Illustration by Paul Puckett
Thanks to the many of you who wrote in with positive feedback on the “Elephant Hunting” piece we ran in the last issue of Angling Trade. We must have touched a few nerves.
Most of the feedback (60 percent) came from guides, asking us to really press on this issue of guide standards in the fly business. For example:
I wanted to commend you for a very well written article in the Show issue, “Elephant Hunting”. I think the whole article was great and should make people think, but I particularly liked your talk about the guides. I’ve personally had a similar stance myself. In fact, one of the reasons I don’t guide much any more is because of the lack of guide training I see. In twenty years of guiding, I’ve never been given a “guide training.” Sure, I’ve had a few meetings and cpr classes, but no on the water experiences organized by any of the operations I have guided for. I had to learn on my own, get in trouble with the shop and senior guides, and miss opportunities simply to learn the hard way. Do you think this inspires bad attitude and a lack of respect? You bet it does. We are all speaking out about the Bahamas and the initiatives they are looking to put into place, but they are looking to standardize the guides and that is way ahead of what we do (of course they have other problems with the proposition).
Trust us… we’re on it. But we’d like to hear more from you. Your opinions are what matter most, not ours. If you have something to say on this, or any other topic, write us at [email protected]. Thank you.
