I didn't mean for my previous post to be thought of as negative towards guiding.  I only wanted to give some advise.  I evolved as a guide over many years, and look back on many of the mistakes I made, wishing I hadn't always of had to learn the hard way.

 

I get far more satisfaction from helping an angler catch a fish, and enjoy their time on the water than I do catching fish myself.  I would get so tired of catching silver salmon on one river that I would go a whole season without ever landing one for myself.  I would clip the hook short on my fly in order to explore, without having to fight the fish all the way back to the boat.  A bite, a jump, that was all I needed to tell if they were in a whole and corporative.  I easily got tired of catching them myself, but I never tired of getting my clients in to a great silver bite.  I never tired of looking for new places or techniques that would increase my clients catch.  In short I never got burned out on guiding.  That is why I chose it as my life long profession.

 

I can see why some would read my previous post and think I was being negative, and I just want to say that was far from my intent.  If anyone would like to start guiding anglers, I will have nothing but encouragement for them.  It is not a job for everyone, but for some it isn't even a job, its a day off of work where you happen to get paid.

any tax benefits?  like can I write off my truck, kayaks, and all my tackle?

you fish a lot of remote spots and enjoy the untouched nature of your fishing holes. I'd be worried if you start guiding it would eventually kill one of the big aspects you enjoy about it so much. People WILL eventually start going to those places themselves. 

3 minutes ago, Functional said:

you fish a lot of remote spots and enjoy the untouched nature of your fishing holes. I'd be worried if you start guiding it would eventually kill one of the big aspects you enjoy about it so much. People WILL eventually start going to those places themselves. 

 

This is why I decided against it.

27 minutes ago, Darth-Baiter said:

any tax benefits?  like can I write off my truck, kayaks, and all my tackle?

It's based on the percentage of time you use them when actively guiding....if it's 50/50 (guide/going solo for pleasure), then you can only deduct 50% of the normal amount. And writing off is over time, not an instant thing. It's based on the normal lifespan of the item. Tackle I don't think would be included....that'd be covered as as expense on your accounting as 'Cost of doing business'.

1 minute ago, Swamp Girl said:

 

This is why I decided against it.

I read Page 1 yesterday but today skipped straight to Page 2....Id have seen that if I didnt 😂.

 

If you could be selective about it and maybe only use 2 or 3 of your lesser secluded ones it might not be bad. I'd just hate to see you lose what you love. 

There's nothing I could say that's not been said.  You fishing is an avocation; if it was a job would you enjoy it as much? 

1 hour ago, Darth-Baiter said:

any tax benefits?  like can I write off my truck, kayaks, and all my tackle?

Absolutely, and you get to sleep on people’s couches and eat beans all winter 😂 

 

 

I got out of the guide game a while back, thankfully. Now I can buy (some) stuff that I need, like food and a house 

32 minutes ago, TnRiver46 said:

Absolutely, and you get to sleep on people’s couches and eat beans all winter 😂 

 

 

I got out of the guide game a while back, thankfully. Now I can buy (some) stuff that I need, like food and a house 

 

I bet you were a cool guide.

5 hours ago, Blue Raider Bob said:

My guess is Swampy could handle most customers, and fire the ones she doesn't enjoy.

 

Thanks, Bob. 

3 hours ago, Darth-Baiter said:

any tax benefits?  like can I write off my truck, kayaks, and all my tackle?

 

Absolutely.

 

Have to try and separate personal and business use, normally a percentage is used.

 

Although I can guarantee there are some out there that write everything off.

 

You see those youtube guys showing you how a lure looks underwater? You better believe they are writing off some of that pool!

We should have a raffle. “Fish with Swampy!”  Winner gets to go fishing (not guiding, just fishing) with Katie and the proceeds donated to charity. Judging by the documented catches Katie posts, I bet a lot of BR folks would participate. 
 

Just a thought. 

1 hour ago, BrianMDTX said:

We should have a raffle. “Fish with Swampy!”  Winner gets to go fishing (not guiding, just fishing) with Katie and the proceeds donated to charity. Judging by the documented catches Katie posts, I bet a lot of BR folks would participate. 
 

Just a thought. 

 

If you want to travel the thousand-plus miles to Maine, Brian, I'll put you in the bow and put you on fish. You'll catch lots of three-to-four-pounders!

1 hour ago, Swamp Girl said:

 

If you want to travel the thousand-plus miles to Maine, Brian, I'll put you in the bow and put you on fish. You'll catch lots of three-to-four-pounders!

Hmmm…plenty of nice bass. Allagash White, fried clam strips. 
 

Quite the temptress you are! 🤣

 I did some guiding on an upland preserve, where you set birds out and worked on charter boats.  For the most part people are reasonable as far as expectations go.  If you have tourists to take advantage of then you can really do well, especially in Maine.  It may sound strange, but make sure to let the clients know that they cannot drink on the vessel or prior to the trip.  My worst experiences were with intoxicated clients, in fact they were a Judge and Sherriff.

4 hours ago, BrianMDTX said:

Allagash

Didn't a group of guys claim to get abducted by Aliens fishing the Allagash? 

Do it! My guide buddy bugged me for years to help him out and take some of his business when he was busy. During covid I finally gave it a try. At that time I wasn't really fishing anymore. To be honest, I'd kinda lost interest in it for a while. I was busy enjoying other forms of outdoor recreation, but when I began guiding it totally reignited my passion for fishing. 

 

I was hesitant for years to enter into guiding. I was afraid that fishing would become my job and no longer a hobby that I enjoy. I've always hoped to teach my kids and drag them all over the water like my father did with me, but my children have very little interest in it. I've found a whole different feeling of satisfaction by teaching someone, putting a rod in their hand, and seeing them be successful. At first I was afraid of the pressure of guiding someone, but I've learned to embrace it. I found value in gaging the client's expectations, and explaining mine at the beginning of the trip. This help alleviate the pressure, although it still always exists to some extent. More often than not, the trip exceeds both mine, and the client's expectations. 

 

I'd also add that the pressure helped me grow substantially as a fisherman. Often times when I fished recreationally, I easily got caught in my own lazy habits; not wanting to change techniques, not trying different water, being stubborn, etc. When someone is paying me, I felt that I needed to pull out all the stops to give the client the best advantage possible on the day. It forced me to grow. I had to sharpen my blade in techniques and rigging that I wasn't very familiar with, and fishing in conditions I often would avoid if I were fishing for fun. 

 

At times I felt a little bit of imposture syndrome, because I was having so much fun guiding, and people were paying me for it. I felt like I was stealing from them because it never felt like work for me. The real weenie for me was seeing some of my clients go out and be successful on their own and make the local fly shop's weekly river report. And the guide discounts on gear was major perk too! 

 

Do it! If you hate it, you can just as easily walk away from it. I plan to do it again in a few years when I retire and move back home. 

I've have a friend that changed career plans at 45, and become a guide.  He started his own business, took all the coast guard courses, past the tests, got the insurance, and spent day after day testing his ever-changing spots.  To make money you need customers about 5 days a week.  Starting out he had about 5 paid trips a month, not a money maker.   The investment in equipment, fuel, drinks, and keeping bait alive is hard to handle.  Most trips are live bait trips, and they want that fish of a lifetime, and looking to you to figure it out.   Advertising is expensive, so he started making vids to promote the business.  Thats a new set of expenses to deal with.   There is a lot more negatives, than positives especially in the beginning.  I feel he is questioning his decision to take this new career on.

On 7/18/2025 at 12:05 PM, BrianMDTX said:

We should have a raffle. “Fish with Swampy!”  Winner gets to go fishing (not guiding, just fishing) with Katie and the proceeds donated to charity. Judging by the documented catches Katie posts, I bet a lot of BR folks would participate. 
 

Just a thought. 

This is the way 

1 hour ago, geo g said:

I feel he is questioning his decision to take this new career on.

Acquaintance of mine is a guide - I went on one trip with him this year (yes, I paid).

 

Chatting - he told me it took about 5 years before he started breaking even...luckily his wife worked and was able to cover the normal bills and his 'losses' over that time. He's been doing it for 15 years now and has a 6 week waiting list.

 

@FryDog62 is up here visiting and he went out with Matt a few days ago, so can confirm that Matt knows what he's doing.

17 hours ago, MN Fisher said:

Acquaintance of mine is a guide - I went on one trip with him this year (yes, I paid).

 

Chatting - he told me it took about 5 years before he started breaking even...luckily his wife worked and was able to cover the normal bills and his 'losses' over that time. He's been doing it for 15 years now and has a 6 week waiting list.

 

@FryDog62 is up here visiting and he went out with Matt a few days ago, so can confirm that Matt knows what he's doing.

Yes, Matt is a top-notch guide and a good guy too. Having emceed the Thorne Bros tournament the day before didn’t hurt his knowledge base either. He interacted with the top competitors quite a bit including Easton Fothergill.