Looking for some Guidance?

I’ve had the good fortune to know, be friends with, and also to fish with many knowledgeable guides in New Hampshire.  I’ve also been guided by quite a few fishing guides in the northeast, Montana, and other places, and I have been lucky with the results to this point in my angling life. They’ve been great, every one of them, and many of my most memorable fishing days have been spent under the watchful eye of a guide.

1. Naturally, a guide knows the water that he or she is guiding on intimately, so some time with a guide can be indispensable, especially if its your maiden voyage on that water.

In Montana, for instance, but this can apply to many of our eastern rivers as well, the watersheds are literally so large that it can be intimidating. You might not know where to start, in other words. A guide cuts out the exploration phase when you’re venturing forth to new water, which can be wonderful at times, but can also be frustrating too. A guide will usually take you to “A” water immediately (they want you to be successful too), and eliminate the marginal fishing spots.

2. The guide’s equipment is set up properly for the conditions that you’ll be fishing, so relying on the guide’s stuff is probably a good thing.

Take some mental notes of how their rod and reel was set up, along with what flies you’re using. Ask questions of your guide as well – they will probably be very forthcoming with information and at least give you a general idea of why you’re presenting the fly in a certain way in this water.

Apply those lessons to other stretches of water that you fish on your own and you may have learned some invaluable new skills.

3. Learning new techniques and improving the fly fishing skills that you already have can also be an important part of going out with a guide. Whether it is with a dry fly set up, delicately presenting a cast of nymphs, or swinging a streamer on sinking line, all of your various casting techniques can be sharpened under the watchful eye of a guide.

Even if you’re not necessarily learning anything new, you will at least know when and how to mend properly, as your guide reminds you endlessly that you’re not doing it enough …

4. Lastly, contracting a guide’s services for a day or two will put you in contact with a fellow like minded sportsman, something that seems to be a dwindling breed these days. Who knows, you might even end up as life long friends and enjoy many great experiences on the water in the future. We can always use more friends.

We have a good lineup of in-house fly fishing guides at Tall Timber – Dave Poole has been with us for quite a while now and Mickey Cunliffe joined our staff last year. Both Dave and Mickey enjoy wading for trout and salmon on the Connecticut River and have served our guests well in the past. They both look forward to an exciting 2018 fishing season.

We are also fortunate to have the talents of Chuck Degray of North Country Fly Shop & Guide Service to recommend to our guests as well. If you like to drift the Connecticut or Androscoggin Rivers, Chuck is your man.

If you want to make your next trip to our area the best it can be, get a guide – you won’t be sorry.