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May 13, 2025

Steelhead Season Wrap-Up: Reflections from the River

By |May 13th, 2025|Categories: Uncategorized|Tags: , , , , , , , |

Steelhead Season Wrap-Up: Reflections from the River As spring gives way to early summer here in Upstate New York, another steelhead season has come to a close. It’s always bittersweet wrapping up a chapter that brings so much excitement, challenge, and connection—to both the fish and the anglers who chase them. This season was no different. A Season of Highs and Lows (and High Water!) The 2024–2025 steelhead run kept us on our toes. From early fall pushes in low water to unpredictable winter thaws, Mother Nature threw everything at us. We had stretches of high water that shuffled fish and tested our ability to adapt. But when conditions lined up, the rewards were worth every cold morning and every long drift. Some of the highlights included: Early season chrome in October that came in hard and fast December days with fish holding deep and willing to eat swung flies A strong late-winter push in February and March with fresh fish showing up right when we needed them. One of many bright steelhead that made this late season special. Swing Season Success Spey anglers had a solid season. As always, covering water with a two-hander and watching a fish chase down a fly in the swing is something special. We saw good action on intruders, leeches, and smaller, sparse patterns in clear water. Anglers were rewarded who put in the time and moved with the fish. What Worked (and What Didn’t) Flies that consistently produced: Purple and black intruders Senyo's AI's Egg-sucking sculpins Tactics that paid off: Covering water instead of sitting in one spot. Adjusting sink tips and depth constantly. Staying persistent through cold snaps and tough days. Fishing confidence flies. Looking [...]

March 4, 2025

Brown Trout

By |March 4th, 2025|Categories: Uncategorized|Tags: , , , , , , , , , , , , , |

       Experience Epic Trout Fly Fishing in Eastern NY! Join us for an unforgettable guided trip on the West Canada Creek or Hoosic for a drift boat adventure or explore the legendary West Branch Ausable River on a wade trip! Whether you're chasing wild browns or perfecting your cast, we’ve got the knowledge and experience to put you on fish. ✅ Float Trips & Wade Trips Available ✅ Perfect for Beginners & Experienced Anglers ✅ Stunning Scenery & Trophy Trout ✅️ Trout Spey 📅 Book your trip today—let’s get on the water!  

February 11, 2025

Spey Gear Prep Tips

By |February 11th, 2025|Categories: Gear, Steelhead, Uncategorized|Tags: , , , , , , , , , , , , , , |

As swing season approaches on the Salmon River,  it’s essential to get your spey gear in prime condition for steelhead. Here are some tips to make sure you’re ready:   1. Check Your Rod & Reel Inspect for Damage: Look for any cracks or wear on your spey rod, especially around the ferrules. Reel Maintenance: Clean and lubricate your reel. Ensure your drag system is functioning smoothly. Backing: Check your backing for knots, tangles, or signs of wear. Replace it if necessary. 2. Line Prep Change or Clean Your Line: A clean fly line casts better. If it’s old, consider upgrading to a new spey line or Scandi/Skagit head. Leader & Tippet: Stock up on tapered leaders and fluorocarbon tippets in varying strengths (10-15lb range). 3. Flies & Sink Tips Organize Your Fly Box: Have a mix of traditional steelhead patterns (Intruders, Muddlers, etc.) in various sizes and colors. Sink Tips: Make sure you have an array of sink tips for different water conditions (e.g., intermediate to heavy sink rates). Make sure the loops have no cracks in them. 4. Casting Practice Dial in Your Cast: Get out on the water or lawn to practice your spey casting technique. Focus on smooth, controlled casts to maximize your swing. 5. Plan Your Spots Scout the River: With constantly changing river conditions, familiarize yourself with high-percentage steelhead holding spots. By preparing your gear now, you’ll be ready to hit the water with confidence when the steelhead start running strong!

October 9, 2024

Fall Streamer Float trips – Big Browns

By |October 9th, 2024|Categories: Uncategorized|Tags: , , , , , , , , , |

        Chasing Big Browns with Streamers This Fall - Fall is prime time for targeting aggressive, pre-spawn brown trout. As the water cools and fish start moving upstream, streamers become the go-to. Larger patterns mimic baitfish and provoke reaction strikes from big browns looking to fatten up before the spawn.     Tips: Use varies sinking lines to get where the big fish are hiding. Vary your retrieves—start slow, then mix in some quick strips to trigger an attack. Target deep pools and undercut banks where browns stage before moving into shallow riffles. Keep changing streamer colors until you find what they want. Interested in a afternoon streamer float trip this fall? Hit me up to book your spot and let’s chase those fall giants!

June 27, 2024

Float Trips

By |June 27th, 2024|Categories: Uncategorized|Tags: , , , , , , , |

Floating 1 to 5 miles of river with no one in sight.   Fast water nymph eater   Float Trips Have you ever found yourself yearning for the perfect fishing spot, a place where you can escape the crowds and immerse yourself in pristine waters teeming with fish? Look no further than a well-known central NY creek, where our spring and summer have been nothing short of magical. With serene floats and exceptional fishing, we’ve been covering a lot of water, and the results have been incredible. Let’s dive into our recent adventures and share some tips for both seasoned anglers and those just starting out. A Serene Angler's Paradise This West Canada Creek, a true gem, has provided us with unparalleled fishing experiences this spring and summer. Most days, we find ourselves alone on the water, surrounded only by nature and the promise of an exciting catch. The solitude enhances the experience, offering a tranquil escape from the hustle and bustle of everyday life. The creek’s scenic beauty, combined with the thrill of the catch, makes every outing unforgettable. The Bounty: Brown Trout Galore The creek’s bounty has been truly impressive, with incredible brown trout ranging from 12 to over 20 inches. These fish have been the highlight of our outings, offering both a challenge and a reward for our efforts. Whether you're a seasoned angler or new to the sport, the opportunity to hook into these magnificent trout is an experience you won't want to miss. Techniques that Deliver: Soft Hackles and Streamers Our success on the water can be attributed to a few tried-and-true techniques. Swinging soft hackles with a trout spey rig has produced some thrilling grabs, [...]

March 13, 2024

Guide Flies

By |March 13th, 2024|Categories: Uncategorized|Tags: , , , , , , , , , , |

Lance Egan's thread frenchie. Guide Flies, We all have those quick, simple and effective flies that catch fish.  The thread frenchie are super quick to tie and catch trout just about everywhere.  You can fish them with a tight line rig, dry dropper or under a indicator. Tie a few up and give them a try.   Hook: Umpqua XC400BL Thread: UTC  70 Denier - Olive Bead: Slotted Tungsten Beads  Tail: Whiting Coq De Leon - Dark Pardo Ribbing: Semperfli Tying Wire - 0.2 - March Brown Hot Spot: Ice Dub - UV Pink or orange thread for a quick tie.

November 18, 2022

Fall Steelhead

By |November 18th, 2022|Categories: Uncategorized|Tags: , , , , , , , , , , |

        Terry with one of many on a recent trip   Steelhead season is in full swing now and with the recent snow on the ground and flows increasing its setting up for a great rest of the season.  Swinging flies has been pretty consistent now with number of fish in the river. I'd say 90% of my clients are changing over to swinging flies and taking on the challenge of trying to catch a steelhead the hardest way to catch one.  Nothing like swinging down a run with a fresh blanket of snow on the ground.

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May 24, 2022

Trout Fishing

By |May 24th, 2022|Categories: Uncategorized|Tags: , , , , , , , |

Trout fishing is pretty good on the West Branch Ausable as well as the West Canada Creek.  Euro Nymphing, Dry Fly or swinging flies with a trout spey are all producing plenty of fish. Looking to book a trip, give me a call, text or shoot me a email.

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Steelhead Season Is A Wrap

By |May 4th, 2022|Categories: Uncategorized|Tags: , , , , , , , |

Steelhead Season is a wrap.  I'd like to thank all my clients who fished with me this season and looking forward for fishing with you next season on the Salmon River. I'll be guiding on the West Canada Creek as well as the West Branch of the Ausable til mid summer.  Also if you're looking to get into the "Trout Spey" game give me a call and we can talk about a trip.

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January 6, 2021

2021 Here We Go

By |January 6th, 2021|Categories: Uncategorized|Tags: , , , , , , , , , , |

With 2020 behind us lets hope 2021 is better for all of us. I want to thank each and every client who fished hard and worked for every bite, you guys are awesome.   After a long fall season with low water, crowds and less fish around then we all would like it’s nice to take a break for a bit.  My calendar for next fall is getting pretty full with everyone rebooking the same days, so if you want to book for the fall I highly suggest not waiting to long. I have a few things happening this year so be on the look out for some announcements. Stay safe and see everyone soon.

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