Fly Fishing Resources - Fishing with a Guide

While it is certainly possible to catch fish on your own, the services of a good guide can turn a potentially frustrating and fishless trip into a memorable experience. A good guide has the equipment, knowledge and experience to put you on fish and help you get the fly where it needs to go. While even the best guide cannot guarantee you a fish, he or she can improve your odds dramatically. In addition, most guides, like most fly fishers, are great people with excellent personalities and you will enjoy spending a day in the boat with them. There are a few things you can do to make sure your experience with a guide meets your expectations.

Take a look at our Recommended Guides page for a listing of some of the best guides out there or feel free to give us a call or fill out our contact form if you would like help choosing a guide.

Meet the Guide
Before committing yourself to spending a day on a boat with a guide, you will want to spend a few minutes, probably on the phone, talking with him or her to make sure the fit is a good one. Spending a day on a boat with a good guide can be a great experience. Conversely, a few hours spent in a small boat with an obnoxious, egotistical "guide" who couldn't find you a sunfish in a farm pond will get you thinking seriously about how long it would take to swim back to your car.

Think of some questions to ask beforehand. Is the guide used to guiding fly fishers and does he or she fly fish? Find out how long your potential guide has been fishing and guiding, where he or she plans to take you. Ask if there are species available other than your target species that you could go after if the fish you are chasing aren't cooperating. Discuss your level of fly fishing experience and what you can realistically expect to catch. If you are relatively new to fly fishing or to saltwater fly fishing, will the guide be able to offer you some basic instruction and tips? Also, if you do not have an aversion to spinning tackle yourself, is the guide willing to do some spin fishing if conditions are not ideal for fly fishing?

From What Type of Craft will you be Fishing?
Most saltwater guides in our area fish from a flats skiff. Some will also fish from a canoe or kayak if requested. In fresh water you may spend time in a flats skiff, a canoe or kayak, a jon-boat or an airboat. You will want to find out if you will be doing any wading and, if so, what kind of footwear to bring. Let the guide know how many people will be coming with you so he or she can plan accordingly.

Where and When will you be Meeting and Where will you Fish?
Determine beforehand where you will be meeting and where you will be fishing. Each guide will have favorite areas where he or she prefers to fish. If you have a preference be sure the guide regularly fishes where you want to go and know how far it is from wherever you are staying.

What will be Provided
Make sure you know what the guide will provide and what you will need to bring. Do you need to bring your own fly fishing rods and flies or will the guide provide what you need? Will the guide be providing food and drinks? Most guides in our area will provide drinks (water and sometimes soda) but it is generally up to you to bring your own food. Your guide should have a license that covers all anglers fishing with him or her. Make sure this is the case. The guide should also have insurance. Does the guide have a camera to document your catch? You will usually be better off bringing your own if you are concerned about the quality of photograhs.

Bring the Essentials
There are a few essential items that you should always bring along. These include:

Sunscreen
Good polarized sunglasses. Amber is the best all-around color.
A hat with a brim
Water (a good idea even if the guide provides drinks)
Snacks
Rain Gear (in case of rain or to protect you from sun or wind)
A warm jacket (even when it's hot out it can be quite cool when the boat is moving)
Non-marking shoes with soft rubber soles that are not black. (Black rubber can leave marks on the deck of a flats skiff that are difficult to remove.)

What Will the Trip Cost?
Find out beforehand what your guided fly fishing trip will cost. Prices vary somewhat from place-to-place and guide-to-guide. Most guides will do half day, three-quarters day and full day trips. If the cost seems high keep in mind that it costs a lot to own, maintain and operate a flats skiff and the other required equipment. Also remember that what you are really paying for is the guide's knowledge, skills and experience, all of which can be gained only by spending hours and hours on the water. Make sure you plan money for a tip as well.

Be Kind to your Guide - and your Guide's Boat
Good fly fishing guides are skilled professionals who deserve respect not only because they help us to relax, catch fish and become better fly fishers but also for the part they play in promoting fly fishing and in helping to protect our environment. Be sure you treat your guide with respect. Do your best to show up on time (I know it's early sometimes!), wear non-marking shoes (no black soles) and be careful with your guide's equipment.

Many of the species we target with a fly rod are very challenging to catch, which is a large part of why we enjoy fishing for them. Remember that your guide's knowledge, skill and hard work constitute only a few of the variables that play into whether or not you catch fish. If a guide does a good job, tip well - fish or no fish. Most guides want you to catch a fish almost as much as you do but even more than that they want you to enjoy yourself.