking me for my business and inviting me back with a $50 discount on a guided trip…….I know the guide business is very competitive and I think these small personal touches are what separates the average guides from the professionals.
I would imagine, if you’re computer saavy enough, which I think most are on this board, you could come up with a pretty nice database of folks on your computer that would allow you to keep these notes organized.
This little anecdote is for all the guides on this message board…..
I had an opportunity to fish with a well-known guide in Alaska in ’06. I was sharing his boat with a close friend of mine that has fished with this guide previously. There was one thing on that trip that really impressed me as a customer. The guide had obviously maintained a very detailed journal of my friends previous trips with him. While on the water the guide would make statements like:
“This run is where you caught that big rainbow in ’04 isn’t it?”
“I seem to remember you like to fish for pike?” Wanna give ’em a shot this afternoon?”
I hope it doesn’t rain like it did last time we fished together.”
“Are you still living in Atlanta?”
As I said…that really impressed me. I guess what I’m saying is this tactic might be that little extra that keeps customers coming back year after year along with referrals.
Just sayin.
I guided a guy recently, who I guided about 4 years ago, I still remembered what his favorite fly was, and by the time he had his boots laced, it was tied to his tippetā¦ that was the last time he questioned me all day, I pointed at a spot, he put the fly on it and a fish rose, most timesā¦
Hell did we get drunk that night, but it is in Rhodes, you donāt get a hang over at that altitude and because the air and water is so pure… and the only time you drive is to get to the fishingā¦
I am not a pro guide, and there is a big whoha about the only guide school in the country, but I have a few guys who like calling me for a fish now and thenā¦ I will gladly take any visitors from IA to some special fishing spotsā¦
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