I know fishing guides won’t get much sympathy from anyone when it comes to leisure time and how we manage the off season. We have arguably the best jobs on earth from the outside looking in and I wouldn’t disagree there.
The struggle most of us face is the extremes of our year. We go from crazy, fast-paced fishing seasons where we can’t seem to buy an extra minute on the clock, to downright boredom when the season comes to an end - unless we guide in other locations around the world or have a “real job” or a hobby (does fishing count?).
Early Season Hatchery King Fishing on the Kasilof River
In the throws of the most hectic times, we can often look to the off season, longing for some free time to veg out and take a break. But the off season can bring with it lots and lots of free time which is hard to manage.
Guides each deal with this in their own way. For us, we like to stay on the water as much as we can, fishing almost daily with some guiding mixed in. Aside from fishing in the off season, maintaining our website, working the social media channels and fielding phone calls for this coming summer’s trips definitely keeps us busy.
We love celebrating special moments on the water :)
Above all, the one thing that quickly gets us thinking about the next season and over the winter boredom is talking with new clients on the phone, getting them pumped for their day on the water. The excitement that comes with a fishing trip in Alaska makes what we do so special. We get to share in people’s joy of planning a trip they’ll look forward to all year.
So how we get through the slower off season is really unique from guide to guide, but how we start to get excited for the new year is something we can all agree on. The anticipation we feel for all the possibilities a new season will bring,and the unique opportunity to share amazing experiences with folks from all around the world, makes managing this time totally worth it!