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| A friend of mine Bryan Bowers from SC Sportsman Magazine |
When it comes to building a relationship with a client on my boat the main goal is to become like a friend to him or her. From the time we leave the dock by boat, till when I drop them off, I treat my customer as if they were not only a paying client but also as a friend. There are quite a few different things that create that friendship while out on the water, and after my first year of guiding it became very easy for me to have customers who become friends. From not only being very serious when it comes to fishing, but also joking and laughing a little, having some very good conversations, and most of all catching fish.
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| Rich a client from Alabama on Thanksgiving Day |
Being serious on the water is one of the main ways I gain the trust of clients. Staying focused on finding fish either at low tide out of the boat, or high tide walking through the marsh. When they can see that I'm focused on finding them fish, and showing them how the process works, it makes them feel more comfortable being with someone they just met at the boat landing. Once they know I'm a local and grew up on the water, that usually gets there attention and trust in me as a guide, which also helps me out on the first impressions.
One thing that has never been a problem for me is conversation, and if you've ever met me in person you'd know that I love to talk. Whether its about fishing, sports, cars, story's, memories, dogs, news, government, boats, and so many other things many people enjoy talking about. The fun part as a guide is to figure out what my client enjoys, and what he or she would be interested in talking about as the day goes on. Almost like reading someone by certain things they say or do, then making a conversation from it. Every day on the water with a client is a fun day, and I cant even start to tell you how many crazy story's Ive heard, awesome people I've met, and also friends I've made. All because of my job as an Orvis Endorsed Fly Fishing Guide.
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| A friend of mine Matt on my day off |
Being positive at all times on the boat is another main way to be a good guide. Always having a smile on your face, telling fun story's, and not letting anything interrupt a good day. The key to being positive is to have patience and be excited about everything going on no matter what it is. Whether I get hooked by a customer, have a guy who cant cast a fly rod well, or someone who simply is hard to fish with, I always keep a positive smile on my face.
When you take all of these things I've talked about and put them into action on a 4 hour charter, the end result is excellent. Ive had days when guys are extremely happy because they caught a tailing redfish, 50 trout with there son, or a lady who catches her first fish. Then I also have days that a guy cant fly cast, or the weather is bad, and we don't catch much, but at the end of the trip they are still extremely happy with the day even with out a lot of fish. As a guide I feel accomplished in every charter when a guy gets off the boat with a smile, a hand shake, and my favorite quote from customers, "I will be back to fish with you soon! We had a great time!". Which return customers is my goal as a guide, and is the way you have a successful career in guiding.
From these days on the water with clients not only do I gain a lot of friendships, but also a lot of connections. Places I can stay for free, fish, or simply help with an issue on something. I keep in touch with a lot of clients through email, facebook, and of course a phone call if the the weather is right and the fish are really on. I still learn something new every day with a new client, and thats always one of my favorite parts about being a fly fishing guide, its always changing, and never the same day in the office.
