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Guidance for your Guide
by Capt. Eric Davis
In order for you to get the most out of a fishing trip, and from the guide, you need to give some important and truthful information: what your individual skills are, and what you expect from the trip. Many people who charter out a guide expect that the guide will decide what the day will entail. That might be true most of the time, but you can make the trip more enjoyable and productive by giving the guide the information he needs to make it a great trip for you.
When you first call the guide to set up the trip, there are a few questions that the guide might ask that can make a difference. The guide is going to ask about your preference in fishing; do you want to use a fly rod, spinning rod, or casting rod? Whatever the choice, you need to give the guide accurate information on how proficient you are at casting any of the above rods. Are you a beginner, intermediate, or very accurate with the rod of your choice?
Especially when fly fishing, giving the guide a good idea of what kind of caster you are will increase your chances of catching fish. The guide is going to choose fishing opportunities based on your ability. If the guide has the idea that you can cast 90 feet, and puts you in a situation that calls for a 90 foot cast, and you can only cast 60 feet, then your chances of catching fish will diminish. It's best to be honest with the guide before you get on the boat. I have had many clients that come down to fish who can only cast 50 feet, and they have a great time. Because I knew what they could do with a fly rod before hand, we were able to locate some cooperative fish that only required the clients to cast 50 or 60 feet. We did not waste time trying to catch other fish that were out of their casting ability. It made for productive trips, and happy fishermen. Everybody wins.
There
are times that things don't go right, but there is usually something for anglers of any
given skill level to fish for, and letting the guide know what your limitations are will
help him get the best results for you. You would never try to climb Mt. Everest as a
beginner at rock climbing. You first start small, then work up and never get in over your
head. The same is true of a skill sport like fly fishing: start with something that you
can have fun with, then challenge yourself as you progress. If the guide puts you in a
casting situation that is over your skill level, and you did not say anything before hand,
then the blame is on you. If he doesn't make an attempt to give you a better situation,
than the blame will be his.
Typically the best time to fish is the first couple of hours of light. You don't want to waste time changing locations, because the guide didn't know that you were not able to cast well enough.. Keep in mind, too, that casts can be measured in both distance AND time. Your 50 to 60 foot cast can catch you a lot of fish. Your 80 foot cast will catch you even more fish. But both of the cast, will catch you very little fish if they require 8 or 9 false cast. Besides accuracy, speed is very important. When practicing, try to work on making that 50 to 60, or even 80 foot cast, in the smallest amount of false cast that you can. This will pay dividends especially for fish that are moving across your path. You will want to put that fly in front of him as soon and as accurately as you can. Speed and accuracy usually will increase your chances of producing, more than distance. The guide is there to help you. Rely on his expertise to give some pointers on how you can sharpen up your speed and accuracy.
It is a joy to take someone fishing and have them cast next to
the mangroves and pull out a snook. It is also a lot of fun to have someone on the boat
catch their first tarpon on a fly. If you are honest about your casting skills up front,
your guide will be able to give you the best chance of catching the fish that you're
targeting. It might not happen every time, but by giving the guide the information above
is the best start towards a truly memorable day.
Another way to get the most out of a trip is to tell the guide know what species you would like to catch, if you have a preference. Many newcomers to saltwater fishing have not had a chance to catch the many different species available. When fishing with a guide, if you want to catch a certain fish, then by all means let that guide know. The guide can inform you whether it is possible, then can give you some idea of the chances. When the guide knows what species you would like to catch, he or she will go to the best places in order to make it happen.
This is much harder when there is only an hour left to your trip. It is not impossible, but the chances of it happening are decreased if you don't give him or her enough time to try. If you are down the beach 5 or 6 miles, it is not the time to try for some redfish on the flats. The guide wants to plan out the day according to your goals, and he or she will place special emphasis on what the fishing opportunities during the morning.
The guide choices on the water are important, but there are things you can do before the trip to increase the chances of catching fish. The biggest thing is to practice your casting. If you don't fish very often, then understandably you are going to be a little out of practice. Start to cast the size of rod you will be using on the trip. After using a 5-weight rod all year, going to a 9-weight, will feel very different. Distance and accuracy are going to be needed, but so will endurance. If you are not used to casting a 9 or 10-weight rod, then you are not going to be able to cast for any kind of duration. Blind casting this size of rod takes a lot of stamina. The longer the period of time you are able to cast before resting, the greater your chances of catching a fish will be. But out on the water is not the place to cast a heavy, or different size rod for the first time. Try and give yourself a little time to get used to the larger weight rods. You and the guide will greatly appreciate the planning ahead.
No matter who you fish with, there are going to be days that do not produce an abundance of fish. Believe me though, the guide wants you to catch fish just as much as you do, and you can help him and yourself by communicating. You will enjoy many more successful fishing trips if you are honest with your guide and yourself, if you do your homework, and if you plan ahead.
Whatever your skill level is, and no matter what happens, if you get a guide that does not even try to work with you, and help you out, as in, trying to get out of a heavy wind, or poling closer to the shoreline, then get rid of the guide. He doesn't deserve your money.
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