Becoming a Professional Fishing Guide

As an Ambassador for the World Fishing Network I have experienced some amazing opportunities in the fishing industry. I have interviewed many people that make a living fishing. Intrigued by the notion of actually being able to start a business of my very own doing the things that I have a passion for became more than a dream, it became an obsession. American Author Mark Twain once said, “The secret of success is making your vocation your vacation.” And this is exactly the motivation behind Team Bilbrey Fishing’s beginning.

With a few years of hard work and searching for knowledge we are well on our way to doing just that. Of course with a passion for fishing we not only guide and fish tournaments, film, photograph and write, but the foundation of our company is the passion to share our experience and knowledge with other anglers. Over the years we have developed a program to help passionate anglers become professional anglers. With guiding being the most financially sound portion of the fishing industry this Ambassador Assignment to write a blog about “Becoming a Fishing Guide” fell into what Donna and I do every day… we help others. Professional Fishing Guides are commonly people with a passion for fishing that want to share their passion with others, but there is a need to pay for their hobby of habitual fishing. Although it can be profitable, becoming a professional fishing guide requires much more than consistently being able to catch and teaching others how to fish. In fact you will become a business owner with responsibilities and liabilities that go beyond those of many other businesses. The safety of your clients, and the satisfaction you can provide to them at the end of the day is all on you.

Understanding the State and Federal regulations that govern the guiding industry as well as getting a tax ID and business license, and knowing what insurance is needed can be overwhelming, but it is worth it all to be doing something you love and making money while sharing your fishing expertise with your clients. Like other service based businesses you will take all the risks, solve the problems, and learn from your mistakes as you mentor and teach others. If you have what it takes to be successful as a guide the rewards are many and the needed preparation is worth the effort.

Having researched and interviewed successful and established fishing guides around the world over the last couple of years I have noticed that all of the top guides in the industry share the same characteristics needed to face the challenges described above and the business since and ethics to make a living while making their vacation their vocation. The most common characteristic found in successful guides was the importance of being able to communicate and connect with people. This skill came in order of importance before their fishing skills. Guiding is much more than a fishing job, it is a “people” business. The ability to attract and retain clients is the most important part of the business.

With some help and direction you can gain the knowledge that many people do not have and are not able acquire. This is the service that Donna and I offer at Team Bilbrey Fishing. We not only share the needed knowledge of the fishing skills to make you a better fisherman, but we also provide the needed information to begin your professional guide service from the ground up. It is the questions of Taxes, Insurance, and Business License, setting up an LLC or Partnership that takes skills that you can’t learn on the water. Most are simple tips that you can learn and understand in a few minutes while other aspects of a successful business may take years to develop. In the time it takes to start up your business, you will be making money as a professional fishing guide.

The hope of being successful as a professional fishing guide relies on your learning and understanding specific sets of business skills such as marketing, license and regulation adherence, bookkeeping, and customer service. These skills are just as important as your ability to locate and catch fish in adverse and changing conditions. In today’s economy running a business that relies on “hooking people” can be as tricky as catching finicky fish. And that is where we can help. We can share the information needed step by step and even put you in contact with an online institute dedicated to educating outdoor business owners much like a college course prepares students for a job, this institute provides their students the nuts and bolts information for building a professional fishing career.

Many guides ignore the fact that many of the waters of North America require credentials to take passengers for hire out on the water. The United States Coast Guard requires this on all navigable waters of the United States. And many states require special license and certifications to do so within their borders. Team Bilbrey Fishing can empower the entrepreneur with the knowledge needed to obtain the needed credentials to be fully compliant with current regulations.

Startup cost for a business can be quite expensive and understanding this we have developed a marketing and branding informational package that is designed to help you build a brand and attract sponsors and a business model to attract investors to help offset the cost. Through our program you will learn proven marketing strategies and will have the information needed to build a solid foundation for your professional guide service. We provide information for insurance, an often overlooked necessity for a guide. The insurance you have for your boat is not what is needed to take passengers for hire out on your boat. Insurance protects you and your clients financially if something were to go wrong. Insurance is also needed to protect your family as well in the event of a tragedy. Many of us do not think about this need until it is too late, but as a business owner it is an essential part of your business.

The rewards of being a small business owner are compounded when it is doing something that you love. If you have a passion for fishing and for sharing that passion with others becoming a Professional Fishing Guide can be the profession you are looking for. It doesn’t matter if you have a new 20’ bass boat, a kayak, a hole in the ice of a couple of spare fly rods, you can become a successful guide with a little help and direction. It’s time to take your fishing serious!

Happy Fishing!

For more information about becoming a professional fishing guide visit the Team Bilbrey Fishing Web Site at http://markbilbrey.com