Pictured: Ellie – Half Cop / Half Guide / Half Master Joke Teller
A day with him in South Andros is a whole bunch of good fishing….plus, the accent is relaxing…..
[Karen Wilken from Redington is at Andros South this week with Paul Johnson from Sage and Simon Gawesworth from Rio, doing some product testing. Here are her thoughts on why you should maybe think about fishing with a guide after all!]
Good Guides – they may seem scary, but they’re like your kindergarten teacher – soft, knowledgeable, soothing, and ok with afternoon nap time on day 3.
Being new to fishing Bones in the Bahamas, and fairly new to fishing guided trips, I know sometimes fishing on guided trips can be somewhat intimidating for the novice to intermediate fly angler. Sometimes the reason is simple – Being Guided.
Why? Fly Fishing guides know fly fishing. They know all the knots and flies. They know the gear. They know the fishery, intimately. They’ve got a big, fat brain full of fishy stuff that you want to know. Maybe you feel inadequate asking, or you feel like an annoyance at times, or you may feel like you have no business going on a guided trip because you have all these questions!
I am absolutely empathetic to that! But, based on my experience as a newbie to the sport, I feel there are a few key things to keep in mind when you are making the decision to go on a guided trip.
1) Only avid anglers should go on any guided destination trip.
FALSE. Many anglers get a great jump on both which skills to perfect and what their current ability levels are by going on destination trips.
2) Because I am on this trip, the guide might think I am a better angler than I am.
IT DEPENDS. Be up-front about your skills. Period. This is the fastest way to a successful, pleasurable experience.
3) I don’t have the right gear!
MAYBE, BUT DON’T BE AFRAID TO ASK! Tap into the destination you are thinking about. Many, many outfitters and lodges nowadays have loaner programs through their services. They will also know what flies are best!!! Be prepared to purchase specialty things like certain clothing and footwear before your trip. If you like a certain brand(s) of tackle, it would be worth calling their tech line to ask about the fishery so you get a good idea of what equipment you will need, if you do not want to rent.
4) The program calls for 7am – 4:30pm out fishing – what if I don’t think I can handle that?
BE HONEST. Your comfort is what any lodge or outfitter should be watching out for. If you have a dietary concern, disclose it to the manager discretely. They handle requests all the time. If you only want to fish for a certain amount of time, tell your guide. They are not going to feel bad coming in early. Watch out for yourself first, you are the one that knows best.
5) The guide will laugh at me! I will be the worst caster there, and won’t be able to reach the fish.
MAYBE, IF THAT IS YOUR ATTITUDE. One of the best ways to overcome fear is to just try. Also if you are honest with your guide, they will get you in optimal conditions for your ability. But, if you think you made a mistake, laugh at yourself and those mistakes and learn from them. I believe guides actually love it when clients listen and learn and laugh. If that is your mantra, you will have a good day!
6) I would never know what to do if there are obstacles like vegetation or wind.
ASK. The best way to probably overcome this is to ask for certain hints. For instance in the Bahamas, ask if it is OK to wait until the fish swims though the channel, and away from the mangroves. Your guide will be able to help you. When you wait for advice, keep in mind that fish are unpredictable. But if you think your cast is unpredictable as well, given the circumstance, then sometimes holding back your cast to just observe the fish move in its habitat will teach you all you need to know to prepare yourself for your next shot (keep in mind that there WILL be one).
7) My line will become a tangled mess.
PROBABLY. But this isn’t your driveway, or your local high school football field. Mother nature happens. Shit happens. Don’t feel discouraged if you step on your line, or you tangle yourself with a rouge mangrove. Laugh, move on. The fish don’t care. They will be there when you untangle.
8) The language, be it fishing or foreign, I don’t know it, that will make the guide uncomfortable.
FALSE. Try. Be yourself. Learn. Realize you have this wonderful resource at arms’ length all day long.
9) I have to spend 6 hours+ with this person I don’t know! That makes me uncomfortable.
FINE. This was one of my first concerns, and I got the best advice from a good friend and seasoned angler of mine. The best thing you can do to overcome this fear is to engage your guide in conversation. Be yourself. Ask questions about his life. Treat it like a business partnership or a casual meeting. You’d be surprised how much they open up and how much you have in common.
10) I feel like I need to catch a ton of fish to be “worthy.”
DON’T! Your guide should only care if you are having a good time, and if you came off the water learning some things – with a smile on your face.
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