Well priced fly fishing guides in the Catskills?

[showersoprano2]

Hi All!

My family's coming up to the Catskills this weekend for some camping and fishing. This will be their 1st time and my 4th time (first time in the NorthEast). I don't have any gear nor do I know which rivers are the best. I googled some guides but they're extremely pricey. There will be 7 of us, but we don't each need personal attention (I think of few of us won't have the attention span to fish for more than an hour). I'm just looking for someone who can lend me some rods and point out the good spots in the river.

Any recommendations?

Thanks much!
Kim

 

[Burtbords149]

a very interesting request you have here. I know of some guides in the region but as you said they are probably a bit pricey. I would perhaps call up Catskill Flies...you can check out he website catskillflies.com. They're quite helpful over there. They may be able to set you up with some rods although I've never heard of a 7 person party request. As you probably know it would be mighty difficult teaching 6 first timers to fly cast all in a short period of time.

But if anyone could do it Catskill Flies has the guys...they will most likely take you on the Beaverkill which would require waders. A trip on the Delaware would be in a boat but would also be some extremely difficult fishing this time of year. Anyway that's my input...check otu catskillflies.com and give them a call to see what they might be able to do for you. Good luck and have a blast.

 

[tompg]

Where are you camping?

Buy a cheapo rod or two and pass it around the crowd and take turns venturing out from the campsite. You can't seriously fly fish with 7 people together and expect to catch anything.

Also try Beaverkill Angler for some loaner equipment if you want nicer stuff. They won't treat you like you're an idiot even if you are one. (I'm not at all saying you are)

Don't worry about waders unless you got to the East Branch or West Branch.

 

[Randyflycaster]

Try Dick Smith. He used to work in the Orvis shop in Roscoe. (Maybe he still does.) Don't know about prices, but he knows his stuff.

Also, get a copy of Eric Peper's Fly Fishing the Beaverkill. The Beaverkill and the Willowemoc are easy streams to fish. Just drive along Old
!7 and you'll see plenty of signs for parking. Ferdon's is an easy stream to wade. The drop-off in Junction Pool is very sharp. A few years
ago someone drowned there, so I'd stay away the that pool.

Randy

 

[fcch]

IMHO, I really think that Tom has the best idea. 7 i a group is tough and differing "interest" levels could make for some "disputes".

I had a group of EIGHT last week so we split them into 2 groups with 2 guides. Even then, we split them into 2's and had them work different runs in pairs.

Made for a heck of a lot of running around for the two of us, but the Gals had a blast!

 

[millrun]

Due to recent rain storms, the major rivers in the area are all high and unwadeable. They may be in better shape this coming weekend but I think that the rivers would still be very difficult to fish for newbees!

 

[Rusty Spinner]

Due to recent rain storms, the major rivers in the area are all high and unwadeable. They may be in better shape this coming weekend but I think that the rivers would still be very difficult to fish for newbees!

Good point. More t-storms moving through there as I write this post...but it's only Tuesday evening.

 

[AKSkim]

7 people it is nothing to oversee or even teach the finer points of stream fishing.

Normal rates of $450 for two for a complete day is about the norm.

I might consider doing it for the entire lot about $575.00 rods worms and a small stream side lunch.

I'll just have to check my schedule

 

[golden beetle]

Call one of the guides referenced herein. Make sure you ask if the worms are included in the price he quotes: some of these so-called guides appear reasonable in their prices,but then you get the itemized receipt, which not only includes the worms, but the time he spent digging them up.

Be careful.

 

[showersoprano2]

Thanks everyone for your replies! I feel like I've hit the jackpot on fly fishing knowledge with this website! I've emailed a few of the shops y'all recommended to see if they'll rent my family some rods. We'll see...

Also, do any of you live by the Esopus River? That's where we'll be fishing this weekend. I've heard that the water levels are too high for fishing this week. Is this true? How do I track water levels and how high is considered too high for fly fishing?

Thanks!
Kim

 

[GARYB]

Golden Beetle

You are kidding about the worms being extra ??????????? I thought they were always in the price. That's why I don't use guides.

 

[Ryan R]

Call one of the guides referenced herein. Make sure you ask if the worms are included in the price he quotes: some of these so-called guides appear reasonable in their prices,but then you get the itemized receipt, which not only includes the worms, but the time he spent digging them up.

Be careful.

I don't know any FLY FISHING guides that use worms for FLY FISHING trips.

 

[golden beetle]

Ryan, I don't want to get too technical here in my analysis, but let me explain some fundamentals of stream entomology and fly fishing history.

You see, you've got your dry flies and your wet flies. The dry flies, for the most part, actually have wings, and yes, they can actually fly.

The wet flies cannot fly. They live underwater. These are known, in fishculture, as the wormflies, or, in bastardized american english. the wetfly. Were you to read izaak walton or perhaps frederic halford, you would here about the wormfly, which you call wetfly.

90 percent of a fish's diet is worms. Some of these worms do grow wings and fly away, causing the phenomenon known as the 'rise.'

I don't know any FLY FISHING guides that use worms for FLY FISHING trips.

 

[golden beetle]

I have gone with a guide and he emphasized the importance of rising early, and beating the birds to the worms. We were digging for at least two hours of the trip, which, to my shock, I was charged for in the itemized receipt.

Although I have not actually read walton or halford, my guide explained how to tie flies in the olde englyshe style. It really is quite easy, as you wrap a bloodworm thrice forth and thrice hence around a treble hook, which, technically speaking, is the bloodknot.

I don't know any FLY FISHING guides that use worms for FLY FISHING trips.

 

[Ryan R]

Thank you for your stream entemology lesson, really put a big smile on my face. So when you commented about the guides time for digging worms, you weren't referring to the common practice of baitfishers to dig up earthworms? Or to your knowledge do earthworms sprout wings too.

Again my comment was I don't know any flyfishing guides that use worms for flyfishing trips. Typically they use "flies," imitations of the typical natural prey items trout feed on which they tie themselves commonly using feathers, fur, synthetic materials, and thread, rather than digging up bait!

BTW if you haven't read the authors you mentioned, how do you know for certain what is in their books?

Hmm, natural bait on treble hooks and calling it a fly, interesting concept.