MISTAKE NO. 8
Talk To Me!
Guide Bob Singley said that anglers and guides have to confer at least a day before their trip. Singley said that while he was guiding on the Columbia River this fall, twice he saw clients standing on the dock with no guide.

He asked both groups if they had talked to their guides. They had -- but it had been weeks before.

Personally, I always call my clients one or two days before their trip to give them the specifics -- the time, our meeting place and directions to get there.

MISTAKE NO. 9
Use The Guide's Gear
Sometimes people will want to bring their own gear. But guides have plenty, and it's specifically matched to the water conditions and the techniques that you will be encountering.

The guide will know how his gear will react if he tells you to set the hook or thumb the spool. If you bring anything else aboard, you're losing the opportunity for your team to be more like a well-oiled machine, as opposed to a dress rehearsal.

MISTAKE NO. 10
Nice Attitude, Dude!
"The fish will come," said Klickitat River guide John Garret. Clients must trust their guide. Come with an open mind, and a positive attitude. Don't get caught up solely in the fish. There's more to it than just catching.

In the mean time, don't miss out on what's going on in the world around you. Take advantage of the opportunity you have to be away from cell phones and computers.

A guided trip can be one of the best times spent on the water. But if enough mistakes are made, it becomes frustrating for everyone.