A question I get asked frequently while guiding is “Who was your worst client?”  At first, I laughed off the question and gave a fairly simple answer – you.  But that didn’t go over very well.  It was good for a short laugh, but the more I thought about the question, the more I found myself wondering about the question behind the question – or, “are there others like me who like to fly fish but are intimidated by it?”  So, short of this being a manifesto about being a guide, a la Jerry Maguire, allow me to share my thoughts about being a fly fishing guide.

I’m a seeker, always have been.  Fly fishing is all about seeking out what isn’t known.  Being comfortable with asking questions, not knowing the answers, working out some solutions, and then testing them.  I’m a natural problem solver.  Well, I’m also known for causing problems, too – but that’s another blog over on Dr. Phil’s site.

Fact is, I love to teach and share my knowledge about fly fishing, and find myself learning as much from clients as they learn from me.  And the honest answer to the question “Who was your worst client?” is fairly simple.  If you’ve chosen me as your guide, and you’re not learning something, having fun, or enjoying the experience – then it’s something I’ve done or not done.  The quickest path to a client/guide relationship gone wrong winds it’s way past the landmarks of being unprepared, not communicating, and foremost – not asking the person who’s made a substantial investment of money and time into learning from a guide – what their expectations are from the experience.

Jarrod K. and Derek on the Yakima in early Spring

On the lighter side, I find myself very willing to laugh at my mistakes – ask my client Bob and his CEO about the “flying rib-eye lunch special” on the Yakima River.  And clients make mistakes too – it’s part of learning.  If the world were full of perfect anglers, well, now that’s just foolish talk.  Point is, fly fishing is an experimental experience – you craft a hypothesis about fooling a few hungry trout and test it.  You learn, you apply, and you gain confidence.

A professional fly fishing guide is a teacher, a student, a friend, a trusted adviser, and a facilitator in your learning about fly fishing.  We know bugs, water, casting, and fish.  We know how things are connected, and we can help you discover those connections.  We know that you’re passionate about fly fishing, and we’re here to help you learn and gain confidence in your own skills – that you can pass along to a child, a friend, or just experiment all on your own.  But I bet you’ll learn that the most important aspect of fly fishing is just getting out there and learning.

And that is why I guide – yes, I have an enviable desk job.  It’s just that mine is made of fiberglass and floats on water.  It’s time for you to schedule a meeting.  Don’t we have some learning to do?