This is the first installment in a five-part series outlining the experiences of working fishing guides and what it takes to survive a dream job.
In my early 20s, I worked part-time at a tackle shop in Abbotsford, British Columbia. I wasn’t there for the paycheque, rather for the hefty discount on expensive gear and fly-tying materials. I ran a tab with the shop owner and paid back my debt on weekend shifts, selling Bouncing Betties to salmon...

I’ll be the first to admit that I had no interest in trying ice fishing. Fishing in the cold is one thing, but to do it on purpose while staring at a hole in the ice? Well, that’s another story. It wasn’t only the cold that deterred me; I’d seen ice-fishermen stay warm with fires, steaming cups of coffee and body heat. For me, the issues were the ethics of targeting starving trout, as well as my fear of boredom. I’m the sort of person who needs...