listen up wannabe guides!

Just received an email from LCDR Patrick Clark of the USCG. LCDR Clark is in charge of compliance with Coast Guard rules over pretty much the entire midwest.
If you guide on navigable waters–the Miss, Rock, lower Wis, St. Croix, Fox, Winnebago, the Great Lakes you MUST have a USCG license!
Had LCDR Clark and his family out for several days on pool 9 last month. He is a great guy, straight shooter and excellent angler.
Since then we’ve emailed back and forth. In his most recent email he says the rolling thunder is on the way. His investigators are looking into non-compliant guides as you read this post.
If you’re taking folks fishing for money or other “consideration” without proper licensure, you would be well advised to stop.
The USCG stands for United States Coast GOD. they don’t play around. The sword of justice is heavy and swift.
If you have any quetions or concerns you can reach LCDR Pat Clark at : [email protected]
phone is 314.539.3091 X3247
My sincere advise to y’all is stay safe. Be compliant…and become a true professional if ya wanna find a good way to lose money in business!

Ted,

I’m going to pin this up to the top of the board for a few days.

Just cruious, what kind of fine does a person face for a first time offense?

Thanks,
-J.

does this include mille lacs lake?

Quote:

---

In his most recent email he says the rolling thunder is on the way. His investigators are looking into non-compliant guides as you read this post.

The USCG stands for United States Coast GOD. they don’t play around. The sword of justice is heavy and swift.

---

Boy it sounds like you are kissing this guys
you can just give warning without all the metaphors?

Look at all of Ted’s posts and fishing reports…he makes a living off of his metaphors

Quote:

---

without all the metaphors?

---

I don’t think Ted is kissing any butt…. Have you not read any of Ted’s post? Ted minus a metaphoe just does not exist!

Gutpile… That’s an oxymoron!

When Ted first posted his reports/thoughts on subjects I sent him a pm…telling him be had a melodious voice in his messages.

If I recall correctly…he informed me that it was his wonder dog that was actually making the reports for him…kinda out sourceing so to speak..

I know everyone has their own likes and dislikes… I look forward to reading Ted’s views with some clever humor and word trickery included. Not to mention the antics of Ted’s wonder dog…(sorry, I can’t recall her name).

Keep pumping out those reports wonder dog…er…I mean Ted!

This does not include Mille Lacs lake. It does however include such waters such as Leech, Cass, Winni, LOW Kabetogama, Rainy, Bemidji, Pokegama, and a number of other federal waters in MN.

The fine for chartering without a license can be up to $25,000 per occurance, plus $5,000 per occurance for not being on the drug test program. Your clients can also be fined up to $25,000 for hiring an unlicensed operator.

The best way for the consumer to avoid hiring an unlicensed and uninsured operator is to insist on seeing a copy of thier USCG license. Any legitimate guide will be more than happy to provide this upon request.

thanks for input, kwkfsh…re: use of metaphors, words are my tools to hammer stuff home to y’awl. I saw what the USCG wants to do, seriously nailing you comes after a couple handslaps. If you guide navigable waters, you auger consider getting a license, asap. Regarding butt kissing, that’s something I don’t do. However, i’m still young and crazy enough to attempt attitude adjustment on anybody who thinks this is the case. At least i have enough wisdom to realize that my arms are too short to box with God…and on navigable waters of the United States the USCG certainly qualifies as this entity!

KW, You bring up some interesting lakes. I’m guessing most guides up north don’t know about this license. Thanks for posting, I would have never known.

John

Kooty,

This is actually a huge problem in MN. due to the fact that we have many, many federal waters. There are a number of other lakes that fall under this such as Gull, Whitefish Chain, Namakan, Red river, Minn. river, etc, etc. There are a huge number of guides that are operating illegally and without insurance. In fact I would be willing to bet that there is not a single guide in the Brainerd area that can legally operate on Gull Lake. How sad is that!

As ambassaduers of the sport, fishing guides have a duty and an obligation to be viewed as a good example and not a horrible warning.

It seems that the USCG has come to realize the extent of the problem here and is about to crack down hard.

Anyone who guides without the proper license and insurance is simply not playing with a full deck and certainly not someone that you would want to hire. They are putting themselves and their clients at risk each and every time they do a trip.

Anyone who is a professional mariner knows that you simply do not mess with the USCG. They are in fact as Ted so eloquently put it “God on the Water”.

Where can a person get a list of all the waters in Minnesota that you have to have a USCG license in order to guide on?

Jack, I was told to contact the Coast Guard in Duluth for the list on waters. They had no idea what lakes were actually federal. They really dont monitor the in-land federal lakes so it didnt seem they cared much when I spoke with them..

I have been a guide for 8 years now in the metro area and this has been a concern for some time. I have people call and say they are a guide in need of work. The first question always was are you insured, 90% said yes under my home owners. I can’t beleave how many paople think this is ok. A few years back Lake Minnetonka Water Patrol made it mandatory to have your boat inspected every year if your going to guide or rent out boats. All the guide trips I’ve done over the years I’ve been asked only a hand full of times if I was insured or licensed.

That is really a big problem in this state. Homeowners insurance policies WILL NOT COVER ANY COMMERCIAL LIABILITY, WHAT SO EVER!

I firmly believe it is time for Minnesota to establish, regulate, and require guiding licenses in this state. I say that for two reasons….First, just what we are talking about here, insurance, and qualifications, and…. secondly, because there is an ever growing number of people from outside the state of Minnesota that come here during the summer to work as a guide. They come here, use our natural resources, make a nice chunk of cash, and go back to their home state without paying a penny in income tax to Minnesota for the use of our natural resources, and they do it all for the cost of a non-resident fishing license! I’ve seen a growing number of “guides” from Wisconsin, Illinois, and even Kentucky guiding for muskies on Mille Lacs, and have heard the same thing is true on Cass, Leech, LOTW, and Vermillion. Its time for Minnesota to get a handle on this problem.

I agree Jack and even contacted the DNR with a proposal. The DNR said they did introduce a bill just a couple of years ago and it got nowhere. There was no interest in regulating the industry.

Large portion of the state are already regulated. What you’re seeing now is the beginning of some enforcement.

On a side note… much of Mille Lacs sits on Federally Ceded territory and as such falls under jurisdiction of the Coast Guard. Interesting, yes? I thought so when I asked the question. I did not get an offical answer “on the record” if this would affect those guiding on mille lacs but it sure made me curious.

Many of the guides on this site have taken the classes or are in the process of being certified. This type of post needs to hit some other sites to really reach a new audience although those that use guides throughout the state may make use of this info to help them choose the right guide.

That is exactly where I was coming from James. I don’t want a $25k fine for not asking the proper questions. Now, I’m sure the consumer wouldn’t get twanged that badly the first offense, but I’m certainly not willing to be an example either.

This is a great post!!

When I first started the guide service I was suprised to here that there was no license needed. Like Jases posted I too did take classes on boating, cpr and others not because it was required but I felt I at least owed that to my customers safty. As most guides I have all kinds of stories of what happens during an outing. I agree there should be some kind of licensing for guiding. I would imagine that it is the same with hunting guides.

Kooty,
who the H would hire you as a guide?