Employment Opportunities at The Flyfisher Guide Service

We enjoy a very low turnover among our staff and we are always looking for an experienced fishing guide. We only hire guides with previous commercial fishing guiding experience and rarely hire anyone under the age of 25. If you are considering a change from the company you currently work for be sure to read through all our information carefully to make sure that The Flyfisher Guide Service is a good fit for you. To learn more about our trips and philosophy, review all of the information on our web site. You might also enjoy reading about other Flyfisher Guide Service staff.

How we do things: We run our trips conservatively with utmost concern for our guests' safety. Our motto is always safety first! We have a certain ways of doing things and we like to standardize our procedures as much as possible so that when you are working with different combinations of guides and clients you are concentrating on having fun instead of re-inventing the wheel on every trip. We also want our guides to enjoy a supportive atmosphere. To meet this goal, and knowing that working together around the clock can be very demanding, we want guides who are solid, supportive team players with excellent communication skills.

Interpretation at The Flyfisher Guide Service: Our guides pride themselves on their knowledge of the cultural and natural history of the rivers we guide and have found that sharing this knowledge increases our guests' enjoyment. Because we expect our guides to be good interpreters of natural and cultural history, an educational background in wild land interpretation, earth sciences, biology, archaeology, etc., is highly desirable. We also require all new hires to prepare a short interpretive presentation related to the rivers and canyons where we operate. This must be completed during the final guide exam. Complete details to help you complete this project will be provided.

Benefits

As a company, The Flyfisher Guide Service seeks to identify and employ professional, career guides. While we do have some seasonal turnover, our goal is to maintain a large percentage of our guides and other staff. Toward this end, we offer a number of benefits including:

• Complimentary and/or discounted trips for family and friends
• Training opportunities on other rivers
• Training and skills development in the recreation industry
• Leadership opportunities
• Competitive Pay
• Pro-deal program to help you purchase outdoor gear at deeply discounted rates
• Royalty fly designer program
• Drug/Alcohol Free Workplace

The Flyfisher Guide Service is committed to a safe environment for our staff and guests. We have a zero tolerance policy for drugs on our property or impairment at work. If you can't do without drugs or heavy consumption of alcohol, don't apply. Random drug testing is required for all The Flyfisher Guide Service employees. Pre-employment and random drug/alcohol testing is required for CDL drivers. Post-accident drug/alcohol testing is required of all employees filing a workman”s compensation claim. Any employee allowing drugs or alcohol to affect their work may be terminated.

Tobacco-Free Policy

The Flyfisher Guide Service is a tobacco-free company. Guides are not permitted to smoke or chew tobacco on any The Flyfisher Guide Service trip. This includes all overnight trips. Any employee found in violation of this policy will be subject to appropriate disciplinary action, up to and including dismissal.

Personal Appearance

A professional and well-groomed appearance is an essential ingredient in The Flyfisher Guide Service's success. Facial piercing such as nose rings, eye rings, and chin studs are not acceptable. We rely on your good judgment and commitment to The Flyfisher Guide Service to accept this basic condition of employment.

Pet Policy

In consideration of and for the safety of our guests, employees and your pets; please leave your pets at home.

Requirements

• Previous Fishing Guiding experience required
• Colorado law specifies that only licensed guides may accompany paying customers on rivers
• In order to be licensed at The FLyfisher Guide Service, a guide must do the following:
  • Have a current first aid card
  • Have a licensed Colorado outfitter who offers you employment
  • In addition, the following is required:
    • Complete at least ten trips per season
    • Self generate at least 30% of the total trips requested each season
• The Flyfisher Guide Service Policies Related to Hiring and Licensing - Note: these are more stringent than basic Colorado requirements
  • All guides must have CPR
  • All guides must have or obtain a minimum of a 36-hour advanced first aid class
  • Guides are NOT paid for training trips. The number of training trips required by each guide varies from one to three per river and is dependent on the following:
    • Fish-along outings are conducted two or three time each month. You will be judged on your personality and fishing ability (depending of fishing skill level this can be completed in one trip or it may take many)
    • Proficiency/experience with Flyfisher Guide Service techniques, fishing etiquette and client management (guides without prior Flyfisher Guide Service experience can expect at least two trips)
    • Professionalism in working with guests
    • How quickly the trainee is able to assume a full share of the workload, especially in terms of getting the clients into fish
  • Becoming licensed in Colorado and trained to The Flyfisher Guide Service's level of excellence, is a lengthy process and may require a new guide to spend 3-6 weeks in training before becoming a paid guide. The Director of Guide Development will make the final decision regarding when you are qualified to guide on your own.
  • Depending on the position, various starting and ending dates may be accommodated.

Applying For a Position

• Study everything carefully on our web site
• Make sure your goals and ours match
• Complete our Experienced Guide Application or call us a (303) 733-2672 to request a guide application packet
• Mail or email all CPR and First Aid cards to PO Box 3053, Denver, CO 80201
• Get reference letters completed and submitted as requested
• Most positions are physically demanding and require lifting, bending, standing and kneeling
• We usually try to wrap up our hiring by early May, but feel free to check with us if you discover The Flyfisher Guide Service after that date
• Once your application has been received, you will be notified if you have been selected for a telephone interview. Generally interviews are conducted from November through May.

Thank you for your interest in The Flyfisher Guide Service!