the risks of fishing with a guide during the pandemic

The Risks of Fishing with a Guide During the Pandemic: What Guides are Proposing for Safety

By: Kirston Koths Phd, virology

Outfitters I respect have recently posted their guidelines for opening guided fishing trips. IMO, their protocols should greatly reduce, but not eliminate, the risk of getting infected by the virus causing Covid-19. As a person with very high risk of dying from this infection, I am waiting to take guided trips until a vaccine (which may arrive by early next year) has been widely distributed. Your risk factors and risk tolerance may differ, but I am only taking camping trips or day trips with my co-inhabitants as of now. One loophole in any outfitter’s safety protocol is the inevitable compliance issue, with some young “invincible” guides being a potential weak link in any proposed safety plan. Travel in guide shuttles also increases risk, as does staying in lodging. Aerosol transmission remains the most likely way anglers will become infected, and I note that even the Buff company website states that their product does not block aerosols.

Reproduced below, is what Guides and outfitters plan for their safety at this time.

Fly Water Travel (Nor-Cal & Southern Oregon & More) • Goals: Maximize guest, staff, and public safety. It should be firmly noted that these protocols are established to minimize – not eliminate – the chance of exposure to

COVID-19. All destination travel will entail risk. Staff and participants may be exposed to known and unknown hazards. • Upon Arrival: The operator will inquire

regarding clients’ health (fever, cough, etc) and question their health history (positive tests or quarantine in the past). If there is a question about the health of the traveler the operator will reserve the right to deny entry to the lodge or camp. • Transportation: Shuttle drivers and guides will incorporate safety protocols, including masks, wipes, hand sanitizer, and cleaning of hotspots upon entering and exiting vehicles. • On the Water: It is mandatory for the guides and guests to wear a protective face mask at all times on the water. Rod grips and reels will be wiped down before and after every trip at a minimum. If the guide uses the rod, he or she will wipe down again before giving back to the guests. Guests are encouraged to bring their own equipment if possible. This same protocol applies to all gear the guest and guides touch: boat seats, PFD’s, oars, landing net, etc. Guides must carry a form of hand sanitizer (wipes or liquid) and have it readily available in the boat for use. Guide and guests are encouraged to use it frequently. Guests will be given a verbal warning about the use of saliva to assist in tightening knots on the leader and to avoid touching the fly, leader, knots, etc., if possible. • At the Lodge or in Camp: Single accommodations will be used if possible. If this is not possible, guests should consider only rooming with other guests in their pre-trip group. The lodge or camp will be set up with social distancing in mind.

This will include mealtimes, where staff and customers will maintain appropriate distances at separate tables whenever possible. • Food and Beverage Handling: Customers can expect that staff will be wearing gloves and masks when preparing and handling food and beverages. Hogan Brown, Northern CA guide. • I ask that anyone who books a trip be healthy and have not been exposed to anyone that is sick or has been heavily exposed. • Clients can cancel at any time without penalty if they are not feeling well, feel they have been exposed, or are not comfortable with coming or traveling. • I will not be providing lunch, I will ask that clients provide their own lunches. • Water will be provided in disposable water bottles. While this pains me, I think it is the safest thing and is the recommended thing to do. • I will sterilize all gear and my boat everyday based on recommendations. • Hand sanitizer will be provided in the boat for clients to use. • Face covers in the form of “Buffs” is recommended but not required, and if it makes clients more comfortable I am OK wearing my own N95 mask. • Clients will be met at boat ramps and not transported in my vehicle (short rides from meeting spots will be an exception on drift trips) from hotel/motel with drift boat trips shuttles are TBD. • I will be offering half day, full day, and evening trips with flexible meeting times to allow for same day travel.

Yellow Dog Outfitters (worldwide)

When the time comes to get back on the water, how can we do it in a way that is safe and respectful to those concerned about the continued spread of COVID-19? At Yellow Dog we’ve looked to our partners whose livelihoods depend on getting back on the water. Here are some of just a few of the examples our what our western U.S. partners will be doing to reduce the spread and protect anglers and guests as soon as we are able to get back to a life spent fly

fishing. Increased Hand Washing Stations. Most of our lodges and fly shops have increased their available hand washing stations. Glacier Anglers, outside of Glacier National Park, has said the following: “throughout our complex and facilities, are hand washing and sanitation stations, as well as hand washing stations located in camp during each of our multi-day trips.” Our Partner Lodges are Committed to Keeping Clean. All of Yellow Dog’s partner lodges have assured us that there is nothing more important to them than the health and safety of their guests and staff. Housekeepers, food and beverage employees, administration staff, and all other staff will be following all CDC guidelines to ensure healthy lodging environments for all guests and employees. Our Overnight Float Trips Taking Cleanliness to a New Level. Jake Wells, Yellow Dog’s multi-day float trips expert says, “Sanitation on our overnight float trips will be a major focus. Our outfitters run meticulous clean camps to begin with so sanitation is very important. They have all added extra hand sanitizing protocols, upon setting-up and striking camp all gear will be cleaned and sanitized, and guides and camp staff will be properly educated and follow all CDC guidelines.” Fishing Guides Adding Sanitation Protocols on Trips. Our fly fishing guides know people will want to go fishing soon. When that happens, our partner lodges and outfitters have been hard at work training fishing guides to reduce the risk of transmission. They are being trained to have anti-bacterial wipes in their vehicles and boats for wiping down nets, oars, rods, handles, steering wheels, gas pumps, etc. and to have additional wipes for their anglers. Guides will be wiping down boats and gear before and after each trip and during the day and ensure hand sanitizer is available at all times. During set-up of the rods and demonstrating casting or fishing techniques, guides will sanitize hands and gear. They will be taught the proper way to minimizing the risk of co-mingling air, such as sneezing or coughing downwind and sneezing or coughing into one’s own arm. Increased Communication About New Cleaning Protocols. COVID-19 is not going to escape our daily lives this angling season. But by having open and honest conversations about the necessary precautions means anglers, guides, lodge and camp staff, can all relax and enjoy going fishing. Good judgement is crucial for everyone. Here’s what you can expect for a guided fishing trip in the near future: • Cover up as best as possible. Buffs, sunmasks, gloves, hats, and glasses are all essential. • Hugs will resume when this is all over. Air high fives, hang-tens, air-guitar riffs, and the like will be the new normal for awhile. • If at all possible clients will be encouraged to travel in their own vehicles to and from fishing each day. • During the rigging-up and breaking-down of gear, either guides or anglers will do this, but not both. • Once flies are tied-on they will go directly into the water, not back to the angler. • Vehicle shuttle companies—the drivers who move the guides’ rigs while fishing all day— will be sanitizing door handles and steering wheels before and after each shuttle. • Trips may depart at various times throughout the day to avoid peak rush times at fly shops or boat ramps. • Communication about these new protocols will be key. From who is taking the picture of a nice fish to bringing your own water bottle, we are all in this together so prior planning and communication is crucial so we can all ensure we can stay on the water once we can get back on the water.