Bob and or any other guides. I live in Aberdeen and fish most of the rivers around the area such as the Wynoochee, Wishkah, Humptulips, Satsop, Chehalis, etc... I have a 16' custom made jet sled but I am looking towards buying a drift boat but my question to you is it hard to become a guide? I love being on the river and would spend my whole life there if I was able to. I am just curious but does guiding make you decent money? I am only 17 but know my way around most of the rivers really well. Is there any tips that you can give me to get started or am I just wasting my time?well thanks for your time.

Start out small. Offer to guide some rivers on this sight for about ten to twenty dollars fot each person and don't take more than two people at a time. Make sure you can provide some equipment if necessary. Practice by using some of your relatives as clients and go out and scout around, see what holes holed fish. Write me back if you have any luck and please tell me if you are having any luck on the Humptulips, Salmon, and Clearwater.

NoodleRooder, I will be fishing Stevens Creek above the hatchery this weekend in hopes of hooking up with some nice early hatchery steelies but who knows... More than likely will fish the Satsop with in a few days also. Probably where the East fork meets the Turno branch, hope to find some clear water. Thanks for your advice on the guiding, we will try and see what happens...

Andy,

I to have thought about doing the guiding thing maybe as a part time hobby thing to make a feew extra $$$ to pay for my tackle and cost of fishing. I am only a few yrs older.(22) hope things do well for you. I woould be intrested in going on a little trip with ya someday to learn some new tricks. I like the Nooche and Satsop. havn't gotten out the last few weeks and won't untill after late Archery. Anyway how is you're experience on the Nooche and Satsop? I haven't fished either this time of year. Will the Satsop have many silvers in it the next few weeks? hatchery or natives?


dcrzfitter

Andy and dcrz,

I've fished the Satsop and 'Nooch for many years. If either of you guys want to email me, I'd be glad to give you some advice on drifts, techniques and run timing. I'd rather not discuss it in detail on the Board, though........


Fish on......

Don't forget to look into special license requirements (WDFW, USCG, etc.)! Technically, even a guest bringing along the beer as compensation for the trip constitutes a "passenger for hire," but definitely if you're being paid.
I'm rusty on this state's rules, but how about you full time guides addressing these details?
Special insurance policy too?
Not to forget the "thick skin" protection against all those 'difficult' clients!

Some other things to consider for guys wanting to try the guiding game ...

Although the state DOES NOT require insurance, first-aid / CPR and the like ... only a fool would operate without them. My old roomate (guided here for about 30 years) has had two people suffer heart attacks in his boat ... one fellow made it, the other unfortunately didn't ... these people's lives are in your hands sometimes an hour or more away from medical help. Or consider the ramifactions of a lawsuit based on someone slipping on a slick floorboard in your boat???

Another thing to consider if you're going part-time (which most people of course do starting out) ... in nearly all instances, it is a "guide thing" not to try to compete with working guides on your days off ... some guides even feel that you shouldn't be on the river AT ALL if you're not working (this isn't always the case, but there are those that have this opinion) ... so there won't be any early starts for you on your days off ... you'll be expected to be one of the last on the river and fish behind those working ... so, if you like to fish on your own or with buddies, keep that one in mind ... good luck!