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Certification Program Class Curriculum

Monday

  1. 8:00-8:30am
  2. Welcome by Dave Goggia, president, Kenai River Professional Guide Association; Joe Connors, former 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.
  1. 8:30 am-12:30 pm
  2. 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, Kenai River District Head Ranger, AK State Parks
    5. Lunch provided by Kenai River Sportfishing Association and eaten during seminar.
  1. 12:30-2:00 pm
  2. Kenai River State Park Use Permits.
    1. Insurance and licensing requirements, Park Use Permit stipulations, use of State Park facilities
    2. Taught by Pam Russell, Guide Permitting Specialist, AK State Parks.
  1. 2:00-2:15 pm
    1. Class Photo
  1. 2:15-4:45 pm
  2. Alaska wildlife habits: moose and bear safety
    1. Taught by Jeff Selinger, Regional Wildlife Biologist, 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
  1. 10:00-11:00 am
  2. Borough sales tax registration and requirements.
    1. Presented by DeRay Jones, Kenai Peninsula Borough auditor.
  1. 11:00-12:30 pm
  2. 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.
    3. Lunch provided by Kenai River Sportfishing Association and eaten during seminar.
  1. 12:30-1:30 pm
  2. Alaska fishing guide licensing and proper logbook documentation.
    1. Presented by Dora Sigurdsson, Fishery Biologist, ADF&G Sport Fish Division.
  1. 1:30-2:15 pm
  2. Middle, Upper Kenai River and Kasilof River issues.
    1. Taught by Paul Tornow, Upper & Middle Kenai River fishing guide.
  1. 2:15-5:00 pm
  2. The Ethical Guide and Angler
    Angling and guide ethics observed on the Kenai River.
    1. Presented by Gary Titus, Park Ranger, Kenai National Wildlife Refuge and Monte Roberts, former KRPGA President and KRGA board member, and Joe Connors, former KRPGA President.

Wednesday

  1. 8:00-9:15 am
  2. 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
  1. 9:15-10:15 pm
  2. 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
  1. 10:15-11:00 am
  2. Boating safety, cold-water survival, dealing with weather and water conditions, onboard required safety items.
    1. Presented by the United States Coast Guard, MSD Kenai.
  1. 11:10-12:00 pm
  2. US Coast Guard requirements, license renewal, drug testing programs.
    1. Presented by the United States Coast Guard, Sector Anchorage.
    2. Lunch provided by Kenai River Sport Fishing Association and eaten during seminar.
  1. 12:00-3:00 pm
  2. History, culture and geology of the Kenai River.
    1. Taught by Dr. Alan Boraas, KPC Professor of Anthropology
  1. 3:00-4:15 pm
  2. Catch & Release: handling, measuring and releasing “trophy” fish.
    1. Presented by Aaron Cooper, KRPGA Secretary/Treasurer, Kenai River guide.
  1. 4:15-5:15 pm
  2. Caring for your catch
    1. Taught by Dave Atcheson, Kenai Fishing Academy Coordinator and KRGA board member, and Mark Conway, Kenai River guide.

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 Andy Szczesny, KRGA board member and Upper Kenai guide.
  1. 9:30-11:00 am
  2. The “goods and bads” of guiding and the guide industry.
    1. Facilitated by Joe Hanes, KRPGA master guide.
  1. 11:00-12:00 pm
  2. 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.
  1. 12:00-1:00 pm
  2. Panel discussion on current fisheries issues. Panel comprised of:
    1. Dave Goggia - Replacement guide policy and SB24, Sport Fish Guide Services Board
    2. Robert Begich - Subsistence issues and review of Upper Cook Inlet Board of Fish decisions.
    3. Dr. David Wartinbee, Kenai Watershed Forum - turbidity and boat wake studies
  1. 1:00-4:00 pm
  2. Stream ecology and fish biology.
    Salmon life cycles, characteristics, and river hydrology.
    1. Taught by Dr. Dave Wartinbee, KPC Professor of Biology.
  1. 4:00-4:15 pm
    1. Course evaluations
  1. 4:15-5:00 pm
    1. Test review and study suggestions by Gary Turner.
  1. 5:00-6:00 pm (optional)
    1. Study/discussion groups.

Friday

  1. 8:00-8:10 am
    1. Test rules, confidentiality.
  1. 8:10-10:30 am
  2. 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.
  1. 10:30-12:00 pm
    1. Individual 20-minute oral examinations conducted by Kenai River guides and agency personnel. Those who don’t pass the written exam will still participate in the oral exams. You are not to take the oral exam until you have received your written test score. Lunch on your own.
  1. 11:00-12:00 pm
    1. Written exam retakes if necessary.
  1. 2:30-3:00 pm
  2. Certificates of completion and KRGA-Certified boat stickers distributed to those who passed the written and oral exams.
    1. Getting involved in the industry through the Kenai River Professional Guide Association presented by Dave Goggia, KRPGA President.
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