The Tampa Bay Times
Some first-time guided trips are more successful than others because of unclear expectations by both the client and guide. Discussions of the day’s activities and results by each group can be very revealing. When guides get together they want to know about the trip, and customers do likewise. I can’t think of any guides that frequently haven’t been clients themselves on many occasions. When guides have a free fishing day they often will get together with another guide to exchange information. It is all part of a continuous learning experience. This may be more common in fly fishing because of increased interest by younger clients, people changing from offshore to inshore, freshwater to saltwater, and bait and spinning to the long rod. Women are presently the fastest-growing segment in all types of fly fishing. At a trout fly club event in Pennsylvania recently I sat with 5 freshwater trout fishers who all said their dream was to catch a large tarpon on a fly rod. This means they would be using much heavier equipment from a moving boat, frequently casting in very windy conditions to a moving gigantic fish that will surely make their knees knock. Will both the guide and the client be prepared for serious disappointment?
Fly fisherman and casting instructor Pat Damico charters Fly Guy in lower Tampa Bay and can be reached at captpatdamico.com and (727) 504-8649.
- Capiains Corner. Damico - December 26, 2023
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