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Do Something You Love, Become A Fishing Guide!

Can this Work for you?
Let's start out with being one of our bass fishing guides.
As a professional BASS Online fishing guide/boat captain, you get to join a TEAM of like minded anglers enjoying a career in a real business surrounding and unbelievable daily working environment. Help others appreciate the value of fishing and participate in conservation on a daily bases.

So how does that sound so far? Read on...learn more about the life of a fishing guide.

Can you find HAPPINESS in doing this? or do you need the security of a 9 to 5 job?
As you might imagine, showing customers where "the big one lives" may not be the ideal job for the security-minded person. It also may not be the reason you went to college and I am sure your degree wasn't bass fishing related. This is why a lot of guides are involved in a business outside of the fishing guide industry for additional income and security, usually in the form of retirement pensions or some kind of off-season labor.
For all the above reasons, are why not to do this by yourself like many try. This is also why BASSonline is the leading guide service to work for, we offer consistently, dependability, health-care, retirement and so much more.

Most fishing guides or industry leaders feel that you must fish your area for years on a regular basis-before you'll know the waters well enough to consistently produce fish for your clients. It takes time to learn the environment around you . . . to "read the water" . . . to know the various depths and hot spots. . . and to "search out" just where and when the lunker bass will show up.

BASS Online cuts the learning curve for new guides, with years of experience, knowledge beyond most anyone else and the shear fact that we have more guides on the water daily, in more locations then anyone. What does this mean to you, we are able to shorten your learning curve with our TEAM approach.
"And since the rivers, lakes and canals change constantly," as a fine tuned guide, "you can never stop learning or wanting to learn!"

Maybe fishing is the only activity that you feel you want to do all the time and that doesn't get you bored, we warn you it could potentially be the hardest job that you ever had, often requires 12 to 16-hour days.

"Another reason the BASS online system works for you, we cut the labor intensive hours out of being a guide with our technology systems. Spend more time fishing and focused on the customer, go home relax with the family while others return phone calls and emails."

What does it take?
Getting established as a fishing guide requires some cash outlay. Although it's possible to save on your expenses by purchasing used equipment, boat, etc., guiding isn't exactly the kind of business that can be started on a frayed shoestring budget.

"You'll need a good new or used vehicle (truck or SUV) that seats three to four people, preferably four-wheel-drive (but now necessary) to transport your customers from location to location. As well as about 15 rods and reels of various sizes and styles, an assortment of terminal gear, tackle boxes, line, and hooks etc... perhaps as much as $1,000 worth of fishing supplies, above and beyond the cost of your automobile and boat.

Your first thought could be to have the tendency to buy cheaper equipment, but I will advise you as the expert...avoid "buying stuff you wouldn't use yourself" . . . and for good reasons: "Probably 85% of your customers will be inexperienced anglers, and such folks tend to tear up equipment. So, good stuff last longer, it is repairable and has warranty. Also with the boom in bass fishing industry anglers want to use the latest technology in equipment, the customer is much more informed these days, so don't insult them with cheap stuff.

"To help with these start up cost, BASS online has also set up partnerships with many industry companies for deep discounts on many of the great products you will need."

Related Questions to ask yourself
Having a ""HOME BUSINESS"", Have you ever owned your BUSINESS?

The Business of Fishing is Green...
Can you afford to make your business green, can you not?
Making a living in the industry does nothing more then give you that much more responsibility for the environment you are working in...if your fisheries go away, so does your job."

Can you build a successful fishing guide service business?
First you should ask yourself...Do I know how to start a fishing guide service, including starting ideas and start-up cost, getting and keeping clients...? Can I or do I know how to market myself, where do you start?

How to become economically independent....?
Skills anglers seldom have or need the services of a fishing guide. Consequently in day to day operations, you'll have to deal mainly with beginners, family groups, and the elderly folks ... all of whom will require patience, kindness, and a good deal of encouragement.

"You will have older clients who have to do most of their fishing from a chair . . . children who dropped rods and reels in the water ... tackle boxes broken by eager anglers, but incompetent fishermen ... and-in some form of memorable instance you will have a customer go into the water.
Needless to say, patience and the ability to laugh in the face of adversity are important attributes for all fishing guides to have."

Diversity is the key?
In the old days you could write articles and do other industry activities to produce additional income, because of technology and competition these options are no longer available because most guides will do them for FREE. Life as a full-time guide doesn't always produce enough income for year-round living expenses. Most guides will give up the additional $$$$ for the additional exposure that the published stories and reports give there guide service.

But the decision to learn, live-bait fishing, artificial lures as well as fly fishing will help offset some of the downturn of the simple economics alone. For a while, most guides managed to be specialized in one area, the industry no longer allows for such singular fishing abilities. . . learn the most and find it an interesting and profitable supplement.

"Again these are things that BASS online does for you, the consistency of working all year a round where available and the ability to learn different skill sets to help you master the art of fishing."

Related Industry Content
"Since we began the guide service in 1992, several other aspiring hopefuls quietly entered the profession you could even say it was a boom of such and just as quietly many have fallen out. There are still some tackle shops that offer guides as an additional service, but many guides, groups and organization-know Florida's largest and most successful guide service group is around to stay."

The guide industry itself has also grown over the past 10 years. During the peak fishing seasons (January/May), people looking for guides will hire any part-time boating assistant to handle there fishing trip. While this is not a bad thing for the customer or part-time angler, it is not always a good thing for the industry. One bad experience from a part-time angler without training could keep dozens of people in the future from fishing with the trained fishing guide in the future. It's called word of mouth, good or bad it works the same!
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How does BASS online set itself a part from the rest of the guide service?

Is it what we offer that's different? or What we do different?
We FIND the Customers and Anglers.
Anglers and/or customers looking for a guided fishing trip come to our websites and answer questions about the type of fishing and the location they desire. The end result is a better and more knowledgeable customer which ends with a more delightful customer on your boat.

We Match Anglers To Fishing Guides.
Our unique system will match customers to you based on the type of fishing and location they desire. Do they have kids? Do you like Fly-fishing? All of these things are important to create a completely successful fishing trip. The average fishing guide is selling him sell as a master of everything and his favorite lake as the best there is! That's not fair or good for the customer.

Reservation System -Notify you of you trip.
Our reservation system is unlike anything in the industry, you immediately receive an email and/or text message alerting you to a prospective lead. E-mails will include the desired dates, the number of people, half vs. full day, and an open field describing the angler's needs. It will include the angler's contact information for you to follow-up with any questions you may have.
There is quite a bit more to it, but can't share everything..:)

You Decide if you want the trip.
You review the information and choose to disregard or accept angler's reservation.
Our detailed calender system allows us to schedule you as needed or desired. Fishing tournaments, no problem, family vacation no problem our system handles it all so you can control your time verses it controlling you!

Why join our TEAM- Yes, it's FREE!
If you are still reading this at this point you may have what it takes to become a full-time BASS online fishing guide. While we are accepting new fishing guides all the time, we also like and experienced fishing guides that want to part of a TEAM. Have your own clients, no problem...have your own website, no problem. We do have limited availability in some areas, this you can find out by emailing the office.

Is it the experience that you need?
Well we have the largest group of freshwater fishing captains in the state of Florida. The experience that comes with the year of successful trips is unprecedented in the industry. This gives use the knowledge and edge over any competition. So no habits or better then bad ones!

Do you have training?
Yes, no fishing guide we have gets to take our customers on the water with out first being trained on our system and fishing guide procedure, both on and off the water.

We also have quarterly reviews and a mandatory yearly meetings to evaluate the overall statewide business and local regions. Evaluate the industry and our guides to effectively continue to service the customer, environment and the industry in the best possible way.

What's needed to get started?
We covered a lot of the bases in the early paragraphs, we try to evaluate each person differently, we are always expanding and looking for talent. The best option is to email the office with your desires and experience so we can see where you may fit the best.

What else does BASS online offer it's fishing guides?
We have to many idem to list and they are always changing, but here's a few you may be interested in.
We have deep discount plans for most all of the fishing equipment you will need, from rods, reels and fishing lines to help outfit you from the start and keep you stocked during fishing season.
While we do not have a boat manufacture that is mandatory for you to use, we do have specs on what boat is required to guide out of. Color is not one of them and we do have a boat wrap plan for all of our fishing guides.
We also have a financial plan to help you make this business work full time for you and it to not be a forever job are less you want it to be.
We also have a group insurance plan, some guides have a spouse and there job provides it and that great. But, in-case that's not your situation we have you covered.
We produce, host and maintain a website for all of our guides, have your own blog, own pictures, own clients...FREE of charge!
Some examples are below...
Of coarse fishing shirt, hats and all that cool stuff is a given!


So Why Not?
With nothing to lose a better question is “Why not join?”. Even if you have a job, maybe this would be great additional income? A additional career? It does not cost anything to join our service and you only pay us when or if you accept a fishing trip.

Below find a list of some of our guides websites...

Learn more about why joining Bass Online is only way to go!