Hiring A Fishing Guide
September 3, 2008
So you want to hire a fishing guide. Where do you start? How do you find one?
First, I recommend stopping by the local marinas for a quick peek at all the info on available guides. I look for pictures of their clients as well as their recent catches. We call this the “Brag Book” and most all marinas have them. Ask the staff at the marina who they may recommend and why. There are usually business cards at the marinas with contact and website information. When checking the websites keep a sharp eye out for the guide’s sponsors. That will give you an indication of the type and quality of equipment and baits he uses.
Now you’ve got my name with a recommendation from a marina. You’ve checked out my website and you’ve decide to make the call. The name of the game becomes twenty questions and you need to be prepared! Ask me, as your prospective guide, lots of questions and expect me to respond with appropriate answers. Ask me about my experience on the body of water you want to fish. How long have I been guiding? What type of tackle do I use for a particular species of fish? Do I supply all the equipment? Can you bring your own equipment? What type of boat will be used? Do I have any safety training and do I posses all of the appropriate permits, licenses and insurance required for the body of water we are going to fish? Ask about prices for both half-day and full-day trips, cancellation options, required deposits, as well as how many people I can accommodate. Ask whether I use live bait or artificial lures and whether I practice catch and release.
Whew! I know that seems like a lot but most of these questions will be answered quickly during a casual conversation. Do you feel confident that I will teach you what you want to learn and provide you a safe, enjoyable day on the water? Do you like my personality? If the answer is yes, then we can get down to business. Take a big breath; we are making great progress at this point!
Clients who hire me as a guide display a variety of levels of fishing experience. They come as novices, weekend fishermen and even experienced tournament anglers. Their level of experience has an important bearing on how I plan our day on the water.
Now it’s my turn for some questions! In order for me to give you the trip you want, I need to get to know you. What species of fish are you after? Largemouth only? What about striped bass? Are we going to go after crappie, bluegill or perch for table fare? Is species important or do you just want to catch fish? As your guide, I need to know what you expect so I can make our day on the water a success.
What do you hope to learn with me? Are you the novice who needs to learn the basics of how to use the equipment, or do you want to learn a specific technique or rigging method? Are you a seasoned fisherman who has all the right equipment but you’re missing that certain technique or bait and can’t put your finger on it? Are you a new boat owner? I spend a lot of time in a fishing boat and being sponsored by a boat manufacturer gives me an advantage. I can help you get the maximum performance out of your own boat and explain all of its features.
Do you want to learn a certain body of water? Where to go and when to go there? Are you the tournament fisherman who wants to learn from a long-term resident and experienced guide who knows the local waters and seasonal patterns? Maybe you’re a trophy hunter and you’d like a replica for your wall. Maybe you want to take your child or other family member out for a fun day on the water. Are you a businessman who’d like to give special recognition to an employee or a business client? These are all valid questions I need answered if I’m going to be your guide. Successful guides specialize in satisfying different client’s needs and I need to know what you want upfront.
Our roundtable discussion has now come full circle but there are a few more things that will need to be discussed. What marina will we use to launch and what time do you need to be there? How should you dress? Should you bring food and drinks, sunscreen, rain gear? How long will we be on the water and what about bathroom breaks? Do you have any special needs that I should be aware of including specific medical conditions?
Guess what? We’ve got all of these questions covered and the day has finally arrived - we’re ready to go fishing! When you get to the marina or launch facility take a look at the condition of my boat and equipment. Is it clean? Is the fishing equipment new and well maintained? Once on the water, I will be talking to you about where and why we are going to specific locations. Remember, I am your guide, your instructor and your fishing partner for the day.
Now we come to our first location that “should” be holding fish. What I mean by “should” is that not every location will necessarily allow you to catch fish. Fish may be there by every indication of the sonar, but for many reasons won’t bite. We may stay for a while and attempt to coax the fish to cooperate with the bait we are presenting or we may have to change lures a few times just to entice them to bite.
During this time I will be explaining to you how to fish the particular lure or bait, where to cast the lure, how fast or slow your retrieve should be or a myriad of other pointers that will help you catch fish. Okay, now it’s time to go to another location and another and yet another. We may go through all the same motions and hopefully we’ll catch fish. Depending on the fish, we may change locations many times during the day. Generally, guides know where the fish are, what bait is working and will put you on them.
Should I, as a guide, fish with you on the boat? You’re paying me to put you on fish but there I am with a fishing rod and reel in hand. Why? Generally, I am attempting to locate fish to help you catch them. I may not even have hooks on my lures! Once I have located them, I will normally stop fishing and provide you the information to allow you to catch them. I also have the responsibility to maneuver the boat in the proper direction to keep you in the area of the fish.
Hopefully we have had a great day on the lake and caught lots of fish. It should have been a fun learning experience. You will have sharpened your fishing skills and techniques and hopefully will be taking home a wealth of information that will make you a better fisherman. After all, I just expended a lot of effort to get to know you and I really want you back as a client. Most of my clients contact me again and again for trips. That is how I know I have done my job well.
My greatest reward as a guide is to see the gleam in a child’s eye when they catch their first bass, or to help the weekend fisherman experience one of their best days on the water. Helping you learn tips and techniques that make you a better fisherman in the future, and knowing that I was a part of the process that resulted in that trophy bass that now hangs above your mantle is what I live for!
As we finish our day together, you are no longer just my client, you’re my friend.
About the Author:
Scott, a native Cornhusker of Nebraska, has traveled extensively owning a business in Iowa before moving onto Kansas City where he met his wife Deanna, and then to New England. Scott is now settled in Virginia.
For the last 15 years, Scott and Deanna have made their home in Warrenton, Virginia with their children, Travis and Lauren. Scott's grandfather had him beating the banks of local ponds and streams at a very early age. Travel has allowed Scott to experience a lot of different types of fishing: He's tackled Marlin fishing off the coast of Hawaii and Muskie, Pike, and Walleye in the Canadian wilderness.
Fishing for largemouth and smallmouth bass is Scott's passion. He has followed these fish from Texas to the Great Lakes region, and now to the Mid-Atlantic where he has spent a great deal of time on tidal rivers and upland rivers for smallies.
"Hammer is the most versatile fisherman I've ever fished with," says mid-Atlantic guide Teddy Carr. He can accommodate all anglers including fly-fisherman and has no shortage of tricks up his sleeve to get a finicky bass to bite. He is a stickler for contingency plans, both in fishing and making sure that his clients enjoy their time with him. After spending the day with Scott Hammer you will learn, have a laugh or two, and look forward to the next time you can get out with him. Just remember to greet him with a loud "GO HUSKERS"!
Hobbies: Hobbies include barbequing, spending time with his family, and Nebraska Football
Boat: Scott runs a Nitro 929 CDX with a 225 Mercury.
Sponsors: Gary Yamamoto Custom Baits, Bass Pro Shops, Castaway Rods, SPRO/Gamakatsu, KeelShield and Guest Chargers