It's not all fish and fun

Over the past 15 years, commercial sportfishing on the Kenai River has gone from a part-time pursuit to a full-blown industry, employing hundreds of peninsula residents and attracting thousands of tourists to the area.

With that growth has come controversy and competition, as evidenced by recent attempts by local government advisory boards to limit the number of fishing guides operating on the Kenai River.

However, many guides themselves support thinning their ranks as part of a growing trend within the guide community that is trying to focus more on quality than quantity when it comes to guided sportfishing.

Joe Connors is president of the Kenai River Professional Guides Association. For the past couple of years, Connors has been pushing a plan that would require guides to undergo a certification and training process before stepping in a boat. According to Connors, the idea is to have a fleet of professional, responsible guides operating on the river in order to reduce conflict with other anglers and provide a better experience for clients.

"It's going to make them much more professional," Connors said of the proposed program.

Connors envisions a program that teaches younger guides all there is to know about the river, its fish and the fishery before they begin guiding.

"They're going to know the different sections of the river, the various holes and traditional methods," Connors said.

If guides are shown the proper way to do things before setting out on the river, Connors said he believes it will go a long way toward convincing the public that guides are truly interested in the well-being of the river and providing a quality service.

"We'll show them how to work with clients, with other guides and with the community," he said.

Learning to be a skilled guide is becoming more and more important as the number of guides grows on the Kenai. With more than 300 guides operating on the Kenai River, competition for the tourist dollar is fierce.

The job of Kenai River guide, once a summertime pursuit, has become a full-time job.

A quick glance at the Internet shows just how intense the competition is. A basic search for Kenai guides reveals countless Web pages, offering everything from half-day fishing trips to week-long Alaska adventures.

In addition to now having their own Web sites, many guides spend their winter months traveling to sport shows Outside, hoping a little personal contact with the fishing public will translate into additional clients come summer.

Kenai guide Joe Hager and his wife, Arlene, recently made a trip to Denver for one such show. For 20 years, the Hagers have been traveling Outside to trade shows across the country. In the past, they would spend up to 60 days on the road, but this year, Denver was the only stop they made.

According to Arlene, the competition at the shows has just gotten too intense, with guides from around Alaska and the world vying to lure anglers.

"There were 49 guides from all parts of Alaska (in Denver)," Arlene said on her cell phone in January while en route from Colorado back to Alaska.

"There's also competition from other venues, like Costa Rica, Belize, Mexico," she said. "The shows are pretty international."

Although the Hagers have built up a large customer base, Arlene said new guides getting into the industry face a tough battle.

"For new people just starting out, it's ferocious," she said.

Clarion file photo Commercially guided fishing is big business on the Kenai Peninsula.

By MATT TUNSETH

Peninsula Clarion

Over the past 15 years, commercial sportfishing on the Kenai River has gone from a part-time pursuit to a full-blown industry, employing hundreds of peninsula residents and attracting thousands of tourists to the area.

With that growth has come controversy and competition, as evidenced by recent attempts by local government advisory boards to limit the number of fishing guides operating on the Kenai River.

However, many guides themselves support thinning their ranks as part of a growing trend within the guide community that is trying to focus more on quality than quantity when it comes to guided sportfishing.

Joe Connors is president of the Kenai River Professional Guides Association. For the past couple of years, Connors has been pushing a plan that would require guides to undergo a certification and training process before stepping in a boat. According to Connors, the idea is to have a fleet of professional, responsible guides operating on the river in order to reduce conflict with other anglers and provide a better experience for clients.

"It's going to make them much more professional," Connors said of the proposed program.

Connors envisions a program that teaches younger guides all there is to know about the river, its fish and the fishery before they begin guiding.

"They're going to know the different sections of the river, the various holes and traditional methods," Connors said.

If guides are shown the proper way to do things before setting out on the river, Connors said he believes it will go a long way toward convincing the public that guides are truly interested in the well-being of the river and providing a quality service.

"We'll show them how to work with clients, with other guides and with the community," he said.

Learning to be a skilled guide is becoming more and more important as the number of guides grows on the Kenai. With more than 300 guides operating on the Kenai River, competition for the tourist dollar is fierce.

The job of Kenai River guide, once a summertime pursuit, has become a full-time job.

A quick glance at the Internet shows just how intense the competition is. A basic search for Kenai guides reveals countless Web pages, offering everything from half-day fishing trips to week-long Alaska adventures.

In addition to now having their own Web sites, many guides spend their winter months traveling to sport shows Outside, hoping a little personal contact with the fishing public will translate into additional clients come summer.

Kenai guide Joe Hager and his wife, Arlene, recently made a trip to Denver for one such show. For 20 years, the Hagers have been traveling Outside to trade shows across the country. In the past, they would spend up to 60 days on the road, but this year, Denver was the only stop they made.

According to Arlene, the competition at the shows has just gotten too intense, with guides from around Alaska and the world vying to lure anglers.

"There were 49 guides from all parts of Alaska (in Denver)," Arlene said on her cell phone in January while en route from Colorado back to Alaska.

"There's also competition from other venues, like Costa Rica, Belize, Mexico," she said. "The shows are pretty international."

Although the Hagers have built up a large customer base, Arlene said new guides getting into the industry face a tough battle.

"For new people just starting out, it's ferocious," she said.