Anyone Have Any Information About Schools For Fishing Guides

[Jonathan P. Kring]

I have a friend whose son just finished high school in Big Rapids, Mi. His life's desire is to be a professional fishing guide. Does anyone know of a school in the mid-west that offers any kind of training for that type of career? Thanks.

[RAM]

Safari (Apple) has a bunch of references to schools for fishing guides. Must assume Google has a similar listing. Never thought of such, but sounds like great idea. Many factors in guiding!
Bad Bob

[RAM]

Those references were actually Google, Jonathan. Most seem to be in the west. Didn't check them out. Good idea to start by doing things properly, but nothing like experience and knowing the local waters.Good money for the good guides!
BB

[Jonathan P. Kring]

Thanks Bob. I did send him a few things off the internet Maybe he's already seen them before. His Grandmother may be more interested in school than he is. I've seen enough pictures of him on Facebook with fish to know he's already got that part of it down pretty well. (Still waiting on the framer)

[Midway Tommy D]

"School of Hard Knocks" is usually, and not necessarily by choice, where most Guides have started, shortly after their unpaid internship as a dock boy or deckhand. Seriously though, some business programs at a growing number of Universities have courses for "Professional Fishermen". It has become quite popular, especially with the big money sponsorship aspect. Bass Masters is a great example. Some even have competitions, including some for the ladies.

300 + days a year in wind, rain, lightning, hail, sun, sleet & maybe even snow, whether you feel like it or not, one really has to love it or be to be that dedicated. The real "Life of Riley" is when you can pimp out other guides for a %.

Tom

[bvandeuson]

Penn State in State College, PA has as part of their athletic program a fly fishing course, which I understand is pretty comprehensive. It was started by George Harvey quite a few years ago (he's about 90 now and still going strong). For many years afterward the course was taught by Joe Humphreys.

I also believe New York State has some sort of guide apprentice program as well.

As one who has been there, guiding can be a tough, thankless job, but can have its rewards. A lot of folks of my acquaintance think guiding gets them a lot of fishing, but good guides don't fish when they have clients. Great guides find they don't have as much time to pursue their favorite sport as they did before guiding became their business. The guide has to be a companion, cook, EMT, wildlife expert, servant, must have the patience of Job, campfire story teller, expert camper (first one up and last one to bed), and know where the fish are when no one else is catching any.

Bruce

[Midway Tommy D]

Bruce, you make it sound so inviting, especially with those last 2 sentences, on top of dealing with the weather. About a week of having to be that type of babysitter would be all I could handle. My hat's off to those that can do it long term.

Questions: Are guides so sick of fishing they no longer partake in the relaxing pastime when they retire? And...Just what do fishing guides do after retiring, collect old reels and lures?

Tom

[jimbofish]

Questions: Are guides so sick of fishing they no longer partake in the relaxing pastime when they retire? And...Just what do fishing guides do after retiring, collect old reels and lures?

They hire guides and torment them!

[bvandeuson]

Old guides don't die, they just smell that way. The retired guides of my acquaintance and still alive, fish every chance they get and are usually glad the pressure to perform is off them.

I don't mean to discourage anyone from taking up guiding, but just wanted to give a glimpse into their real world. Read "Canoeing The Adirondacks with Nessmuk." In the 1880's George Washington Sears hired and had dealings with many Adirondack guides over the course of 3 seasons. He gives great insight into what a guide is and isn't. The basic principles of guide-client relationships have not changed much, if at all.

Bruce