Thank you for your interest in Finger Lakes Angling Zone Guide Service! My name is John Gaulke and I would like to guide you on your Finger Lakes angling adventure. I am a United States Coast Guard Licensed Captain (#1106765) and a NYS Licensed Guide (#4240). I am fully insured as well.
I have guided since 2005 and by the time mid-2006 rolled around I was busy enough to go full time and have been full time ever since!
I now have two great boats – my newest one is a 2020 Crestliner FishHawk 1850 that I started running this past September. I also have a 2013 FishHawk. Both are powered by Mercury 115 hp four stroke outboards. Both have Lowrance Electronics and Minn-Kota Terrova trolling motors. By having two completely rigged boats I don’t have to worry about any potential mechanical issues causing interference with guided trips. Both are awesome rigs to fish out of!
I pride myself on being able to maximize and capitalize on available fishing opportunities. The more opportunities available, the greater the chances of a successful outing! My goal when on the water in addition to catching fish, is to show you what we’ll be doing, why and how. I enjoy helping anglers develop into true “fishermen.” A true fisherman is someone who has an understanding of the fish and their behavior and the best ways to catch them. They can find fish on any body of water! They don’t need to rely on someone else’s “spots” or docktalk.
I taught “Introduction to Freshwater Angling” at Cornell University from the fall of 2003 up through 2019. I also taught “Introduction to Fly Fishing” at Cornell from 2004 up until the pandemic hit in 2020. Helping students learn how to catch fish has taught me invaluable lessons that I can impart to anglers of all ages. Volunteering at the Tunison Aquatic Laboratory in Cortland NY and keeping in contact with various NYS Dept. of Environmental Conservation biologists has kept me aware of fishing opportunities and issues in the region.
One of the most important things a guide can offer is accurate recent angling information. Over the past couple years I’ve found myself spending more and more time on the water. Despite the sluggish economy, my guiding business has prospered. This is time well spent patterning fish and exploring new and familiar areas and techniques. Contrary to what many people believe, fishing success can be reasonably predicted if key elements are present. Luck is always a factor, but fish tend to react in certain ways based on prevailing conditions. Call me I and will give you an accurate report on current fishing conditions and what to expect.
