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Last night we had the privilege to fish with Rich Garfield from Fly Fish The Adirondacks.  I hired Rich to take me out about 6 years ago and never forgot the experience.  Rich didn’t disappoint last night.

My father-in-law, Al, and I got to Wilmington NY (Near Lake Placid) at 3:30pm yesterday to meet up with Rich.  I asked Rich if we could fish the Au Sable.  He convinced me that we should go up to the Saranac River.  He said we would catch more fish and have a longer window of time to fish because the river is protected with a lot of trees.  I was a little unsure of Rich’s advice because I have always wanted to fish the Au Sable but Rich has guided this area for almost 15 years so I deferred to his knowledge.  I wasn’t disappointed.

Rich started out getting us used to fishing these tight mountain streams by throwing out stimulators to small brook trout.  After a bit of instruction and patience Rich led us into some larger pools where we saw some bigger fish.  I started off landing a 12″ brown in a small pool next to a large rock.  I can’t tell you how exciting it was to see an aggressive wild Brown hit my stonefly in a spot where I did not think a fish would be holding.  We went to a couple more spots where we got hits.  Unfortunately once you get one hit in a hole holding a fish you are finished.  It is rare to find two browns holding in the same spot on this river.

As darkness started to drift in, we hit the last two holes that would possibly be holding large fish.  I went first.  I threw out a large stonefly and immediately got a hit from a 12″ Brown but was unable to hook up.  Rich told me to shake it off and cast a few feet ahead of the strike.  Bam!  I hooked up a 17″ Brown.  Playing this fish on this type of river is a bit different.  It is real important not to let him run.  If you do you’re finished.  I immediately guided him to the net and Rich was able to net him with no regard for his own safety.  Thanks Rich!  What a thrill!!

Lots of high fives later we move on to the last pool.  Al made a beautiful presentation with a stonefly and got a Brown on right away.  After trying to follow a bunch of excited commands from Rich and me (Sorry Al) Al broke the fish off.  It looked like it was at least 17″.  Rich told Al to give it another try even though we probably disturbed the pool.  Al threw the stonefly in again.  After a couple casts the water boiled and Al had another one on.  Not again!  This fish broke off.  Okay one more try just for kicks.  Al put it out there and got another hit!  The water boiled one more time and the fly was expelled with the force that only a wild brown could produce.  That was it.  That was all the pool could give Al.  What a thrill that was for someone who only started fishing a few months ago.

I can’t say enough about the job Rich Garfield did.  He is an excellent teacher with an incredible sense of humor and energy.  I have yet to meet a guide with his skills and enthusiasm.  Next time we are in the “North Country” we will be calling on Rich.

Not only do I recommend Rich I also recommend his orginal fly called the “Sirloin”.  We used this fly in pools where we were not getting any surface action.  Although we did not land any fish with the “Sirloin” we always got a big hit.  It looks to me like the secret is the the coyote belly fur that is used for the wing and tail.  It really gives it a unique look that the fish cannot resist.  Rich will be selling this fly online in the coming months so keep visiting his web site for details.