Fishing Guide

[bobber]

I'm think about making the jump from fisherman to being a guide. and i'm looking for some input and maybe a hire for a position . at this time i'm just testing the waters?

[Gavin]

Were are you gonna guide? You may need a concessionaires permit from the National Park Service, or US Forest Service depending on where you plan to operate. There are some revenue sharing and reporting requirements with both agencies.

[Mark]

I would be curious also on how some of the guides got started. A friend and I have thought of the idea of doing something when we retire. Possibly something like hiring out to groups to organize 2-3-4 day float trips to include cooking meals, hauling supplies, etc.

[bobber]

i'm still doing my homework. but i'm thinking about waters that are less traveled

[Smalliebigs]

Lol.........there is water less traveled in Missouri????????.........not below HWY 44. Yoy may think noboby is fishing there but, they are. Unless you live at the rivers edge you will never know how much people are hitting the water. People like me are hitting every ditch that holds water and only during the week.

Good luck with the guide thing.......it would be fun occupation....better than sitting in an office like I am right now, getting screamed at on the phone about insurance rates going up and surfing porn. I never realized there were that many people needing to be shown what to do and where to go in regards to river fishing.I guess if you don't want to or don't have the time to get out there and explore and do your homework on your own, which is half the fun if you ask me, a guide is necessary on a river. It's taken me 25 plus years of my life to get where I am as far it goes with river fishing.....a ton of driving and trial and error but, it's been a hell of a ride

[duckydoty]

If guiding out of a boat with a motor, you must be U.S. Coast Guard Licensed and it is highly recommended to be insured. You do not need the Coast Guard License to guide while wade fishing, or out of a non-motorized vessel such as a canoe, drift boat, or raft. You will pretty much be an independent contractor as far as guiding in Missouri. As Gavin stated, you will need certain permits to guide on certain waters in Missouri. It will take you quite a while to build a client base, and if guiding for a resort or other place that brings the clients to you, you will start at the bottom of the list (only getting trips when the A-Team is already booked up). I would recommend going to Alaska and getting the Coast Guard License. Some camps and lodges offer help in obtaining your Coast Guard Licensing. Then guide up there for 5 or 6 seasons and build a client list from people all over the world that you meet while guiding up there. You can then let them know what Missouri has to offer them and how you can help them experience the adventures that Missouri has to offer. It takes a lot of work and time, but just like everything else, you have to start somewhere, and that is usually at the bottom.

[Wayne SW/MO]

I assume you're looking at AR Bobber and I'm sure you've done your homework there. I think knowing CPR and having good insurance would be prudent. Beyond that I would imagine that simply building a clientel that would give you good marks would be the painstaking part. I you could insert your instructor skills and certification in it wouldn't hurt I would think.

[Zack Hoyt]

Bobber.....give me a shout with any questions. Doty pretty well covered it.

It would amaze you how many guides do not carry insurance. Thats a huge deal. Marketing materials are a big deal up front, trying to build your customer base. You also have to figure out which clientel you want......fish-numbers guys or people looking for the outdoor experience. Both come with their own challenges.

[Brian Sloss]

One other thing to remember, guiding requires a lot of work. The office is great (rivers) and it is better than most jobs (ie sitting in a cubicle), but to do it right, you have to bust your hump. You have have prep time before you meet your crew and then you need time after you finish fishing your customers, which often is starting over and prepping for the next day. Between pre and post trip work and actual guiding, you are looking at about 10-12 hour days and once you build up a client base, your schedule can get grueling. Until then though, there may be long gaps between trips while you are building a client list. When you are on the river, everything you do is for their benefit, period. Not trying to talk you out of it at all, but people sometimes get into this business with rose colored glasses. If you are ok with that and you have the knowledge and desire, it is a wonderful way to make a lliving. Best of luck. Also, you mentioned wanting to guide on less traveled waters. That is a good idea, but it may take longer to build up a demand for guide trips on those kinds of waters. Therefore it would be a good idea to offer trips on rivers where there is more demand as well. If you can show them a good time on a more well known river where there is more demand, you will have all day to gently hint about trying these other lesser known gems. If you do well with them on the more "famous" waters, they will be more likely to trust your judgement about trying the other rivers.

[Mark]

My buddy and I have talked about not so much a fishing guide as float trip coordinators for people from perhaps St. Louis who would like an outdoor adventure like a float trip but don't know where to start. Something more along the line of all the customer has to do is show up with clothes and beverages, and perhaps fishing gear if they want to fish. Most people who aren't experienced don't know where to float, what rivers are relatively safe with children, where to rent canoes, and where are lodging accomodations if they don't want to camp. We would handle all of that for them. They just show up and everything is taken care of, including meals on the river and in the evening.

Just an idea we have tossed around and we have no idea of what regulations we would be under. But we are thinking more along the lines of people who run hunting trips that take care of just about everything for you.