mountain laurel guide service

Pennsylvania Ohio Maryland

Licensed Guide Service - First Aid - CPR Certified - Fully Insured

We are a Catch and Release Guide Service offering top fly fishing destinations

Two people in fishing gear standing in a river, one holding a large steelhead fish.

     Half-Day Adventures   $350 for 1 or 2 guests. Wade or Drift Boat Fishing

Half-day trips usually last 4-5 hours.

  • Bring your own fly rod. If needed, we can provide one for you.

  • All leaders, tippet, and local flies are provided.

  • Guests must provide their own wading pants and wading boots. No felt sole boots.

  • Guests are responsible for their own lunch on half-day trips.

  • Snacks and non-alcoholic beverages are provided by the guide.

  • A valid fishing license with a trout stamp is required on the day of the trip.

  • Call 814-744-4755 to check availability before making reservation payment below.

fly fishing holding brown trout in a boat

Multi-Day Adventures

Spring 2025

Clarion River Fly Fishing with cabin and drift boat services

Information for the trip is here.

Person holding a rainbow trout on the Youghiogheny River with trees in the background.

Full-Day Adventures $500 for 1 or 2 guests. Wade or Drift Boat Fishing.

Full-day trips usually last 8-10 hours.

  • Bring your own fly rod. If needed, we can provide one for you.

  • All leaders, tippet, and local flies are provided.

  • Guests must provide their own wading pants and wading boots. No felt sole boots.

  • Streamside lunch is provided with snacks and non-alcoholic beverages.

  • A valid fishing license with a trout stamp is required on the day of the trip.

  • Call 814-744-4755 to check availability before making reservation payment below.

Smiling person holding a brown trout fish by a river, wearing sunglasses, a hat, and a life vest, with trees in the background on a sunny day.
Man holding a large steelhead while kneeling in a river.
Person holding a brown trout while fishing on a boat in a river, surrounded by lush greenery and trees under a clear blue sky.
Rainbow trout caught in a net with a fishing lure in its mouth.
Man holding a brown trout while standing in a river, wearing fishing gear and sunglasses.
Smiling man holding a large rainbow trout while standing in a river, surrounded by autumn trees and rocky riverbanks.
Person holding a large rainbow fish near a body of water on a cloudy day.
Person holding a rainbow trout over a stream.
Person holding a largemouth bass while fishing on a lake with trees in the background on a sunny day.
Man holding a brown trout while fishing on a river, wearing a gray hooded jacket and life vest.
Man fishing in river holding a caught steelhead, wearing a green jacket, waders, and a cap with an action camera.
Steelhead in water surrounded by autumn leaves
Person holding a rainbow trout near a river, wearing a hat and sunglasses
Person holding a smallmouth bass while standing on a boat on a sunny day, wearing a light-colored hooded shirt and sunglasses, with a lake and trees in the background.
Person holding a large steelhead by a river.
Four men dressed in outdoor fishing gear standing together outdoors, smiling at the camera, with a backdrop of leafless trees and shrubs.
Man holding a large steelhead in a river with fall foliage in the background.
Person holding a large steelhead, wearing a black jacket, cap, and GoPro camera, standing in a river. Trees and overcast sky in the background.
Person holding a large steelhead while standing in a river
Two men wearing winter clothing standing in a river, one holding a large steelhead, with bare trees in the background.
Person holding a rainbow trout near a riverbank with rocky ground and bare trees in the background.
Three men standing in a river, wearing fishing gear, holding a large steelhead. Trees and a cloudy sky are in the background.
Two men in fishing gear holding a large steelhead caught in a river, with a fishing net partially submerged in the water.
Four people in fishing gear stand in front of a wooden covered bridge labeled "Riverview Bridge Indian Trails Park."
Two people standing in a river, holding a large steelhead and fishing net, dressed in outdoor gear with trees in the background.
Man holding a large steelhead by the river, wearing a jacket and beanie, with a fishing net partially submerged in the water.
Person holding a fishing net with a large trout on a rocky shore.
Rainbow trout in fishing net above river
A group of men sitting around a table in a living room, engaged in conversation. The room features a couch, wall art, and a kitchen area in the background. Some men are sitting on wooden chairs, and there are drinks on the table.
Four men in outdoor gear smiling in a forest setting
Person holding a brown trout on a boat with a river and trees in the background.
Person holding a rainbow trout next to a fishing net on a boat, wearing a Cabela's life jacket.
Three men in outdoor gear standing by a river, wearing jackets, life vests, and hats.
Close-up of stone flies on wet rock surface
Man wearing a cap and jacket holding a fish over a river
Person holding a brown trout near a net in water
A person standing on a small inflatable fishing boat on a river with a forested bank. The boat is equipped with fishing gear.
Truck with Mountain Laurel Guide Service branding and boat trailer in a wooded area
Man holding a large steelhead by a river
Man wearing camouflage jacket and cap holding a large steelhead in a river, with autumn foliage in the background.
Man holding a rainbow trout while standing in a river, surrounded by forest and wearing fishing gear.
Person holding a caught bass over a kayak on a lake with trees and blue sky in the background.
Man with glasses and a cap smiling near a river with lush green trees under a blue sky.
Man wearing a hat and sunglasses holding a smallmouth bass on a boat, surrounded by trees and a clear sky.
Person holding a smallmouth bass while sitting in a boat on a creek, surrounded by trees, with a clear blue sky.
Man holding a brown trout while sitting in a boat, surrounded by trees. He is wearing a cap, glasses, and a fishing outfit.
Person holding a brown trout while sitting in a boat on a river, wearing sunglasses and sun protection clothing.
Brown trout caught in a fishing net submerged in water.
Clarion 3 22 2025 Brown trout 1.jpg
Clarion 3 22 2025 Brown trout 2.jpg
Clarion 3 22 2025 Brown Trout.jpg
Clarion 3 23 2025 Brown trout 3.jpg
Man holding a large king salmon in front of a stream and greenery.

Meet the guide

Meet James Hill Jr, a seasoned angler whose passion for fishing has taken him on a remarkable journey across the waters of the East Coast to the heart of Pennsylvania and beyond.

James’ fishing journey started on New Jersey’s rugged Atlantic shores where he first cast his line into the Atlantic. However, it was in Ohio where his love affair with fly fishing truly ignited, drawn to the challenge of hooking steelhead in the vast expanses of the Great Lakes and pursuing the elusive smallmouth bass in the winding rivers.

As his skills and passion evolved, James found himself drawn to the pristine trout waters of central Pennsylvania. It was here, amidst the limestone streams and picturesque landscapes, that he honed his craft and embraced the intricacies of fly fishing for trout.

But James's fishing adventures didn't stop there. Over the course of two decades, he ventured north to upstate New York, where he explored the storied waters teeming with salmon, brown trout, and steelhead. Each cast, each catch, a testament to his dedication and unwavering pursuit of the perfect fishing experience.

Today, James resides in Pittsburgh with his family, where he continues to share his love of fishing with the next generation. Together, they escape to their cabin nestled along the banks of the Clarion River, where the timeless rhythm of flowing waters and the promise of adventure await.

For James, fishing isn't just a pastime—it's a way of life, a journey marked by the ebb and flow of the waters he calls home.