To make your trip to the Catskills more enjoyable, we suggest you ask the following questions of your prospective guide:
- How long has the guide been fly-fishing? How long has he been a guide?
- Is your guide licensed? Since what year? This is a New York State requirement.
- Does the guide carry insurance to better protect you?
- How long is the actual guided trip?
- Does the day include the guide transporting you from one spot and/or river to another?
- Does the guide take you to more than one river? Does he work hard to ensure you fish whatever river is fishing best, even though it means an extra hour or more of travel time?
- Does the guide fish with you? This is a definite no-no! ! The guide's job is to make sure you are fishing the best you can and give you assistance if you're not.
- Is the guide informed about the history of the rivers/pools/structures and pass that information on to you?
- Is lunch included?
- Will the guide continue to work after the day is officially over-especially if there's a hatch on or if you've not had a very productive day? Does he charge you for the extra time? What is the rate?
We hope that these questions will help you make an informed selection of a guide. It is a sad state of affairs, but good guides and bad guides charge the same rate.