Dan Hardy has been guiding on the trophy waters of Alaska perhaps longer than most of us have been alive. In that time, Hardy not only mastered many waters, but he also has decades of great trout and steelhead catches. Hardy recently sat down to take on some questions for the Venturing Angler:
1. Why do you guide where you do?
Because of the intimate knowledge I have of the area. It’s one of the many areas in Alaska where I grew up fishing as a kid over forty-five years ago!
2. What is your favorite fish specie?
Although I love them all when fishing/guiding for them, I have to lean more towards rainbows/steelhead!
3. What is your favorite thing about guiding?
Teaching and providing a great experience for that once in a lifetime fishing adventure here in Alaska!
4. What is the most memorable trip you’ve guided and why?
Guiding five accomplished women fly-fishers on my 21ft. driftboat for two days! Why? Because they enjoyed themselves so much, and they listened to the guide. LOL! They called themselves “ The Chestwader Chippies.”
5. What is the funniest thing you’ve experienced while guiding?
There have been a few. The latest one that comes to mind was a client who didn’t like taking any breaks from fishing, whether it was for lunch or bathroom breaks. So, when he could no longer hold it in and finally decided to take a bathroom break, he was in such a rush to get back in the water, that he forgot to pull up his hip boots and they filled up with water! I still chuckle about that one….
6. What makes your guide service great?
My attention to detail, my knowledge, enthusiasm, and passion for fishing! But most of all, my ability to show gratitude to my clients for choosing and trusting me to be their fishing guide!
7. If you had only one day off all year, where would you fish and fish would you target?
Half the day in B.C. for steelhead, the other half on Christmas Island for Bonefish/GT’s.
8. What are your favorite three flies?
Extra Long leeches, long flesh, and smolt patterns!
9. What is the one piece of gear you couldn’t bear to leave at home?
Waders …
To check out more from Dan Hardy and D Ray Personal Guide Service, please click here.
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Disclosure: D Ray Personal Guide Service is in a professional relationship with the Fly Fishing Guide Directory, LLC and the Venturing Angler. Though potentially benefiting from this relationship, we do not post what we do not believe to be true. To read more, click here.