Alaska Fishing Guides: Ways To Find Alaskan Angler Guides For Your Vacation

If you're thinking about employing Alaska fishing guides as part of your upcoming Alaskan fishing expedition, you're already on the right track to fisherman's success. A guide will significantly improve your chances of bagging a massive King Salmon or trophy Halibut - they know the waters, the fish and how to pass that knowledge on to you.

However, fishing guides come in all packages, and there are both bad guides and good ones. So, how do you choose? How do you differentiate between a quality guide and an overpriced charlatan? How do you tell if you're hiring an Alaskan fishing expert or a con artist with a boat? For answers to these questions and a brief overview to hiring an Alaskan fishing guide, keep reading.

Check References

Before you lay down a few grand for a private, multi-day fishing charter in Alaska, always check their references from previous clients. Ask for a phone number or email so that you can speak with the former client directly. If a company refuses to give you any references, don't be inhibited about walking away.

In lieu of - or in addition to - checking client references, try making a quick phone call to the company's local tourism office. Because the communities in Alaska are still small, the office should both know and be able to recommend the company's services. If they don't, they may have alternate recommendations for Alaska fishing guides.

Investigate Qualifications of the Crew

Before you arrive or upon arrival, you can ask to see the crew's licenses and certifications. These can be faxed ahead of time or presented to you before departure. You also want to look for a crew that has a lot of experience in Alaskan waters and a strong understanding of the area.

Look for Local Experience

The best Alaskan guides and tour operators are either Alaska-born or long-time citizens with an impressive resume of local work experience. Remember, you're hiring a guide because of their knowledge of the area and fishing waters - so look for one that has a proven track record.

A great way to check a guide's success is to ask for their catch track record. How many fish are caught on each trip? What are the average weights? What's their overall success rate? Remember to ask about their safety record too.

Find Out What Is and Isn't Included

Many Alaska fishing guides will include extra perks like lunches, fish processing and freezing, equipment, licenses, bait and tackle. However, some won't - so, it's important to find out what's included and what's not before you book.

By: Trevor Price

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