I don't think I have ever enjoyed a fully-guided steelhead trip before. That would be nice, come to think of it. Having a prepared streamside lunch wouldn’t hurt my feeling any. Nor would digging into someone else’s gear bag for a selection of flies and tips and different lines to try out. And it would be satisfying to have someone recommend where to fish and offer up the intricacies of a particular spot, like telling me about where the bucket is and what type of speed on the fly to apply. No I’ve never had a guided steelhead trip, unless I was to count all the ones where I was actually guiding.
If that is the case, then I guess there have been a few. But I’m not entirely sure if I was a great guide all the time. You have your days when things just flow appropriately and you start thinking that it has all come together, and at times, these feelings start settling in just moments before you crash the boat and your client loses his favorite hat. Ebbs and flows, highs and lows… but for the most part, if you are going to guide, you’ve got to roll the best you can with what mother nature and the clashing of fates, has in store. The cards you’re dealt, so to speak. And yes, your clients for the day can have a big influence over what type of hand you will play.
Where am I going? Well, I have been thinking recently about what constitutes a really good steelhead guide, and I thought I would write about that. But now, I think I’ll leave that alone for now and take a different spin. I think I’ll write about what makes a good client, instead. After all, we know a guide should be courteous, helpful, have the appropriate gear, safely put you in the fish zone and show you how best to fish it. A teacher. Yeah, the list goes on and on. But, as a client, you need to understand how to make the most of your day. It’s your money and you do have a large influence over the day’s success. Despite what you might think, your guide is not a miracle worker and no matter how big the smile is on the outside, your guide may not be smiling on the inside. And guess what, if your guide is not smiling on the inside, that is not an ideal situation. Although it might seem silly to assume, the plane fact of the matter is that if your guide does not like you, then your guide will not go the extra mile for you. And it is in this extra mile where it sometimes feels like a miracle has been performed. I know that is bold to say, but I stand by it. Steelhead guides choose their occupation based on the need to be in the environment they love. They are happiest when it does not feel like work, but rather it is just another beautiful day in paradise with good company. You are one of the main variables that determines the success of Their Day, which in turn has a substantial influence over the success of Your Day. What do you call that, Synergy? Maybe, but if you are considering a guide trip, here are some things to take under advisement so as to make the most of this golden opportunity.
