Tom Martin of Heavy Water Anglers guides anglers for trout in Maryland, Pennsylvania, and New York. Martin recently sat down to take on some questions for the Venturing Angler:
Why do you guide where you do?
I love the versatility. Whether I’m trout fishing in the mountains, swinging flies for steelhead, or stripping giant flies for muskie, within a few hours drive I can do it all.
What is your favorite fish specie?
Steelhead.
What is your favorite thing about guiding?
My favorite thing about guiding is having someone catch fish through me coaching them. I love to teach and watch the results. Also, most importantly, being able to take people out on when they’re the happiest. No one wakes up in the morning in a bad mood when they’re going out fishing on a beautiful river.
What is the most memorable trip you’ve guided and why?
I was guiding in Alaska and I met one of the innovators of steelhead fly fishing in BC, and he shared some of the most amazing things with me that week that I still use today.
What is the funniest thing you’ve experienced while guiding?
Let’s just say a client was using the “outdoor” restroom in Alaska, and right behind him stands up a very large bear. The look on his and the bear’s face was priceless.
What makes your guide service great?
I want to provide the best services possible and I am a perfectionist, but I also know how to have a good time.
If you had only one day off all year, where would you fish and what fish would you target?
British Columbia and steelhead.
What are your favorite three flies?
20 Incher, General Practitioner, and a Wooly Bugger.
What is the one piece of gear you couldn’t bear to leave at home?
My dog.
Do you have any other passions?
Music.
To check out more from Tom Martin and Heavy Water Anglers, please click here.
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Disclosure: Heavy Water Anglers 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.