By Sam Presutti
A successful day on the water doesn’t happen by accident. Here guide Sam Presutti places his anglers in a position to target trophy trout.
As a full time guide for multiple species in multiple states throughout the year and a world traveling angler, I find it of the utmost importance that when you’re booking your fishing trip of a lifetime that you want to be prepared. Lack of preparation or unrealistic expectations can lead to dissatisfaction. You’ve worked hard for your time and money, so don’t waste it on the wrong experience. I’m here to share tips to help you find the perfect fit and get the experience you truly want.
Grasp an understanding of your angling abilities and be honest with your guide
I see it time and time again. I get a phone call from an angler who tells me they are experienced and want to hunt a trophy fish. However, once we get on the boat, I find out that they can’t make a 20-foot cast. I promise that every serious fishing guide in the industry wants to see their clients catch fish more than their clients actually want to catch fish themselves. It is very important to tell your guide your honest abilities so that they can prepare for a day based on what you can do.
My personal goal with every trip is to send my clients away from the day with a broader skillset. That means something different for everybody, a newer angler may need to just focus on learning the basic cast, while a more advanced angler may want to learn to double haul, cast sinking lines with large streamers, stack mend long drifts or reach cast a dry fly. If you give your guide an honest evaluation of your skillset and what you want to get out of the day, you’re going to enjoy your trip so much more.
Find the fishery that fits your needs
Some guides offer experiences in both saltwater and freshwater. Sam’s client holds up a bonefish caught on the fly.
Are you a new angler looking to catch your first trout? An advanced angler looking to test out your abilities and put yourself in a technical situation? Maybe you’re looking for that experience of fishing in a new destination? Every new experience has its pros and cons. Some places have big numbers of fish, some have big fish, some have beautiful scenery, others have all of these things. Ask yourself some guiding questions:
What species are you looking to target?
Are you looking to get familiar with that species or do you want to be challenged with that species?
Does size or fish count matter to you?
Do you simply want to enjoy catching fish in a peaceful, unpressured setting without worrying about size or numbers?
In the trout world, you can go to remote areas with unpressured fish that eat almost anything you throw at them, or you can fish highly pressured popular rivers with picky trout that grow to large sizes. The same could be said about saltwater destinations. Certain locations like Belize may have hoards of bonefish that aren’t known to be huge, but you can catch good numbers of them. Other places like Andros Island or the Florida Keys have large bonefish in the 8-12 lb. range that challenge you as an angler. By putting time in before selecting a trip, your outcome is guaranteed to be more likely the kind of experience you’re dreaming of.
Find the right guide or outfitter that fits your needs
Every guide has different attributes to bring to the table, and the hope is to match those with the angler’s needs. Some guides are excellent teachers, some are great storytellers, some are fish-catching machines…and if you’re fortunate, some are all of the above! I find it of the utmost importance to do your research on all available options. When I’m going on a guided trip, I scour the internet looking for the right fit. Sometimes the top three results on Google are not always the best. I know in my own fisheries that some of the very best guides in the area fly under the radar and may not spend tons of money on marketing or have the push from a major brand. These are key qualities I look for in a fly fishing guide:
This hefty brown was caught on a streamer. After a quick picture, the fish was released to fight another day.
Relatable bio: Does the guide seem like someone you would relate to? Do they have similar interests, goals, and expectations of a successful day when you are on the water with them?
Good reviews: Does your guide have a good reputation and former clients that left details in their review? Google reviews will reveal a lot about peoples experiences with that guide. If people from many walks of life have a similar perception of this guide, you can bet that you will have a similar experience on the water.
Experience: Often times when visiting a new fishery, I look for THE guide of that fishery. I want the most experienced and decorated guide of that specific fishery. I find that if you go this direction, you tend to have success during any variables or curveballs that may be thrown your way. Let’s face it, time on the water is king and part-time fly fishing guides just don’t spend enough time on the water to be well-versed in all situations. The more days somebody spends on their fishery, the higher the chances are of success in adverse conditions.
Communicate with your guide/outfitter and be prepared with whatever you may need for your trip
No matter the weather, smiles are always had when a steelhead is landed!
Every place you fish and every guide you fish with can differ greatly in what to expect regarding preparation. Some guides provide everything from tackle to lunch, whereas other outfitters may expect you to bring everything you need for a day on the water. The worst thing that can happen is that you show up on your trip unprepared. It’s important to communicate with your guide/outfitter about the expectations of your packing list. My standard fishing trip packing list includes:
Rods/reels in the appropriate size for target species, including backups
Correct fly line for the application, this can dictate success dramatically
Polarized sunglasses
Hat with a brim to block glare
Sunscreen
Weather appropriate clothing, UPF protection in the sun and insulated layers in the cold
Wading gear, waders or flats hiking boots in saltwater environment
Fishing license; some saltwater captains cover you under their charter license, ask for details
Gratuity for your guide, in most locations the standard is 20%. If your guide goes above and beyond to show you a great time, throw in a little extra!
This is a standard list for me. Some guides will provide all of these things, but I prefer being prepared wherever I go. In some locations, guides/lodges will provide lunches whereas in others, they won’t. This is location dependent. For Tim Cammisa’s packing list to destinations like Iceland and Alaska, send him an email: tcammisa@gmail.com
Have realistic expectations
When traveling to a destination, manage your expectations to ensure that you don’t end up disappointed. Communicate with your guide to get honest expectations of the fishing during the time you will be there. Most guides do a great job of underselling and overdelivering, they will be realistic with you. Remember that your guide is NOT God.. they cannot control the fish, weather, water conditions, or your fishing abilities. Good guides will do everything in their power to give you the best shots at success with any given conditions that you may face.
I wish you the best experience on the water and please don’t hesitate to reach out with any questions: Sampresutti@gmail.com
Guide Sam Presutti with his child, sharing a moment after landing a redfish.
Sam Presutti, a Pittsburgh native, has been passionate about the outdoors since childhood. He entered the fly fishing industry right after high school, managing a fly shop and teaching fly fishing and fly tying classes. His love for the sport led him to become a full-time guide, taking him to renowned fisheries like Alaska’s Bristol Bay. Now, he guides year-round on the famed South Holston River and seasonally in the Lake Erie tributaries—waters he knows intimately from his youth.
Fishing with Sam means more than just catching fish; he’s dedicated to making every angler better. Clients often praise his hard work, passion, and ability to put them on fish. Off the water, Sam is a devoted husband and father of three, an avid weightlifter, BBQ enthusiast, bourbon collector, and traveler.
Book a day with Sam: www.sampresuttiflyfishing.com