I always wanted to be a fishing guide.
That dream began when I was ten years old and met my first guide, Gil. That was his God-given name. If parents name their son Gil, they may be tempting fate—because what else could he become but a fishing guide?
For years, I believed guiding was the coolest job in the world. After fishing with hundreds of guides in some of the most remote places on Earth, I still believe that. I simply know now that I do not have what it takes.
The work is too demanding. The responsibility is enormous. And sometimes, it is far more dangerous than most anglers ever realize.
What Makes a Great Fishing Guide?
I once met a wise man. He was twenty-four years old.
His name was Cullan, and he was—and still is—a fishing guide. At twenty-four, he was already the head guide on Farquhar. He was everything I had imagined a great guide would be.
I asked him what it took to become so good that someone could guide in a place like Farquhar.
His answer surprised me.
“You have to be good with people. Any fisherman can learn how to find fish, but fish are only half of it. The person hunting his dreams—my client—is the other half.”
That answer changed the way I understood guiding.
Finding fish is only part of the job. A guide must also understand the person holding the rod—the angler carrying years of expectations, frustrations, hopes, and dreams onto the water.
Guides protect us from our egos when the fishing is bad. They celebrate with us when it is good. They encourage us through missed casts, broken lines, lost fish, rough weather, and long days when nothing seems willing to bite.
They also regale us with stories of legendary waters, remarkable catches, impossible battles, and the anglers who came before us.
But above all, guides protect us.
Guides, Guardians and Storytellers
Fishing in remote parts of the world is inherently dangerous. Help may be hours—or even days—away. Weather can change without warning. Boats fail. Equipment breaks. Wildlife is unpredictable. One mistake can transform an extraordinary adventure into a tragedy.
Every day, fishing guides accept responsibility for the people who place their trust in them. Sometimes they risk their own safety to ensure their clients return home.
Accidents still happen. In remote fishing destinations, they are inevitable.
That is why organizations supporting injured fishing guides are so important.
Casting for Care
Casting for Care is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization dedicated to providing long-term assistance to fishing guides who have suffered life-changing injuries while doing the work they love.
The documentary below shares the story behind the organization and the tragic event that inspired its mission:
Watch the Casting for Care story
It tells the story of a day everyone hopes will never happen again. Unfortunately, somewhere in the fishing world, it will.
In The Book of Ribbner, one of my characters experiences a similar situation. I wrote that scene approximately two years before the real-life incident documented by Casting for Care occurred. Seeing such a tragedy unfold outside the pages of fiction was a sobering reminder of how much fishing guides risk—and how quickly their lives can change.
Giving Back to the Guides
I plan to donate ten percent of my proceeds from The Book of Ribbner to the guides who fished with me while I was creating the book and to Casting for Care.
These guides helped me reach remote waters, pursue extraordinary fish, experience unforgettable moments, and gather the stories that eventually became part of the novel. Supporting them is one way I can honor what they gave me.
Fishing guides are more than people who know where the fish are.
They are teachers, protectors, psychologists, storytellers, guardians, and shepherds. They lead us toward the fish we have spent our lives dreaming about—and do everything they can to bring us safely home afterward.
If you would like to support Casting for Care and its work helping injured fishing guides around the world, please consider making a donation.
