Hoops to jump thru to be a fishing guide

[MrsDucky]

As with any test, there are things you can do to prepare. The number one rule in preparing for a test-practice in the same conditions you will be testing. If you will be testing in a quiet room, practice in a quiet room. If you practice with music, then you will feel like you have forgotten something when you don't have the music. People with test anxiety tend to freeze up because they are afraid of the outcome (what happens if I fail? will this make me look stupid?) when they have the knowledge, just not the confidence. As a teacher, I can speak to that part of this thread. I have no idea how hard this test is, but I can imagine they wouldn't make it easy! Phil, I have every confidence in you knowing your stuff! Jump high through that hoop!

[Phil Lilley]

Here's a good one

A work Jacket must be worn when?

A. A barge is loading

B. When a barge is off loading

C. Anytime a barge is underway

D. During nightime operation.

I'd say C.

[drbewley]

100. If you're approaching another vessel and aren't sure if it is a crossing or overtaking situation, you should:

A. Sound one blast, turn right

B. Sound one blast, turn left

C. Maintain course and speed

D. Assume an overtaking situation and keep clear

Is this one A?

[Bill Babler]

I don't remember what I guessed, but I must have gotten it right. By the way, they won't tell you the questions you missed, you just have to jot down any you are having trouble with and look them up.

Mrs. McDucky, I have a duel major in Education and Recreation Administration.

When I design a test it is to test the knowledge of the material presented in class along with any gleamed from the reading the text. I always wanted to make sure the gist of the material was digested.

This test is like none other in the fact there will be a question that will pertain to nothing to do with anything, and there is always 4 correct answers for any question.

No question is ever black and white, all the answers are always grey, with one maby a twinge darker than its litter mates.

It is absolutely the most unfair exam I have ever taken. But I passed the sucker.

Come to think of it. I dont' believe it is C as you do not have to wear the work jacket if you are in the wheel house or below deck.. Look it up and let me know. There are always a question or two on Work Jackets.

[Snow Fly]

Hey it is typical government, always operating in the grey :ph34r:

[SilverMallard]

I don't remember what I guessed, but I must have gotten it right. By the way, they won't tell you the questions you missed, you just have to jot down any you are having trouble with and look them up.

Mrs. McDucky, I have a duel major in Education and Recreation Administration.

When I design a test it is to test the knowledge of the material presented in class along with any gleamed from the reading the text. I always wanted to make sure the gist of the material was digested.

This test is like none other in the fact there will be a question that will pertain to nothing to do with anything, and there is always 4 correct answers for any question.

No question is ever black and white, all the answers are always grey, with one maby a twinge darker than its litter mates.

It is absolutely the most unfair exam I have ever taken. But I passed the sucker.

Come to think of it. I dont' believe it is C as you do not have to wear the work jacket if you are in the wheel house or below deck.. Look it up and let me know. There are always a question or two on Work Jackets.

Real estate exams, securities license exams, bar exams, and insurance license exams are pretty much that way. They are designed to to pass only the "best," not everyone who can meet a minimum standard. And they monkey with the tests each cycle to adjust for the # of people passing vs. how many licensees they think they should have at a given time.

[Davy Wotton]

Read all the above posts pertaining to the thread, very interesting.

As some of you are well aware of, so far as guides that work here on the White and Norfork rivers, and the little red as well as other water ways, there is as such no requirement from AGFC for anything other than the amount due for the licence, and in some ways it is a nonsense.

There are very few guides l know that carry for one insurance. At one time the Guide association did have the means to cover members, not so to day.

I pay $900 yearly for coverage, both for my boats, motors, on and off the river as well as personal liability.

Some of the other fly guides l know also have coverage.

I also have a CPR and EMS certification.

Back in the UK, l did have a certified navigational requirement.

It is my understanding that the AGFC will introduce some new regulations here, as yet to be decided.

It was discussed at a meeting that this would apply only to guides who worked on the trout water systems.

That l do not buy, if it is going to become a regulation for licence to guide then it should apply to all, no matter where you fish and guide.

I also believe that insurance coverage should be mandatory.

In so far as the requirements for navigational skills, l am not sure about that one.

Working rivers is a great deal different to working large open waters, inland or the ocean.

OK, l will go with some sort of acceptable requirement for rivers such as the White, after all you an only go to ways here, up and down stream.

Almost all the boat accidents here are caused by either persons who rent boats or those who just do not know how to navigate the water ways safely.

It is very rare indeed that a guide is the cause.

So in that respect how do you deal with say persons who rent boats are they to be also controlled, if the issue is one of safety for the public at large.

And for that matter drift boats should not be excluded either, as there have been many deaths related to drift boat accidents, rafts and other craft of that nature, without the use of motors.

In fact l know of 3 persons who where almost drowned when a guide turned the boat over in Montana.

The issue here on the White needs to be one of competence to use a boat, with or without a motor.

The vast majority of navigational requirements as for open waters do not apply.

Given the fact that the AFGF issue licences to guides, it should also be for them to determine acceptable standards as required.

And it may well be so that if guides here did have to conform to OUPV many of them would not be working on this river.

Certainly any form of class room test does not in any way determine that the operator of a craft has the ability to do so, but l accept there may well be some credibility to do so.

Davy.

http://davywotton.com

[RiverRunner]

I think Davy brings up a point that no one has really addressed yet: operation of rented boats. I have some friends who own a dock on the White, and they have several accidents over the years (thankfully none serious) that were caused by incomptence or alcohol. Even though no one was hurt, they have suffered a lot of damage to their equipment and the potential for injury always exists. I have seen things from some boat renters that have made me cringe. I've stood on two docks when boats crashed into them and I've stopped numerous people from dropping anchors in heavy flows. I've also seen the aftermath of drifting into bridge pilings at high flows (20' Jonboat ripped in half) Of course, I can't count how many people I've watched drive the boat right into large rocks where the lower unit is quickly detatched. And this is on an area of the White that I consider tame compared to areas near BS dam or the entire Norfork River. It really surprises me that there are not more tragic boating accidents on the Norfork or White.

My point is this: Although I think that there should be tougher regs on guides, the real boating danger on the rivers comes from people who little or no boating experience taking a boat out onto the White in the fog or high water conditions. On top of not knowing the "rules of the road" they do not take into account things like changing water conditions, weather, and so on. When you throw alcohol into the mix, you have some bad potential. I wonder if there is anything that can be done to ensure that people who have no business taking a boat out don't. I would be curious to get Phil's take on this, since he rents boats. The people I know who rent boats will not rent to someone who obviously have no boating experience. But even some people who have experience do not need to be in control of any kind of boat on these rivers.

[Phil Lilley]

I've seen people leave the dock, not knowing how to steer or accelerate and get them backwards while leaving the stall. I thank the Lord when they return safely. Jon boats with small motors are pretty fool proof; bass boats are another thing. Pontoons, well they are big and clumsy and get beat around but seldom does anyone get hurt on them.

There have been several fatalities on Table Rock, one that I can remember recently, involving a guide and the USCG cracked down on guides, even though the guide was certified (Bill, correct me if I'm wrong).

In Missouri they have a boat lisc now if you're of a certain age which is a good thing but that doesn't give people experience. Heck, if you buy a boat, there's no class how to use it or operate it. You can pull off the trailer and immediately send the boat down the river at 70 mph!

Bottom line, people have to die before anything is done. What is done is sometimes justified, most of the time overkill- knee jerk reaction. As for Arkansas, they'll do something one of these days to tighten up guide licensing. Might as well go ahead and get your 6-pack... then we can call you Captain Davy!

[Davy Wotton]

OK, Phil will do, my deal is my age now days, lacks memory, not when it applies to catching fish mind you !!

Davy.