Fly Guide Jobs: Building a Better Way for Guides and Outfitters to Find Each Other

The Fly Box LLC
3 days ago
5 min read

This interview was conducted by The Fly Box and featured in Casts That Care, our charity-driven fly fishing news.

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By The Fly Box | Casts That Care

A Fly Fishing Foundation

Like many anglers, the story begins with a borrowed rod.

Davis McDermott first picked up fly fishing while he was in high school, after a friend handed him an extra six-weight and invited him along. What started casually quickly turned into something deeper. McDermott found himself drawn to the rhythm and challenge of the sport, from casting to fly selection to chasing bass and carp in ponds around Oklahoma City.

What kept him coming back was the way fly fishing demanded presence.

As Davis explains, "fly fishing gets me outside, forces me to learn new techniques, and challenges me every time I am fishing." That combination is familiar to many anglers, and it is often the reason fly fishing becomes more than just a hobby. It asks for patience, attention, and growth, while offering an escape from the day to day stress of life.

Seeing the Gap

Although fly fishing was central to his life, guiding did not immediately follow. McDermott spent his entire adult career serving in the United States Navy. As he approached the end of his contract, he began thinking seriously about what came next, including the possibility of taking on a beginner fly fishing guide position.

What he found instead was a fragmented and outdated system. Davis recalls that while searching, "the only resource I could find was an outdated website that had more manufacturing and social media jobs than actual fly fishing gigs." For someone genuinely trying to enter the guide world, the process was frustrating and discouraging.

That frustration sparked an idea. Davis realized he wanted to build "exactly what I was looking for when I was trying to find my first fly fishing guide job." His story is one many anglers can relate to. Seeing a clear problem firsthand and recognizing that no one else was addressing it in a meaningful way.

Building Fly Guide Jobs

Fly Guide Jobs was created with a simple but focused goal. Make it easier for guides and outfitters to find each other without unnecessary friction.

McDermott understood that guiding is inherently seasonal. Guides move around the country following fish, weather, and opportunity. Lodges and fly shops, meanwhile, are often searching for reliable people with proven experience on tight timelines. Davis saw value in creating a place where, as he put it, "a guide in Alaska can see opportunities in Arkansas or Florida without calling around or spending hours searching outfitter websites." That clarity benefits everyone involved.

At its core, the mission is straightforward. Davis describes Fly Guide Jobs as a way to "connect real guides with real guide jobs around the country." That focus is what separates the platform from generic job boards or fleeting social media posts.

The site was intentionally designed to serve employers of all sizes. Some operations have been guiding rivers for generations, while others are just getting started. McDermott wanted Fly Guide Jobs to work whether an employer needed someone with fifteen years of experience or was looking to train a young college graduate.

Transparency is central to that vision. Davis has seen firsthand how clear information around pay, housing options, and working hours helps both sides avoid wasted time. As he noted, Fly Guide Jobs gives job seekers "a clear understanding of the opportunities available" before committing to an application.

Early Momentum

Fly Guide Jobs officially launched in May of 2025, and the response was immediate. In a short time, the site hosted more than forty job postings, grew its newsletter, and built an Instagram following.

But Davis is quick to emphasize that the strongest signal of momentum has come through direct messages and phone calls from guides themselves. He shared that "the dozens of DMs and phone calls I have received from guides expressing how excited they are" confirmed that the platform was meeting a real need.

That kind of response matters more than metrics. It reflects trust from a community that relies heavily on relationships and reputation.

A Tool for the Entire Industry

Fly Guide Jobs was built with flexibility at its core. It supports employers looking for seasoned guides as well as those hoping to bring new people into the industry.

One of the most intentional decisions McDermott made was offering free posting options. In an industry dominated by small, locally owned fly shops and outfitters, hiring should not depend on budget.

"the last thing outfitters should have to worry about is if they can afford to get their listing in front of the right people."

Removing that barrier helps keep opportunity accessible across the industry.

This approach reflects a broader understanding of how guiding actually works. Seasonal movement, flexibility, and change are part of the job. Fly Guide Jobs adapts to that reality rather than trying to force a rigid system onto a fluid profession.

Looking Ahead

For now, Davis remains focused on the fundamentals. Quality listings. Quality candidates. Real connections that lead to people getting hired.

Looking forward, McDermott hopes to expand the platform to host guide resumes directly on the site and manage applications in one place. His goal is to "help eliminate any friction in getting the right people in the right places," continuing to streamline a process that has long relied on informal networks.

That vision is rooted in lived experience. Davis saw a gap, felt its impact, and chose to build something better.

A Reflection

Fly Guide Jobs is an example of what happens when someone pays attention to the quieter problems in fly fishing. The ones that rarely make headlines, but shape the lives of guides and outfitters season after season.

Davis McDermott’s story resonates because it is practical. He did not set out to disrupt an industry for the sake of it. He set out to fix something that was broken for people like him. In doing so, he created a tool that supports mobility, transparency, and opportunity, all of which strengthen the fly fishing community as a whole.

Where to Find Fly Guide Jobs

You can find Davis McDermott and Fly Guide Jobs at FlyGuideJobs.com, and on Instagram at @flyguidejobs, where he continues to build a centralized resource for guides and outfitters across the country.

There is a lot to learn from the way Davis approaches both fly fishing and the business side of the industry. He reminds us that meaningful progress often starts with noticing small, overlooked problems and choosing to solve them thoughtfully. By prioritizing transparency, accessibility, and real connections, he is helping make the guide world easier to navigate for everyone involved.

In an industry defined by movement, seasonality, and trust, Fly Guide Jobs shows that simple tools, built with intention, can have a real impact. Davis’s work highlights the value of reducing friction, supporting guides where they are, and strengthening the relationships that keep fly fishing moving forward. That mindset is one worth carrying with us as the industry continues to evolve.