Thank you for booking your fly fishing trip with Current Works Guide Service!
Your guide will contact you within a few days of your trip to finalize the particulars, including a meeting time and place and to answer any questions you might have. If you have time constraints, physical limitations, dietary or other possible restrictions, please let us know so we can plan a trip that accommodates your needs.
Full-day trips: A full-day is for one or two anglers and is approximately 8 hours. Full days include a lunch/dinner and non-alcoholic beverages.
Half-day trips: A half-day is for one or two anglers and is approximately 4 hours. Snacks and non-alcoholic beverages are provided.
Carp & Bass Bay Trips: Plan on spending 4-5 hours in pursuit of these great sportfish. Snacks and non-alcoholic beverages are provided. Please see specific Carp and Bass bay trip notes below.
Please note that commute times are not included, so plan additional travel time to and from your fishing destination if you are not meeting the guide at the destination.
What you need to bring:
Michigan fishing license — Available from some retail locations (Meijer in the sporting goods department / Holiday gas stations) or conveniently on the DNR website. Daily or Annual licenses are available. If purchasing an annual license, be sure to get a non-restricted license if fishing for trout, steelhead or salmon. Buy your fishing license online at www.mdnr-elicense.com
Clothing — Be sure to dress or at least have the proper clothing with you for likely conditions. Remember that while days can be hot in the summer, they can be cool in the evening. The weather can simply change despite the forecast, so it is advised to always bring waterproof rain gear. A hat with a brim on it is advised to assist seeing into the water as well as to protect the face from sun and errant casts.
Click here to read an article offering suggestions on the best way to be prepared for the various weather conditions when fly fishing in Michigan.
Waders — Waders are recommended but not always necessary based on where and how you are fishing. If you have them, bring them unless you prefer wet-wading in warmer conditions. Carp fishing almost always requires waders except in very warm conditions, as does Salmon fishing on the Betsie River. If you aren’t sure, ask your guide about waders when making final plans for the trip. Please, no wading boots with studs/cleats as they are damaging to the boats. They aren’t required for wade fishing the flats/Bay and create too much noise alerting fish.
Sunglasses — These are a must not only to help you see into the water better, but they also serve as a great safety measure for when things go unplanned. Polarized lenses are best and are available at most fly shops if you do not have any.
Safety Glasses — If you are fishing into the evening (i.e. trout), having a pair of clear safety glasses is recommended to deflect any errant cast.
Tackle — If you have equipment, bring it. If not, we will provide at no additional charge. Your guide will have the right selection of flies, leaders, and other equipment to get the fish to play along.
Personal Items — Sunblock, medications, or other personal items you might need to spend an enjoyable day on the water.
Hearing Aids —If you have/use them, bring them. If you are concerned they will fall out into the water, you can always take them out. We have found that if you need them, you will want them on the water for both direction as well as conversation.
Carp & Bass Bay Trips — Waders are highly recommended as most days we are wading shallow water to fish for carp & smallmouth bass. When conditions allow we use a boat to access flats but when the wind is high, trips are solely spent wading. And when conditions are less than optimal for carp– high winds, significant cold front or otherwise – having a back-up plan for the day is required which could be trout fishing rivers or fishing warm-water species on smaller in-land lakes.
NOTE: While our boats have some storage capacity, they are fishing boats, not luxury cruisers. Please limit the number of bags/items/gear to what you need as excessive amounts of gear in the boat can interfere with your day’s fishing.
General thoughts and notes:
As professional guides we will do our best to see to it that you enjoy your time on the water. Keep in mind, however, that we cannot control the weather or the fish bite.
Your safety is of key concern. We rarely cancel trips due to weather forecasts days in advance, as the weather man’s accuracy is poor. We do sometimes cancel, postpone or reschedule trips due to weather, but typically within 18 hours of the trip.
It is customary to tip your guide for their service and flies used. Surely this is at your discretion, but the amount typically averages 15-25% of the trip cost and is also based off the service you receive. Some people like to use the same guideline for tipping fishing guides as they do restaurant servers.
Deposits are non-refundable if the customer cancels within 30 days of the trip and does not re-schedule. If the trip is cancelled within 15 days of the scheduled date, full payment is expected. Re-scheduling 15-30 days prior without forfeiture of the deposit is dependent on the guide’s schedule and is at their discretion. Some exceptions may apply in the customer’s favor.
Balance of services rendered are due upon completion of the day or last day if multiple are scheduled.
Please feel free to contact us with any questions you may have. We look forward to spending some time with you on the water and strive to meet your expectations.
— To preserve our fisheries, all trips are catch and release —
Ted Kraimer
Current Works, LLC
PO Box 333
Traverse City, MI 49685
Ted@Current-Works.com
231-883-8156