Thread: Kentucky Captains Questions

Originally Posted by perchjerker108

MR and All, just my comments and I hope all fishermen at the site agree. I admire all of you that take the time and expense to be Coast Guard Certified as a Guide in KY or country wide. I was is in SC and very few 'Guides' were Certified by the Coast Guide as a Guide. Most just posted they were 'Guides'. I looked for a Coast Guard certified Guide in SC to take my dad and his friend fishing for Blue catfish. When I researched the 40 or more guides that Guided for Catfish, I only found 7 that had the Coast guard certification. So, if you want a 'Guide' make sure they are Coast Guard Certified. The KY website will issue a 'Guide' permit but it has very few requirements'. I hate to think that this is all that is what is required to be a 'Guide' in KY, Pay your $150, fill out the form and you are now a 'Guide". I think all of these guys in that get Coast Guard Certified in Ky,(in addition to the huge expense to be Coast Guard certified) pay $150/year for a KY 'Guide' license in addition to all the certification training. So, keep this in mind when you hire a Coast Guard Certified Guide and notice they may charge a little bit more than the 'local' guides that are not certified.

One word - insurance

Unless something has changed the Coast Guard six pack license requirement is being phased in
across the country on all Federal regulated waters and applies to not only fishing guides, but also hunting guides.

When I started the process to guide on KY and Barkley, I got a bunch of misinformation. Some of it was from the Coast Guard office in Paducah. KY Fish and Wildlife could care less if somebody who pays $150 for a guide license has a OUPV (Six Pack) credential. US Coast Guard could care less if somebody who has the OUPV has a KY F&W guide license. They are totally separate.

I called Frankfort with a question about OUPV and they put me in touch with the USCG Head of Recreational Boating for the entire SE USA. In our conversation, he told me if a guide is caught on any of what they call the Western Waterways (any water that attaches to the Mississippi River by navigation) without the OUPV, he/she would be subject to a fine of up to $25,000 and forfeiture of all equipment (boat, tackle, truck and trailer at the ramp). That in itself took away any temptation I might have had to not get all my ducks in a row.

I've had several folks ask me to explain what the process is and how much. When I told them, they said no way they would go to that expense and they would take their chances without the OUPV.

My guide insurance is 3X what it would cost to just cover the boat and gear. My new deal with Excel is going to require a lot more coverage and that is going to cost double what the regular guide policy would be.

It's very expensive to be a Licensed and Insured Guide. I figure I can't afford to even consider guiding without all my I's dotted and T's crossed.

As I mentioned in my earlier post, I've just completed the US Coast Guard certified course in order to gain my Captain's license so I can guide for crappie on Lake Cumberland and Dale Hollow Lakes. Like M R Dux, I began my quest by getting in touch with the KY Wildlife Office in Frankfort. A very helpful person there steered me to the US Coast Guard office for the Southeast Region, where I got all the requirements and helpful advice I needed. I can tell you personally that the USCG takes "very" seriously their requirements for being a guide. Unlike Kentucky and Barkley Lakes, Dale Hollow and Lake Cumberland have no barge traffic and/or locks needed to traverse the lakes. However, the USCG still controls the Cumberland River waterways and it makes no difference whether there is any "commercial" traffic or not. To be legal, they said, you have to have a Coast Guard certified license or be prepared to face the consequences. I was glad to oblige!

Originally Posted by M R Dux

When I started the process to guide on KY and Barkley, I got a bunch of misinformation. Some of it was from the Coast Guard office in Paducah. KY Fish and Wildlife could care less if somebody who pays $150 for a guide license has a OUPV (Six Pack) credential. US Coast Guard could care less if somebody who has the OUPV has a KY F&W guide license. They are totally separate.

I called Frankfort with a question about OUPV and they put me in touch with the USCG Head of Recreational Boating for the entire SE USA. In our conversation, he told me if a guide is caught on any of what they call the Western Waterways (any water that attaches to the Mississippi River by navigation) without the OUPV, he/she would be subject to a fine of up to $25,000 and forfeiture of all equipment (boat, tackle, truck and trailer at the ramp). That in itself took away any temptation I might have had to not get all my ducks in a row.

I've had several folks ask me to explain what the process is and how much. When I told them, they said no way they would go to that expense and they would take their chances without the OUPV.

My guide insurance is 3X what it would cost to just cover the boat and gear. My new deal with Excel is going to require a lot more coverage and that is going to cost double what the regular guide policy would be.

It's very expensive to be a Licensed and Insured Guide. I figure I can't afford to even consider guiding without all my I's dotted and T's crossed.

Doug, and all, This seems to be VERY complicated on the Rules.
1st: If you are 'checked' by the KY conservation officer on the lake for whatever reason, According to you,THEY don't care if you are a Certified Captain(Coast Guard Certified). Just as long as you have paid the $150 fee and have the documentation for the KY 'Guide' license . Is this correct ?
2nd: Now, I guess, per your information, IF for some reason the Coast Guard has to be involved, and you are 'checked' and if you are not 'Certified' by the Coast Guard', then you lose all your stuff, even though you have a 'Guide' license for the state of Ky. Is this correct?
Somehow, I can't figure out why the two requirements are 'separate' and not related. If the Coast Guard certification is required for all Guides in KY, then the 'Guide' license in KY should require this on the form.

1st Correct. They can't ticket you for the federal violation of not having the OUPV. That doesn't mean they won't get on the radio and call for Coast Guard.

2nd Correct Certified isn't the term. It's "credentialed" You would have to go to court before they could legally take your stuff but I doubt the Coast Guard would have a problem with going to court. It would probably involve an accident with clients that would warrant the book being thrown at you.

Coast Guard credential isn't required for all guides in KY, just those who guide on rivers or lakes attached to the Mississippi or its tributaries. You are dealing with two entirely different entities with USCG and KY F&W. Different rules apply.

Mr, thanks for taking the time to explain this stuff. Excellent post. I guess it boils down to the 'client' choices when selecting a Guide. I will from now on, only look for Guides that have the Coast Guard 'Credentials' going forward.