A PRACTICAL GUIDE TO THE PROFESSIONAL GUIDE.

Byline: Dick Fay Special to the Daily News

``Montana? Sounds great, but forget hiring a fishing guide.''

Sure I would join my buddies drifting and fly-fishing the Yellowstone and Madison rivers. But who needs another ``disasta in Alaska'' experience with a guide?

The memory of having flown a couple of thousand miles, hiring the local angling guru and coming home with nothing was fresh. The only thing caught was a bad attitude from our beer-sloshing, know-it-all ``guide.'' The only bite was out of my checkbook.

My friends reacted in their typically sensitive fashion: ``We'll go without you, but not without a guide. We haven't got a clue about Montana fishing, the rivers, the weather, what the trout are feeding on, how to drift-fish - nothing. So, the question is, how do we find a really good guide?''

Good question. Obviously, the system we used for the Alaska trip - 1. open phone book, 2. close eyes, 3. point finger - didn't work too well.

It was time for another tactic - actually asking for suggestions. Anyone who might help - the Bozeman Chamber of Commerce, the local newspaper, outfitters and motel owners - was contacted.

Whether it was the legwork or dumb luck, we had the fly-fishing trip of a lifetime. We caught wild rainbow, cutthroat and German brown trout to 20 inches on light rigs in a veritable rip of a river. Location, weather and cooperative trout contributed, but the real credit belonged to our guides.

The lessons learned in finding qualified guides may help others searching for an indelible fishing memory, including those anglers planning to travel for the Eastern Sierra trout opener.

Who to call?

The answer is anyone who has had first-hand experience with a good guide or outfitter. Try the fly shops, outfitters, fishing lodges and the regional guide and outfitter associations, if any are available. The local chamber of commerce, tourist bureau and motel and hotels can offer recommendations. Some travel agents specialize in fishing trips. Check the Internet and library sources for fishing articles that identify guides by name.

In California, fishing and hunting guides are licensed by the Department of Fish and Game. Recreationists can request a free list of guides by calling the DFG's License and Revenue Branch at [phone] or writing to the branch at: 3211 S St., Sacramento, CA 95816. Or visit the DFG's Web site, www.dfg.ca.gov, and click to ``licensing,'' then ``list of licensed guides,'' for the same list. (See accompanying story for a list of related agencies in other Western states.)

For your protection

Be sure to employ a licensed guide or outfitter; call the DFG to confirm a guide is licensed.

Northern California outfitter and guide Herb Burton is blunt about people who claim to be great guides but won't pay the fees or take out the performance bond that goes with a license.

``Licensing separates the pirates from the pros,'' Burton said. ``Why would you trust someone who won't even post a $1,000 performance bond, let alone insurance?''

Richard L. Elliott, the DFG's chief of conservation, education and enforcement, agreed.

``Most licensed guides really know what they are doing and give their best shot to help customers. They also protect clients, by knowing fishing regulations for each part of a river, for instance,'' Elliott said. ``If clients get a citation for violating a regulation, the guides can lose their licenses and their businesses.''

Before calling

Don't touch the phone before deciding when and where you're going. Research and identify the region and be ready to specify dates of travel and exact fishing dates for booking a guide.

In the high country, rivers run clearer and days are hotter in summer; when fall colors come out, so do more dry-fly fishers. Winter fishing brings on salmon and steelhead around the West. Spring fly-fishing can be good in tail-water riffles, Alpine lakes, spring creeks and anywhere there's a caddis hatch.

Have clear goals

Dave Corcoran, co-owner of the River's Edge Outfitters in Bozeman, Mont., suggests prospective guides describe their perfect day.

``That defines whether they expect a scenic adventure, intense fishing, leisurely river float or fish-walk-and-wade,'' he said. Determine whether you are after lots of fish - with no guarantees, of course - or desire to catch only a few and learn more about technique.

Also, do you wish to fish dry-flies, nymphs or streamer patterns, on rivers, spring creeks, lakes or ponds?

``But be flexible,'' Corcoran suggested. ``We don't control weather, water or fishing conditions.''

Hands-on help or ``Just row?''

Liz Lewis, a fishing guide with R. J. Cain & Co. of Bozeman, Mont., asks clients to clarify up front how much help they'll need.

``Let us know if you want no instruction, some instruction and coaching or a lot of teaching and direction,'' Lewis said. ``And remember to specify if you want a man or woman guide.''

Who's going and what's needed?

You'll be asked how many will be in the party. Make a list by name, gender, age, level of experience, physical limitations and equipment requirements. Some guides provide all fishing gear; others expect you to bring the gear or rent it from them or their outfitter.

Save yourself a phone call by having necessary information at hand, such as waist and shoe sizes for wader rentals.

When calling

Direct, honest communication are keys to a positive outing. As you give and take facts, check out each guide's compatibility and competence. Evaluate them for friendliness, flexibility, enthusiasm and professionalism. Note license number(s) and years of experience. Ask the guide to describe an ideal trip. Request guiding fees, inclusions, exclusions and deposits; most fly-fishing packages are by day rate and a reservation deposit of one day's fee is requested. Find out if fishing gear, flies, transportation to the site and lunch are included, as well as what you must supply, buy or rent.

What else to ask

Weather: What is the forecast and its impact on fishing?

Clothes: What to wear during the excursion?

Time and place: How long is the typical fishing day? When and where are you to meet on the first day?

References: Request phone numbers of clients who have been guided within the past year.

Accommodations: Outfitters and guides frequently can recommend places to stay, often in several price ranges.

WHO TO CONTACT

If you're researching background for western out-of-state fishing trips, you can write or call representatives of the various fish and wildlife departments for a list of licensed or registered guides and outfitters. The representatives can also confirm whether you have the necessary documents.

Alaska Department of Fish and Game: 333 Raspberry Road, Anchorage, AK 99518-1599; [phone].

Arizona Game and Fish Department: 2221 W. Greenway Road, Phoenix, AZ 85023; [phone].

Colorado Department of Regulatory Agents: 1560 Broadway, Suite 1340, Denver, CO 80202; [phone].

Idaho Outfitters and Guides Licensing Board: 1365 N. Orchard, Suite 172, Boise, ID 83706; [phone].

Montana Board of Outfitters: P.O. Box 200513, Helena, MT 59620-0513; [phone].

Nevada Division of Wildlife: P.O. Box 10678, Reno, NV 89520-0022; [phone].

New Mexico Division of Wildlife: P.O. Box 25112, Santa Fe, NM 87504; [phone].

Oregon State Marine Board: P.O. Box 14145, Salem, OR 97309; [phone].

Utah Division of Wildlife Resources: 1594 W. North Temple, Salt Lake City, UT 84114; [phone] or, toll-free, [phone].

Washington Outfitters and Guides Association: 110 W. Sixth Ave., Suite 398, Ellensburg, WA 98926; [phone].

Wyoming Game and Fish Department: Information Section, Cheyenne, WY 82006; [phone].

Inquire about how to check for complaints lodged against a guide. Once you've decided on a specific guide, request proof of paperwork, as well as details about safety precautions, including survival gear and emergency plans, especially for boat trips.

- Daily News

WHAT YOU CAN DO

The guide doesn't control all of a fishing trip's outcome; the client contributes greatly. Tips to ensure things go as smoothly as possible:

Be responsible: Meet on time; have your license, gear and supplies ready to go.

Be flexible: Conditions may require a change in plans, taking you to different places than you intended.

Expect no guarantees: No one promises big fish, or any fish, for that matter. Be ready to catch and release where appropriate.

Listen carefully: Hear and follow what the guide suggests, especially in an emergency.

Drop the ego: Women usually learn faster, guides note, because they don't have an ill-placed ``king of the river'' self-image standing in their way as often as men do.

Respect the guide: Treat the guide courteously and use any equipment you borrow with care.

Expect professionalism: You deserve what you pay for . . . or you have a right to complain.

Lighten up: Have fun.

- Dick Fay

CAPTION(S):

Photo, 2 Boxes

PHOTO (Color) Hiring a fishing guide, like Upper McCloud River specialist Terry Edelmann, can be less complicated and more productive with a little research.

Brett Pauly/Daily News

BOX: (1) WHO TO CONTACT (see text)

(2) WHAT YOU CAN DO (see text)