WHAT QUESTIONS TO ASK YOUR “Twizel Fishing Guide”

These are the questions I’d encourage clients to ask you during a day:

1. “Why have you chosen this particular spot today?”
   This lets you explain water conditions, fish movement, weather, time of day and what your experience is telling you.

2. “What are you looking for when you read the water?”
   A great teaching question. It gets clients thinking beyond simply casting.

3. “Why are we using this technique today?”
   Whether you’re soft baiting, egg rolling, lure fishing or fly fishing, you can explain why one technique suits the conditions.

4. “How do you decide what lure, soft bait or fly to use?”
   This gives them knowledge they can use when they’re fishing without you.

5. “How can I tell when I’ve had a take?”
   Especially valuable for beginners learning subtle canal takes.

6. “What am I doing wrong with my cast or presentation?”
   I’d actually encourage clients to ask you this. They’re paying for your experience, so constructive correction is valuable.

7. “What should I change when the fish aren’t biting?”
   Probably one of the most useful lessons you can teach. Successful anglers learn how to adapt rather than simply keep doing the same thing.

8. “Where do the trout tend to sit in the canal?”
   Depth, current, structure, edges and food movement all give you an opportunity to explain how these fisheries actually work.

9. “How do weather and water conditions affect the fishing?”
   Wind, temperature, light and flow can completely change your approach.

10. “What gear would you recommend if I wanted to do this myself?”
    Rod, reel, line, leader, terminal tackle and the things that are actually worth spending money on.

11. “How should I play a really big trout?”
    Particularly relevant to the canals. This allows you to teach drag management, rod angle, patience and how not to panic when a big fish runs.

12. “What’s the correct way to land and handle a trout?”
    A very important part of your guiding philosophy, particularly when fish are going to be released.

13. “What mistakes do you see canal anglers making most often?”
    This could produce some of your best advice because you’ve spent years watching people fish these waters.

14. “What separates a consistently successful angler from someone who just gets lucky?”
    That’s a fantastic question for an experienced client to ask you.

15. “If you were fishing here by yourself today, what would you be doing?”
    Possibly the best question of the lot. It gets straight to your instincts and experience.

Remember, there’s no such thing as a silly question.