Opinion

The Road To Becoming A Professional Fishing Guide

A lot of people like working in offices or in their homes, but they will reconnect with nature when they want to take a break. One of the more common activities, if one wants to unwind, is fishing. Making your own bait, putting it in the river, and waiting for an unlucky fish to take a bite is an enjoyable activity for a lot of people. Not to mention that you’ll have a free lunch or dinner while you’re relaxing.

Fishing is just a hobby for some, a way to reconnect with nature and to spend time with their families. However, there are people who treat fishing as a profession, and these people can fish on the pro circuit after landing their own hunting show. These are real people who know how to fish, when and when not to fish, and the different areas of best fishing spots. These people are called fishing guides and they have one of the most wonderful jobs in the world. If you want to know how to become a fishing guide, then read on.

 

What Is A Fishing Guide And What Does He Do?

A fishing guide is someone who takes people to the best fishing spots and then teaches them how to fish. In order to be good at this job, someone must be an expert fisherman and is okay with being in the water for the majority of their days. By using boats, the fishing guide will teach other aspiring fishers how to hook their bait and other things that are related to fishing.

A typical day of fishing might earn a guide about $75 – $150. Although guides that are handled by companies can find jobs easily, they will be paid less. Guides with their own boats and equipment earn better. A professional fishing guide can earn $55,000 annually.

 

Requirements To Become A Professional Fishing Guide

There are different requirements to be a fishing guide depending on the state of operation. In Pennsylvania, an aspiring fishing guide should undergo first aid and CPR first because there is no way of knowing what will happen during the boat tours. There are different kinds of fishes and different ways to catch them, such as fly-fishing, white-water fishing, and more. If you want to be the captain of your own boat, you also need to obtain a captain’s license in order to sail your own fishing boat.

 

Steps To Become A Fishing Guide

Being a fishing guide is never as easy as it sounds. There are apparent dangers and a fishing guide will be responsible for the lives of the people on his or her boat. However, with passion and dedication, anyone can become a good fishing guide.

 

  1. Learn and focus on becoming an expert

First and foremost, learn your craft. Learn about the fishes, the ecosystem, and the body of water where you plan to operate. Observing the behaviour of the fishes is one of the main things you will do as a fishing guide, so it is a good idea to learn it as soon as possible. Boating techniques should also be studied. It is a constant journey, where you evolve your craft and learn about the waters. But you find out the trout flies or rod you have been using is not the best for certain conditions. When you start to fish with the right equipment, it is much like the artist and their paintbrush. It is key to becoming an expert in the field, and it may not happen overnight, but the more you do it, the better you will become, and it will become a process that you “feel” rather than do.

 

  1. Know your area’s laws and regulation

There are certain licenses and certifications in getting a boat, setting sail, and fishing. This varies from state to state, or county to county. Legal requirements also differ and based on your area’s laws and regulation, you might have a hard time or an easier time in becoming a fishing guide.

 

  1. Establish your business

After becoming a certified professional fishing guide, it is time for you to decide if you will join a company or you will take charge of your own business. If you decide to run your own business, the process would be more rigorous, but you will likely have more pay.

 

  1. Improve your visibility by increasing authority and trustworthiness

The most famous fishing guides are well-established, trustworthy, and are masters of their crafts. Because of this, they have higher pay per day. Build your trustworthiness and become known as one of the best.

 

  1. Continue learning

Just like any other profession, you should always continue learning and polishing your skills. Changes in the environment affect a lot of things and are just one of the examples where you learn something new in your craft.

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