By Bobby Kish
When beginning to wonder “Should I book a guide?” or even “WHY should I book a guide?” there is so much to consider! Unfortunately, I feel there are so many misconceptions around this. Many anglers fall into the unintentional trap of considering a guide to either learn a new spot or with an expectation of having the greatest fishing day (i.e. catching day!) they’ve had yet. There’s nothing wrong with having those aforementioned hopes, but there is so much more that guides can offer anglers beyond just that!
Happy clients after spending a day on the water with guide Bobby Kish.
I can vividly recall an instance of having a client having come fishing with me and post-trip mentioning they had hesitation with booking a guide. When I asked why, they talked about feeling confident in their abilities and the trip was not going to be on new water. Only a couple hours into our session, they had already caught more fish than they had ever before and the excitement that every fish offered above and beyond that “Personal Best” number continued to grow with a new achievement. We focused on fishing the water so often overlooked by anglers where fish were unpressured and willing to eat.
They even at one point said “I cannot believe this!” In the weeks following the trip their questions continued and I could tell we opened the lid thinking outside of the box! These are the moments guides live for. So let’s get to answering that important question: Why should you book a guide?
Top Reasons to Use a Fishing Guide
Bobby Kish, here seen with an impressive brown trout, is a trout guide and musky addict!
Education: Professional fishing guides should be thought of as teachers, i.e. subject matter experts. Although there are great articles & videos out there, in-person on-the-water time with a guide can cut your learning curve from months or years to just a single day.
Investment: Guides are not cheap, but a small investment to learn their years of knowledge in a single session is of the greatest return on investment. I advise not entering a guide day worried about how many fish you will catch, rather how much can you learn to then take on your future adventures.
Location: Another reason to book a guide is when traveling somewhere new. Even as a seasoned angler, especially when going on a multi-day trip, they’ll catch you up to speed on where to go, what to be looking for and using and most importantly: WHY! There can be subtle nuances in different regions that you might not be aware of andgiving you an immediate advantage that day and moving forward. When you’ve had a vacation circled on the calendar for months, why not be able to maximize every day of the trip rather than playing a guessing game for some or maybe even all of it?
Final Thoughts
After his client hooked a trout, Bobby was quick with the net to help land the fish. Here, they prepare to release this trout back into the water.
Show up to your guide session with an open mind and lots of questions, this is the best way to create the stepping stones to be much more successful in the future rather than having only a photo to show off. There is nothing to be embarrassed about; ask the “dumb” questions, ask about what you don’t understand and certainly don’t be afraid to specify what your expectations are or what you want to focus on PRIOR to the day of the trip. This will allow the guide to cater the experience to what will be most beneficial to you. Pack a note-pad and take notes!
Fly fishing is an ever-evolving fast paced sport and a guide can minimize your headaches and maximize your future successes. You would be amazed at how much can translate from a guide trip to situations that you will encounter when heading out fishing in your own. There are many amazing guides out there that would be happy to have you out on the water with them, thus give it the added consideration we went over and always be willing to get outside of your comfort zone!
About Bobby Kish
When not on a trout stream, Bobby Kish can normally be found chasing the fish of 10,000 casts, musky!
Bobby Kish, better recognized as #FishWithKish! is an accomplished multi-species angler turned trout guide & musky addict. From 2-weights to 12-weights, fishing runs through him, and he’s come to love sharing his passion and teaching anglers. When not sharing the stream with others, Bobby can usually be found in his boat for 12-24 hours at a time pushing the limits on chasing the most elusive freshwater fish, muskies.
Bobby Kish is a conservationist, member of Trout Unlimited, and Muskies Inc. board member. Bobby is a licensed Pennsylvania fishing guide & custom order fly tier.
To book a day on the water, contact Bobby Kish: fishwithkish@gmail.com