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Certification Program Class Curriculum

Monday

  1. 8:00-8:30am
  2. Welcome by Mike Fenton, president, Kenai River Professional Guide Association; and, Gary Turner, director, Kenai Peninsula College and board chairman, Kenai River Guide Academy.
    1. Why this course was created “Why are you here?” presented by KRPGA president.
    2. Course requirements, curriculum, testing, course evaluations (handout), campus safety by Gary Turner.
    3. Public perceptions of the guide industry, your role as ambassadors for sportfishing and Alaska.
    4. Student introductions: how many years of guiding experience, how many years on the Kenai and who do you work for.

    8:30-11:00 am
    Kenai River Park Use Permits.
    • Insurance and licensing requirements, 2006 Park Use Permit stipulations, use of State Park facilities
    • Taught by Jacques Kosto, Kenai River District Ranger, AK State Parks.

    11:00 am-3:00 pm
    Introduction to the Kenai River Special Management Area
    1. River locations, popular holes and common names; river dangers in these sections and existing ownership.
    2. Traditional methods of fishing; back trolling, drift, etc., as they relate to river and client safety.
    3. Explanation of specific Kenai River Regulations (non-fishing).
    4. Taught by Jacques Kosto.
    5. Lunch provided by Kenai River Sportfishing Association and eaten during seminar.

    3:00-3:15 pm
    Class Photo

    3:15-4:45 pm
    Alaska wildlife habits: moose and bear safety
    1. Taught by Larry Lewis, Wildlife Technician, Alaska Department of Fish & Game.

Tuesday

  1. 8:00-10:00 am
  2. Overview of Kenai River fishing regulations.
    1. Taught by Trooper Todd Mountain, Alaska State Troopers

  3. 10-11:30 am
    How Kenai River fisheries management plans impact the movement of fish into the river, and the interface of various user groups (sport fishing, commercial fishing, personal use, subsistence, nonfishing on-the-water users).
    1. Presented by Robert Begich, Area Management Sport Fish Biologist, Upper Kenai Peninsula Area, ADF&G

  4. 11:30 am-12:30 pm
    Visible Management Tools guides and clients will see on the river: sonar, in-river Chinook netting, Coho wheels and creel surveys.
    1. Presented by Tim McKinley, Area Research Biologist, ADF&G
    2. Lunch provided by Kenai River Sportfishing Association and eaten during seminar.

    12:30-1:30 pm
    Alaska fishing guide licensing and proper logbook documentation.
    1. Presented by Dora Sigurdsson, Sport Fish Guide Licensing and Logbook Program Coordinator, ADF&G

    1:30-2:15 pm
    Middle, Upper Kenai River and Kasilof River issues.
    1. Taught by Kyle Kolodziejski, KRGA board member and Upper Kenai River fishing guide.

  5. 2:15-5:00 pm
    The Ethical Guide and Angler
    Angling and guide ethics observed on the Kenai River.
    • Presented by Jacques Kosto.
    • Open and small group discussion facilitated by Robin West, Kenai National Wildlife Refuge Manager and KRGPA master guides.

Wednesday

  1. 8:00-11:00 am
  2. History, culture and geology of the Kenai River.
    1. Taught by Dr. Alan Boraas, KPC Professor of Anthropology

    11:00 am-12:30 pm
  3. Catch and release issues: handling, measuring and releasing “trophy” fish.
    1. Presented by Mark Glassmaker, KRGA board membe and Kenai River master guide.

    12:30-1:15 pm
    Borough sales tax registration and requirements.
    1. Presented by DeRay Jones, Kenai Peninsula Borough auditor.
    2. Lunch provided by Kenai River Sportfishing Association and eaten during seminar
  1. 1:15-2:10 pm
  2. Boating safety, cold-water survival, dealing with weather and water conditions, onboard required safety items.
    • Taught by Chief Warrant Officer Mike Watson, USCG and Coast Guard Auxiliary.

  3. 2:10-3:00 pm
  4. US Coast Guard requirements, license renewal, drug testing programs.
    1. Taught by Chief Warrant Officer Mike Watson, USCG and Coast Guard Auxiliary.

  5. 3:00-4:15 pm
  6. Board of Fisheries (BOF), local advisory committees and public process.
    1. Partnering with local organizations such as Kenai River Special Management Area board, ADF&G Advisory Committees, KRPGA and Kenai River Sportfishing Association.
    2. Taught by Joe Connors, KRPGA master guide and KRGA board member.

  8. 4:15-5:15 pm
  9. Caring for your catch
    1. Taught by Dave Atcheson, Kenai Fishing Academy Coordinator and KRGA board member, and Mark Glassmaker, KRPGA master guide and KRGA board member.

Thursday

  1. 8:00-9:30 am
  2. What every guide should know...or questions almost every client will ask.
    1. Presented by Steve McClure, KRGA board member and master guide, and Kyle Kolodziejski.

    9:30-11:00 am
  3. The “goods and bads” of guiding and the guide industry.
    1. Facilitated by Joe Hanes, KRPGA master guide and KRGA board member.

    11:00 am-11:45 am
    Economics and value of participation in sport fishing industry, Kenai River watershed research and habitat/conservation projects.
    1. Presented by Ricky Gease, Executive Director, Kenai River Sportfishing Association.
    2. Lunch provided by Kenai River Sportfishing Association and eaten during seminar.
  4. 11:45 am -1:00 pm
  5. Panel discussion on current fisheries issues. Panel comprised of:
    1. Robert Begich-Guide limits and limited entry
    2. Robin West-Subsistence on the Kenai and Kasilof
    3. Mike Fenton-Top three complaints about guides and limited entry
    4. Robert Ruffner, Director, Kenai Watershed Forum-hydrocarbons and boat wake studies

  7. 1:00-4:00 pm
  8. Stream ecology and fish biology.
    Salmon life cycles, characteristics, and river hydrology.
    1. Taught by Dr. Dave Wartinbee, KPC Professor of Biology.
    4:00-4:15 pm
  9. Course evaluations

    4:15-5:00 pm
    Test review and study suggestions by Gary Turner.

  10. 5:00-6:00 pm (optional)
    Study/discussion groups.

Friday

  1. 8:00-8:10 am
  2. Test rules, confidentiality.

    8:10-10:30 am
  3. Written certification test.
    1. 100-question multiple choice tests will be graded upon completion. Those that don’t pass will be scheduled to retake the written exam.

  4. 9:30 am-2:00 pm
  5. Individual 20-minute oral examinations conducted by KRGA board members. Those who don’t pass the written exam will participate in the oral exams.
    1. Lunch on own.

  6. 2:00-2:30 pm
  7. Oral exam retakes if necessary.

  8. 2:30-3:00 pm
  9. Certificates of completion and KRGA-Certified boat stickers distributed to those who passed the written and oral exams.
    10. Top of Page
©KRGA 2006