How to become a guide?

[flyfishingfool]

I would not consider myself a fishing guide. I had one guided trip last year and it was pretty fun. Anyways, I"ll try to help answer your question. Last year I went to a fly fishing guide school. I already knew all the waters really well but I had no idea how to become a guide. I thought a guide school seemed like a good idea. After taking the course, the main thing I learned is that I needed to learn how to row. If you know the waters but don't know how to row, just save your money and take some rowing lessons. To guide on any of the places you mentioned you will need a drift boat (generally speaking). They run around $4,000 and up. Next you will have to get certified on all the sections of the river. Each river is broken down into specific sections that you must row at least 3 times to pass off. For example, a section on the Henry's Fork is "Ora Bridge to Vernon Bridge" or "Vernon Bridge to Chester Dam". This will require a lot of time and money (shuttles, gas, etc.) Like FlyGoddess said, you will also need to be CPR/First Aid certified. Next you will have to get a job through one of the outfitters. You use their license in order to guide. This part of the state is really saturated so unless one of them close or the guide association gives out more licenses, you will have to work for an outfitter. Basically, you can't just say "I want to be a guide" and go start guiding people and having them pay you to take them fishing. Getting hired on can be extremely difficult unless you know the right people (I'm not saying it can't be done). A lot of the time they will have you work in their fly shop for a season or two. That is one helpful thing about a guide school. Most outfitters are looking for people that have a lot of experience on the rivers as well. I hope I am not bursting anyones bubble about wanting to be a guide. I am just trying to be realistic about the way the industry is in Eastern Idaho. If you want to guide on private waters, that's a different story. You don't need all the certifications and what not. You just have to know someone who wants you to guide for their private water. If you want any specifics about anything you can PM me. I hope that is somewhat helpful.
[signature]