How To Become A Fishing Guide In 2025
Disclaimer, I spent the majority of my career as a trout guide, with about 80% of my focus on fly fishing versus conventional fishing. That’s where my experience lies. Your path may be very different, but there’s something in this article for everyone. Becoming a guide isn’t for the faint of heart. Let me be blunt—it’s tough to make it. I spent 14 years guiding, 8 years in lodge management, and 9 years running my own guide service. I’ll say it again: making it as a guide is hard. Now, I know this might sound contradictory, but hear me out—it’s also easier now than ever. How can both be true? Well, the rise of digital marketing and the accessibility of social media has made it easier to get your name out there, to connect with clients, and to build a brand. The question you need to ask yourself, though, is this: are you willing to do what it takes to stand out? That’s what separates those who succeed from those who don’t. It’s not just about your skills in the boat. The real work happens off the water—building your business, marketing yourself, and doing all the things that no one told you about when you first dreamed of becoming a guide. Because, truthfully, that’s what separates good fishermen from good guides. What Being a Fishing Guide Really Means I’ve seen it year after year—some guy gets in a boat, convinced he’s going to be the world’s best guide, only to burn out after a season or two. Why? Because they never learn the real game of guiding: fishing through clients. If you can’t find joy in the mental aspects of fishing and using other people to catch fish, let me tell you, you’re in for a lot of frustration and disappointment. Fishing is 90% mental and 10% physical. I’m a headhunter, it was always about catching giants and I was fortunate enough to hold a lot of them over the years. I caught those fish—someone else might’ve reeled them in—but I did the work that put those fish in the boat. If you think fishing is just about luck, well, there’s the door. You’re in the wrong place. You must get past holding the rod yourself, and I know that sounds crazy, but I’ve seen so many guys who just can’t do it. Truthfully, I didn’t care about reeling in the fish. What mattered to me was finding the pattern, locking it in, and training my clients to fish so that I could put a giant in the boat. I would even use the boat position and the current to give the angler the best chance ensuring positive pull (not pulling the hook out of the fishes mouth) and using the boat to fight the fish so I had to worry less about the client messing it up. That’s what made me happy, and I was perfectly content using other people to do it. That’s the game. And if you don’t love that part, guiding might not be for you. Becoming A Guide Here’s my advice to anyone starting out: work for someone else for the first few years. Don’t jump straight into starting your own business—you probably won’t make it. Not because you’re not capable of being a guide, but because you simply don’t know anything yet. If you’re starting in the fly fishing industry as I did, it’s pretty easy to get a summer gig somewhere guiding. If you’re willing to travel, it’s even easier to get a job. I went to Alaska, but all the major fly fishing hubs have high turnover (the burnout is real), so they’re always looking for guides. It’s a great way to learn the ropes, gain experience, and see if guiding is truly for you. Certifications If you want to run a boat—any motorized boat—you need to get your Coast Guard OUPV (Operator of Uninspected Passenger Vessels) license. It makes everything easier when you reach out to potential employers if you’re already squared away. Every guide is going to need four key things: a Coast Guard license, a guide license, First Aid certification, and CPR certification. Depending on where you work, you may have to take a course for the guide license, but most outfitters will handle this for you. If you’re doing drift-only or wade fishing trips, you don’t need the Coast Guard license, but I still recommend getting it. Having that certification opens a lot more possibilities for your career, and it shows you’re serious about your craft. Guide School Guide schools are a great option if you’re just starting out. I went to one in Montana back in 2009, when I had no idea what I was doing. All I knew was that the “real world” wasn’t for me, and if I didn’t start guiding soon, I was going to end up homeless. The guide school I attended was awesome. It was my first time being around professional guides, and I still remember the guy who ran it—Ron Meek. For me, the biggest advantage wasn’t just learning how to guide; it was the job placement program. Ron helped me craft a fishing resume (yes, that’s a thing) and ultimately land a job in the industry. If you have no idea where to start, guide school could be a fantastic option. It provides not only the skills you need but also connections and job placement opportunities to kick-start your career. https://youtu.be/z9hDBAWMhwc?si=D1IrQFyGL7XJdcb- The Other Side of Guiding The real work behind being a successful guide happens outside the boat. It’s all about building your personal brand. A strong brand is what’s going to allow you to do this for the long haul, and trust me, a lot of guides learn this the hard way. These days, it’s easier than ever to become a content factory. We’re in a “sexy” business. There are countless people stuck at work wishing they were on the water with you. Instead, they turn to the