Maine is renowned as being one of the most difficult states in the nation to get one’s guide license.  I can attest to this, as it took me more than one attempt to get it.  About 70% of applicants fail the oral board exam the first time.  If you drop the ball once, you can take it again.  Drop the ball twice, and its back to the drawing board as well as handing in your fees all over again.  Once you get past the orals, its time for your 3 hour written exam on laws, wildlife, and a variety of other general knowledge.

Knowing the difficulty, initial cost to get the license, and then start-up costs associated with any business one would ask why bother?  If you love fishing as I do, the answer is simple: you want to share what you love the most with others. 

One of the questions I’m often asked is what type of clientele I most frequently encounter.  Contrary to my initial expectations, 7 out of 10 calls are more often than not people inquiring about bass fishing trips.  I often wonder to myself why this trend occurs when Maine seems to be primarily known for its fantastic salmon fishing and the big push lately to promote the country’s stronghold for wild brook trout waters (over 95% of the country's wild trout waters are in Maine).  These are the clientele I actually expected to be receiving calls for.  I think that there are two sound reasons for this trend.  The first is that people don’t want to spend money to go fishing and risk not catching fish. If a person has to learn new lures, fishing techniques, etc. there’s a chance they may not adapt well and then won’t catch anything- so they do what they’re used to which is bass fishing.  The other reason is that Maine is indeed a “sleeper” in terms of bass fishing.  I’ve brought out some avid fisherman who have claimed that Maine is the best smallmouth fishing they’ve ever had.  My bass fishing out of state is limited, and while the fishery has always been great in my time, I take for granted that type of fishing and assume that it is the same everywhere else.  Its not  the same everywhere else.  Maine’s smallmouth fishing is some of the best anywhere and the options to catch large smallies regularly are widespread and numerous.  There’s trophy bass fishing on the Penobscot, in the Grand Lakes region, in the Belgrade Lakes region, and in the Kezar Lakes region.

Having fished all these areas as well as seeing first-hand the skill level of some of my clients, I am going to be presumptuous and say that the majority of my clients come to Maine to experience the fishery first-hand that they’re beginning to hear whispers about throughout the bass fishing community.  As a guide, this is the most profitable and time efficient charter you can have, and here’s why:

·          Time arriving/departing on and actual hours spent on the water are far more flexible than other species.

·          Travel is often minimal due to the abundance of great bass waters in Maine (thus expenses are minimal).

·          Most fisherman catch and release so it minimizes cleaning or filleting fish.

·          Bass will feed actively for a longer period over the spring/summer than almost any other fish.

Providing you with this background leads me into what it means to be a bass guide in Maine.  Here’s a list of 6 rules to follow that I’d encourage for guides everywhere for every species, particularly bass:

1)                           To be a guide in Maine, first and foremost means you are an ambassador to Maine fisheries everywhere, not just for bass.  If you get a guides license and are asked on a charter about other fishing opportunities in Maine – promote them.  Suggest another guide if necessary.  Keep the tourism in state.  We need it.  This also means you should charge fair rates.  Don’t short-change yourself.  By shorting yourself, you’re shorting yourself, your client, and other guides.  Be competitive.

2)                           As for the bass fishing opportunities and how to go about catering your clients, consider each charter trip like a tournament.  Have a water in mind and have 4-5 “holes” in mind on that water.  You don’t need to fish them all, you just need options if necessary.  Pre-fish them within a week of your trip if at all possible.

3)                           Provide gear even if unnecessary.  In my experience, bass fisherman and fly fisherman alike both prefer to fish with their own rods or gear.  If somebody asks what to bring, make sure you explain to them that you will furnish the gear and then tell them a few of your “favorites” (be careful throwing those around unless you’re sure you have the trip) then they can bring a few of their own if they choose.  Still bring your gear just in case.

4)                           Let the client or potential client pick your brain.  You’ll know if they really want to be guided or if they’re just using you to narrow down a spot to fish.  Don’t be stingy with information because blowing somebody off reflects poorly on the guide community as a whole.  Give them information they ask for and then some.  After all, its impossible to tell them everything you know.

5)                           Take care of your client.  Yes, they came to catch fish, but you can’t make the fish bite and you can’t make the fisherman land each strike.  Have jokes, stories, and most importantly food and drink for your clients that are suitable for your clients and represent Maine well (i.e:  “Hearty” sandwiches, game meat, etc.).  Make sure above all else, that they had a good time.

6)                           Think outside of the box.  If you have a call, sometimes that person may be a more experienced or better angler than you are.  In that instance, you want to present them with a “new” opportunity so they remember you and want to choose you out of all their options.  Some “out of the box” bass charters I like to do are float tube trips, drift trips, or trying to talk the client into fly fishing for bass if the time of year is right.  You can also target bass through the ice, which I’ve found is unusual.  Be creative, it could pay off and if its apparent you went out of your way to make a special trip for a client they’ll often reward you nicely with cash or gear as a tip.