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Getting the Most from Your Guided Trip

by Greg DiMedio

If you are fishing new Pennsylvania waters, then a guide makes perfect sense. Unfamiliar with the area means you don't have a clue about where to go or what tackle to use.

Guides get you to the right water and the good fish. But there is so much more than just hooking into fish that makes time with a guide worthwhile. You should expect more because services can typically cost $250 or more for a full day. Float trips involving equipment can increase the price. It's important to get the most for your dollars, so here are a few things to consider to make those dollars stretch even further.

Technique. Does the idea of a guide fishing on your dime upset you? It shouldn't. Get that guide to fish a little and watch his technique. He can preach technique to you all day, but nothing beats watching him in action.

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Ed Shenk--from Pennsylvania's famous LeTort area--not only has famous fly patterns named after him, he also has a technique for working the lure. On a guided trip, I watched him fish a Shenk Sculpin the way it was designed to be presented. I changed the way I fish streamers as a result - for the better.

New locations. If you show enough respect for the waters and fish, the guide may turn you on to out-of-the-way places. If fishing is slow, it may be an opportune time to ask the guide to show you a special spot. See if you can find that gem away from the beaten path.

Lore (not lure). Make the most of your non-fishing time with stories. Buy the guide lunch or a cup of coffee and be prepared to listen. Some guides have fished with the greats (or are among the greats!). Stories can be funny as well as educational.

Lures (not lores). What to use and when to use it is about the greatest challenge any fisherman can face when looking for a good day on the water. Even though a guide is focused on getting you a tight line, be sure to probe a little about what he used and why. His experiences can become yours.

Make sure you write down what you learn at the end of the day. In this entry, I asked the guide to sign my book.

Overall, a guided trip on Pennsylvania waters can produce memories that last a lifetime. If you play your cards right, you can also walk away a more talented and informed angler.