The Times — They Are A Changin’
Professional Outdoor Guide In Upstate New YorkRead More →
Professional Outdoor Guide In Upstate New YorkRead More →
In 2018, after entertaining several public forums across New York state, the DEC fisheries managers reversed their inland trout stream management policies. After some 75 years of put-and-take, hatchery-fueled stream management, they abandoned their course. In the management, of anything, a drastic 360 degree turn in procedure, an abrupt change of path, is interpreted as a serious correction. In this case, 75 years of inland trout stream management based upon an in depth stocking program, was deemed no longer suitable. The creeks, streams, and flows that make up the inland trout waters of New York State have changed over the era for the worse. TheRead More →
My first fly rod was a two-piece fiberglass Wonderod made by Shakespeare. It had metal ferrules, cheap tin guides, and a chipped cork handle. It was a terrible fly rod. But the only one I had. When I first discovered it (resting on two nails hammered into the floor joists of my fathers workshop) it was wrapped in a musty cloth sock and covered in years of dust. Taking the rod out of the basement shop, I lashed it to the frame of my BMX bike with rubber bands and bread ties. My father watched as I affixed the rod to my bike seeming toRead More →
Fly fishing is a large part of Upstate Guide Service. I have been teaching fly fishing and fly casting on the lakes, streams, and rivers of Upstate New York since 2003. Lefty Kreh taught me how to cast on VHS tapes in the 90’s. I have been consumed with mastering the presentation of the fly ever since. The year 2024 marks 21 years of guiding and instructing fly fishing. Over the course of two decades I’ve been fortunate to teach hundreds of people how to fly fish. My approach to teaching fly casting can help beginners progress quickly. Fly fishing has changed in theRead More →
The river was a winding, narrow, beautiful vein of water that lead through a massive conifer wilderness far removed from any signs of civilization. The sense of solitude was intense. Brook trout rose in front of us as we paddled, and darted to the safety of giant log jams and undercut banks to escape our intrusion. Leaning back in the stern seat, gently paddling, and guiding the canoe along — while taking in the sights and sounds of the forest on a bright and beautiful day — was what I wanted to do. But it’s not what I did. The river rarely went straight and itsRead More →
The itinerary of our trip was provided to not only Butch, but also to each of our spouses. A detailed timeline, map of our route, and GPS coordinates of the put-in, take-out, and each nights campsite, was provided for safety purposes. The wilderness is a safe place. But to enter into it without a solid plan, and not sharing that plan with others, would be negligent. Just over a half-mile from the road through the forest to our north was the river. The coordinates to the river landing was on my handheld GPS when I started off into the conifer forest with John close behind.Read More →
The ultra-light spinning outfits were gone. We backtracked, scanned the roadside, but were unable to recover the rods. Without dwelling on my mishap, too much, we turned the truck around and headed north. Losing two rods before we get to the river is not a great way to start a trip. We crossed the Blue Line on NYS Rt #3 at 0800 hrs and arrived in Childwold to meet Butch at 0855. About 15 minutes behind schedule. The skies were bright blue and cloudless on the first day of our trip. At 0930 we made our way to the take-out where I would leave myRead More →
With the rough parameters of John’s wilderness fishing trip defined, and dates in early May selected, I began to think about the many options. With over six and a half million acres of rugged forest, containing thousands of ponds, lakes, and flows, the Adirondack Park is big. Planning a week of backcountry fishing would require some thought and a difficult decision. As the Winter of 2020 turned into Spring, I began to narrow my field and began to get excited in anticipation of this unique trip. Then came Covid. John’s trip became insignificant. All my trips became insignificant. With life on hold, guiding was shelved. In mid May, however, the governorRead More →
In the late Autumn of 2019, sometime between Thanksgiving and Christmas, I received a phone call from a gentleman named John from Washington, DC. We had a long conversation that included many topics. Most important to John was my ability to explain why he should hire me as his guide for an extensive week-long trout fishing trip into the Adirondack backcountry. I provided the in-depth information pertinent to my experience and listened as he explained what were his goals for this trip. Over the winter phone conversations between John and I continued. More questions and more answers. Then John agreed, in early March of 2020Read More →