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Posts: 200
Location: Milwaukee, WI | Thinking of state is starting a guide service. Looking at getting new boat, upgrading items etc. I have my summers off so I would be guiding for a variety of fish species not just musky. What are some good resources that are out there for starting up a guide service? Can you deduct part of your boat? Equipment? Etc.? |
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| I would start with a USCG Captains license. Get proper insurance for your boat/ clients on board, Make sure you get the State of Wisconsin guide permit. Get a business name and start an LLC.
Edited by muskyhunter07 7/10/2019 4:00 PM
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Posts: 16632
Location: The desert | Contact guides in your state and ask them. I’d start with those you wouldn’t be competing with, but probably good to develop relationships with your competitors as well. |
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Posts: 2377
Location: Chisholm, MN | Try it out without spending too much money upgrading everything first. You may find that it's not as glamorous as some make it seem. Or you may love it and want to go all in. A big social media presence to hype your name up with good quality videos and pictures will get you clients. Some promotional staff deals are good as well so you have credibility to your name. |
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Posts: 719
| Don’t expect the phone to ring off the wall in year one just because you dropped off a few fliers at ‘Bubba’s Hunt and Hook shop’ on the corner. Takes a good 10 years of effort to get it rolling. Have character and ethics so you keep a good reputation so nobody thinks you’re a nob. |
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Location: Eastern Ontario | Remember when you turn your hobby into a job it's a job. Do you have the temperament to spend all day in a boat with someone you would rather throw overboard. Can you handle the stress of having to produce. Can you deal with cancellations, no shows and people constantly wanting to change dates.A lot of your customers will have boats and just be looking for your spots. Two of my best friends guide but I like fishing too much to guide tho I once considered it. Once when I was younger i considered buying a lodge and my dad told me " you like fishing too much, buy that and you will spend the rest of your life doing carpentry, painting and unplugging toilets. |
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Posts: 636
Location: Bloomington, MN | I agree with Mr. Horsehunter. I have a bunch of great friends, but very few I could deal with for a day in the boat. What few people today that fish with guides are expecting the Ranger 621 with full blown electronics. Do you have a YouTube page with numerous videos of big floppy muskies? It's a dog and pony show! |
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Posts: 356
| Hi.Wish I knew more about you to try help cause it’s a big decision if you are ‘all in’.The advice given above is spot on so I’d consider all of it.
Are you a good fisherman?
Are you really knowledgeable about all the species you intend to guide for?
Do you enjoy people and dealing with people?
Are you an electronics capable guy?
Financially can you handle the costs referenced by the guys above and can you
‘hang on’ for a tough first couple years?
Married?Plans in that regard?
Do you have ‘connections’ with Resorts/Camps/Lodges in the areas you intend to fish?(If the answer is no,try make them first)
Wouldn’t go further if you are lacking in any of these categories.Good luck to you! |
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Posts: 152
| Can you clear a birds nest in short order? |
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Posts: 63
| Sounds like "Living the dream" may not be so much fun. But I admire the courage to try it.
I've learned a lot about the guiding business from hiring the same guide multiple times. I've found the more experienced guides don't go to the same spots or use the same lures on multiple trips even with identical conditions. Lots of reasons for this - teaching you how to fish different ways, but also preserving spots from being over-fished and promoting different lures. They track your visits and remember what you caught last time you were out with them. If I were doing this, I'd write notes of every trip after a day with a client.
There's a lot of "sales" going on during a day as well. Promoting sponsors without being a Sweetness is an art form. I've had some great experiences with guides and a couple that were "'eh", but I respect anyone who can fish well enough to do it.
-Darryl
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Posts: 618
Location: Michigan | muskyhunter07 - 7/10/2019 4:51 PM
I would start with a USCG Captains license. Get proper insurance for your boat/ clients on board, Make sure you get the State of Wisconsin guide permit. Get a business name and start an LLC.
Pretty much what he said! You may not need to get a full USCG Captains license if you plan on just guiding on inland lakes fyi. I would call your state's DNR and ask them a lot of questions about it. I believe in Michigan you need at least a charter license, have to have your boat inspected a couple of times, have to file a handful of forms and pay fees for using DNR launches, have a medical physical, etc. You'll definitely want to have an LLC and have the insurance under the LLC so your clients can't go after you personally if they get injured. Also, having your CPR/First-aid certification will probably help as well. |
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Posts: 40
| Address the insurance piece first. I carry a lot of insurance on my boats along with liability insurance. All of my policies are void if I am using my boat for commercial purposes. Find an insurance company that has experience insuring guides.
I guided when I was in college for cash. I used a borrowed boat, we had a lot of fun and I made great money. Now that I have a family and a serious retirement to protect the stakes are a lot higher and proper insurance is a must.
If you are serious by all means go for it. Remember you do not need the best of everything. But everything must work. That means reliable gear, boat and truck. |
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Posts: 1272
Location: Walker, MN | Cabbage Patch - 7/10/2019 2:28 PM
Thinking of state is starting a guide service. Looking at getting new boat, upgrading items etc. I have my summers off so I would be guiding for a variety of fish species not just musky. What are some good resources that are out there for starting up a guide service? Can you deduct part of your boat? Equipment? Etc.?
I would recommend Superior Marine Training http://superiormarinetraining.com/
It takes hard work and commitment to do it right...for not that much money. It's truly a dream job for those who don't need to make a lot of money, and are passionate about teaching & putting other people on fish. I haven't seen it work too well for anyone as a side hustle. I can't imagine doing anything else. |
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Posts: 1767
Location: Lake Country, Wisconsin | .....is there much of any market for guides in the Milwaukee area? Outside of a few select names, that’s a pretty tough sell on inland lakes unless you are going up north. |
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Posts: 793
Location: Ames, Iowa | Besides all the good advice you read here, there is experience to consider. How many guides have you been with? Have you been muskie fishing a long time? I'll be 60 in a month, been muskie fishing 22 years, and still have so much to learn. I can't imagine fishing being my job. It seems like it would be work. BTW, find a good tax accountant and get a lot of insurance. My wife is self employed and when she doesn't work she isn't paid, even when scheduled people cancel. |
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Posts: 9
| If you are looking to guide in the Milwaukee area I would hire a local guide and see what clientele and an average day is like. I am from that area and places to guide would be pretty select if you are talking musky. |
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Posts: 200
Location: Milwaukee, WI | Thank you all for your ideas and input. I was planning on not doing much musky guiding, but more make it a family friendly type of general fishing experience and maybe sprinkle a couple of musky trips and bass trips in there as well. I’d like to be able to expose families and young people to fishing even if their families don’t own a boat. Just a thought, panfish are fun for all. |
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Location: Athens, Ohio | I've heard that the best way to get a million dollars guiding muskies is to start with two million. m |
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Posts: 81
Location: Van Buren, Indiana | Check your PM. |
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Posts: 504
Location: Ludington, MI | Be prepared to get a frostier reception from other anglers and DNR biologists. Once you start taking money to take people fishing, you're making your living off of a public resource or even "exploiting the resource," at least in some people's eyes. I live in a charterboat town and everyone loves Lake Michigan charter captains, but when you see a walleye guide on your favorite inland lake, you get a much different feeling. And when you as a guide raise your hand at a public DNR forum, someone will call you out on your view being tinted by your income being tied to that resource. I've watched it happen at many forums. Just something to consider. |
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Posts: 32930
Location: Rhinelander, Wisconsin | I guided walleye, bass, pike and muskie for over 20 years. I do miss it, just don't have the time anymore. Insurance is a big one, check this guy out: http://worldwidemarineins.com/
Lots of plus and minus to consider, but the big one for me was weather. No matter what, fish needed to show up at the boat even in the worst stuff. With the new electronics and trolling motor tech, it's way easier now. Met some great people, many who are regulars here. Wouldn't trade that time for anything. |
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Posts: 239
Location: Elroy, Wisconsin | I guided Musky fishermen and women for several years on a part time basis. There are pros and cons you need to be aware of.
Pros.
You will meet some incredible people that will become friends.
Women are much better listeners
The person you really want to get a musky is always the most difficult
Cons
Side arm casters are dangerous
Few people can fish muskies all day
You will develope your patient skills
I seldom fished when guiding. The idea is to get the customer a musky. Some people asked me to fish. Especially how to work lures. One guy told me he was going to throw a suick all day and wanted me critic every cast. he caught a pretty good fish as I recall.
You might try it part time with a resort or two to see how you like it. I did not have the patience to go into it full time, although I did get over 30 people their first musky.
Good luck to you and don't let your love of fishing be the sole deciding factor.
Mudpuppy
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Posts: 1220
| Let’s just say you have opinions on, let’s say, politicians and have to share them...well that’s half your clients out the door. Naturally you’re gonna have a lousy time too. Let’s say the average for boating a ski is 40 hours ( it is ) and you only have eight hours, more disappointment. Let’s say some old guy tells you the best way to ruin a hobby is to make it a business, you should listen. Let’s say you work hard, save your money and then fish wherever you want for as long as you want and only with people you want. Just saying.. |
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Posts: 3157
| I totally agree with the above,,become a guide and now everything muskie is a "business decision",,some guys we would go to all the muskie expos and have a blast hanging out,partying,enjoying all the new stuff,but now if they go it has to be because they feel they need to be a rep or paid to be there all the fun is gone.
Some guides are afraid to show up at different lakes for fear the local guys will think your setting up shop there.
So tired you end up falling asleep running the trolling motor if you double book trips during the summer long daylight period. Babysitting unrealistic expectations "OK you can fish but I want you to hand me the rod on all the 50 inchers"!!!
I know enough guides to have heard it's no picnic with a lot of them saying if they ever quit they would probably not own tackle and hire guides because it's a better value. |
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Posts: 13688
Location: minocqua, wi. | the Math is tough ... take an average booking week by your anticipated income, subtract taxes, health insurance cost (or ride your wife's health insurance until she divorces you for being gone all the time), umbrella insurance and then go talk to an accountant and find out what your obligations are for business tax and reporting through your LLC. if that math doesn't make you want to find a regular job and guide part-time then run your budget against what's left for available money and don't forget to include all the stuff your business will need. write-offs are not free money, they are deductions in the amount of income that gets taxed and there are limits on depreciation expense especially if it's just part-time. so, know your income and expenses well and put together a business plan. problem with guiding is there are only so many days in a week, so if you don't supplement with late fall/winter guiding it's a good way to find a high stress low-wage career unless you are a teacher and it's a supplemental summer income stream.
if in MKE and i wanted to guide, i'd go work as a mate on a salmon charter for a few years and watch the business run to see if there is an opening. gotta go to where the clients are conditioned to pay to fish (and pay big). the few i know who are successful are really, really good at it and equally really good duck hunters, ice fishermen and free-lancers.
one guide i've seen who's business looks pretty smart is the smallmouth guide business out of sister bay. one guy owns the boats and uses high school and college kids to guide out of his boats. they make a proven milk run for half day trips and seem to run almost every day. they have a captive audience of clients and potential clients and make what is fun mundane so that even a monkey can go put people on fish for likely big bucks. but, when becoming a professional guide it's about making jingle and not as much about the fish. i'd love to see this guy's books cuz he is printing money on the gig he has going there.
Edited by jonnysled 7/22/2019 2:59 PM
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Posts: 200
Location: Milwaukee, WI | Thanks for all the great info. Actually I am an assistant principal for the past 21 years and have my summers off. I’ve been doing pretty well on my home lakes for a variety of fish. Looking to get something going for retirement in 5 years. Also looking at possible tax deductions as I am in the market for a larger boat and have much of the gear I would need. |
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Posts: 1023
| I’m a teacher. I could do it in the summer. I have 20 years experience. I would not do it for the following reasons:
- it’s tough to make decent money (need big boat and big expenses...)
- it would beat the fun out of my hobby
- I couldn’t deal with the annoying clients
- I’m not tough enough to grind it out everyday on the water all the time
- I have a great family, good career and fantastic life already so why screw with that. |
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Posts: 793
Location: Ames, Iowa | Hey Landry...I'm a teacher too. But this guy is an assistant principal. He's used to dealing with annoying. |
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Posts: 1023
| Lol |
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Posts: 200
Location: Milwaukee, WI | Yes I am. Mostly teachers. Jk |
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