Fishing Guides
Keith Rae’s life is dedicated to helping his customers find a slice of fishing heaven on the North Saskatchewan River near Edmonton.
He’s likely the top expert on ‘his’ portion of the great river.
Fish Sense
A licensed fishing guide and owner of Get Hooked Fishing Adventures, Rae can tell you everything there is to know about different fish species, their feeding habits, and how the river’s often invisible underwater ‘structures’ affect the kind of success you’ll have.Not unexpectedly, when Keith globe trots to New Zealand, Cuba, Costa Rica and even our own west coast, he fishes. And he always hires a local guide.
“Only someone local knows where the good spots are, what lures to use, what the habits of the fish are and where we’ll find them,” he says.
Local fishing guides abound in Alberta, from far north trophy lakes to the hundreds of rivers and tributaries that flow out of the Rockies. Whether they use lures or flies, boats or waders, they’re great local resources for anglers who want . . . more!
So, what is ‘more’ when it comes to fishing?
Let’s start with the novice angler. Or the non-fishing parent whose kid is an eager 
wanna-be.
Your Guide to Learning More
“Any guide worth their fee is a great teacher,” says Rae. “A big part of what we do is teach people about lures, line, rods and reels, how to ‘read’ the water, where to find the fish. Most guides are very patient with newcomers to the sport.”
Anyone who has fished for a while knows that one of the biggest frustrations of a new lake, river or stream is finding access to the water, and finding it where the fishing’s actually good.
Knowing where to go locally is often critical, says Vic Bergman of Bellevue, a trout fishing guide personally and corporately known as The Crowsnest Angler. “ Different species are found in different places along a stream or river. Even the same species can act differently in different locations.”
Insects, larvae and other fish that sport fish eat vary from region to region, affecting choice of both lure and fly. Guides know what to use, and that enhances the experience.
Even expert anglers use guides, says Bergman.
“Our customers 
often have years of experience, but they’re new to the area. They’ll hire a guide for a couple of days, learn everything they can about the area, its waters, its fish and their habits, then go off on their own for the rest of their holiday.”
Bergman and Rae agree that a good fishing guide, one who works hard to make sure you get what you want, is well worth the money. Guiding rates vary widely, but two anglers can hire a guide for as little as $375 a day.
Another advantage a guide brings is in equipment. While many clients bring their own rods, waders and such, the guide can also equip them ‘from the ground up”. Guides also provide both boats and a good quality lunch.
Rae founded Alberta Angling Adventures, a consortium of nearly 30 Alberta sportfishing guides and/or operators covering almost the entire province. Order your free Alberta Angling Adventures Guide from their website, or by calling 1.800.756.4351.
