Guiding: Evolution Of A Guide

There is an evolution in the life of every fishing guide, usually stemming from a profound passion for fishing and being in the outdoors. In certain circumstances however, one may be brought up by a family who has a fishing guide “pedigree” in other words, Guiding is a family tradition and has been handed down as a way of life for generations. No matter what the situation, the progression from fisherman to fishing guide is unique to every individual but at the same time also shares similarities. Being a good fly fisherman is an essential part of being a guide. After a person learns all there is to know about a specific body of water or geographic area, the species that live there and the techniques implored to be a successful angler, the natural progression is inevitably to share knowledge and skills with a fellow angler. The task then shifts towards learning how to share the knowledge one has procured over the course of many years, or even decades. Learning how to convey technical information to another angler, in simple terms, is the cornerstone of what guiding is all about. A guide can know a great deal about his “home waters” but without the ability to relate or connect with his guest, frustration will certainly follow. Every individual learns differently, for some, visual instruction is paramount and other guests will benefit from a combination of explanation and visual cues. Communicating with your guest proficiently and being open to their suggestion is paramount. Open lines of communication are an essential part of this dynamic; there is often much to learn from the anglers that attain guiding services.