Originally from Charlottesville, Va., Edward Hill and Luke Campbell are changing the way the world books fishing trips.
After miserable experiences trying to book guided fishing trips, Edward Hill, CEO and founder of Fisher Guiding, decided it was time for a change. A lifelong fisherman, Hill left his job working in public policy in Washington D.C. to pursue other endeavors, like starting Fisher Guiding.
It only takes one bad fishing trip to understand just how tough finding a proper guide can be. Phone calls, emails, and faith are all you have to go on. It can be a pretty frustrating process. I for one had a terrible experience booking a flats fishing trip in the Florida Keys. When we got to the dock, it wasn’t a flats boat, and apparently, there was another family going with us. We left after arguing to get our deposit back.
While attending UC Boulder, Hill worked at Front Range Anglers and sometimes arranged trips for people who booked through the shop. In late 2016, he started to draft a business plan for a service that would make finding quality fishing trips and guides easier. In January 2017, Hill joined forces with Campbell to help grow the business. A couple of months later their website was launched, shortly after that, they had their first booking.
With over 250 guides across 20 countries, you can find just about any fishing trip you’re looking for. It’s a slick looking site and a well-designed interface. There are a dozen or so guides signed up here in the Southeast.
For guides, it’s totally free to sign up and list your business. You’re only charged when you book a trip. This fixed commission system allows you to expand your reach and market your business with no upfront cost. “We want to help guides get more business and create lasting relationships within the fishing community,” says Campbell.
They work with guides to help them set up and optimize their listings, share tips on marketing, and help you work with new features as they roll them out.
“In this fast-paced digital world, an entrepreneur must be imaginative, flexible, and remain open to new marketing platforms that provide unique global outreach – this is the “value-added” Fisher Guiding brings to FishN Masons Lane LLC.” – Neal Mason, founder of FishN Mason’s Lane in Front Royal, Va.
If you’re looking to book a trip through Fisher, simply head over to their website and start your search.
When asked about the future, the team at Fisher simply wants to continue improving upon their platform, making booking fishing trips easier for fisherman and guides alike. Additionally, they are exploring opportunities in connecting new guides with certification and education resources.
Tight lines!
Justin Forrest is an outdoor writer, fly fishing addict, and co-founder of Narrative North—based in Asheville, N.C. He posts pictures of cats and fishing on Instagram sometimes.
