PA Steelhead Guide - local knowledge, expert guidance, the fish of a lifetime

When Doc was 5 years old, his father presented him with his first fly rod, a 7 foot split bamboo, which remains in his family to this day!  Bait fishing remained the chief use of this rod until he watched a man from a neighboring western Pennsylvania town tie a royal coachman.  Although Doc was only 13, he began tying his own flies, as well as tying and selling flies during his high school years.  Before graduation, he also stripped, rebound, and refinished that split bamboo rod and many others for his father’s friends.   

From age 17 to 27, time permitted little more than obtaining his various degrees culminating in his medical degree at Georgetown University.  While in college, various marine biology courses were conquered, and he was the first St. Vincent College student to be offered a summer fellowship in Maryland’s Solomon Islands doing marine biology research.  Later, while in the DC area during medical school, he did fly fish the Potomac during the annual herring runs, but had little free time for other fishing endeavors.   Once he finished his residency and began private practice, he resumed fly fishing western and northwestern Pennsylvania trout on a modest basis.

By the late 1970’s, various salmonoids were introduced into the Great Lakes, and the real fun began!  During that period, Doc originated the “SALMON SLAYER CHARTERS”, which continued through the ‘80’s and early ‘90’s.  Although steelhead comprised only a small portion of the catch, better steelheading was on the horizon.  Each year, he couldn’t wait for the fall run, abandoning the deep-water fishery by early to mid October.

As the 1990’s progressed, the fish commission stopped stocking salmon and increased their stocking numbers of steelhead.  Concomitantly, Doc began reducing his surgical practice and increasing his fishing time.  Part time, then full time stream guiding began in the mid ‘90’s, and continues today.

Although he has fly fished such classic destinations as Alaska and Montana, our steelhead fishery remains his favorite, and targeting really big fish, his passion!