One of my local lakes does not currently have a active guide service and I am tossing around the idea of doing it to support my fishing habit and make some extra cash this summer. Does any one know what is required as far as insurance and certification if any?

A wife that has a good income.

To be a people person.
To be a good teacher.
To find fish that not only you can catch but fish your clients can catch no matter their skill level.
Thick skin.
Long hours in a boat not being able to fish.
A decent boat that is dependable and safe.

If your local lake has no active guide service, there is a good reason. Either there are better lakes nearby, or there isn't enough demand for guide services to make a living. Otherwise, there would already be guides there.

I'll add to what Mark stated as for qualifications. You must be able to function at a high level on 3-5 hours of sleep/night, for months at a time, in all weather conditions.

Good luck.

Good advice above.

On the formal side, insurance and a guide license.

Resident all water fishing guide lic. in Texas is $210..add insurance and sun screen..and your good to go

Hope you like ramen noodles...

There is one other individual guiding but his main focus is white bass. I have been having great success with LMB as well as taking three different friends with little to no fishing experience and putting them on fish. I have a teachers heart and have been told by many friends and family that this is what I should be doing. My main objective is to offer a low cost outing to one to three people with no to moderate fishing experience. I don't have the latest and greatest boat (97 champion 225 mariner) I don't even have great electronics. However I have been successful in finding patterns and reproducing results time and time again. Fishing is my passion and drive for almost every aspect of my life. Quiet still water and sunrise is where I go to church. Sharing knowledge of where the bass are and why is how I preach and putting that plan into action is how I make believers.

Go for it..your start up will be next to nothing

I would just like to add that insurance is very important sence you'll be taking people out on the lake. Also once you tell your insurance company that you will be using your boat to guide out of most of them will drop you. There are only a few that I have found that will insure guides. Other then that go for it doesn't hurt to give it a try. Good Luck

If you don't try you'll spend the rest of your life wondering if you could have. If it is a relatively small lake I would have a 2nd lake I would offer trips on as well. Manage your money well and put away for rainy days.

In addition to everything posted above, You will need to have enough rods for every one, including closed faced reels. You better be good at getting out backlashes. It helps to have three fishing seats in your boat.
You need some good stories and jokes on those days when you cant buy a strike.
Plenty of tackle incase your clients don't have what they're hitting on.

These days not much...

You better be on fish every day, word gets around.

A guide without an outstanding reputation is just another warrior waiting on the phone to ring. Successful guides didn't get that way without spending thousands of hours out on the water and building a name for themselves in the process. Good luck in your endeavors but make sure you have all your ducks in a row before making the leap.