|
|
| I have decided to return to the guiding arena this year, as a northern Wisconsin Licensed Guide. I was guiding when they used to hand out the buttons with the Guide Number on them...an old guy I am.
Those of you over 50 that guide!! Advice?? Do you still enjoy the time on the water, the clients, the challenge; is the experience as rewarding as it was when you were 35?[:0] |
|
| |
|
| Hey Steve,
Good luck this upcoming season!!!![:halo:] |
|
| |
|
| Things to consider.....
--Geritol....
--Scheduled nap time during the course of the day....
--Well stocked medical pack, Motrin, Tylenol, etc.....
--Remind yourself where you parked your truck.....
--Hand rails in strategic locations.....
--A copy of the "little Train That Could"....
*Follow these guidelines + you should be ok![;)] [:sun:] |
|
| |
|
| Steve- The guiding is better (if thats possible ) after fifty.I hit that mark a couple years ago and still love it like a lost child.Every year there is always someday in June when the temperature drops to 37 degrees -wind is howling-raining like hell,and Im not overly fond of the client, My body aches from the day before, and im worried about the bills ,etc ,etc.I have to do a complete gut check and look in the mirror to see if the fire is still there-I get like an old fighter trying to come out of the corner for the fifteenth round and needing a knockout.But Dammit I still love the smell of napalmn in the morning.Go get em-I can tell by your writing that the fire is still there.Your gonna love it!! |
|
| |
|
| Depends...are you going to do young aggressive guide hours like 5am to 10am and 7pm to midnight or are you going to guide strickly 9 to 5.[;)] [:bigsmile:]
You know this will make your hair turn more grey.[;)] [:bigsmile:] |
|
| |
|
| DAMN!!!
There goes my Pelican Lake fishing for this year.
Maybe I better book a couple of days.
Beav |
|
| |
|
| Beav, you always get the same rate you got last year!!
I am going to cover the day as I used to, from light, to dark.
Some good advice. I can relate to the mirror in the morning.[:sun:] |
|
| |
|
| Looking forward to spending time with you again my friend. Always a pleasure and always educating. Whether about fishing or about life.
Told my physical therapist that I was feeling better and that maybe a few days down south would lossen my back and neck up[;)] .
I believe..."Don't be an idiot." was the professional opinion that I got.
I'm cheering for the old guys!!!!
Beav |
|
| |
|
| Talk to DougJ boy I don't know how he dose it . He's older then Me and gos hard 7 days a week. My hats off to Him. [:)] |
|
| |
|
| Steve,
I probably shouldn't be posting a reply, because I don't qualify as an 'old guy'! I'll only be 49 next month, but I started guiding when I was 13. That makes 2002 my 36th season of guiding!
Sure, it takes a while to get started in the morning, and sometimes I'll look out at a cold, windy day and have to give myself a pep talk to go out there. But the rewards are even greater than when I was younger. Maybe maturity gives you the sense to appreciate your clients enjoying themselves. And I can honestly say that I enjoy watching my clients boat a musky as much, or more than I enjoy catching one.
You'll do great.
Good Fishing, Dave Dorazio |
|
| |
|
| Have fun with it steve, will you still have your job at tuffy? |
|
| |
|
| Well Mr Sorrell, I suppose I qualify as an old guy who tries to guide. I just looked at my guide book and I have a stretch of 67 days straight. Then I'm going to take a little vacation and head for my cabin in Whitefish Bay and do a little fishing. Then it's back at it till freeze up, and right now another 40 days or so booked, but no doubt a few more will turn up for the fall.
I can tell you that as you get older (I'm 63) it gets a little harder, but I am truely a "fishing fool", and spend about 200-250 days a year on the water in pursuit of some kind of fish. I like to think that all this keeps me at least feeling young, even if I'm not.
Many of my clients are repeats and they are not only clients, but friends, which make the time on the water enjoyable. I don't think I've ever had a client that I didn't get along with. I still get a big kick out of every fish caught, even if it's a 30"er. I still like the Eagles, Loons, Deer and Moose. The LOTWs is truely one of the seven wonders of the world.
There are times when I get up in the morning and it's raining cats and dogs, with a NE wind at a steady 30MPH with higher gusts that you wonder what on earth you are doing. But after I get in the boat and start to plan the attack for the day given the elements it become a challenge, and fun.
I don't know how many more years I will do this on a full time basis, but I have a client who is 89, and he comes three times a year, seems to have a great time, and almost always puts a fish or three in the boat.
If you truely like to fish, and enjoy the people you are fishing with I'm sure that guiding in your old age will be a blast, it is for me!
Doug Johnson |
|
| |
|
| Steve, I am not as busy a guide as some of the other guys, but I can tell you that it is still very enjoyable to see a client land a fish. Matters not how large or small but only that they can and do get some from time to time. Those that catch their first Muskie while you are the guide is trully an experience you never forget mo matter what your age. I think that you will enjoy it as much as you did in the past, even more I would bet.
See you this spring or summer, Mike.
Let Em Go...Let Em Grow.....Mike
www.iwishiwasgoingtothecave.com |
|
| |
|
| Well I will be the double nickle by the time the season opens this year, hard to believe. I think some of the other posts say it all, so I won't repeat their prose. I do believe that if you love this sport you will still have a great time guiding, no matter what age you are.
Like Dave and others said, I get a kick out of watching folks catch their first fish, or their biggest. I've already retired from one job so this is still new to me. Stress of catching fish is still there but at least I am not up all night like I was when I first started. I have found out that muskie fishing is a lot different than muskie guiding. Most important are the great folks you meet that have the same passion as you trying to fool one of these critters.
Good luck, Murph!
|
|
| |
|
| Some good advice already given. Some other things would be to have information written down on your hands or in the boat for easy retreival. Things like what your fishing for, the lake you are on, time of year, the make of your vehicle and the names of your clients. This way when you forget, it won't be for long, unless you forget where that information is. Good luck this year Steve and have some fun![:)] |
|
| |
|
| May I ask why you would want to start guiding again? |
|
| |
|
| Jason said DEPENDS, might be something good to stock up on! Sorry, couldn't resist. Guiding has to be easier on the mind as you get older, less frustrations with the morons and others that inhabit your boat....I couldn't put up with them at this age, and can't really see myself mellowing in time. Just my thoughts....as useless as they generally are.
Slamr |
|
| |
|
| Answer to some questions:
Yes, I still have my job with Tuffy.
I am guiding again because I honestly miss it.
Thanks, everyone, for the comments and advice; especially from the other Silver Fox gents out there. Open water is only a few weeks away, I cannot wait!!!!![:bigsmile:] |
|
| |
