Finger Lakes Fishing guides

[Doc]

I'm thinking of booking a guide for a half-day fishing trip on Seneca or Canandaigua Lakes this coming summer. Are these guys really worth the money they charge? Anybody had any experience with these kinds of charter fishing trips on these two lakes?

[Northcountryman]

I used to hire guides a number of years ago and always had a good, if not great, experience.  Yes, its a bit pricey , but there are advantages to it, as well.  First and foremost: You get to sit back, relax and just catch fish!! 

[Steve D]

I have been on two charters in NY. One was on Oneida for Walleye and the other was on Canandaigua for trout. Both trips were a good time and we caught fish.

Are they worth the price?? Good question but when you figure the cost of their boat, fuel, equipment, insurances, time, etc. it is probably less expensive than buying your own boat and equipment.

When I owned my own boat we could fish for hours multiple days and never catch a thing. We limited out on both of our four hr. trips and all we had to do was show up on time and reel in the fish. On the walleye charter the guide even filleted the fish and packaged them for us. .

I used this guy on Canandaigua Lake and can vouch for his ability. Last I knew he was only doing his charters on the south end of the lake but has since added Lake Ontario. Good guy to deal with.

Meet Captain Dave Wolinski: Lake Ontario's Master (valleyoftheshadowfishingcharters.com)

Walleye caught on Oneida on a 4 hour charter:

 

[Daveboone]

A bit late to this post....We recently moved near the fingerlakes, so new fishing waters to explore. I think probably hiring a guide is the easiest...and possibly in the long run cheapest...way to learn new techniques, know how. Last year when we were driving around, I spent a very pleasant half hour chatting with a guide who had just finished up for the day on Cayuga. He was very friendly, outgoing, excited about his job and sharing information. What I look for. I have met many guides who hardly wanted to say a word unless you had money in your hand. I hope we can get out with him.

[Doc]

I never did get out with a guide. I am having a hard time finding time to do any fishing. I'm still hoping to find time to get out.