Starting Part-time guide service???

[riverguy]

I was looking for some feedback to see if I am out of my mind or am looking at something that would work. I am looking to start guiding on the Mississippi in Pool 2 (Ford dam to 494 bridge area). I have fished this part of the river for 3-4 years, fishing one to two days a week. I feel that I consistantly catch good numbers of eyes and sauger w/ a mixed bag of other species to make relatively constant actions. So I think that I have good info and experience to offer.

So here is my problem. I would like to start guiding to share my knowledge and earn a little extra cash. But my boat is old and nothing to look at. Motors and equipment is good. I was planning on pricing myself below market guide rates because of this.

So would there be interest? I am not looking for customers (I am too busy w/ my "real" job to even start for a couple months), just advice. So, does the boat matter? What do people want or expect out of a guide? Thank you for any input.

[Don]

I don't think the boat and equipment make any differnce, as long as everything is neat and clean and in good working order.

[targa2]

A freind of mine guides out of an old boat that looks like it has been through a war and he never gets a complaint .He has a cheap old eagle graph and no fancy gear . The guy can fish and his clients know it and they keep coming back year after year. Do it or live to regret not doing it. There are no other choices. Good luck and have fun.

[Tom B]

As long as the boat is clean and your equipment is in good condition, it shouldn't matter. If it seems to matter to a client, tell them what your rates would be if you had a new boat.

Tom B

[Bob W.]

I'm sure full time guides, trying to make a living at their craft will appreciate you undercutting their prices and their livelyhood!

[tj1n]

Bob nice post! Sound like competitors of mine.

If you haven't experienced it yet, that's the AMERICAN way. It's those that can compete that survive.

Service your customers as you would wish to be treated and you will have a great chance at being successful. Don't think it's gonna be easy though.

I am always looking for part time or off time gigs, we have too if we wish to support our dreams! Work hard and good luck!

Travis J.

[Stinger WI]

Riverguy,


You also have to look at what kind of clients you are taking out. I have guided a couple of times in southern Wisconsin lake close to the boarder and i had a couple of executives that didn't really even care if they caught fish they just wanted to sit back and relax in comfort. I run a Pro V, but keep in mind that if you are taking out people who truley want to fish and learn it doesen't matter what you have for a boat as long as its clean and safe.
Time will tell you if you might need a diffboat, but you will never know if you don't try. Buy your guide license and give it a try. Set your price where you think you can get business and turn a profit and don't worry about your competitors , because remember thats what they are... competitors.

Good luck

Craig A

[Fin Addict]

I would not hire a guide because he was cheaper than the other guy. People willing to spend the $ for a guide want quality. For pool 2 fishing, a great rig would not be crucial to me. I have fished pools 2, 3 and 4 for over 20 years and still learn more every time out. Good equipment, and a clean boat w/ a knowledgable and likeable guide would get my vote. If you do it, don't sell yourself short. If you don't think you're worth the going rate, you probably should reconsider.

[Rip Lips]

That would be me Rip Lips guiding.I do guide on pool 2 so thanks for the STAB in the back.Just kidding !Go nuts I dont have too many clients that want to fish pool two,since you cant keep any of the fish.So you beter be real cheap! Jamie Fribel Npaa 166.Fellow guides keep a compettive price to even things out.Boat,fuel,insurance,(guiding insurance),gear,LUcky to make 80 bucks ,go nuts!!!!!!!

[R. Brown]

You know......i wish i could afford a boat and a guide however i understand your predicament, so let me offer this. as a fisherman i dont give a rats behind what your boat looks like, i generally like to use my own gear and just want to get out of the house and into the outdoors. I have fished the mississippi for many years as well but in the pool 13 through 16 range as well as many Backwater areas along that stretch. worst case scenario.....you "fail" and have to get a different line of work, at least you tried and hopefully had a lifetime experience trying. go for it, i wish i could.
R.Brown

[DRHOWES]

Like some say.........you will never know unless you try. As far as equipment and boat, put your clients on the fish and they'll forget what your boat even looked like because they will be too happy remembering fish 9 through 20........... Good luck on whatever you decide.




"The only thing I can cure is my thirst"

[Wurm]

NEVER price yourself below the market! It is a waste of your time... and money, and you will make no friends with the other guides. And, that is very important, especialy on a river system.

[Backwater Eddy]

Consider the local rates but DO NOT let others dictate your rates.

A guide sells time and experience, his assets are his knowledge, his skills and his personality. Don't try to price your service on the other guy’s assets or you will just steer more business his way. Be who you are, not whom the other guys are!

Do the math, what is your time worth after your daily expenses are determined. Takes into consideration wear and tear so allow for upgrading of equipment and replacement.

I think the most critical thing of all is you got to love it, or else it will show and the experience for your client will suffer. Always listen to the clients needs and look to make the next trip a bit better then the last even if the fishing is poor this will make a trip a better experience.

Go for it!

Good luck, it is tough going at first. If you love it you will do well in no time at all. No time at all may be 3-4 years away, hang in there the tide will turn.

Backwater Eddy ~ ~ ~><sUMo> ~ ><>

http://home.talkcity.com/ResortRd/backwtr1/index.html

[FROGMAN]

One thing I'd like to add from past experience guiding. You DO NOT want to get at odds with the other guides in your area. There will come a time when you have a party larger than you can handle on your own, and you will need help to put the deal together. I have shared many trips with other guides when we had groups of 4 or more.

Try to find someone to work with that thinks along the same lines as you, it will make things work easier!

Good Luck, it's not an easy business, but can be rewarding if you are doing it for the right reasons.

Tight lines

Keith Segar
NPAA #260

[Backwater Eddy]

Very true Keith. I didn't want to sound like screw the other guy, not at all. I just feel it is best to know your own needs and not be ruled by others ideas of your needs.

I have a good friend Dennis Flom of "Catfish Unlimited Guiding Service" who is an “ACE” Red River catfish guide. He has in many ways inspired me to fallow my dreams of guiding. He is very-very good at catfish, but could care less if he ever caught a walleye, just not his thing. We are technically competitors but we don't bicker or compete with each other at all. Well, except in some fishing tournaments, and that is more for fun then blood.

We also work with a young and extremely talented catfish guide, Jason Sayler; man does he ever love to fish. Jason is a very good guide now, in a short time I feel he will be one of the best there is anywhere for channel cats on rivers. Jason is very intelligent and has the heart for fishing like I have seldom seen. I predict he will go far, a great young man.

If I have a trip that won't work because of booking conflicts either Dennis or Jason will get a call. I refer my potential clients on with complete confidence; they have also done the same for me.

We also work together on seminars and public service events to educate and spread the word on river fishing to kids of all ages. The kids events and public seminars are tons of fun and a great side benefit of the guiding game. A little exposure is good yes, but we do it because it is fun, and we love the sport. Watching kids or new anglers catch their first fish, well it's pure gold every time.

Being friends and not cutthroat competitors pays off in many ways.

Backwater Eddy ~ ~ ~><sUMo> ~ ><>

http://home.talkcity.com/ResortRd/backwtr1/index.html

[jigemup]

One thing you may want to take into consideration. As a guide on the lower pools 5-9 you have to take into consideration that a captains license is NOW required. The Mississippi is considered a navigatable waterway and getting this certification reqires going to a week long school and a few hundered bucks. The most expensive part is the insurance for the service to cover yourself from getting screwed. Take all these things into deep consideration as it will probably take about $1,000 per season to cover these expenses before you make a dime profit. The IRS gives you three years to show a profit- some sad realities, but I too took the plunge and these were a few major roadblocks I ran into which greatly takes away from the profitability.
If you can though, go for it- it's very rewarding when your are catching fish and stressful as heck when the bite is slow.

jigemup

[Lawrence Ecklor]

It does matter to some clients what kind, and size of boat you use. I try to find out in a short discussion what the customers expectations are. If they are looking for luxury, glamour, high speed , etc. I just steer them to someone else. If they want to learn new tactics and do some serious fishing then the boat doesn't matter. As long as your boat is safe and clean, I would concentrate on the other equipment (rods, reels, cranks, jigs,line,life preservers, rain gear, nets,maps, etc.) Regarding pricing down my way the prices vary from a 12 pack to about $250. a day. I almost always end up in the middle and that seems to be the right place. It isn't required, but most of your customers will want to do something extra... replace lost cranks, pay for the bait, buy you lunch, pay for pictures. If all of those things are included in your price already, make sure you say no. In otherwords make sure the customer knows what is included up front, otherwise two monthes latter you will hear, and he made me pay for all the cranks, etc. Customers almost always tip, and often as much as the original rate, but be honest with yourself and at least price yourself at a point where all your expenses are paid. Then as you start getting a reputation increase your rate accordingly. Be sure you have your license, insurance,and Coast Guard requirements handled. Lawrence

[Jawjerker]

riverguy;
Good questions. When I consider using a guide, I always ask him a few questions first, such as: What do you provide? ie. bait, PFD's, tackel, food/snacks, shore lunch etc. also how many hours of fishing will we do or are we going for a boat ride up & down the river, how long is a half day? do you do half day trips or just full days, is that 8 hours? And, to be a successful guide, you must produce what the client is looking for if you expect repeat business. Some clients are interested in numbers of fish others want big fish, so one must produce. If I were to set up a guide service I think it would be on a body of water that my clients could keep some of the fish for a meal if they wanted and I don't believe it is recommended fish be consumed from this area of the river. If you produce, and it sounds like you usually can, your clients probably will not care so much about the boat they're fishing out of so long as it's safe. Good luck to you in your decision and if it shouldn't work out as you would like, well at least you tried and now you know.