Fly Fishing in Eastern Pennsylvania with Lucas Smith

Get to Know Me

I am Lucas Carter Smith, a fly angler and fly tyer from Pennsylvania. Fishing has been a part of my life for so long, ever since I was a child, because it was how my father and I would spend our time on days when both of us were free. After I went to West Virginia University to earn my degree, I was an original member of the fly fishing club during my stay, and that was when I got hooked up with fishing.

After graduating from college in 2017, I spent four months as a fly shop attendant and fish filleter for Kenai Cache Outfitters in Cooper Landing. There, I learned a lot of things about fishing. I spent all my spare time working on becoming a professional angler, alone or at my side job. As a result of my efforts, I had more and more opportunities. One of my favorites is the fishing charter business, What That Vise Do.

Overall, it has been an incredible journey for me, and I can say that fishing is something I was born to do. Fishing is not just a hobby or sport to me. It is a source of comfort and a great way to meet new people. Sharing my knowledge of fishing with others is one of the reasons I have enjoyed what I am doing for the longest time.

I had a 9-to-5 job for four years, two of which I spent as a weekend guide on top of my regular weekday work. From my life experiences, I can say that you should invest and dedicate your time to whatever makes you happy or what you want to do. Life is too short to stress ourselves all the time, even in our spare time.

How It All Started

My first recollection of fishing was when I went to a camp in Bedford County, Pennsylvania, where we fished at our neighbor's pond with a night crawler underneath a red and white bobber on a push-button fly rod. At that time, I was very excited because I got to catch my very own fish for the first time, and I spent the entire time with my family having fun. We were catching bluegill and bass all day long.

As I grew older and looked back on my childhood, I can confirm that solid family time helps each member develop their confidence, especially kids. Parents can help their kids build self-esteem by teaching them skills like communication and problem-solving. They can serve as role models for how to value oneself without demeaning others. Knowing that their loved ones value and appreciate them helps kids gain confidence and guide them through life.

Truth be told, I had never thought fishing would be a big part of my life, let alone make it my whole career. In fact, I came to love the sport only after I entered the fly fishing club at West Virginia University, where I met a lot of colleagues who share the same hobby and passion.

Until then, fishing was mainly the reason to bond and spend time with my family, especially my father, during weekends and in my spare time. The good laughs we share when we are out fishing and the fulfillment we get when we cook and eat our own catch are priceless. Only after my college graduation did I consider myself an avid angler.

All-Time Favorite Fishing Spot

Having been to a lot of fishing destinations in the last couple of years, Anchor Point on the Kenai Peninsula in Alaska takes the crown. The view was breathtaking, and I am always at peace whenever I get to fish there. There is something magical and truly otherworldly about fishing in a peaceful area with a great body of water and a gorgeous view to boot. Local legends say Captain James Cook dropped an anchor when he first explored the region, hence the name "Anchor Point."

During the summer salmon runs, tourists visit to fish in the river. The experience is incredible! I even saw coal along the river as well. Another thing I love about Anchor Point and the Kenai Peninsula is the fact that excellent clam-digging locations along the coast surround them.

As far as I can remember, it was way back in 2018 when my friend and I targeted the fall steelhead run. The popular name for the anadromous variety of the coastal rainbow trout or red band trout is steelhead, or rarely steelhead trout. Steelhead spawn in freshwater, smolts move to the ocean to graze for several years, and adults return to their natal streams to spawn, like other sea-run trout and salmon.

From my fishing trips and patterns, I noticed by targeting steelheads, I learned that cooler nights in September and October and, to a greater extent, cool rains that elevate water levels cause these runs. Planning a fishing vacation around migrating fish might be hit or miss depending on the severity of the run that particular year. Ever since I became serious about fishing, it became my goal to catch a steelhead using a fly rod I fashioned in a way that it would swing, and guess what? I succeeded in doing so only a few hours into our first day. It is still one of my favorite rods to date.

After that encounter in Anchor Point, I saw a potential business and was motivated to launch a fly-tying business. This fly-tying business would swiftly evolve into a guiding business. I never thought that my hobby would eventually become my source of income, and it completely altered the course of my professional life from my regular work into an experienced angler. It has always been a pleasure to serve as a guide for people who are interested in fishing here in Pennsylvania Steelhead Alley.

I can’t wait to meet fellow anglers and enthusiasts on our next fishing trips here, where you could catch your dream steelhead trout and smallmouth bass yourselves. Check out our photos on  Instagram and book your trip now!