Learn Juan's four "P's" of river kayak fishing: Paddling, Positioning, Patterning and Presentation. Guided Kayak Fishing Classes in the river environment are our specialty. We guide on some of the most beautiful and scenic flowing waters in central Pennsylvania. It will be a “classroom” like none you’ve ever experienced. You’ll spend the day immersed in kayak fishing. Classes consist of some brief lectures on specific topics however the cornerstone of our classes is “on the water”, “hands on” instruction! This is where 98% of the learning will take place.
Kayak fishing classes include guided trips for river smallmouth bass on the Susquehanna River or Juniata River. There are two ways to take a class. We offer “one-on-one” instruction and “group” instruction.
General Class Topics:
- Water Safety
- Paddling Technique
- Moving Water Kayak Maneuvers
- Positioning Techniques Specific to River Kayak Fishing
- Patterning River Smallmouth Bass
- Lure Presentation Techniques
Susquehanna River classes are taught in the Harrisburg, PA area. Juniata River Classes typically use Huntingdon, PA as the base of operations. Juniata River classes are best for new or inexperienced kayak anglers.
Who should take this course?
The course is great for beginners and seasoned kayak anglers alike. The course is uniquely designed to cover topics in both breadth and depth which has value for any river kayak angler who wants to expand and sharpen their skill sets in fishing and paddling.
Length of Class
The course typically takes approximately 8 hours. We will cover between 3-5 river miles during that time. Don't let the miles fool you. There will be a lot of paddling and fishing involved. The class is roughly 50% paddling skills oriented and 50% fishing skills.
Kayaks & Fishing Gear
If you have a fishing kayak, I prefer that you take my class and learn in your own fishing kayak. If you have any questions regarding using your own kayak and it's suitability for the class please feel free to contact me.
I can provide the following gear at no additional charge: High quality fishing kayak, PFD, paddle, rods, reels and lures. That being said, feel free to bring the fishing gear that you are comfortable with using. I call everyone within days of registering for the class so we can discuss your gear and what will be appropriate for the class at that time. Also, feel free to call before scheduling the class and we can discuss (814-360-7789).
Please review the PDF below so you understand the gear you will need for your class and how to better prepare to get the most out of the time on the water.
Preparing for Class (What to bring) 309.48 KB
General Eligibility and Considerations
All classes and trips require participants to be at least 12 years old. Those under 18 must be accompanied by a legal guardian. You should be in good physical condition and have the ability to perform all kayaking/fishing related tasks without physical assistance. The days are long and physically demanding. You don't need to be an olympic athlete but you should be in reasonable physical condition. We may need to carry gear, portage kayaks, navigate tricky terrain during portaging and perform other moderately demanding physical tasks during class. If you have any questions or concerns about the physical demands of the classes, please feel free to call me at 814-360-7789.
Every participant must sign a waiver before class starts. Waivers are common in the kayak instruction industry. If you want to see a copy of the waiver in advance, please contact me and I'll make sure that you get one.
Individual River Smallmouth Kayak Fishing Class
$350 + Shuttle Fee (varies)
The one-on-one format offers the ability to customize our River Smallmouth Kayak Fishing Curriculum to match your specific learning objectives and needs. The format also maximizes the opportunity for one-one one coaching.
The general topics we cover are listed previously on this page above but this format allows us to customize topics. During the registration process we will work with you to identify specific topics that you want to include.
To schedule your “Individual” River Smallmouth Kayak Fishing Class call 814-360-7789.
Group River Smallmouth Kayak Fishing Class
$195.00 per kayak angler
The group class setting is great for those who enjoy learning in a team environment. A significant amount of research regarding “learning” indicates that many individuals learn best in groups. That being said, you’ll still get lots of individual coaching because classes are limited to three kayak anglers on the Juniata River classes and four on the Susquehanna River classes.
Please Note: Depending on my availability, I will do group classes outside the published schedule below but you must guarantee three students. This is great for a group of friends or members of a fishing club.
Group Class Schedule
What is listed below is the next available class. Skip forward through each month to check for additional dates beyond what is listed below.
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