I thinks it's important for a guide to determine if the client is there to catch fish or have a pleasant day on the water. So many guides are number oriented that the only important thing to them is the number of fish caught. That may be good for some guys but guys like me just enjoy the outdoors and the day off work.

My favorite guide always had a "little something to drink" with him. He'd spring it on me in the middle of the day as sort of a surprise. It was just for me though. He was too professional to drink while guideing.

And the willingneness to only go for a special meathod, or tatic, like dry flys only or somthing for his client.

A great guide doesn't pay attention to numbers, knows about the region, flora and fauna and can still get you on a fish no matter the conditions and is extremely patient.

I'm kinda with Buckhunter, not necessarily something to drink, something un-expected for the client to walk away with other than just a picture. I think it would be cool to see a guide hand a bakers dozen of the days working patterns in a small flybox.

I hate guides who say things like "Now, these rods are really expensive, so just know that they are your responsibility and each costs $1,000 if you break them."

I've had guides say that and my gut is to say, "you fight the fish then." You have to factor in loss in that profession I'd imagine. Not saying, careless clients shouldn't be held accountable, but starting off a trip that way intimidates beginners I think. Sets a bad tone. Stuff breaks on even careful anglers.

Least favorite experience, and I know this isn't fly, but I went on a shark charter once and got chewed out for getting cigarrette ashes on the deck. Meanwhile, we boat a big mako and the slime, blood, and guts, are fine.

I think it has all been pretty well covered. I too like to learn something, maybe even a few somethings, but not be talked down to. I like the guide to have a sense of humor and joke around a bit. Heck, if the situation is right, I like them to pick up a rod and fish a little so I can see what someone who knows what their doing looks like. Sometimes that makes more like fishing with a buddy.

Worst experience: On a trip on the Flathead my guide decided that it would be easier on him if we got out one takeout early (about 2 miles of river). Then asked if he could have back the three flies that I had on my patch. Maybe that is normal with some guides, but it seemed kinda petty, especially after shorting the float.

I still tipped the worse guide I ever had. He refused to give me another 6in pumpkin green senko after mine got all chewed up and he shorted my trip not by distance but by getting back 1 hour early. I just never used him again or reccommended him. That's the bread and butter of the guide business.

A guide needs to know the water intimately. I saw an Alaska halibut and salmon guide that had twenty years of log books filled. Everyday he would chart date, time, weather conditions and where the fish were found. So, on any given date and weather condition, he could leaf through twenty years of experience to know where to find the fish.
I am not a professional guide, but I involve a lot of friends and coworkers in fishing- many of them first timers for a certain kind of fishing. My favorite part is teaching- giving them something new to know. Getting some fish only makes the experience better.

One other thing, catering to the customer's abilities. A good guide can see technique, and recommend subtle changes without becoming a DI or Holier than Thou. Some people can't master certain things due to physical limitation, I had a nice woman who wanted to learn to fly fish, but she had shoulder surgery to combat arthritis in her shoulder, so most of the treaditional arm movements were out due to pain. I worked with her on trying some simple wrist movement casts, got her to get a line out about 30 feet, and she was happy as can be. Later she actually caught a couple small trout that day.

1) He has top-notch skills in all facets of his trade. He is a good fisherman; he knows the water intimately; he has a good nuts-and-bolts common sense about him; he knows basic first-aid, etc.

2) He has excellent organizational skills. Like dining in a fine restaurant, all details of the day are taken care of effortlessly. The equipment is maintained well. He is on time. He has back-up and redundancy built into his program so that if something goes awry, you’re not left out of a good day.

3) He has excellent communication and people skills. He can analyze and teach. He is relaxed and gracious. He can read a fisherman’s personality and/or easily communicate with the client to determine how to tailor the day to help meet the client’s expectations.

Deeter, the first thing I learned in my guide school 15 years ago was "if this fly doesn't work, change it" and "back row". Things have changed DRAMATICALLY. The guide schools today are different and so much better. In my opinion, the guide has to sort out the plan of attack at the fly shop. Is this going to be educational or is this going to be numbers, then back it up and make it happen! Everything should be preemptive. Ask what their expectations are and have they been here before. If they fish, they know what to expect, if they don't then a educational day on the river is going to probably exceed their expectations with scenery, education and probably a few fish. A good guide will ask the questions to their clients in the shop or in the truck and by day's end exceeded those expectations. Of course, if the fishing is going to be tough, a great lunch and a few jokes go a long way, trout don't live in an ugly place.

[QUOTE]:rom Woodstock wrote 7 hours 43 min ago

1) He has top-notch skills in all facets of his trade. He is a good fisherman; he knows the water intimately; he has a good nuts-and-bolts common sense about him; he knows basic first-aid, etc.

2) He has excellent organizational skills. Like dining in a fine restaurant, all details of the day are taken care of effortlessly. The equipment is maintained well. He is on time. He has back-up and redundancy built into his program so that if something goes awry, you’re not left out of a good day.

3) He has excellent communication and people skills. He can analyze and teach. He is relaxed and gracious. He can read a fisherman’s personality and/or easily communicate with the client to determine how to tailor the day to help meet the client’s expectations.[QUOTE]

I want to hire this guy as customer!

T Gunn