I just talked to @Blue Raider Bob on the phone and told him I'm thinking about becoming a Maine guide.

 

I already take people fishing for free and they always say, "I just caught the most bass of my life."

 

Now, I understand that a lot of young bucks might not want to be guided by an old woman, but if I booked a date here and there, I'd be happy. 

 

 

On the other hand, I've written for fishing magazines and I HATED the pressure of catching a big fish for the article. As a guide, I'd feel similar pressure. However, I do know where the bass swim, so I could put them atop fish.

 

At the end of the day, I think most of them would say, "I just caught the most bass of my life."

 

My CV:

 

Do it now while we're alive. That's what I always say 

Much luck in your endeavor

Tight Lines 

 

I may or may not be considered a “young buck” anymore (definitely don’t feel like one), but I’ve seen your reports. I’d consider myself lucky to be a client of yours! 

If I lived anywhere near you I would happily pay for you to take me fishing. Just out of curiosity, does Maine require you to have a certificate or license to be a guide? In some states I know you can just "hang up a shingle" so to speak, and others have a rather complicated path to becoming a legal guide. 

39 minutes ago, Kirtley Howe said:

Just out of curiosity, does Maine require you to have a certificate or license to be a guide?

 

Yeah, you have to take a test.

 

50 minutes ago, Jar11591 said:

I’d consider myself lucky to be a client of yours! 

 

My guiding technique would consist of me paddling you to a bass spot and saying, "Cast there."

 

Then I'd net that bass and paddle you to another bass. Since I use spinning rods, I might call myself "The Spin-ster." I also like "The Paddler," but that makes me sound like a Batman villain:

 

"Holy handle, Batman, it's The Paddler!"

 

"Steady, Robin, steady. That paddle can really sting."

 

39 minutes ago, Kirtley Howe said:

If I lived anywhere near you I would happily pay for you to take me fishing.

 

Cool! Thanks!

1 hour ago, Jar11591 said:

I’d consider myself lucky to be a client of yours! 

That's me too Jar!

Do it. I dare ya.😁 Clearly you have the ability.

 

I’m not sure about where you live but here if you guide on US Coast Guard controlled waters you have to take a test and get a Pilots license.  If one fails to do so an gets caught the fine is calculated by days x 1000.  So it’s a big deal.

 

Check your local regs and see what you need to be legal.  You will also probably need a commercial insurance.

I enjoyed my guide trips that I’ve taken people on for the most part, but there’s a side to it you don’t get told about when you’re getting into it. It’s a lot of work and a lot of pressure. Some people are never happy no matter what you do for them and for some reason, those people will go out and hire a guide that does everything for them, and they will never be satisfied.
 

Then there’s the spot buzzards. People will hire you with the sole intention of coming back to the spots you take them to and fishing them out, some might even be looking to eat those fish that you’re counting on to be there. 
 

It can really start to feel like work after a while if you schedule enough. Also, if you want to fish while you’re out, you might not be able to. Some people might be okay with you fishing along with them, others are not at all. So if you don’t want to give up fishing time just to instruct someone else, you might not enjoy it.

 

Then you get the people who don’t listen to anything you tell them. They for some reason hire a guide to take them out to the fish and then act like they know more than you. They’ll ignore your suggestions and struggle all day and be mad at you at the end of the day for not knowing what you’re doing. 
 

If it’s something you want to do, go for it, but there are certainly some things to consider before making your decision. It wasn’t just like taking a person out fishing. Once money gets involved, it changes a lot.

1 hour ago, Swamp Girl said:

I also like "The Paddler," but that makes me sound like a Batman villain:

 

or a dominatrix (G)

I don't want to discourage you, but it's something I would not want to do.  How will you feel when the guy you guided on a monday is (in is own boat) in that first spot  you wanted to fish with your client on tuesday ? How many spots have you got... 100, 200 ... .  How about that guy that stands up to cast when you are paddling.  

I'm sure you can do it,  but it's not for me.

Even if your state doesn’t require it, get a big liability insurance policy. Getting sued with no insurance will ruin your day.  There could be a lot more to getting started than meets the eye. Good luck

1 hour ago, Bluebasser86 said:

I enjoyed my guide trips that I’ve taken people on for the most part, but there’s a side to it you don’t get told about when you’re getting into it. It’s a lot of work and a lot of pressure. Some people are never happy no matter what you do for them and for some reason, those people will go out and hire a guide that does everything for them, and they will never be satisfied.
 

Then there’s the spot buzzards. People will hire you with the sole intention of coming back to the spots you take them to and fishing them out, some might even be looking to eat those fish that you’re counting on to be there. 
 

It can really start to feel like work after a while if you schedule enough. Also, if you want to fish while you’re out, you might not be able to. Some people might be okay with you fishing along with them, others are not at all. So if you don’t want to give up fishing time just to instruct someone else, you might not enjoy it.

 

Then you get the people who don’t listen to anything you tell them. They for some reason hire a guide to take them out to the fish and then act like they know more than you. They’re ignore your suggestions and struggle all day and be mad at you at the end of the day for not knowing what you’re doing. 
 

If it’s something you want to do, go for it, but there are certainly some things to consider before making your decision. It wasn’t just like taking a person out fishing. Once money gets involved, it changes a lot.

I've seen my muskie guide buddy have to deal with all this and more. Ain't no way I could do it. My fuse is way too short for that job.

Edit to add: I couldn't do your job either @Bluebasser86, for the same reason.  God bless ya brother, and thanks for all you do. 😉

You might could put the word out that you're a fishing tutor for new anglers (young and old). Take them out and share some secrets and get them really "hooked" on fishing. No money, just friendly fishing.

Don’t take something you love and try to make money doing it because it becomes a job and it’ll spoil the reason you fell in love with it.

 

Keep teaching the kids how to fish it’ll be way more rewarding.

59 minutes ago, T-Billy said:

Edit to add: I couldn't do your job either @Bluebasser86, for the same reason.  God bless ya brother, and thanks for all you do. 😉

May I be the first in line to second that! Thank you BB!

The few good guides I knew really enjoyed people  regardless of their behavior. Taking out people you know is easy, guiding you take what you get!

Kate you offer a unique wilderness experience fishing from a canoe and it may work for you, just be aware some folks can be wonderful others horrible.

Tom

 

I would never want to guide. I enjoy taking people out who don’t get to do it often. I’ve had many people tell me this was their best day ever. It’s far more rewarding than a paycheck.  

58 minutes ago, 12poundbass said:

Don’t take something you love and try to make money doing it because it becomes a job and it’ll spoil the reason you fell in love with it.

 

Keep teaching the kids how to fish it’ll be way more rewarding.

As much as I would love to go on a @Swamp Girl guided trip, I do strongly agree with @12poundbass

My advise for guiding can be summed up in one sentence.  Your job as a guide is to make sure the client has a good time.

 

Your ability to catch fish, is not necessarily going to make sure the client has a good time.  You may have to change you plans on where you fish, or what technique you are going to use in order to adjust for the varied skill level your paying customers will have.  Just because you can catch fish with ease, doesn't mean they will be able to.

 

Some clients do not take instruction well, and many more respond negatively to constructive criticism.  You must be able to adapt to these common personality traits.  At the end of the day none of them will say they would have caught some bass, but there skill level wasn't up to the task, but will say they didn't catch bass because their guide did not know what they were doing.  You may have to adjust your plans in order to make up for the stubborn ways of a guest.  It is always good to keep learning new places and ways to catch fish in order to adjust for the skill level and attitude of a client.  Never assume you will be able to teach them how to catch fish your way.  If a person has zero casting accuracy, but can bomb the bait out there, than you may want to know where a big flat is where the guy can launch his baits as far as he wants.  Save the accurate casts under the overhanging trees for the next guest.

 

In order to stack the odds in your favor, you must make sure the factors you have complete control over are always done well.  A good lunch, water and drinks, well maintained equipment, proper clothing, spare sun glasses, proper safety protocols, and a pleasant attitude are all under your control, therefore should not ever be an issue.  One big thing under your control as far as equipment goes.  If you are supplying rods, and reels, make sure you have both left hand and right hand set ups.  Nothing can be more frustrating for some anglers than to have to reel with the opposite hand they are used to reeling with.  For me I don't care, but for some it will, make them instantly go from an expert to a novice.

 

The weather and getting the fish to bite are not under your control.  You can't do anything about the weather, but can make sure they are prepared for the conditions before you go fishing.

 

As far as the fishing goes, you must tailor your day to the expectations, and skill level of the client.  Do not assume they will be able to cast far enough or accurately enough to catch fish the way you have planned on catching them.  You always need to work on refining techniques and look for places where people with questionable skills will be able to catch some fish.  The old, I took them to the fish, It isn't my fault they couldn't catch them attitude is complete BS.  You may not be able to find a way for your guests to catch bass, but you can never stop trying.  Finding ways for poor anglers to catch bass is not as easy as it may be to find ways for experts to catch them, but you must always be trying to find ways to make your techniques easier for less skilled anglers to have success with.  It is absolutely useless for you to be able to catch fish, but the client can't.  They didn't pay for you to catch them, and they sure aren't going to go home and brag about how great of an angler their guide is.  Some people are quick learners who take instruction well, and others are not.  It is not their job to change their ways, it is your job to adjust to their limitations.  I'm not just talking about beginner anglers.  Sometimes beginners are more willing to listen and will pick up a technique far quicker than an experienced angler who is set in their ways.  It really makes no difference what the problem is, you have to be able to adjust to any difficulties.

 

There will be days when no matter what you do your guests will not be able to catch fish that you could easily catch.  On those days you can still make sure they have a good time.  Show them an Eagles nest, tell some jokes, and many times being a good listener, while they tell you about themselves, and their families can make for a good day.  While you still  keep trying to get them some fish.  You never know, that one lucky cast may catch the big one.  Never give up on the fish, and for sure never give up on the guest. 

 

Make sure you compliment them on the fish they do catch.  Never act as if there accomplishments are some how sub par.  You may not think catching a 12 inch bass is a great accomplishment, but it doesn't hurt to make them feel like they did something exceptional, and in reality they probably did.

 

When I first started guiding I was always frustrated because another guide would catch half the number and size of fish I was getting, but his guests were always the happiest and bragging the most around the dinner table.  I soon learned that even though a caught more fish, my guests did not have as good of day fishing as his had.  He made sure they appreciated every fish they caught, he was always positive, and they never felt like they were being ordered to do something when he was trying to instruct them.  He would tell me I had to be less like a football coach and more like a friend.  That was the best guiding advice I ever received. 

 

That was over 35 years ago, and I still have to work on my attitude towards clients, but I am lucky enough to have had many great teachers, and clients help me along the way.

 

Many of the best fisherman make the worst guides, but if you truly love what you do, it is possible to be great at both.  Good luck. 

I don't think it would be worth it swampy.  Too much pressure, too many unhappy clients.  Additional insurance and guide permits.

 

Plus everyone would know about your spots too.  Say good bye to lightly pressured bass.

@king fisher: You should turn your post into an article for Bass Resource. Save it for posterity! 

 

After listening to all you guys, I'm going to pass on becoming a guide. 

     Just one caveat to mention regarding well meant advise. Some may not be aware that Swampy made a career out of teaching children. That means dealing with all types of personalities AND their parents! I can tell you from experience as an all-sport athlete in school, then an all-sports coach for my kids, that if you can deal with school age children's parents, you can deal with most fishermen. All of us youth coaches have had to bite our tongue's when listening to parents question why little Johnny doesn't get to play the whole game, every game, even when he doesn't listen, try, or behave. You guys know just what I'm talking about. My guess is Swampy could handle most customers, and fire the ones she doesn't enjoy. After all, it would be a part time employment to support the Tackle monkey addiction. If anyone really gave her a hard time, there would be dozens of BR family heading northeast with an attitude!     😬

Listen to advice but follow your heart.

Conway Twitty

Having been a guide for 15+ years, all that has been said is true.  I’ve written many a long article on the guide business and its ups and downs.  Aside from the negatives posted above (and all are valid) there’s something magical about putting a novice on fish or putting the more experienced angler on their biggest bass ever.  That almost makes up for the bad fish days, bad client days, bad weather days and on and on…