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Posts: 341
| I really don't have any desire to guide because I love catching musky, but I have people emailing me to guide for them. Do I need any special insurance besides my boat insurance in case an injury happens?
Thanks |
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Posts: 1430
Location: Eastern Ontario | I don't know the laws of your state but I believe it would be the smart thing to do. My business insurance has a policy of $2 000 000 liability on top of my boat, motor and equipment. |
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Posts: 148
Location: DES MOINES, IOWA | HOPEFULLY, YOU HAVE MORE PATIENCE THAN I DO. I HAVE A FRIEND WHO WANTED TO LEARN TO MUSKY FISH.I KNEW HE HAD WALLEYE FISHED FOR YEARS, AND I HAD TIME TO TAKE HIM TO SABASKONG. I ENDED UP YELLING AT HIM, AND I WAS TICKED OFF MOST OF THE TRIP.HE COULDN,T CAST;SET A NEW WORLD RECORD FOR BACKLASHES; HE WOULD DAYDREAM, AND MISSED EVERY HOOKSET; HIS POLE WAS NEVER POINTED TOWARDS THE LURE;ON AND AND ON AND ON. I DON,T CARE IF HE HAD PAID ME TO GUIDE, I STILL WOULD HAVE YELLED AT HIM.I AM SURE ALL OF THE GUIDES COULD TELL YOU SIMILAR STORIES, BUT THEY PROBABLY DIDN,T YELL AT THEIR CLIENTS, EVEN IF THEY TOLD THE GUY 20 TIMES SET THE DAMN HOOK. |
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Posts: 341
| That's why I was talking about insurance in case I throw them over board=] |
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| I would first ask myself if I can catch fish in all seasons in all lake and river systems(do I put more then 50 fish in the boat per season)can I tolerate all types of people, do I want to show all my spots and tricks?To me not everyone is guide materail and I have met several self proclaimed supposeid musky guides that are not even putting 30 fish in the boat in a season let alone 50-75 what I would feel would be a minimum that I would want someone I hired to be on!In last couple seasons there are all of a sudden a zillion new guides and to tell the truth very, very few of them are in the class of the Kleins,Dorazios,Smith,Smith,Shumway,Meyers,Collins if you get my drift.Everybodys a guide lately,in my opinion there should be some kind of a standard/test type thing before someone can say hey"I am a musky guide"Pretty soon there will be more guides then fisherman, then who will hire who?Myself, I been doing around 70/90 fish a season and I will never guide ever,I will just continue to put my friends and family and alot of other kids on fish and be happy/have fun without all the headaches! |
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Posts: 341
| Handy
I agree, Guides should have a standard or certification. But like Pete Mania says the more I fish for them the more I realize I don't know. Some times all the rules are shattered as you well know and no historical techniques pan out. Thanks for all your input I realized I'm not really intrested in making money from musky's it's my hobby and I believe it would only contradict why I fish in the first place to relax and have fun.
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Posts: 1769
Location: Algonquin, ILL | muskycore: Theres nothing wrong with taking a few freinds out now and then and asking them to pay for gas, launch fees , lunch. this way your not really guiding but splitting costs. it will also give you some insight to see if your really want to guide
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Posts: 177
Location: Germantown & Land O Lakes WI | Oh man....let me tell you, I've been guiding Great lakes tribs for 4 years (part-time) and it is a pain in the keester sometimes. I can really see it being a pain for you because you're attitude about it really isnt all that great to begin with. I got into it mostly as a service for the outfitter I work for and to give seminars to teach.
There is a financial burden to it too..depending on the state, you may need insurance and you may need to get a Captain's license. Both are'nt cheap. Part-time guides really dont have much in the way of deductions for taxes either.
My suggestion is to really bear down and do some research before committing to it. Ask yourself if you're ready to sacrifice your fishing for others. |
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Posts: 5230
| Go for it!It sounds like you will put up fine numbers.Accept cash and do your thing at tax time.0723 |
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Posts: 32958
Location: Rhinelander, Wisconsin | Insurance is an issue. Look into a good policy even if you intend to just take some friends out and let them cover expenses. I guided muskies for about 20 years, and REALLY enjoyed it. Yes, some days were tough, the fish didn't go, the weather was bad----etc. I wouldn't change a thing! I am looking very seriously at guiding again next year with my son Keith as a partner. |
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Posts: 585
Location: Gaithersburg, Maryland | Jay: I was an evidence Tech with the police for 18 years. I did photgraphy as part of my job. It was also a hobby. Then (as people found out about my skills), I started getting friends asking me to do their children's wedding, etc (free of course, other than expenses, because you don't charge your friends). Well....after a while I relaized that if I could do them for free (and people were satisfied with my work), why not begin charging for them. I then went into business on a part-time basis.
After a few years, it had become a monster - I was working harder in my photo business than on my full time job as a police officer. I did it for about 15 years and finally was so burned out that it was no longer fun. I then gave it up. However, I did well at it and did mame some money at it. At one point, I considered giving up my full time job and spending my whole time at photography. However (although the business was part time), I just didn't want the hassles of having to depend on the photo business to live. After all, I was making ok money and had (have actually - I'm still there) great benefits.
I did ok in the business (I think) for the following reasons:
I gave people more than they expected. I charged them reasonable prices. If there was a screw up (in amy business, there WILL be screw-ups on occasion), I fixed it ALWAYS, including giving people their money back if I felt it appropriate (didn't have to much). On occasion, I would also do things for free - it's very good for referrals.
Free guiding for your frieds? Great way to learn if you really have the skills to do the job and tolerate people of all types. However, I'm wondering....what would you do if you already have friends go with you for nothing? All of a sudden you expect them to pay? Of course not....however - gas contributions would be ok to accept.
I found that doing things for free for friends was just as hard (or harder) than doing it for paying customers. People expect just as good a job (or maybe a better job) for free when their your friend because they expect you to give them "something extra."
I also learned how to custom build fishing rods the same way - for expenses. However, I never let it beyond a hobby. It's still fun. I also carry a digital camera in my pocket for my photograpy. No more business for me.
I've worked for over 31 years as a cop and am ready to bail out. I decided a while back that why should you work at ANYTHING (or do anything) that does not give you pleasure when you can do something that does make you feel good? Try it. If you like it - do it. If not - forget it.
Just my two cents!!! Tom
Edited by muskiekid 10/23/2003 4:23 AM
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Posts: 4520
Location: Chippewa Falls Wisconsin | Muskycore,
After reading your last post on this thread, I think your on the right page. I guided for 8 years and had a very successful guide business with plenty of repeat clients. What I missed was spending time with my friends and family. I was on the water 5-6 days a week only to come home and carry my little girl up to bed after she fell asleep waiting for me on the couch. I told myslef I had to cut back and quit before she turned 3 or she will never know her dad. Now I have a son too and family is very important to me.
For me....Leting go of everything in the muskie world and returning to being home with my wife and kids and fishing for fun...when I want too. Was far the best thing I ever did.
My kids are now 5 years and 15 months and they now have a dad. |
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Posts: 32958
Location: Rhinelander, Wisconsin | Jason, Sooner than you think (seems like about three weeks) that boy will be ready to follow in the Old Man's steps, and I am sure those steps will include Muskie fishing. I had to valve back guiding because of my real job, and do still miss it. The best part of this now is my son is interested in working with me to get back into the avocation. |
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Posts: 341
| Great insight, I think guiding some day is more of a dream. The reality is 9-5 office job to support family.
After further review I changed my musky goals, my new revised dream a documentory video covering two years of pursuing the world record musky fishing the USA, Canada and europe. Now that would rock! We'll I better make a few more peanuts before that can take place and probaly will have to get rid of the wife for this dream.=]
Take it easy |
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Posts: 169
Location: Elgin ,IL | Jason, You did the right thing! I miss my 4 kids every weekend that I'm guiding! It makes it tough! Enjoy 'em while you can cause they don't stay small forever! |
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Guiding advice