Name: Craig Perrin
Name of Business: 315 Guide Services
Website:
Social Media: https://m.facebook.com/profile.php/?id=100077878566952&name=xhp_nt__fb__action__open_user
What is your experience with trout fishing, and how many years have you been guiding?
Caught my first brook trout when I was four years old and have been chasing them for 35yrs now. I started professionally guiding four years ago and run trips targeting trout out of drift boats in the waterways in Central New York and tributaries of Lake Ontario.
What type of trout do you primarily focus on (e.g., Brown, Rainbow, Brook)?
My main focus are browns and steelhead (rainbows). I start fishing exclusively for these strains starting in November and continue through May.
Can you describe your approach to teaching beginners the basics of trout fishing.
I like to show people the importance of water clarity and how it effects what color choices we use on a day to day basis. How subtle hue differences can mean the difference from having no bites all day to having a double digit fish outing.
What are some of the most effective techniques you use for catching trout in this area?
I show people a plethora of methods to fish for trout. Everything from back trolling plugs, to float fishing, and even casting large swimbaits. The methods are constantly changing, even within a trip, and I’ll eventually settle on what method they are tuning into the best.
How do you handle safety measures, and what equipment do you provide for clients?
I brief people on what gear to bring to deal with the weather. I fish through the winter months of Central NY where we can go from a bright sunny day to a blizzard within minutes. I bring all the standard marine safety equipment that is required by the USCG and things I have adapted after being involved with a marine unit of law enforcement training.
What’s your go-to bait or lure for tricky trout, and why?
Egg sacks tied with steelhead eggs. Nothing will move a trout in the dead of winter in sun freezing temps like a properly presented sack tied with eggs from a steelhead.
How do you adapt your guiding strategies based on weather conditions or time of year?
I pay attention to water temps. A slight change in a degree will alter why I have planned for the day. Being able to switch between egg sacks, beads, or jigs is always in my arsenal. If it’s high and muddy, I’m going straight to plug fishing.
What’s the most memorable fishing experience you’ve ever had with a client?
A few years ago, I had two clients in early January that put the beat down on trout. We netted 29 fish before noon. It was a day where you just couldn’t not make the fish bite and we had the entire river to ourselves.
If you were a fishing lure, what type would you be and why?
A spoon. Trustworthy and always able to get a bite.
How do you maintain the fun aspect of fishing even on days when the fish just aren’t biting?
Making conversation. I meet all sorts of people from all different aspects of life and skill set from all sorts of parts of the country. We all share stories and experiences from our lives but all settle on the the one key aspect: being outdoors.
Pro Questions:
Can you share a nuanced Pro Tip for identifying and interpreting underwater structures where trout are most likely to congregate?
Learn to read the water. Look for seams and edges where trout would like to lie waiting for easy food to come to them.
What’s your expert-level Pro Tip for fine-tuning drag settings to manage fighting trout effectively, especially larger ones?
Don’t let clients tough drags.
Do you have a Pro Tip that addresses the subtleties of fly presentation, particularly when dealing with wary or highly pressured trout?
Don’t be afraid to think outaide of the box. Experiment with scents, especially in dirty water.
What’s your Pro Tip for seasonal transitions in trout behavior and how to adapt strategies to these shifts?
Trout enter my fishery when salmon begin to drop eggs. Match the hatch until that forage had disappeared then start thinking about what else trout eat during the cold months.
Could you share a Pro Tip that delves into the importance of local aquatic insect hatches and how to match your flies accordingly
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