Welcome to Allegheny Guide Service!

Note: All musky/pike and trout trips are catch and release only.

More than fishing, this is an adventure for big fish on the Allegheny River. Allegheny Guide Service's mission is to teach the techniques that will make you a better angler and put every effort into providing the opportunity for a fish of a lifetime. The Allegheny River, downstream from the Kinzua Dam, yields some of the largest freshwater fish in North America.

If river fishing is not your thing, you will definitely want to take advantage of our lake trips on the Allegheny Reservoir or Tionesta Lake. The Allegheny Reservoir holds numerous Pennsylvania State Records. Many biologists are convinced that the next state record musky will come from its' deep, clear water while Tionesta Lake is a much smaller body of water, but still holds big muskies.

Red's boat is a spacious 2008 21ft. Extreme Shallow JetCraft with a 200hp Mercury Inboard OptiMax equipped with a 15hp Mercury Pro kicker for trolling. From trout, walleye, pike and the ellusive muskellunge, we have it all here at the Allegheny Guide Service located in Northwest PA!

Winter Musky Trips:  The Allegheny River (between Warren and the Kinzua outflow) rarely freezes due to a bottom discharge flow from the Allegheny Reservoir.  This bottom discharge flow is 2-3 degrees above freezing which allows open water musky fishing year around.  Mid to late winter trips can be a mixture of casting or trolling depending on air temperatures the day of your trip.  As December/January approach, casting only trips may have to be re-scheduled if daytime highs fail to reach 25 degrees (with little or no wind) due to ice build-up and tissue damge to the gill rakers.  The November, December and January time period is when the muskies are the heaviest but conditions are most challenging. (Sometimes we must get out of the boat and take a short walk in order to get the blood flowing to the extremeties.)  We will never guarantee catching a musky, but as the cold water period begins and food becomes more scarce, chasing the 'big fatties' can be a very rewarding experience.  While navigating our site, it is easy to see when the fat fish are coming to the boat.  (During the winter of '04-'05, we averaged an amazing 3.4 muskies per outing!) 

NEW FOR 2008: We are now offering river fly-fishing trips specializing in musky, pike, trout and smallmouth bass. With thousands of muskies and trout stocked over the past several years, our section of the Allegheny River has a strong population of 18-25 inch rainbow/brown trout as well as muskies 40-inches and longer. Your trip will be from Red's river boat drifting along in 4-12 feet of pristine water that holds trophy populations of many different species. We have 30 miles of trophy water and expansive weedbeds to pound; you will be in flyfishing heaven!! The fly-fishing coach, Gary Kell, is a recent addition to our guide team and will provide you with the techniques, proper tackle selection, and 40 years of fly-fishing experience to help you land the fish of a lifetime.  For more information, go to Gary's site at....TheFlyFishingCoach.Com

BIG TROUT FOR 2009:  With my newly purchased 21 ft. Extreme Shallow Jet, trophy trout trips will be much more efficient due to the increased buoancy and shallow water performance of this newly designed boat hull.  Drift-fishing several anglers simultaneously has proven to be a deadly technique but there are those times when wading will be the primary plan during extreme low water conditions.  As most trophy trout anglers know, a stealthy approach is required in low clear water. If you enjoy chasing big trout with a fly-rod or traditional tackle, you will not be disappointed with the awesome trout fishery we have within the boundaries of Allegheny National Forest.  With increased stocking in this PFBC regulated "trophy trout" section (8.75 miles of it), there is a fantastic class of mature fish ranging between 18-22 inches and a respectable number of 5-7 pounders lurking. (10+ pound and 30+ inch brown trout do inhabit this section of river.)  While most of the big trout are hold-overs, there are some wild browns leaving the smaller tributaries to enjoy the cooler river water during mid-summer. If big, thick browns and rainbows is what you seek, this stretch of river is where you want to be.  To see a few of the big trout from 2008, please visit our Recent Catches page.

NIGHT FISHING SUMMER RIVER TRIPS for 2009:
As summer approaches and the daylight increases, many of the big muskies, trout and walleye begin feeding nocturnally on the clear waters of the Middle Allegheny River.  We have decided to offer night fishing excursions during the months of July and August.  Trips will begin at 6:00pm in order to familiarize yourself with your new environment, discuss/practice night fishing techniques and get fitted with your headlamp prior to dusk.  Your fishing time will be at least 6-HOURS.  You can expect to be on the water until 12:00am but if the fish cooperate and your are still awake, we will continue fishing.  These river trips will accomodate a maximum of 3 persons at a flat rate price.  Please check our Rates page for further details. 

TIONESTA LAKE TRIPS for 2010:  After spending the summer of 2009 dissecting Tionesta Lake and boating many nice muskies, we have decided to offer trolling and casting trips there for 2010.  Tionesta Lake (located in Forest County and 36 miles South of Warren) has a strong trolling and casting bite when the fish are active.  While being just over 6 miles long, Tionesta has coughed up many 50+ inch fish over the years and currently has a strong class of mature fish in the system.  Night fishing trips on Tionesta Lake are also available for an additonal 25.00.

   ARE YOU READY TO GO 45 MPH IN 4 INCHES OF WATER??

Soon after this photo was taken, this dog was eaten by an Allegheny River musky. :)