In addition to being a Wildy Pro, he is an American Canoe Association certified kayak instructor and a PA licensed fishing guide. He conducts kayak fishing classes and guided kayak fishing trips on the Susquehanna and Juniata Rivers through his business Kayak Fish PA, LLC.
He holds pro-staff positions with a variety of companies that are focused on the growing sport of kayak fishing, including Wilderness Systems Fishing Kayaks, Adventure Technology Paddles, YakAttack, Kokatat, All Pro Rods, Winco’s Custom Lures, H.C. Baits, and HOOK1 Kayak Fishing Gear.
Now, let's get this rolling...
Now, let's get this rolling...
1. Although you’re a talented all-around angler, I
would have to guess that smallies are number one in your heart. When, where, and how did you get hooked on smallmouth bass?
I grew up a stones throw from a native trout stream and a
short bike ride from a creek full of smallmouth bass. I truly had the best of
both worlds. Through my grade school, high school, and college years I fished
veraciously for anything that swam. Over time, the draw of the hard fighting
smallmouth bass started to consume more of my fishing time. The smallmouth bass
holds a special place in my fishing world. It's one tough fish that doesn't
know how to quit. You've really got to respect that!
2. What is the best day of fishing you have ever had…ever?
I've had many many "best days" on the water in my
life. Some involved catching a lot of fish, some involved catching big fish and
others where spent with good friends or family. My favorite days are those that
I spend on the water with my son. He was born in March and his first fishing
trip with me was in April. I think that alone speaks volumes for our shared
love of fishing and the outdoors. He is now a young man in his mid 20's, but we
still reminisce about all those incredible trips of the past and plan for more
in the future.
3. I know you own a fleet of boats, most of which get
river use. What sort of river conditions dictate which boat you take on any particular day?
I'm really lucky because I have a great stable of Wilderness
Systems fishing kayaks to match the varied conditions that I encounter
throughout a calendar year. I'm a big fan of the Ride series of kayaks forriver fishing. They have a lot of volume so they draft very shallow allowing me
to paddle when others are dragging. Rides also help get me into those tough to
reach areas of the river. On smaller faster flows, I like the Ride 115 or 115X
because these 11.5 feet kayaks are quick and maneuverable. In particular, if
the water gets high on smaller flows the Ride 115's are my "go
to" kayaks. I can scoot in and out of small eddy pockets with ease in
those boats. On bigger flows, like the mile-wide Susquehanna River, I like myRide 135. The increased speed and glide of the longer Ride makes it a nice fit
for paddling big rivers. Like the Ride 115, It's also stable for standing and
sight casting in shallow water making it an extremely versatile river fishing
platform. In the dead of winter, I do a lot of single access trips sometimes
paddling very long distances up river to reach concentrations of smallmouth
bass in what we call "wintering pools". My new tool for this
situation is a Thresher 140. At 28" wide it's got really nice speed and
glide so attaining up river is a lot easier. I added an optional storage tray
to the large rectangular center hatch to keep my winter fishing tackle within
easy reach. This allows me to access my gear easily while on the water and not
have to worry about reaching behind me for gear and possibly loosing my balance
resulting in a cold water swim.
4. Your guide business does unique, multi-day kayak
fishing trips called “boot camps”. Briefly walk us through a boot camp weekend.
The Kayak Fishing Boot Camp was born out of an idea that I
wanted to provide an intensive multi-day training to educate kayak anglers and
push their skill sets to the next level. The three day experience starts with a
half day paddling session that covers water safety, paddling technique, kayak
maneuvers in moving water and kayak angling positioning techniques The
remainder of the first day focuses on fishing seminars covering a variety of
core topics such as how to pattern smallmouth bass and various presentation
strategies. On the last two days we hit the river to apply what we learned. The
river trip gives me a chance to coach anglers and further hone their skills on
a more individual basis. We also cover new concepts on the river but the focus
is primarily on practicing and reinforcing proper skills. Some anglers have
done the Kayak Fishing Boot Camp multiple times. It's a great learning
experience!
5. What is the ONE thing about guiding you recommend
to anyone trying to become a kayak fishing guide?
Hone your teaching skills! Your clients aren't standing on
the deck of a boat while you put them into perfect position to make a
presentation. You'll need to be able to coach anglers as they put themselves
into position to make the perfect presentation. Your success as a kayak fishing
guide will be directly related to your ability to teach and coach.
6. I know you tie some bass flies – what is your
favorite fly (both that you tie and that you purchase elsewhere)?
I truly believe fly tying as an art form. The men and women
that do it well have my utmost respect. My brother got all the artistic genes
in my family so that means I have to purchase my flies. I buy some flies
that are "off the shelf" at name brand fly shops. I'm a big fan of
various types of poppers for smallmouth bass. They are easy to fish and the
smallmouth love to harass them! Personally though, I really like picking up
flies from skilled "independent" fly tiers. I have crazy ideas for flies
sometimes. I recently had an idea that I wanted a baitfish fly that acted much
like a suspending jerkbait. Joe Pegnetter of Predator Fly Outfitters tied me up
the craziest articulated 6" baitfish imitation with a single hook and a
treble. We dubbed it the "Slash Fly". Rightfully so, a lot of fly
fisherman shudder at the thought of trebles on a fly but I'm going to give it a
shot this April!
7. Social media and blogging have become such valuable
tools for the kayak fishing community. It allows us to share our catches, tell our stories, and give credit where credit is due. What are the most important ways that you utilize social media and do you have any recommendations for others – maybe based on social media “mistakes”?
I use social media and my blog to educate kayak anglers. I
truly enjoy sharing my kayak fishing knowledge with others and helping the
sport grow. I answer a lot of question on my Facebook page, via email and I
even get calls from kayak anglers. I have a lot of fun with it. Anglers
who just want to soak up some information about kayak angling can go to my blog
KayakFishingInstructor.com. Those that want to take it a step further and take
one of my Kayak Fishing Classes can go to my guiding page KayakFishPA.com. My
personal mantra for social media is "be real" and "be
professional". That approach has served me well.
8. I know you also do a bit of whitewater
paddling. Where is your favorite place to paddle? Do you ever tuck a rod in those short boats?
I don't consider myself an avid whitewater paddler but I try
to keep my hand in it as much as possible. I do some paddling periodically
behind my local kayak shop at Tussey Mountain Outfitters. They have a nice
paddling park set up that I use to keep my skills sharp. This past spring I paddled
the Lehigh Gorge in some crazy high water conditions on three consecutive days.
That river was a lot of fun and it runs through some beautiful country! I saw
some big rising trout on that trip so next time I'm packing the fly rod! I
strongly believe my experience paddling white water and earning my ACA
instructor certification has made me a much more effective river angler. The
skills that I've gained in terms of paddling technique, maneuvers, and control
over my kayak have enabled me to put myself in position to make great lure
presentations in moving water. It's also given me a keen awareness of river
hazards and water safety. I've incorporated a lot of paddling skills into my
kayak fishing classes. In particular, the hazards and water safety aspects of
paddling. Many kayak anglers get themselves into trouble because they simply
don't understand the hazards that moving water presents. I'm working hard to
educate kayak anglers so that we can more fully enjoy the sport that we love
and at the end of the day return home to our families safe and sound.
9. Many of the agriculture dominated basins in your
area can go from clear to chocolate milk quickly, especially in the summer. What conditions are your favorites for targeting big smallies? How does your bait selection change based on conditions?
I'm lucky to guide and teach on two great rivers, the
Susquehanna River and the Juniata River. They both are capable
of consistently producing trophy size smallmouth bass. I like to target big
smallmouth across a lot of different water conditions. That being said, a
rising river is the absolute best scenario for numbers and size. When the river
rises, it activates the entire river food chain from the bottom up. If the
river is on the rise, I'll usually toss a spinnerbait as big as 1 oz. The tempo
of my fishing is fast making as many casts as I can to as many good fish
holding targets that I"m able to spot. It's like playing a fast paced
video game. Low water is a time to finesse. Rising and high water is a time to
power fish big baits for those bronze brutes!
10. You get a chance to fish with anyone – living or
dead – who do you pick?
That's easy. Jerry McKinnis. I was raised by my mother who,
to my knowledge, never fished a day in her life. I started fishing with some of
the older boys in my rural community at about 6 or 7 years old. I was obsessed
with fishing from my first outing. My mother lovingly fed my obsession. I could
count on new gear and subscriptions to fishing magazines on every birthday or
major holiday. Since my mother knew nothing about fishing, I learn through my
own experimentation and by watching TV fishing shows. Jerry's "Fishing
Hole" was by far my favorite! There was just something about his laid back
approach that appealed to me. I learned a lot from watching his show as a kid.
It would be incredible to be able to fish with him!
What a excellent fishing. Keep it up.
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