Shadowing a guide 2024
mafishing21 reply :
Hey guys i'm 18 years old and looking to become a fishing guide does anyone know where i could maybe shadow or what measures i would need to take to become a guide and by the way i live in North Carolina so looking to guide somewhere on the east coast.
Low_Budget_Hooker reply :
Caution- Shadowing a guide is never a good thing, shadowing him and then becoming his competition is worse. Many guides in the south don't mess around, you're inching in on their bread and butter. This is how they feed their families.
The fact that you want to shadow a guide to learn has me concerned with whether or not you can make the cut to begin with. Nothing against you, but guides become guides by mastering a lake, usually not by copying other guides. Just be careful, they don't alwyas take kindly to new comers. If you do shadow a guide,.....don't get caught.
I suggest you hire one for the day and pick his brain regarding ALL the aspects of guiding. I ain't just fishin',lol.
Learn a place on your own, well enough to guide it. Earn a name with the locals then get your captains license.
cart7t reply :
Well said LBH.
MALTESE FALCON reply :
Very good advice Russ.
Falcon
Fish Chris reply :
I agree with what's been said and, I have one more thing you should consider, if you haven't already....
Do "you like to fish" ? I can't tell you how many guides (well just about all of them in these parts) that have told me, "Geeez Fish, I sure wish I could focus a little more on trophy sized fish like you do..... But I have clients I have to please.... You sure have it made".....
Uhhh.... well yes. I planned it this way. And I wouldn't change a thing.
I used to consider guiding, but then I decided I love to fish too much.
Peace,
Fish
Low_Budget_Hooker reply :
G Welcome has really helped to open some eyes in regards to guiding.
He has a thread somewhere, just tried to find it with no luck, that goes into detail explaining "a day in the life of.....".
It REALLY puts things into perspective in regards to
COST Gas, insurance, licenses, food, bait, gear, etc etc
TIME- sunrise to well after sunset. Lots of bookwork, accounting, scheduling, communicating, etc
SUCCESS- You can't just know a lake, you have to have it mastered.
ABILITY- You need to be a better teacher than you are a fisherman and you need to be one heck of a fisherman.
Anyone can go be a guide for a year, but to have a 20 yr successful biz, like GWelcome or TRedington etc, you need to be a special breed.
I love fishing, obviously. I already have a captains license. I put people (strangers often ) on fish all the time. I get up at 430-500 everyday, naturally. I fish 6-9 shifts/week in season. (about 35-40 hrs wk)
All that said, I still do not have what it takes to be a guide
I could probably get to that level eventually, with proper guidance, but like Fish said,.....I like to fish too much. When fishing becomes work, the client comes first.
key chain bass guy reply :
I don't know anything about being a fishing guide, but I think this story relates. My brother loved to play golf, so he made it his business. He is now a club Pro in New Jersey, the worst part about his job he says is that he doesn't get to play that much golf anymore. I would think that being a fishing guide would be pretty much the same thing.
fishizzle reply :
Maybe a good place to start is in Orlando working for Disney guiding on 1 of their 3 lakes. They have 4 two hour sessions per day and their lakes are not overly pressured. I have been out with them twice.
Or get a half day guide a couple times far from your home so there is no competition.
I have had a guide three times in Florida not including Disney.
PM me if you need more info.
May the force be with you.
Low_Budget_Hooker reply :
QuoteMaybe a good place to start is in Orlando working for Disney guiding on 1 of their 3 lakes. They have 4 two hour sessions per day and their lakes are not overly pressured. I have been out with them twice.Or get a half day guide a couple times far from your home so there is no competition.
I have had a guide three times in Florida not including Disney.
PM me if you need more info.
May the force be with you.
The guides Disney hires all are long time proven guides. I doubt they would hire a guide with zero guiding experience.
fishizzle reply :
They didn't impress me much-- they were all in their late 20's and early 30's. Thats not a long time guide to me.
If they were that good they should have their own business, not share it with Mickey Mouse
Low_Budget_Hooker reply :
Micky comes with bennies 
fishizzle reply :
you can buy bennies for $350 an day
I still don't think Disneys guides are that good
I think they hire based on personallity
3 years ago the fished from pontoon boats without trolling motors
FINALLY they got bass boats
hamer08 reply :
You better go talk to some guides. I've used guides several times and generally have had good experiences. But, it is beyond me how they can make enough money to have a decent standard of living. I'm sure the number of guides that can command prices high enough to enjoy a decent standard of living with a reasonable number of hours of work is very few.
If you really enjoy fishing, you'd be better off to get a job that provides the money and time off to enjoy it. I am much happier to be able to afford a guide, rather than be a guide.
thetr20one reply :
I hate it when people shadow me waiting for me to move or something. I could imagine a guide having someone shadowing him
fishfordollars reply :
Do to your age I will chalk it up to inexperience. I highly recommend that you think otherwise.
guest reply :
QuoteCaution- Shadowing a guide is never a good thing, shadowing him and then becoming his competition is worse. Many guides in the south don't mess around, you're inching in on their bread and butter. This is how they feed their families.The fact that you want to shadow a guide to learn has me concerned with whether or not you can make the cut to begin with. Nothing against you, but guides become guides by mastering a lake, usually not by copying other guides. Just be careful, they don't alwyas take kindly to new comers. If you do shadow a guide,.....don't get caught.
I suggest you hire one for the day and pick his brain regarding ALL the aspects of guiding. I ain't just fishin',lol.
Learn a place on your own, well enough to guide it. Earn a name with the locals then get your captains license.
Money changes everything, guides can get ugly 
thetr20one reply :
No, if I get too irritated I will throw out the anchor pull up the trolling motor and sit on a hole on purpose. I hunt too and patience is one thing I have going for me. Have you ever had a boat pull within 20 feet and cast to the same area? That tries the old patience. Most tourneys here if you are anchored with the tm up others must give you at least 50 feet some circuits 50 yards! The biggest lake in Ohio (besides Erie) is only 10,000 acres. And the next biggest is about 6000 at full pool, the rest are 4000 and under.
thetr20one reply :
YES MUDDY, MONEY CHANGES EVERYTHING!!!!!! when I fun fish I could care less how close another boat is!!
farmpond1 reply :
By "shadowing a guide" do you mean you want to be mentored by one? That's a completely different story than attempting to stealthily follow a guide to his/her favorite haunts. If the former is the case, you might find a guide who is willing to show you the tricks of the trade if, in exchange, you were willing to do the "dirty work" at the beginning or end of the day. By that I mean cleaning/vacuming the boat, trading out batteries, changing sparkplugs, etc. If it's the latter, well, I wouldn't recommend it.
NBR reply :
Sit down with paper, pencil and calculator and put together the investment needed just to start a guide service. Remember you have no clients only cost. If it looks like you can handle the financial load hire a guide for a day. Be sure to level with him that you are thinking of being a guide. It is likely he will not be encouraging since it is a real tough way to make a living.
Reassess the financial requirements and the fact you don't have an education in how to run and manage a business. The fishing part of a guide service has to be the fun part and I would guess that for every hour spent fishing two or more hours are spent with paper work, insurance, taxes, goverment requirements and many other things that are necessary such as where are my clients coming from? What are the costs.
What are the requirements to be a guide from the state of NC? Some states require a Coast Guard rating, others require a basic first aid certification, most states require a guides liscense.
I thought guiding would be great when I was getting out of highschool but considering the requirements decided on an education so I could fish for the pure enjoyment.
guest reply :
QuoteYES MUDDY, MONEY CHANGES EVERYTHING!!!!!! when I fun fish I could care less how close another boat is!!
I have only one guy that bugs me when i am mindingmy own business fishing for fun. There are some days where I fish where the shoreline is particularly hot. in late spring/early summer. I will go 35 yards around anyone already on a shoreline spot. There is one guy who everytime i see him will go between where we are sitting and the shoreline we are casting. He does it to everyone, he beats a line paralelling the shoreline and cuts in front of most people actively fishing an area :-[
thetr20one reply :
YA KNOW MUDDY . With a little 85 pound braid weighted treble and your flippin stick you could have a little fun with him. I was fishing a causeway and some guy came between me and the rocks my partner picked up the old flippin stick cast over and reeled over the other guys line snagged it in. He said oh sorry is this your bait. cut it off and threw it on shore. you should have heard the language that flew out of that gentlemans mouth. His fault though, you just dont do that to people. YA KNOW
guest reply :
ya know : I WAS THINKING ALONG THE SAME LINES USING AN OLD 3 OUCE SALTWATER PYRAMID SINKER,,OOPS SIR SORRY I DIDNT SEE YOU THERE, FLOUNDER BITE IS ON TODAY
ps Looks like we are going to be a bad inluence on each other>there is something to be said for that 8-)
thetr20one reply :
There should be a fishing courtesy pamphlet in circulation!
farmpond1 reply :
QuoteThere should be a fishing courtesy pamphlet in circulation!
Rots o' ruck. Some people would glance at it and throw it out their car window.
jrhennecke reply :
QuoteThere should be a fishing courtesy pamphlet in circulation!
No people just need to utilize a little common sense! Muddy. You throwing that pyramid weight to flurocarbon?
thetr20one reply :
In Ohio bank fishermen have the right of way. That said I have never had one get upset with me fishing around them. When you catch a fish they usually ask some questions about bass fishing and I have no problem answering them if they are polite! Whats worse on some lakes here pleasure boaters have the right of way over fishermen at the launch.. Usually the hubby backs in the boat ties up the dock while he meanders to park his rig and wifey holds the boat. Sometimes it's not bad if she is hot! LOL!!! Then lets his boat warm up thoroughly before moving knowing we have courtesy docks for this..
jrhennecke reply :
QuoteIn Ohio bank fishermen have the right of way. That said I have never had one get upset with me fishing around them. When you catch a fish they usually ask some questions about bass fishing and I have no problem answering them if they are polite! Whats worse on some lakes here pleasure boaters have the right of way over fishermen at the launch.. Usually the hubby backs in the boat ties up the dock while he meanders to park his rig and wifey holds the boat. Sometimes it's not bad if she is hot! LOL!!! Then lets his boat warm up thoroughly before moving knowing we have courtesy docks for this..
We have Lake Lice here too!
thetr20one reply :
Glad to here It's not just an Ohio thing!!
-hydrillagorilla- reply :
I was fly fishing guide for trout in Glenwood Springs/Aspen CO area for 12 years. By the time I left I part owned 3 shops in the valley and ran about 17 full time guides and another 10 part timers. The first five years were a lot of fun, by the time I sold my business I was crusty and not enjoying it all anymore! About ruined fly fishing for trout for me. I love to go now, but I took about a 3 year hiatus from even picking up a rod or row a dory!
Moral of my story: it is possible to loose what you love if you are not careful. Obviously not the same for everyone and not to say I didn't enjoy many many great days and friendships made on that dory. But that area had many guides and shops and it was very competive. Thankfully I was friends with most of the guides and the old school took a long time to accept any newcomer - had to earn the respect so to say.
By the time I sold my portion out/ I could have been selling women's hats - would have been the same in a lot of regards! It was a job that started early and ended late - often tracking down guys at bars who wouldn't answer their phones so I could capture the 3 boat trip the next day etc.
BUT - each person is different and I don't want to discourge you. Guiding can be rewarding and at the time I was single/no kids; so the lifestyle was great! Wouldn't trade it for the world!
IMO - the first 5 years are the absolute toughest! More than likely you will have to buy your own boat, tackle, rods etc. until you have a track record and clients. Seems after the first five years - if you are doing it right- you should be booked up during the prime months and be able to pick and choose your clients instead of taking everybody that has a buck. The ones you don't want to fish again, I would say I was booked - and refer to an aspiring guide and keep a referal$. After a year to three if you are doing a good job -you may be able to get a small discount on some main items like engines/boats/tackle but typically they are not free or even close.
The above poster is correct if you get out the calculator and make up a couple years of expenses - there are a lot and include everything - housing, advertising, refferal pays, INSURANCE, tackle, GAS, maintenence, etc. - don't cheat yourself be honest and make the worst case. Then be honest with yourself and figure out how many days you can get in year one and two again- WORST CASE. This will open your eyes and if you are honest with your numbers you will see the road and if you want to travel it or not.
IMO it can be rewarding but I don't think anyone is getting rich doing it. They do it because they love it and in a lot of ways it is better than some options.
I hope I don't come off as a know-it-all or anything. Guiding Fly fisherman while rowing dory boats is a little different than being a Bass guide, but IMO not by much.
Happy Releasing,
H.G.
George Welcome reply :
I can only say "wow"!
18 years old and you want to be a guide? Get your education!
First and foremost to be successful at this business you need to be an ace of a fisherman. Do you have the experience to be able to show and tell people how to fish? Every day is a tournament out there, but without the luxury of not winning most of the time. You have to produce!
Wesley reply :
QuoteI can only say "wow"!18 years old and you want to be a guide? Get your education!
First and foremost to be successful at this business you need to be an ace of a fisherman. Do you have the experience to be able to show and tell people how to fish? Every day is a tournament out there, but without the luxury of not winning most of the time. You have to produce!
What does age have to do with him decideing what Profession he wants to be in and asking the best way to become one?
fishizzle reply :
Follow your dreams!!!
guest reply :
There is merit in getting an education, always first and foremost. Also There is not a guide on the planet who produces every trip out, not a one. You have to become more than proficient at a body of water, but there is no 100% guarentee that you will sucessfuly put a client on fish all the time.
fishizzle reply :
And if you can't afford an Education, wing it
George Welcome reply :
QuoteAlso There is not a guide on the planet who produces every trip out, not a one. You have to become more than proficient at a body of water, but there is no 100% guarentee that you will sucessfuly put a client on fish all the time.
That is 100% correct which is why on my page it says:
"There are times that no matter how hard we work, and how much we know, the fish just won't cooperate. We make no promises that we can't keep, so we do not offer you any phony guarantee of numbers of fish that you will catch, or size of fish. We do guarantee our best effort on your behalf. Our previous customers will verify that and we can supply a vast list of references."
However if you are going to last in this business you best win the majority.
Randall reply :
I am going to assume that you are talking about guiding for bass. This topic came up a few days ago in my boat in a conversation. I had never thought about it before but it was pointed out to me that there are only two full time bass guides in the northern half of Georgia. I am one of them and Ryan Coleman who guides on Lanier is the other. All of the others are part time and make most of their income doing something else. There might be someone I or the other guys with me didn't know about but I doubt it. Thats two full time guides in a good fishing state with a major metro area with millions of people. I even got a parttime job after last years drought closed the lake I guide on most of the time. I am now guiding full time and still have a parttime job a couple days a week until I am sure this drought is over. If it was easy to be a guide there would be lots more full time bass guides. I would almost be willing to bet there are no full time bass guides in eastern NC.
Now on the other hand I wouldn't trade what I do for anything else. I love what I do and that makes the long days I work worth it. I rarely ever have an eight hour day and most are twelve to fifteen hours since there is lots more to it than what you would think.
If I would have started when I was eighteen as an intelligent hard working young man who showed a lot of promise in life and a better than average 18 year old fisherman then I would have went out and started a guide service and failed. Like George said I would go get an education first. Learn the things that will help you in one of the toughest most competive jobs you could have. In your spare time keep your goals in mind of what you want to do and work toward getting the fishing, people and work skills you will need to make it.
guest reply :
Good Advice Randall, thats why I respect you 8-)
jrhennecke reply :
Well said Randal
Grey Wolf reply :
QuoteI am going to assume that you are talking about guiding for bass. This topic came up a few days ago in my boat in a conversation. I had never thought about it before but it was pointed out to me that there are only two full time bass guides in the northern half of Georgia. I am one of them and Ryan Coleman who guides on Lanier is the other. All of the others are part time and make most of their income doing something else. There might be someone I or the other guys with me didn't know about but I doubt it. Thats two full time guides in a good fishing state with a major metro area with millions of people. I even got a parttime job after last years drought closed the lake I guide on most of the time. I am now guiding full time and still have a parttime job a couple days a week until I am sure this drought is over. If it was easy to be a guide there would be lots more full time bass guides. I would almost be willing to bet there are no full time bass guides in eastern NC.Now on the other hand I wouldn't trade what I do for anything else. I love what I do and that makes the long days I work worth it. I rarely ever have an eight hour day and most are twelve to fifteen hours since there is lots more to it than what you would think.
If I would have started when I was eighteen as an intelligent hard working young man who showed a lot of promise in life and a better than average 18 year old fisherman then I would have went out and started a guide service and failed. Like George said I would go get an education first. Learn the things that will help you in one of the toughest most competive jobs you could have. In your spare time keep your goals in mind of what you want to do and work toward getting the fishing, people and work skills you will need to make it.
Great insight This man is telling you the way it really is. Listen to him.
32251 reply :
18 and you know what you want to do. Something to be said for that.
Don't listen to naysayers. I was told I could never make a good living just being a musician....I am almost 60 now and I have never spent a day in my life without some money in my pocket and a nice roof over my head. I have never in my entire life had to answer for anyone but me. I never had one person ever tell me what I had to do and did not have to do. I never fought morning traffic, had a day job or had a boss. Not many people I know can say that. What does that commercial say "find something you love to do and you will never work a day in your life"!
If you have the skill to do this then you will be successful. If you do not then you won't, simple as that. If this is really what you want to do, then go do it and do it NOW. Find you a body of water and learn it like the back of your hand. When you are catching fish on it in a regular basis that you can count on then take some folks out that you know and see what you can do. If things go well then get in the market, advertise and start charging for it.
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