Fly Fishing Adventures

RATES: 

• Half Day Trips runs $250-295 for 1, $295-345 for 2 people
• All Day Trips run $390-589 for 1-2 people depending on the stream we fish , lunch incl.
• We  do offer group rates please e-mailus This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it. or call 1-800-882-1145
• We also are available for group presentations.
• Casting Instruction by the Hour- $35
• All equipment except waders is included in the above rates, we have waders in certain sizes for rent at $20 per trip
• A credit card number is required to reserve a trip, any trip cancelled up to 3 days of confirmed booking date will be subject to a $100 cancellation fee, cancellations made from 72 hours prior to the confirmed fishing date subject to full trip charge. . We will of course work with you in cases where weather is a factor. We hold these  fishing slots  many times turning away others and as a small business cancellations can hurt especially during prime times.
• For those wanting to do a nonguided trip we offer rod rentals and flies for sale.

Definition of a Professional Guide
A Professional Guide is a professional at all times; they are mentally alert and physically prepared for a strenuous day of guiding. Their self-confidence can be observed but not heard; they are totally prepared for the day and ready to accept its challenges—good or bad. Their appearance and dress show pride in themselves and the operation they represent. They immediately become a teacher to their clients and the client readily accepts their leadership.
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• Please e-mail us for rates on these or for any other questions.

WHAT YOU NEED TO BRING -Good loose fitting clothing , a fishing hat or cap, sunscreen, comfortable shoes- no flip flops, layers in the cooler weather times.  Please feel free to bring a snack on the Half-Day Trips, Lunch is provided on the All Day Trips.We always have bottled water and insect repellent.  Fishing Licenses and Rod Fees for Certain Waters are in addition to the above rates Please call for Quotes for 3 or more people and Rates on Lodging We need a Credit Card number to secure the Guided Trip, we prefer reservations 2 weeks in advance if possible. We require the signing of a liability waiver before starting our journey. 

  Virginia fishing licenses may purchased over the phone by calling 1-866-721-6911, there is an additional $3.98 processing fee added to the license fees, we do have agents closeby who sell the licenses as well. A $21  5 day General Fishing License is available. Certain Trips will require an additional Trout Stamp.  Kids under 16 do not need a license.

We do try to work with people on this. Trips & Availability subject to Stream flows.

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 From the Journal of An Old Trout Guide

Spring Edition- 2013-

I have had the honor of taking of taking many thousands  of people flyfishing over the years and the education process cuts both ways. They depend on me to introduce them to a brand new pursuit from the starting gate many times. Others may have varying degrees of experience, it makes no difference. We all learn from each other I will always believe. One of my favorite fishermen over over the years has been retired U.S.  Virginia Senator John Warner who was once married to Elizabeth Taylor. John is an experienced fisherman whom I have had a lot of fun with on several occasions.

  One day he had to leave early from fishing for a political rally just up the road at a Harley Davidson motorcycle owners rally in Staunton. He changed his fishing duds for more appropriate black casual shirt, pants and hat for the event. I asked him if he had to prepare a speech and he shoots back, ''hell no John.'' ''My 1st day in the U.S. Senate in 1978 I was getting a little nervous because I was about to make my first big speech.''  An old longstanding Senator took me aside and gruffly told me, ''Warner, you don't look so good, what is your problem? '' John admitted as much ,worried that wouldn't get all the things he wanted in the speech. The crusty old Senator shot back, ''Warner, you are now a GD U.S. Senator, now get your ass up there, you'll think of something.''

I always think of this when we  are seeing fish rise and not coming up with right imiation on what they are feeding on. Sometimes I have to reach deeper, quit fishing and take a high spot verlooking a pool to and figure the right ''bug.'' Observation is a big key to success in taking fish at times like this, it may be a size #22 BWO or a #20 ant. Think of something, you have step back from the stream to see hem sometimes. John

Fall Edition- As a professional trout guide I get fishermen from all over the world and with that comes a huge committment from my end to make the day special for each and everyone of them despite  having nature throw you a curve every now and then. A few years ago I had a 2 day late Spring trip with some clients from New England who only wanted to catch trout on dry flies, top water as we call it. This certainly is the most focal and dramatic way to enjoy the sport of flyfishing if nature cooperates. The night before our first day we had an unexpected 2'' rain storm hit on the waters I had laid out for the first day.  We headed out to the stream next morning and it was running high and very muddy. I knew my clients were not happy but I always have a backup plan. I told them  that dry fly fishing might just be impossible this day and that we would have to change the mindset and fishing strategy a bit. I sensed some disappointment but I tried to stay on mission of making a special day despite what nature had dealt us. We drove for an hour to a high elevation high gradient mountain  headwater stream loaded with wild Rainbows. This type stream can usually taking a pretty good rain but still be fishable in a few hours.  This stream was running high and what I call milky when we arrived and really in great shape to catch a trophy fish. My guys were a little to slow to take to the underwater nymphs and minnow imitations that I tied on for them but after I pointed to some likely holding spots under some huge ledges, fallen hemlocks and eddies they started taking trout in good numbers using the under water flies. We had adapted to what nature gave that day, one magnificent time to be on the stream where the big trout had come out of hiding after a low water time. We approached 1 fast pool that had a bolder with an undercut below it and I dropped one fisherman off to dead drift a Prince nymph in this excellent spot. I started upstream with the other guy when all of a sudden we heard the other angler yelling that he had a big one on.  I dropped everything and headed down to net the big fish. After several minutes we got him over some in some quieter water to land. Low and behold it was one of the brighest and most colorful 18'' Wild Rainbows even I had had ever seen. I'm sure the many crusaceans in this stream were a huge part of this Rainbow's diet .  We very carefully released the trout and could only hope another fishermen could have the same joyous future  experience that we had just had with it. My 2 clients were overcome by the big trout's stunning appearance. They decided that could not top this and we quit for the day. A rain event within linits can sometimes produce some magical fishing as it had this day. My fishermen agreed that maybe they needed to rethink their fishing  plan to include the times when dry fly fishing is impossible. Catching trout with nymphs, streamers and other underwater presntayions can be doggone fun and very productive.  It might the way to fish if you fish year round like I do. John           

Spring Edition One good thing about a flyfishing outing is that most times you come away with a good story, share a great a time with friends or relatives, enjoy great scenery and you generally always learn something no matter how many times you go. I know because this has always been the case with me.

    Just a few years ago I had a single angler who wanted to experience the Jackson Rver in Bath County. I always get psyched up a little more when taking folks up there as the Jackson is as good as it gets in Virginia trout fishing.  We took a long hiking trek in to one of my ''honey'' spots that May day. Caddis activity was very heavy this day and we started  fishing upstream in a long section of riffle water. The  dry #14 Tan Caddis started turning trout heads immediately and in a 300' section we caught and released over 40 colorful Rainbows and Browns in just a little bit.  One was a big ole 5 pound hook jawed Rainbow. I told my guy that this was an exceptional time so enjoy it.

  About a month later I get a call from the same fisherman who wanted to return to the ''honey'' spot with his 12 yr old daughter so I booked him. He wanted a fishing companion for his other trips and felt this would be good to get her startred. He had outfitted her really well I noticed as we began an hour hike to the magic spot. It was cool this morning  and I told them no fishing until we got there. We  decided to start just above  the previously productive water. The young lady was just getting used to wading in her new Orvis breathables. She missed a nice 'Bow in 1pool but I noticed her wanting to go deeper into the water and warned her not to get ''cocky''. Long story short a slippery rock nailed her and in she goes getting wet all over on this colder morning. I was licking my chops because we were so close to the ''honey'' section. Well the youngster got a call from Nature at this point to pee. I told her that she could go behind a tree in the leaves and we would make sure she was not seen. Wrong, she threw a tantrum right there on the Jackson stating she would only pee at a public bathroom or service station. I was hoping the father would take charge at this point to no avail. I told her  the the Red and white Oak leaves in Bath County were a whole lot cleaner than most area service station bathrooms. ''Nope, no way'' was the response. I knew we would have to walk back to the truck an hour then go another 30 minutes to find one. Sure enough we started the hour trek walking out only 2 minutes from the magical fishing spot, I was hoping all the noise of the Jackson River riffles would make her ''go'' but no it did not work. We ended up going all the way back to the Coursey Springs Trout Hatchery to find a bathroom up to spec for her 30 minutes away.

     Like I said you always get a good story out of just about every flyfishing trip, not all involve catching large numbers of trout but still I can't think of a better place to than go than a Virginia trout stream. Peeing in Nature is kind of nice too. John