What makes a good guide?

[River_eye]

Hey, for all you guys who visit remote lodges in Canada, what makes a good guide? Here's a chance to rave or complain about some of the guides you've had. I'm a guide at an eastern Manitoba lodge, I'm starting my fourth season this year.

I know I still have a lot to learn, so I figured I'd ask you guys what you are most critical about. Obviously you want to catch fish, but you have to spend the whole day, somtimes more in the boat with the guide, so there must be other things that impress you, piss you off about them.

I'm just looking to give my guests an overall better experience, so I'd like to hear your comments and hopefully learn some things. Thanks.


River eye

[Hans]

I hire a guide to learn from them, not to catch fish. (Hey, I don't mind if we catch some fish, but that ain't why I'm in your boat.)

I'll watch your presentations, your positioning tricks, ask a lot about why this or why that.

No, I don't want a list of your top-10 spots, but I do want to know about your top-5 criteria for selecting those spots, and which you pick for certain weather or seasonal reasons.

In short, I want an education, not just a meal of fillets.

Hans

[Fin Addict]

Ditto w/ Hans. I am looking to exchange information and learn some new tricks. One of my best "guided fishing trips" was a charter which I booked on Lake MI when I was in the Green Bay area on business w/o my boat. I got there bright and early only to find 7' seas and howling wind. The captain did not want to go out so we just sat down and had breakfast together. I fish Superior alot and we did a lot of things different than what he did on Michigan. We compared notes, tactics, lures, fine tuning various lures, how to look at 10 different J-Plugs and pick the one that will catch fish. We even swaped some lures. We ended up talking til after lunch. We both left as better fishermen. Awesome "trip"!!

[Beach]

I agree with you guy's EDUCATION. You want to get a guide that will teach you how to fish, not just show you how many fish he can catch. I got a guide in Hayward, Wi many years ago and he not only introduce me to walleye fishing but introduced me to effective walleye fishing. He was concerned that I was doing things right, casting, jigging, feel and others. Since then he and I have become good friends and swap ideas and technequies. When I fish with him he shows me spots which not only are productive on that particular lake but how and why they would be productive on other bodies of water. The key is EDUCATION. That, if nothing else, will make you a better angler. A good guide will do that with you!!!!!!!!

[REW]

1. Be a people person.
2. Be a good teacher.
3. Be a good fisherperson.
4. Above all be safe and never endanger your clients, by being the tough guy to fish for an extra 5 minutes in rising seas, or approaching thunder and lightning storms.

I think that these things are the most important in that order.

A guide is hired, primarily to have a great day on the water. If you catch a fish -- it is a wonderful bonus. Entertain, teach, fish and be safe.

Take care

REW

[chrism]

Hey River-eye
In my humble opinion -
teach without attitude, treat your clients with respect and always put their needs/concerns/difficulties first...
Teach them how to be the best with what they have - not what you have....
Treat them as if it were there last trip...
Don't use destructive critisim if you see something you don't agree with - be constructive!...
Drive the boat in a courteous way and always abide by the rules of the water....
And be very thankful if they ask you to fish with them, but don't expect it, ever...

Oh - and be sure to carry a good first aid kit (and learn the basics of how to stop bleeding(big and small), CPR, etc) You will be a hero if you have to use it.
And sunscreen and bug juice...

I fished years ago with a guide from our "area" who knew how to find fish, but he was something else...ie..when we were snagged, he pulled out his knife without discussion and cut the line, regardless of what lure we were using or how difficult it would be to get it out...go figure. Then he wondered why he recieved little or no tip. I sure hope he's not around anymore.