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So you've booked your beginner-friendly guide, practiced your casting for a few weeks, and are finally touching down the day before your first saltwater fly fishing trip. Here's what should happen next.
Once you've unpacked, call to check in with your guide. Ask if all is on schedule and double check what you've been expected to bring. Remind him if you have a partner, fishing or non-fishing. Write down the directions to where you'll meet and the exact time you're expected there. Chances are it will be early in the morning which means one thing: get some sleep. If you've got a Key West tarpon trip at leaving at 6 AM, stay off Duval Street the night before. Fishing with a hangover in the hot sun is pure hell and you should avoid it like the plague. Trust me on this one.
Set your alarm clock early and be at the dock on time. Being late means you're loosing valuable time on the water and guides never like to be kept waiting. Have all your gear with you and completely organized. Let the guide stow everything for you don't step on the boat until you asked to do so. Your shoes should never have dark soles since these will mark the deck. Most guides are very meticulous about their boats so think about what you may have walked through in the parking lot. Offer to take off your shoes if necessary.
If you have a full day scheduled be sure to have your lunch packed the night before. You won't be expected to bring food for the guide. Years ago that was the tradition but this has fallen by the wayside. If you do happened to pack an extra sandwich it will be considered a nice gesture and will get eaten. Most guides have extra water but bring more than you think you'll need for yourself.
Alcohol should be kept to a minimum. Keep in mind that it will actually dehydrate you over the long run and dull your reflexes in the heat. No decent guide will tolerate a drunk angler. This is the ultimate liability and can cost a boat owner dearly. I allow my two anglers to spit a six pack. If you bring beer, don't offer any to your guide. The Coast Guard considers it highly illegal for a charter captain to drink on the job. Even worse, nothing tastes better than a cold Corona on a hot day. It's kind of cruel to drink a beer while your guide is working and sweating and can't have one. Save an extra for back at the dock.
If you brought your own tackle let the guide double check everything. I personally like people to bring their own rods, reels, and flies. I'm a gear junkie and love seeing the new stuff in action. I also like seeing hand tied flies, even if the anger has never been to the salt water before. You never know where the next killer pattern will come from these days. At the same time, be prepared to use whatever the guide tells you. Even if you've spent the last month at the vise perfecting your patterns, your guide has been on the water even longer and knows what the tarpon will be eating that day. Always go with local knowledge.
When you finally reach your fishing spot you'll be asked to make several practice casts. The main reason for this is to allow the guide to size up your abilities in the given conditions. Since you are a beginner, be prepared for a short period of instruction after this. I find this is necessary with nine out of ten first time anglers on my boat. I've had guys who were presidents of their Trout Unlimited chapters back home turn into absolute basket cases when faced with a twenty knot wind on a bonefish flat. Freshwater and saltwater can be wildly different, but a decent angler can almost always adjust. The most important thing to do is keep your ears open in order to hear and act on what your guide is saying.
Since Part One of this article has helped you pick out a beginner-friendly and laid back guide, all of your mistakes should be corrected in a calm and constructive manner. The best guides never make a new angler feel bad about missing an easy shot. Your first time in the salt should be considered a learning experience above everything else. It should always be a good time and if your guide does start to slip and get a little too intense, let them know it. As a guide we sometimes forget who we're working for and can loose our focus. It's happened to me on both calm and windy days when the fish are everywhere but always three feet further than my anglers can cast. As a guide, your success is my success and sometimes it hurts to see an easy fish swim away. But that's never an excuse to start yelling at a newcomer. Loosing your temper while guiding actually accomplishes the opposite effect of what you're trying to do.
At the same time, we really want you to land that fish. Seeing someone with their first tarpon or bonefish is every bit as good as the money you're paying us. Keep in mind that saltwater fly fishing depends as much on the angler as the guide on most days. Once the fish is spotted and the boat positioned, all the pressure is on the angler's shoulders at that point.
With most fly trips you should not expect to keep anything you catch, unless you're fishing offshore. All the great flats species are strictly catch and release, so keep a camera handy to record your hero shots. If you have a sophisticated digital model go over it's operation with your guide in advance. Most of us are pretty good with cameras but we can't keep up with everything. The beauty of digital is the ability to take dozens of shots without wasting film If you have a multi-shot or burst setting on your camera then use it.
Your day should end at the agreed time and not before unless weather is a factor. If the have to head in early to dodge thunderstorms a decent guide will offer a partial refund. If you decide to quit early because you've had enough don't expect much or any of a refund. People rarely get sea sick on the flats and the offshore boats consider it a known hazard for the customer.
You'll settle up back at the dock in the manner and amount agreed to beforehand. This is when you should think about tipping. There have been several very good articles written about tipping guides but I have a few of my own thoughts. If you book an offshore boat you will and should tip the mate. He's the one working the hardest for the least money. The same goes for any guide working someone else's boat or working for a fly shop. Some of my colleagues will be upset by this but owner/operators should not always expect a tip. As sole owner of my boat and business I charge $450 for a full day on the water and that's what I think my time and effort is worth. If you want to toss me an extra $50 for a great catch or great experience I won't turn it down. You won't make me angry if you don't. If I absolutely had to have $500 or my day is ruined then that's what I'd charge. None of us are getting rich in this business and expenses are going through the roof. If a young, single guide is boasting 300 days a year on the water, he's not starving. Tip what you can afford. If you're a nice person we'll always welcome you back.
One thing that I feel is worth more than a tip these days is a nice follow-up online. I love getting e-mails from happy customers and really appreciate a good write-up on Trip Advisor or one of the dedicated fly fishing forums like Reel-Time.com. This sends instant business my way and is worth far more than an extra $50 and keeping your experience to yourself. Since you used the internet to find your guide, use it to sell him to others.
Capt. Gregg McKee
Wildfly Charters, Vieques
http://wildflycharters.com/
http://viequesangler.blogspot.com/
So you've booked your beginner-friendly guide, practiced your casting for a few weeks, and are finally touching down the day before your first saltwater fly fishing trip. Here's what should happen next.
Once you've unpacked, call to check in with your guide. Ask if all is on schedule and double check what you've been expected to bring. Remind him if you have a partner, fishing or non-fishing. Write down the directions to where you'll meet and the exact time you're expected there. Chances are it will be early in the morning which means one thing: get some sleep. If you've got a Key West tarpon trip at leaving at 6 AM, stay off Duval Street the night before. Fishing with a hangover in the hot sun is pure hell and you should avoid it like the plague. Trust me on this one.
Set your alarm clock early and be at the dock on time. Being late means you're loosing valuable time on the water and guides never like to be kept waiting. Have all your gear with you and completely organized. Let the guide stow everything for you don't step on the boat until you asked to do so. Your shoes should never have dark soles since these will mark the deck. Most guides are very meticulous about their boats so think about what you may have walked through in the parking lot. Offer to take off your shoes if necessary.
If you have a full day scheduled be sure to have your lunch packed the night before. You won't be expected to bring food for the guide. Years ago that was the tradition but this has fallen by the wayside. If you do happened to pack an extra sandwich it will be considered a nice gesture and will get eaten. Most guides have extra water but bring more than you think you'll need for yourself.
Alcohol should be kept to a minimum. Keep in mind that it will actually dehydrate you over the long run and dull your reflexes in the heat. No decent guide will tolerate a drunk angler. This is the ultimate liability and can cost a boat owner dearly. I allow my two anglers to spit a six pack. If you bring beer, don't offer any to your guide. The Coast Guard considers it highly illegal for a charter captain to drink on the job. Even worse, nothing tastes better than a cold Corona on a hot day. It's kind of cruel to drink a beer while your guide is working and sweating and can't have one. Save an extra for back at the dock.
If you brought your own tackle let the guide double check everything. I personally like people to bring their own rods, reels, and flies. I'm a gear junkie and love seeing the new stuff in action. I also like seeing hand tied flies, even if the anger has never been to the salt water before. You never know where the next killer pattern will come from these days. At the same time, be prepared to use whatever the guide tells you. Even if you've spent the last month at the vise perfecting your patterns, your guide has been on the water even longer and knows what the tarpon will be eating that day. Always go with local knowledge.
When you finally reach your fishing spot you'll be asked to make several practice casts. The main reason for this is to allow the guide to size up your abilities in the given conditions. Since you are a beginner, be prepared for a short period of instruction after this. I find this is necessary with nine out of ten first time anglers on my boat. I've had guys who were presidents of their Trout Unlimited chapters back home turn into absolute basket cases when faced with a twenty knot wind on a bonefish flat. Freshwater and saltwater can be wildly different, but a decent angler can almost always adjust. The most important thing to do is keep your ears open in order to hear and act on what your guide is saying.
Since Part One of this article has helped you pick out a beginner-friendly and laid back guide, all of your mistakes should be corrected in a calm and constructive manner. The best guides never make a new angler feel bad about missing an easy shot. Your first time in the salt should be considered a learning experience above everything else. It should always be a good time and if your guide does start to slip and get a little too intense, let them know it. As a guide we sometimes forget who we're working for and can loose our focus. It's happened to me on both calm and windy days when the fish are everywhere but always three feet further than my anglers can cast. As a guide, your success is my success and sometimes it hurts to see an easy fish swim away. But that's never an excuse to start yelling at a newcomer. Loosing your temper while guiding actually accomplishes the opposite effect of what you're trying to do.
At the same time, we really want you to land that fish. Seeing someone with their first tarpon or bonefish is every bit as good as the money you're paying us. Keep in mind that saltwater fly fishing depends as much on the angler as the guide on most days. Once the fish is spotted and the boat positioned, all the pressure is on the angler's shoulders at that point.
With most fly trips you should not expect to keep anything you catch, unless you're fishing offshore. All the great flats species are strictly catch and release, so keep a camera handy to record your hero shots. If you have a sophisticated digital model go over it's operation with your guide in advance. Most of us are pretty good with cameras but we can't keep up with everything. The beauty of digital is the ability to take dozens of shots without wasting film If you have a multi-shot or burst setting on your camera then use it.
Your day should end at the agreed time and not before unless weather is a factor. If the have to head in early to dodge thunderstorms a decent guide will offer a partial refund. If you decide to quit early because you've had enough don't expect much or any of a refund. People rarely get sea sick on the flats and the offshore boats consider it a known hazard for the customer.
You'll settle up back at the dock in the manner and amount agreed to beforehand. This is when you should think about tipping. There have been several very good articles written about tipping guides but I have a few of my own thoughts. If you book an offshore boat you will and should tip the mate. He's the one working the hardest for the least money. The same goes for any guide working someone else's boat or working for a fly shop. Some of my colleagues will be upset by this but owner/operators should not always expect a tip. As sole owner of my boat and business I charge $450 for a full day on the water and that's what I think my time and effort is worth. If you want to toss me an extra $50 for a great catch or great experience I won't turn it down. You won't make me angry if you don't. If I absolutely had to have $500 or my day is ruined then that's what I'd charge. None of us are getting rich in this business and expenses are going through the roof. If a young, single guide is boasting 300 days a year on the water, he's not starving. Tip what you can afford. If you're a nice person we'll always welcome you back.
One thing that I feel is worth more than a tip these days is a nice follow-up online. I love getting e-mails from happy customers and really appreciate a good write-up on Trip Advisor or one of the dedicated fly fishing forums like Reel-Time.com. This sends instant business my way and is worth far more than an extra $50 and keeping your experience to yourself. Since you used the internet to find your guide, use it to sell him to others.
Capt. Gregg McKee
Wildfly Charters, Vieques
http://wildflycharters.com/
http://viequesangler.blogspot.com/
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