So you want to be a fishing guide!

Most people who don't know us well, think we live a life of freedom, glamour, and fish all the time.   Guiding is a trade that takes an extended time of learning to become proficient in.  Quite frankly, there are a large portion of ‘part time’ guides, and ‘some time’ guides that are barely competent. We are full time guides..what that means is simply this;  we guide fly fishing for our living.  We are on the water with our clients (we never fish when guiding) at least 150 days a year.  

We also have rods, rafts, and all sorts of gear to maintain.  And we have a network that is limitless with other full time people in the business.  We update our CPR yearly and our First Aid every 3 years with the American Red Cross.  And fish...yes from time to time we do get to fish.  I think in 2008 we fished personally about 10 days.

If we are not guiding we are making sure the river conditions are suitable for for fishing.  We are checking out the weather forecast, river water levels through USGS (United States Geological Service) and actually driving the river to see for ourselves the current conditions (most of this info can be found on our Blog), assessing the ever changing environment, tying flies for the upcoming season, presenting our adventures to fly clubs and others that are interested in fly fishing.

How do we earn an income doing this business full time?
We have created a business that relies on repeat clients and good word of mouth referrals.  These repeats and referrals are the life blood of our business, with out them we would not be in business.  We live to guide, but fish vicariously through you, our client!

• Rigging up rods and reels 

• Assessing the water conditions

• Placing clients in an exact position to optimize their fishing

• Tying on the right fly for the conditions

• Assisting with wading or walking to the fishing location

• Offering instruction with casting, proper fly presentation, wading, proper catch & release techniques

• Reading where the fish are

• Interpreting rising fish and what their eating

• River safety and the clients well being

• Photographer
• Trained Emergency First Responder

•  Rowing a boat (often upstream to get back to that "fishy spot"
  
• Setting up rest times if required
• Checking equipment several times during the clients adventure
• Carry extra gear (sunglass, rain jackets, extra rods, reels, etc.)
• Transport by vehicle or boat to the fishing locations
• Assessing the ever changing insect life
• Setting up meal time
• Insuring constant safety and success of each client
• Adapting to every persons differences and abilities
• We don't punch a clock, we fish as long as the client likes