Drew Friday is a fly fishing guide in Arkansas who guides some of the best trout water in the state. In addition, his region is home to a range of other species. Friday recently sat down to take on some questions for the Venturing Angler:
Why do you guide where you do?
I was born and raised in Arkansas, and grew up fishing all over the state. We have so much water and opportunities to catch several different species of fish, trout, smallmouth bass, largemouth bass, stripers, hybrids … the list goes on. We are also a year-round fishery for trout, and we grow the biggest brown trout around. All in all Arkansas is a fishy state, and that’s why I love guiding here.
What is your favorite fish specie?
I love trout and especially browns, and that is what I guide trips for day to day, but I am a mild tarpon fanatic. I love to watch tarpon eat and the mayhem that comes after that.
What is your favorite thing about guiding?
I like everything about it, but most of all meeting new people and helping them catch fish, and hopefully teach them something new.
What is the most memorable trip you’ve guided and why?
We do some serious streamer fishing here on the White River in the winter (Jan-Feb) and it is big game hunting season, so it can be slow to say the least. Every guide knows a long day with no fish in the boat can be agonizing. I fished a guy 2 years ago who booked three days of streamer fishing. I met him at the boat ramp the first day and explained that the streamer deal can be grind, but you have to stick with it and fish hard and you will be rewarded hopefully with a large brown trout. We got in the boat ran up river and started our float. He made one shot at the bank and stuck 28″ 15 pound brown trout five minutes into his three day trip. Those are the days you pray for that make the rest of the trip a litter more relaxed for you and your clients.
What is the funniest thing you’ve experienced while guiding?
Husband and wife clients.
What makes your guide service great?
We want everyone to learn something new on a trip and work hard to put people on fish.
If you had only one day off all year, where would you fish and what fish would you target?
Florida pan handle for tarpon.
What are your favorite three flies?
Chad Johnsons Sluggo, Schmitts Double Deceiver, KG Sex Dungeon
What is the one piece of gear you couldn’t bear to leave at home?
Pliers and sunglasses cloth
Do you have any other passions?
I have a little girl that is learning how to fly fish so I spend a lot of time helping her. Also streamers: tying them, fishing them … I am obsessed.
To check out more from Drew Friday, please click here.
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Disclosure: This guide service is in a professional relationship with the Fly Fishing Guide Directory 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.