Going fly fishing with a guide? Here are 4 things you really need to know

So, you’ve finally decided to crack open the piggy bank and go fly fishing with a guide. Congratulations! You’re probably going to have a pretty good day—maybe even a great one—provided you bear a few factors in mind.

Fly guides are skilled professionals with expertise in something you can’t do, or at least can’t do as well. In that respect, they’re much like dentists or barbers or auto mechanics, except that you don’t just sit around waiting for them to do the job. Instead, you’re an active participant—the guide puts you in a situation with a high chance of success, then it’s up to you to make the cast and land the fish. Although you’re paying, you and the guide are actually partners working toward a common goal. Here are some ways to help ensure that partnership works.

#1  KNOW WHAT YOU WANT

There are many reasons to hire a guide. A guide can help you find fish on unfamiliar water or access hard-to-reach spots. He or she can also teach you about new techniques and different fish species, or help you hook up for the first time if you’re a novice. Not every guide is an expert in every aspect of fly fishing, though. Decide what your goals are, then communicate them clearly. That means letting the guide know where and how you want to fish, and what species you’d like to target. Getting on the same page at the outset is the first step to having a productive relationship.

#2  BE HONEST ABOUT YOUR ABILITY

Some guides excel at teaching newbies, while others prefer to work with anglers who are already competent, so you need to be 100 per cent upfront about your fly-fishing skills. Sharing your skill level also helps guides plan where and how they’ll fish with you. If you grossly exaggerate your ability, a guide will know after about three casts. Not only will you be revealed as a BS artist, you might end up committed to water that’s too difficult for you.