Guide licensing
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Aces
Well-Known Member
This ^^^
Rain City
Crew Member
Why would you ever ruin a nice day fishing with having to talk to other people?I was thinking about doing some guiding, my buddies all say I should. Then I read this thread and I’m friggin exhausted. Forget it.
A-a-Ron
Well-Known Member
Yeah I think that’s what sealed the deal lol
Well there was a period in the 90's that I was taking all the Canucks fishing. A few of them became regulars for awhile and I could call them up and get comp red level tickets for games if they didn't have family or friends going to. Then go see the guys in the dressing room after the games and head off to clubs or restaurants with them. Fun times and was privy to some good stories. More than a few customers like this over the years. Bob Vila, Ralph Kline, Mike Harcourt, Richard Steiner (producer of Jersey Boys and co-owner of the Cincinnati Reds, Tony Lake (National Security advisor to Clinton) and worked in the white house from Nixon onward, John Collins bass player for the Aussie band Powderfinger, Steve Wallis and Mav the stealth camping guys ....all interesting to talk to.
ship happens
Crew Member
All I heard was Bob Vila
sly_karma
Crew Member
I have a good friend who's guided for almost 30 years, he tells me the same thing. "Half the guides at the lodge are retired or semi retired, get your SVOP and come do 2-3 weeks of guiding."I was thinking about doing some guiding, my buddies all say I should. Then I read this thread and I’m friggin exhausted. Forget it.
I'm thinking, you can't pay me enough to spend 3 weeks watching other people catch fish. It would be like groundhog day, same recurring nightmare.
Guiding use to be something that those who were off work for the summer could earn some extra cash. Teachers, students etc., Not a career. Too much red tape now. Lawyers got involved. I don't see the majority of us being any better off by the way things have evolved.
sly_karma
Crew Member
And it's hardly a career path for a younger person either, not with the ever-shorter season.
Not exactly a direct parallel, but these days there are decent year-round employment opportunities for middle management in "lifestyle" jobs like the ski industry. The advent of mountain bike parks at the ski resorts has created a cohort of professional instructors and patroller/risk management specialists who work both seasons, plus some pre- and post-season work. The fishing charter industry has to compete with this for a share of the young demographic who are outdoor minded and want to make a career of it.
Aces
Well-Known Member
Those guys on the west side of the island guide steady for 4.5-5 months. I finished off guiding 117 days my last year
There is a difference between the part time summer lodge employees and the full time owner operators who market themselves to work year round...even if it means being very mobile.
Nog is just pointing out actual DFO ineptitude. What’s wrong with that?
searun
Well-Known Member
I took a portion of his post (and others along similar lines) to be a commentary about whats the point providing DNA data, and catch log data to DFO - which is IMO a significant mistake for the rec sector. Having sat through a few PSSI presentations from DFO on Guide Licensing - one of DFO's reasons for pursuing Guide Licensing is to be able to make provision of data and catch logs a condition of license similar to what the Commercial licence holders are required to do. That came about because not enough guides took up the request to provide log book data and provide DNA sampling. While some guides and lodges did embrace providing this, most did not.
So at the moment DFO is investigating various options and mechanisms that would be required to move forward in their plan to implement Guide Licensing - there are a few hurtles to overcome, so this isn't going to happen overnight.
Why is getting data important? You only need to look at some of the current opportunities we have in the WCVI inshore waters and now emerging MSF fishery opportunities - we have those who provided data (Avid Anglers, Guides and Lodges...and DFO creel surveyors) to thank.
searun
Well-Known Member
Indeed - a lot of guys that I guide with are doing over 100 days - my head turns to mush around day 90. Always a challenge balancing revenues to expenses. Crazy covid pricing for fuel, insurance, tackle etc makes it tougher these days to make it unless you put in a lot of days on the water to pump up revenues. You can make a career of guiding if you are willing to put in over 100 days, which isn't a cake walk. Most guides I work with have other businesses or jobs in the off season, which in a way helps them fund their lifestyle choice of guiding.
Aces
Well-Known Member
The accommodations side of my business was the true money maker
I'm all for what you are saying and even a guide license as is required in BC Fresh Water. How ever required free data collection by rec fishers and guides should require MANDATORY processing of all that data. No one likes wasting their time and feeling like all these restrictions will never end because DFO is in no hurry to fix problems they are ultimately responsible for in the first place.
fishin_magician
Well-Known Member
I think I’m struggling with the whole idea of “guide licensing” if data is the issue. The Avid Angler program has proven that we should and could be open to fishing and retention in most areas from April-September 1. The DFO is armed with more data than they have ever had yet despite the science showing that we could be fishing- the politics say “no”. As First Nations interests are now consolidating control of fishing opportunities- (yeah there’s an elephant in the room and I’m calling it)-things aren’t getting better for guide businesses and the entire economy generated by the activity.
If we move to guide licenses- he who hath the most money wins- we will gradually move to an American style system. Barriers to entry into making living in the industry are high and they rare only going to get higher.
The resource will be even harder to access.
If we move to guide licenses- he who hath the most money wins- we will gradually move to an American style system. Barriers to entry into making living in the industry are high and they rare only going to get higher.
The resource will be even harder to access.
Don’t confuse licensed with restricted access. Nobody is talking about restricting the number of guides. Mandatory licenses with an appropriate fee structure would weed many of the illegals and give managers an accurate idea of guide numbers and more accurate value of the industry.
fishin_magician
Well-Known Member
And more excuse to regulate the industry..that’s the eventuality-that’s my point. That’s how it starts. Ultimately-we already have resources available to deal with this problem. We just need them to get on it.
We’ll turn into Washington, Oregon and California where there are NO NEW licenses to be had-and it is truly restricted access.
We have to be careful what we ask for because one thing leads to another.
There is a contingent out there who would love restricted access.
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