How to Find & Choose a Fishing Guide

Written By: Pete Robbins

Whether you're fishing close to home or exploring a bucket list destination, choosing the right fishing guide can make all the difference. While guides can’t always control the fish, a good one can teach you valuable techniques and elevate the entire experience. After all, you’re investing your time and often a significant amount of money in the trip. Ideally, you’ll walk away with a memorable experience and plenty of fish stories to share.

I’ve booked many guided trips through various outfitters, using different methods along the way. Sometimes, despite a less-than-perfect plan, the experience exceeded my expectations. Other times, even with careful preparation, things didn’t go as planned. But more often than not, taking the right steps upfront increases your chances of an unforgettable trip. Here are some essentials to keep in mind:

What Are You Looking For?

First, decide what you want from the trip. Maybe you’re a saltwater angler wanting to try freshwater fishing, or a fly angler looking to chase muskies with large rubber baits. The goal is to find the guide or fishing charter that fits the bill.

Whether you're fly fishing or bait fishing, your choice of guide matters. It also helps to decide if you're after a 'catching' trip or a 'learning' trip (hint: the best of the best involves both). Lastly, ensure the species you're targeting is present where you'll be fishing. Just because a tarpon was once caught in those waters and a guide is willing to take you doesn't guarantee a high chance of success. The fish you're after should also be in season during your visit.

Start Your Research

Once you have a game plan, start your research early —the best guides on prime waters get booked up in a hurry. There may be several good options, so aim to maximize the array. If a friend or acquaintance has had a great experience, that’s a solid starting point.

Head online, including social media sites like Facebook and Instagram, and search local fishing pages or guides directly. A fishing guide doesn’t need to be internet savvy to be good, but an active online presence can give you a sense of whether they’re the right fit. Do they post frequently? Are their catches realistic? Is their equipment well-kept and high-quality? These details offer subtle clues. You might even reach out to tagged clients to ask about their experiences before reaching out to the guide.

Once You've Identified a Potential Guide

Start by reaching out through their website or social media page to schedule a conversation. They may not respond immediately—most guides are on the water often—but it shouldn’t take too long. After all, if they don’t make time for you now, how will they treat you once they have your money?

Ask all your questions upfront. Nothing is too trivial, and this helps confirm they’re the right fit. If they’re not, ask if they can recommend someone else nearby. The best guides often have trusted networks and are happy to refer you to a colleague.

Qualifications to Look For:

If you’re not a well-rounded and experienced angler or trying something new, you may not even know what questions to ask. Tell the guide that you’re a newbie—there’s nothing worse to them than someone telling them how to do their job.

Even if you don’t know where to start, here are some basics:

• Price: What is their rate, and what does it include? Sometimes, the fees depend on the number of passengers or hours. A half-day fishing trip may give you less chance for success at a higher price per hour than a full-day trip. There may be a fuel surcharge or a charge for live bait. Ensure they’re within your budget—remember that guides, captains, and mates often expect a tip. There’s nothing wrong with comparison shopping, but make sure you compare apples to apples and remember that the cheapest option isn’t always the best or the worst.
• Credentials:  Does the guide have a captain’s license or any professional accreditation? Are they insured? At the very least, are they local, and how many years of experience do they have? I’ve had excellent guides who were new and a bit rough around the edges, but the worst ones are often dismissive braggarts.
• Equipment: Assuming you’ll be fishing out of a boat, what kind is it? Is there overhead sun protection? If you’ll be wading, do they provide waders? What, if anything, do you need to bring in terms of rods, reels, and tackle? Can they handle both left and right-handed anglers? If you get there and they don’t have what you need, or it’s old and rusty, even the best fishery may give you fits.
• Cancellation Policy: You’ll typically be asked to pay a deposit upfront and settle the balance prior to the trip. What happens if you need to cancel? What if the guide has to cancel? Will you be going out in any conditions, or will certain weather factors like wind, rain, or lightning affect the trip? Sometimes, you’ll receive a refund, while other times, it’ll be credited toward a future trip, which may be acceptable unless you're traveling thousands of miles and might never return. Choose your payment method—check, credit card, Venmo, or another option—carefully, as it may impact your ability to get your money back.
• What to Bring: Ask about what the guide will provide and what you need to bring. You don’t want to overload the boat, but you also don’t want to forget anything essential. Start with fishing clothing, sunblock, and eye protection—the weather on the boat at sea or on the river can be vastly different from what you experience at the hotel, so specific fishing outerwear may be necessary. Additionally, consider items like footwear, cameras, food, and drinks. If there's a cooler onboard and they provide ice, there's no need to double up. Also, check if you need a fishing license or if the guide provides one. You don't want to be out of compliance, especially since there may not be a place to get one on the day of the charter.

Will they be the guide you’ll be fishing with? Some guides operate solo, while others are part of a team. If you want to fish with a specific guide—especially if you’ve connected with them over the phone—make sure to communicate that in advance.

Clarify Expectations

During your phone call, and again on the day of your trip, tell your guide what you’re hoping to achieve, within reason, of course. Do you want a lot of fish or one big one? Are you after a single species or multiple targets? Most of all, be honest about your abilities and experience. It never hurts to ask for help, instruction, or further explanation. Remember, they’re the experts, so don’t try to override their years of experience. However, if something doesn’t feel right, don’t hesitate to speak up—after all, you’re the customer.

If all else fails, try one of the following aggregators:

• Fishing Booker – fishingbooker.com
• Local Fishing Guides – localfishingguides.com
• Fish Anywhere – fishanywhere.com

Author's Profile: Pete Robbins

Pete Robbins is a one of the most trusted and heavily published scribes in the world of bass fishing. He is a Senior Writer for Bassmaster and has blogged for Yamamoto’s Inside Line for well over a decade. He has also been published in outlets as varied as Texas Monthly and Goat Rancher Magazine. He and his wife run a website called Half Past First Cast that’s dedicated to promoting and simplifying fishing travel. Robbins received a bachelor’s degree from Columbia College in 1992, and a JD from Columbia Law School in 1995. In his “day job” he specializes in Federal administrative law.