It's a subject that has been passed over before but not specifically addressed...

Do river/lake guides or ghillies in the UK have an association/body or qualification that is recognized nationally or internationally as a sign/mark of professional guiding standards?

Especially for angling tourism purposes, with visiting anglers looking for local river/lake guides to 'put them on the fish' with advanced water craft skills, an intimate knowledge of their guided waterway, first aid and of course an accommodating professional manner towards their clients.

I'm not talking about game angling or casting tuition/coaching here as covered very extensively in the UK by PAGI or the FFF. I'm talking about a qualification like that in Ireland - the 'NAGC'... National Angling Guiding Certificate - specifically for professional guides 'guiding anglers to an enjoyable outing on waterways'... safely with success...

Is there a similar qualifcation in the UK for river/lake ghillies?

I don't know if they are or not, sorry, but i would ask if they need to be,? I do a lot of guiding at corporate events at Lechlade and Bushyleaze and have no qualifications to do so. I do think we're over regulated in this world, and more is un necessary. When i take people on bushy and Lechlade, i know the water well, where the hotspots are, and what flies to try. I am polite, and so far have always managed to get my 'clients' a fish or two. I would say that on the waters i know, i don't need a qualification to help people catch fish. Someone 'qualified' may not have a scooby doo on a particular water and so may cast a tight loop wiht a team of diawl bachs, but be casting over empty water! - Knowledge of the water is surely the most important asset a guide can have?

NO is the simple answer...

And there are good and bad ones......I do a few guiding jobs and charge £150 per day, and that includes kit, tickets, boats etc on Rutland or Grafham....

Curly Dave Doherty also guides...charges the same....and again is not professionally qualified, as do a few others...

Personally i think the day they get with either of us is very good and we teach them a lot about watercraft, fish, tackle etc

but best of all we know the water well and always get them catching a few fish...if it's August and cr4p we'll tell them before them pay etc..

Then again there is another Rutland Guide that in my opinion is hopeless,yet professionally qualified.

And before you ask it's not jealousy etc.....just honesty

__________________
Mock me, vilify me, but don’t ignore me!

BB
Can I ask this,if one of your clients is injured and sues for the injury,who is liable?
genuine question and I understand what your saying,but we do live in a sue for everything world these days.

In the uk joey, there is Reffis,who have guides who are knowledgable on their particular waters,they are not instructors and are there to assist clients on their days fishing.As far as first aid etc I dont know if this is a requirement.
It is not a qualification But a register of experienced fly fishing Instructors ,schools and guides.

__________________
Kevin

If you want a 'Guides License' there are several written tests you must pass, but none center on the question of 'do you know how to fish.' All are 'safety related.
fae

And totally unfair on all the other Rutland guides who are now included in your post and unidentified!

Life's not fair...thought you'd have realised that by now

Just expressing an opinion.....that there are good and bad examples in every area..so make sure the person you choose is right for your needs


As for insurance...i'm a member of a club that has an insurance policy etc that covers members

__________________
Mock me, vilify me, but don’t ignore me!

Cheers Rob,it was a point that I found out about a while ago,that if someone for instance was taking someone out ,be it a fishery,reservoir,anywhere and if that person was injured then the person liable, was the owner of the fishery not the person who took them out.
If this is the case as I have never delved any deeper,which was the reason for the question,those who allow"Guides" to take their clients out need to check insurances cover this,or they may be invalid,depending on the wording of them.

__________________
Kevin

I agree BB, but river/boat knowledge and safety I think are also very important as well as first aid and clear communication and good people skills.

I'm sure i'd enjoy a good day with yourself on the mentioned waters.

It's just a couple of things have been bugging me... like on Corrib a couple of PAGI guides I know can't swim and have very limited first aid knowledge - which should be standard with refresher courses every year...

Also you always hear the classic Ghillie 'grumpy b@stard' tales... not exactly a great advert to the visiting angler from overseas...

In NZ there is the NZFFGA which is seen as the recognized standard for any guide of good repute North or South Island...

Maybe regulating guides in the UK would be a good thing for future visiting anglers from around the world... especially if there is as stated a lottery of good and bad guides in the UK?

I have my marine first aid certificate, small vessel skippers ticket and I am a profficient swimmer - this is just for taking family and friends out in my boat.


Cheers,

Brent.

Well it sounds as if there could be a fair bit of money in a company that employs reputable guides across the uk, where the brand name is recognised for knowledgable guides, offering quality of service and where all guides are trained in first aid.

Does such a company exist, or shall i start setting it up..?