10 things you should know about fishing guides

To succeed in fishing theory is not the only thing you need. Experience is essential, and in the case of a trip can only be achieved with the company of a guide.

He will reveal the best places, will advise on techniques and more effective lures and especially be our shadow during the time we hired him. You can almost say that without a guide is impossible to face a fishing trip to a new country for you.

Tasks of a fishing guide

A guide hasn´t only the obligation to bring us to fish, but many others. Here are some things you can expect from a good fishing guide.

> Knowledge of the fishing area. It is a must to have guides who know the areas where you are going fishing, and obviously he had fished individually before to know the preferences, times, and best bait fishes or lures. This will be most of the times 90% of our success.

> Transfers from the airport or arrival point. This depends on your travel agreement, but often the guide itself will pick us up at the airport upon arrival and take us back to him. This is a good momento for ice-breaking  during the journey to the lodge.

> Customer proximity. The rules of the relationship between fishing guide are put by the customer. We by ourselves will establish a close, friendly and even jocular or distant relationship according to our personality. The guides have the ability to adapt and gladly receive any treatment. But take care: guides are well qualified professionals, not servants, they deserve all your respect.

> Fishing tricks. Do not be afraid to ask questions, investigate and to ask all the necessary information on fishing. The guide will provide all the help you need, but try not to be too tedious or to teach him. If you need more information or listening for some advices, do not hesitate to tell. This will help him to feel more comfortable too.

> Initiative and ability to seek alternatives. Usually the weather, a change in the rules or fish behavior force us to look for not expected spot. For example, if you are fishing for salmon in Alaska and there is no entry of fish in the river, the guide should know how to take the client to other areas, or failing that, propose another type of fishing.

> Training and education. It will depend on the country and the quality of the fishing lodge, but a good company in this sector always has guides with knowledge of protocol standards, exquisite education and, most important, respect for the culture of their clients. Keep in mind, for example, a guide in Patagonia fishermen may accompany US, Sweden and Saudi Arabia, all very different. This  is a challenge.

> Languages. It is almost a «must» that guides speak English besides their native language, but you will be able to have short conversations with the basic fishing terminology in French, German or Spanish. However, don´t worry about that: most of the technical vocabulary is English and universal (cast, minnow, rapala …).

> Fishing equipment and lures for the trip. Although we carry our personal tackle, it is recommended that you talk to the guide and brings him too, especially so that we ask him that fly or lure that we do not have or that tool we forgot to pack. A guide is not charging any money for giving us four or five flies, but you should recognize that work when leaving a tip.

> Responsible for food. In a standard trip, breakfast and dinner takes place in the lodge, but lunch is a pic-nic and transported to the fishing area. The guide is responsible for pick up, transport and prepare it at the right time. Nothing has to be concerned in this regard.

> Tips. It is up to the client to gratify fishing guide with a small financial compensation. How much will you give? Common tips for a week can start at $50, but many people leaves 100 or $200. It all depends on your satisfaction with the service and if you enjoyed.