what are the steps to becoming a freshwater fishing guide? what kind of licensing and certification is required?

All you have to do to become a freshwater guide is go to where you buy your fishing license and tell them you want a guides license. I think the fee is $125 now but not 100% sure.
Anyone can become a guide, but it takes alot of work, persistance, and the ability to consistantly put fish in the boat to become a "good" guide.

Noel

I am pretty sure that you need to carry some sort of insurance as well, but I am not sure.

I do not think you have to carry insurance. I think that is just a good idea. To me to become a guide it takes years on the lake to really learn it.

I purchase mine for the TP&W district office near me. I am not sure if you can purchase them where ever fishing license is sold. As far as insurance it is not required but ummmm you never know what can happen on the water and it is better to be safe then sorry. Or better to have to save yourself a lawsuit. As a guide it is your responsibility to provide a lake ready vessel and all the safety equipment needed.

Now my thoughts on this. It seems that any Tom Dick and Harry can guide. But only the good ones will have a good clientel with repeat customers and spread the word. For instance I know someone well there is someone on this forum who is trying to guide on Lewisville and other lakes in this area. Now this is a on going joke with my Team Bonehead Teamates. Mainly because this person has no knowledge of the lake and has less then a year or a year tops experience on the lake. LOL the person was asking advise on the forum and on the lake cause they werent catching. Oh well to each his own.

I write about 40 of them a year...

All you need is a drivers license and $125.

Cameron, without names, how many of the forty would you recommend to your best friend to go fishing with and spend the 275 - 350 $$$ ?

SE Kansas grass grower

First you have to lose you mind and then buy the license at any license store or on line for $125.00. You need a regular fishing license as well.

There is no insurance required but common sense dictates that you have it. Also be aware that your Warrantys may not cover your boat and motor if used comercially. And your boat insurance may be higher.

Don't forget first aid kits, binoculars, cameras, scales, extra gear by the ton$, hours and hours of burned gas both boat and tow, web site, business cards, business license, life jackets for every conceivable size and the patience of Job (the Bible fellow)
Then throw in more intangibles you can't buy. Knowledge of more than a few tactics, locations you find, create and structure you mark with your GPS. You almost have to be a fish whisperer and read til your eyes bleed. Gotta have a personality that allows you to get along with e-v-e-r-y-b-o-d-y.
Ya also gotta have support from your peers. If they support you it's good,but if they won't or can't support you you might as well watch fishin' on TV. Support is something you gotta earn.
Gimme a minute and I'll think of more...
oh yeah, folks will ask you hard questions and ya better be able to answer them too. Example: I met Hook-em in a local tackle store and we were discussing tieing thread for jigs and flies. He asked what the "denier" rating meant on the thread he was eyeing. I knew it was related to the weight of the thread, but the store fella quoted this almost verbatum, Denier:a unit of weight indicating the fineness of fiber filaments and yarns, both silk and synthetic, and equal to a yarn weighing one gram per each 9000 meters.
Yes, I had to come home and look it up.

Anybody know how long the $125 license is good for?

Until the end of the license year 8/31.

hello guess who this is

I wonder who that could be??? I have a good idea. Anyone else have a guess?