What do you look for in a guide?

[scoop39]

First I want to say this is a great board! NH has a lot to offer to Fly Fisherman. Ok, my name is Sean Smith. I’m the president of the Portsmouth chapter of Trout Unlimited. And as of today, a licensed NH fishing guide! I'll mostly be guiding on the upper Connecticut and Southern NH. I have lot of ideas about starting a guiding business and would like your input. What I’d like to ask the group is, What do you most NOT want to experience in a guided trip? Any other feed back on what you look for in a guide would be appreciated. Thanks, Sean

[fessiewig]

First, Congratulations! Send me your guiding info in a PM and we'll make sure you're listed when we create the Guide page. Yep, thats right we will be creating a Guide page. Just another service we'll be offering. Wait till you see the TU page coming soon!

[flytire]

Sean,

My question would be to you: What should a guide be to his/her client?



A friend and I ended up having a guide on the San Juan River in New Mexico that only had a fishing vest full of supplies (flies, tippet, yarn indicators etc). He rigged up our leaders and added that yarn indicator (a first for both of us), got us into position in a riffle/seam area and we kicked butt to say the least. He told where to cast, how to cast and showed us where the fish were. He was good!!!

Sorry for the rant!!

[Gerry]

Hi Sean,
Welcome to the fraternity of TU president/fishing guides!

Having fished with a number of different guides in Colorado, Arizona, Montana, Maine, the Adirondacks and having hung out with a number of "off-duty" guides, my observation is that a good guide adapts and complements the client. The guide asks a number of questions of the client before they even meet. Things like level of experience, any particular objectives, any techniques they would like to learn, etc. Then a quick validation on-stream. The guide never fishes with a paying client unless specifically requested, which is pretty rare. The guide asks if the client wants lesson, advice, pointers, etc. and only injects themselves into the client's fishing experience to help enhance it - never to embarass, patronize or show off. The guide even has to be very careful not to show the client how to do a technique and then hook a fish.
I have had guides do most of the above "don't does" and it really p*@#ed me off! Give me a call or email if you want to compare notes.

Tight Lines,
Gerry

[granger]

A good guide must maintain and have a good sense of humor, be able to offer tips and help without being overbearing and have the patience of a saint. Beyond this of course he needs to know the water intimately. Good look and I hope you do not turn your life's passion into WORK.

[parmachenee belle]

I recently had an excellent fishing trip with a guide, so I can tell you what I did like about that.
He knew his area waters...light, dark, calm, stormy, prevailing winds...probably better than anyone. He knew what the fish would do during all conditions...incoming/outgoing tide, rough/calm...knew what flies worked best for different behaviors & conditions....knew what they were feeding on...He really knew his stuff.
No way did he fish, or really even offer suggestions, other than fly selection. He evaluated my abilities and probably compensated where he put me. He was totally competent without being overbearing, very subtle. And we caught fish.
It's already been said, but clients are paying hard-earned money for your services. It's about what they want, what their expectations are. We didn't care about some fancy shoreside lunch...as a matter of fact we brought an extra sandwich & beer and gave it to him...but we did learn a ton about a new area and the resident fish and had a great time on the water. And we caught fish.