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Fishing Guide - WI - Dave Barron
Wisconsin Fly Fishing Guide: Dave Barron | Wisconsin Fly Fishing
Average Customer Rating:
Rating Snapshot (34 reviews)
5 stars
33
4 stars
1
3 stars
0
2 stars
0
1 star
0
34 of 34(100%)customers would recommend this to a friend.
Customer Reviews for Fishing Guide - WI - Dave Barron
Review 1 for Fishing Guide - WI - Dave Barron
Overall Rating:
Beginner and Intermediate,
May 19, 2013
By: ScottChi
from Chicago, IL, USA
Billing / Reservation:
5
/
5
Please Rate your Guide/Instructor/Host on knowledge of the sport or activity::
5
/
5
Please Rate your Guide/Instructor/Host on his/her ability to instruct and communicate::
5
/
5
Please Rate your Guide/Instructor/Host on overall enthusiasm and personality::
5
/
5
Reviewer Images
(click to see full-size image)
"My girlfriend got us a fishing trip with Dave for my birthday. I had been fly fishing dozens of times as a child, she had never caught a fish before. Dave was great with both of us - before, during, and after the trip. He taught her how to cast in about 30 minutes, and brought back key skills for me as well. After a good practice session on dry land, we headed to the water. Dave took us on a brief walking tour around the creek we were fishing (beautiful area), we hit the water. Dave was great alternating between the two of us in the water. I caught several fish, and my girlfriend even caught her first! He knew exactly where to cast. Lunch with Dave was great, aside from being a fantastic fishing guide he is a really kind, and really funny guy. Along the trip, Dave pointed out lots of wildlife, which was great for a city guy like me. After a long (successful) day of fishing, we headed back to the Jacquish Hallow Angler Inn (Dave and his wife's B&B). STRONGLY recommend this part of the trip as well! Overall, the fishing was great, the scenery was gorgeous, but the trip was really all about Dave's personal attention and expert guiding. I plan on coming back for a round of drift boat fishing"
Would you recommend this experience or trip to a friend? Yes
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Review 2 for Fishing Guide - WI - Dave Barron
Overall Rating:
Another Great Day,
May 14, 2013
By: Anonymous
from Gotham, Buena Vista, WI 53556, USA
Billing / Reservation:
5
/
5
Please Rate your Guide/Instructor/Host on knowledge of the sport or activity::
5
/
5
Please Rate your Guide/Instructor/Host on his/her ability to instruct and communicate::
5
/
5
Please Rate your Guide/Instructor/Host on overall enthusiasm and personality::
5
/
5
Reviewer Images
(click to see full-size image)
"I floated the WI river yesterday with Dave and my friend Eric. The river was high, cold, and with this spring being a couple weeks behind we did not see the normal number of fish. That being said, we found fish and Dave put me on the biggest smallie I have ever caught on a fly. I have booked Dave several times and each trip has been a great experience. I would say that I am an advanced fly fisherman (not an expert) and mainly rely on guides to put me in front of fish. Most guides are happy to do that and take their fee. Dave wants you to be a better fisherman and his expert ability to coach and diagnose casting issues helps me constantly improve my casting and presentation. I have also booked him for my parents, who are beginners, and he does just as well with less experienced fishermen. Regardless of your ability, if you book a trip with Dave you can expect top of the line equipment, transportation, food, instruction, and knowledge the water as well as the surrounding area. All of this will be delivered with a smile and a little ribbing to keep you laughing and focused."
Would you recommend this experience or trip to a friend? Yes
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Review 3 for Fishing Guide - WI - Dave Barron
Overall Rating:
Very Good Experience,
May 9, 2013
By: Sedgwick
from Chicago, IL, USA
Billing / Reservation:
5
/
5
Please Rate your Guide/Instructor/Host on knowledge of the sport or activity::
5
/
5
Please Rate your Guide/Instructor/Host on his/her ability to instruct and communicate::
5
/
5
Please Rate your Guide/Instructor/Host on overall enthusiasm and personality::
5
/
5
Additional Thoughts:See comments above
"My wife and I just spent two nights at the bed and breakfast of Dave and Nancy Barron and one and a half days fishing with Dave. We are beginners and we felt that no one could have made a better introduction to fly fishing for us -- not only as to techniques of casting and attaching flies, etc., with Dave's own teaching methods tailored to each of us but also as to the whole environment - the streams, the seasonal insects and appropriate flies, some good recent work by Wisconsin DNR in repairing a stream, and many other things. Their guest room was pleasant and quiet, we slept soundly, their lovely house was surrounded by spring birds and flowers, Nancy is a great hostess and a great cook, and they told us how to find things in Richland Center, the local town. They made us feel at home. We couldn't recommend the experience more highly."
Would you recommend this experience or trip to a friend? Yes
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Review 4 for Fishing Guide - WI - Dave Barron
Overall Rating:
Best Fly Fishing Experience,
May 6, 2013
By: FlyGuy33
from Merrimac, WI, USA
Billing / Reservation:
5
/
5
Please Rate your Guide/Instructor/Host on knowledge of the sport or activity::
5
/
5
Please Rate your Guide/Instructor/Host on his/her ability to instruct and communicate::
5
/
5
Please Rate your Guide/Instructor/Host on overall enthusiasm and personality::
5
/
5
Additional Thoughts:Extremely knowledgeable
"This fishing experience was outstanding. Dave Barron is a guide which knows the streams, is an exceptional fisherman and can easily share and put into simple terms the intricacies of fly fishing. He was able to build upon my basic knowledge of fly fishing to quickly become at ease with the new techniques. At the same time he was able to quickly get a novice fly fisherman comfortable with his technique so we could all go out and enjoy a great day of fishing."
Would you recommend this experience or trip to a friend? Yes
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Review 5 for Fishing Guide - WI - Dave Barron
Overall Rating:
12th EDTU Spring Creeks Trip 2013,
May 6, 2013
By: Flycaster312
from Evanston, IL, USA
Please Rate your Guide/Instructor/Host on knowledge of the sport or activity::
5
/
5
Please Rate your Guide/Instructor/Host on his/her ability to instruct and communicate::
5
/
5
Please Rate your Guide/Instructor/Host on overall enthusiasm and personality::
5
/
5
Reviewer Images
(click to see full-size image)
Additional Thoughts:the best, most patient guide I have ever used
"I am only 69 but my fishing buddy, Bill will be 85 in October and has had a series of medical problems including his recent macular degeneration getting worse.
Dave is super patient with Bill such as help him over styles, getting him untangled, tying on all his flies of course, indicating to him where to cast and how to do so to catch fish.
As I am a bit my able, he constantly helps me improve my casting, learn subtle new changes to the casts I know to get my fly to the fish and how to a (sort of) drag free drift. On this trip we had gusty winds one day up to 30 mph and I learned to greatly improve my off-shoulder and low sidearm casting. As usual I lost a number of Dave's flies - as well as my own. He is open to my trying a different fly even when it does make much sense for Wisconsin ... someties it even works which I then rib him unmercifully about. A 12" Wisconsin brook trout on a Montana "purple Haze" in a drizzly rain ... you've got to be kidding.
If there is a hatch on he will change flies 20 times in an hour until he finds the one they want. A lot of guides use 5 flies and won't change even the size ... even if they are getting short struke, which makes me crazy. Even I know better.
Dave' wife (Nancy) prepares terrific food - especially chocalate chip cookies and great salads and chip dips - and Dave cooks a great lunch.
We have done this Trout Unlimited trip for 12 years with Dave and I have fished from Georgia to the West coast to Alaska to France and there is no guide I would rather be with in any of those venues than Dave. Using what I learned from Dave I even caught fish in the French mountains above Grenoble and taught a spin fisherman from Arkansas to do so by adding 10 feet of my flyline and a leader to his untralight spinning rod ... and he caught trout. He couldn't have been prouder if those 10 small trout were ten pounds apiece ... even If I did make him wade in cowboy boots to get into position! He still has and weres the boots.
If I were one of the "big money guys" I would take him with me wherever I was going to fish."
Dave is super patient with Bill such as help him over styles, getting him untangled, tying on all his flies of course, indicating to him where to cast and how to do so to catch fish.
As I am a bit my able, he constantly helps me improve my casting, learn subtle new changes to the casts I know to get my fly to the fish and how to a (sort of) drag free drift. On this trip we had gusty winds one day up to 30 mph and I learned to greatly improve my off-shoulder and low sidearm casting. As usual I lost a number of Dave's flies - as well as my own. He is open to my trying a different fly even when it does make much sense for Wisconsin ... someties it even works which I then rib him unmercifully about. A 12" Wisconsin brook trout on a Montana "purple Haze" in a drizzly rain ... you've got to be kidding.
If there is a hatch on he will change flies 20 times in an hour until he finds the one they want. A lot of guides use 5 flies and won't change even the size ... even if they are getting short struke, which makes me crazy. Even I know better.
Dave' wife (Nancy) prepares terrific food - especially chocalate chip cookies and great salads and chip dips - and Dave cooks a great lunch.
We have done this Trout Unlimited trip for 12 years with Dave and I have fished from Georgia to the West coast to Alaska to France and there is no guide I would rather be with in any of those venues than Dave. Using what I learned from Dave I even caught fish in the French mountains above Grenoble and taught a spin fisherman from Arkansas to do so by adding 10 feet of my flyline and a leader to his untralight spinning rod ... and he caught trout. He couldn't have been prouder if those 10 small trout were ten pounds apiece ... even If I did make him wade in cowboy boots to get into position! He still has and weres the boots.
If I were one of the "big money guys" I would take him with me wherever I was going to fish."
Would you recommend this experience or trip to a friend? Yes
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Review 6 for Fishing Guide - WI - Dave Barron
Overall Rating:
New Angler,
April 25, 2013
By: IllinoisFish
from Merrimac, WI, USA
Please Rate your Guide/Instructor/Host on knowledge of the sport or activity::
5
/
5
Please Rate your Guide/Instructor/Host on his/her ability to instruct and communicate::
5
/
5
Please Rate your Guide/Instructor/Host on overall enthusiasm and personality::
5
/
5
"The experience we had recently with Dave Barron was exceptional as he was very willing to spend time with both an experienced fly fisherman and a novice like myself. Dave was able to work with both of us equally and advance both sets of skills dramatically."
Would you recommend this experience or trip to a friend? Yes
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Review 7 for Fishing Guide - WI - Dave Barron
Overall Rating:
April 2013 Driftless,
April 23, 2013
By: Subtropicalspey
from South Florida
Please Rate your Guide/Instructor/Host on knowledge of the sport or activity::
5
/
5
Please Rate your Guide/Instructor/Host on his/her ability to instruct and communicate::
5
/
5
Please Rate your Guide/Instructor/Host on overall enthusiasm and personality::
5
/
5
Reviewer Images
(click to see full-size image)
"Fly fishing with Dave is greatly enriched by his knowledge of flycasting and he helps me get the most out of my fishing by suggesting improved methods of casting. He is completely up to date on methods for catching trout and open minded as well. I look forward to these guided fishing days all year."
Would you recommend this experience or trip to a friend? Yes
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Review 8 for Fishing Guide - WI - Dave Barron
Overall Rating:
Great fly fishing experience,
October 3, 2012
By: vinsil1
from Riverside, CA, USA
Please Rate your Guide/Instructor/Host on knowledge of the sport or activity::
5
/
5
Please Rate your Guide/Instructor/Host on his/her ability to instruct and communicate::
5
/
5
Please Rate your Guide/Instructor/Host on overall enthusiasm and personality::
5
/
5
"I have fished with Dave three out of the last four years. If you want to combine a true fly fishing experience with native browns and brookies in the beautiful driftless spring creeks, look no further. His casting tips, local knowledge and personal attention will have you coming back also. This is a can't miss experience for any fly angler."
Would you recommend this experience or trip to a friend? Yes
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Review 9 for Fishing Guide - WI - Dave Barron
Overall Rating:
An enjoyable weekend,
October 3, 2012
By: JRA48
from Southwest Wisconsin
Please Rate your Guide/Instructor/Host on knowledge of the sport or activity::
5
/
5
Please Rate your Guide/Instructor/Host on his/her ability to instruct and communicate::
4
/
5
Please Rate your Guide/Instructor/Host on overall enthusiasm and personality::
5
/
5
"I recently had the opportunity to fish a couple days with Dave and Scott, and to enjoy the hospitality at their lodge. I have fly fished for a few years, and always enjoy learning how to improve my technique. Dave and Scott were both knowledgeable and helpful, and I enjoyed my time with them on the water."
Would you recommend this experience or trip to a friend? Yes
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Review 10 for Fishing Guide - WI - Dave Barron
Overall Rating:
Exceptional Experience,
October 2, 2012
By: jjm46590
from Kansas City, MO, USA
Billing / Reservation:
5
/
5
Please Rate your Guide/Instructor/Host on knowledge of the sport or activity::
5
/
5
Please Rate your Guide/Instructor/Host on his/her ability to instruct and communicate::
5
/
5
Please Rate your Guide/Instructor/Host on overall enthusiasm and personality::
5
/
5
"My wife and I spent a couple of days with Dave and Nancy and had a fabulous time. The food was exquisite and the fly casting lessons were phenomenal. Dave is a great instructor and is patient with extreme novices such as myself. I would recommend Dave to anyone whether a beginner or an experienced angler. This is truly a first class operation."
Would you recommend this experience or trip to a friend? Yes
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Review 11 for Fishing Guide - WI - Dave Barron
Overall Rating:
Wonderful weekend,
September 26, 2012
By: lovesnature
Billing / Reservation:
5
/
5
Please Rate your Guide/Instructor/Host on knowledge of the sport or activity::
5
/
5
Please Rate your Guide/Instructor/Host on his/her ability to instruct and communicate::
5
/
5
Please Rate your Guide/Instructor/Host on overall enthusiasm and personality::
4
/
5
"We had a wonderful weekend fishing with Dave Barron. He gave us many tips that we had not learned from previous guides. We will definitely return in the future to fish with him again."
Would you recommend this experience or trip to a friend? Yes
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Review 12 for Fishing Guide - WI - Dave Barron
Overall Rating:
My best weekend in 10 years!,
September 26, 2012
By: Kfuher
from Waukesha, WI, USA
Please Rate your Guide/Instructor/Host on knowledge of the sport or activity::
5
/
5
Please Rate your Guide/Instructor/Host on his/her ability to instruct and communicate::
5
/
5
Please Rate your Guide/Instructor/Host on overall enthusiasm and personality::
5
/
5
"My weekend fly fishing with Scott and Dave was wonderful. Both had great patience and knowledge which helped me enjoy fishing even more. Thanks to their expertise with the streams we visited and how to fish them, I was truly able to experience trout fishing."
Would you recommend this experience or trip to a friend? Yes
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Review 13 for Fishing Guide - WI - Dave Barron
Overall Rating:
Great experience!,
September 26, 2012
By: ChicagoSub
from Richmond Center
Please Rate your Guide/Instructor/Host on knowledge of the sport or activity::
5
/
5
Please Rate your Guide/Instructor/Host on his/her ability to instruct and communicate::
5
/
5
Please Rate your Guide/Instructor/Host on overall enthusiasm and personality::
5
/
5
"Arriving as novice fly fisherman, my husband and I spent a glorious couple of days learning the art as well as a wonderful history of the driftless area of southwestern Wisconsin, all while thoroughly enjoying the company of our guide, Dave Barron. He took the time to personalize instruction to our different learning styles, patiently teaching various casting techniques, how (and where) to tie our knots, and how to “read” the streams. We couldn't believe how quickly the time passed as we cast our lines as we navigated our way through the various streams in the area! This comprehensive approach solidified our desire to visit Dave again and continue in our quest to become proficient fisherman! We whole heartedly recommend this adventure to anyone who enjoys the outdoors, regardless of experience! Dave has a passion for the sport and shares this with his clients."
Would you recommend this experience or trip to a friend? Yes
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Review 14 for Fishing Guide - WI - Dave Barron
Overall Rating:
A+ Experience,
September 23, 2012
By: Chicagobeginner
from Chicago
Please Rate your Guide/Instructor/Host on knowledge of the sport or activity::
5
/
5
Please Rate your Guide/Instructor/Host on his/her ability to instruct and communicate::
5
/
5
Please Rate your Guide/Instructor/Host on overall enthusiasm and personality::
5
/
5
"I'm a fly fishing beginner and would recommend a day with Dave to anyone in my shoes. He took time to give me and my dad (his first fly fishing outing) a LOT of useful tips in our casting and he corrected a lot of bad habits I had picked up either on my own or from other guides. He is a real pro, a great / patient teacher, and in general a pleasure to be around. Can't wait until my next outing with Dave."
Would you recommend this experience or trip to a friend? Yes
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Review 15 for Fishing Guide - WI - Dave Barron
Overall Rating:
Could not have been more perfect,
September 20, 2012
By: di1221
"My flyfishing trip could not have been more perfect. The Inn was quiet, peaceful, beautiful, comfortable and CLEAN. Nancy and Dave were perfect hosts. Nancy is a great cook. I kept hearing myself saying "this is the best I've ever had", in response to everything she prepared for breakfast and lunches. Dave makes a mean hamburger and brat on the grill too. I feel incredibly lucky to have found Dave as a guide. He knows a great deal about flyfishing, and about the Driftless region. More importantly and more rare is that he can really teach. I found him to be the IDEAL instructor. He is extremely patient, encouraging, dedicating his energies to making sure that it is the best learning experience possible. He obviously loves and cares about what he is doing. He worked every angle to make sure that I understood and was able to accomplish the things I was there to learn! On top of that he made the whole experience a lot of fun. I can't wait until the next season comes so that I can do this all over again."
Would you recommend this experience or trip to a friend? Yes
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Review 16 for Fishing Guide - WI - Dave Barron
Overall Rating:
Great Birthday Gift,
September 17, 2012
By: Anonymous
from La Crosse, WI, USA
Billing / Reservation:
5
/
5
Please Rate your Guide/Instructor/Host on knowledge of the sport or activity::
5
/
5
Please Rate your Guide/Instructor/Host on his/her ability to instruct and communicate::
5
/
5
Please Rate your Guide/Instructor/Host on overall enthusiasm and personality::
5
/
5
Additional Thoughts:Super teacher!
"My son surprised me with a flyfishing trip to the driftless region of WI. I feel fortunate our guide was Dave Barron. This was my first time flyfishing and was quite nervous. Dave was great-patient and very caring that I learned the art of fly fishing the right way and enjoyed the experience. I did and I will take up the sport--thanks Dave for a great birthday experience!"
Would you recommend this experience or trip to a friend? Yes
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Review 17 for Fishing Guide - WI - Dave Barron
Overall Rating:
Extraordinary Experience,
September 14, 2012
By: mboz
from New York, NY, USA
Billing / Reservation:
5
/
5
Please Rate your Guide/Instructor/Host on knowledge of the sport or activity::
5
/
5
Please Rate your Guide/Instructor/Host on his/her ability to instruct and communicate::
5
/
5
Please Rate your Guide/Instructor/Host on overall enthusiasm and personality::
5
/
5
"I have been fly fishing for 35 years, and still learned many new skills in casting, catching, and landing smallmouth bass in my memorable day with Dave on the Wisconsin River. Dave is an extremely patient, knowledgeable, friendly, and competent guide. I would strongly recommend him to beginners and experienced anglers alike."
Would you recommend this experience or trip to a friend? Yes
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Review 18 for Fishing Guide - WI - Dave Barron
Overall Rating:
Five Stars,
August 30, 2012
By: Jalliott
from Minneapolis, MN, USA
Billing / Reservation:
5
/
5
Please Rate your Guide/Instructor/Host on knowledge of the sport or activity::
5
/
5
Please Rate your Guide/Instructor/Host on his/her ability to instruct and communicate::
5
/
5
Please Rate your Guide/Instructor/Host on overall enthusiasm and personality::
5
/
5
"My wife gifted me and a friend a guided weekend with Dave for my 40th birthday. We showed up with no gear and no experience.
Dave is an impressive teacher. My friend and I had different abilities and different learning styles. Dave customized his approach through trial and error to find the path forward for each of us. Although the paths were different, the results were the same...we both left the casting class with enough ability to get on the stream.
Over 1.5 days we worked different streams with varying conditions. By day 2, Dave sprinkled in some advanced techniques.
I can't think of one thing that didn't exceed expectations.
Pros:
- Excellent teaching
- Accommodations
- Meals (homemade breakfasts and grilling on the stream for lunch)
- Beer on the porch
- Stunning landscapes
- Abundance of streams
- Excellent teaching
- Accommodations
- Meals (homemade breakfasts and grilling on the stream for lunch)
- Beer on the porch
- Stunning landscapes
- Abundance of streams
Cons:
- Leaving with an uncontrollable itch to get back on the stream"
- Leaving with an uncontrollable itch to get back on the stream"
Would you recommend this experience or trip to a friend? Yes
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Review 19 for Fishing Guide - WI - Dave Barron
Overall Rating:
Great Small Mouth,
August 29, 2012
By: Felixir
from wisconsin River, Wisconsin, USA
Billing / Reservation:
5
/
5
Please Rate your Guide/Instructor/Host on knowledge of the sport or activity::
5
/
5
Please Rate your Guide/Instructor/Host on his/her ability to instruct and communicate::
5
/
5
Please Rate your Guide/Instructor/Host on overall enthusiasm and personality::
5
/
5
Additional Thoughts:Great guide; good fishing.
"My wife and I did a smallmouth float trip on the Wisconsin River with Dave. His expertise in guiding is only exceeded by his great sense of humor. We had a great day on the water. I got to use a helios rod. If you stay at the B & B you will have the best breakfast you have ever eaten!
From Wife: very much appreciated Dave's cool, competent style. His ability to create a comfortable teaching and guiding experience goes a long way to help fly fishers at any level. His knowledge of the water, his craft and equipment made for a really good time. Caught some great smallmouth."
Would you recommend this experience or trip to a friend? Yes
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Review 20 for Fishing Guide - WI - Dave Barron
Overall Rating:
Picturesque in WI,
August 24, 2012
By: dbro
from Los Angeles, CA
Billing / Reservation:
5
/
5
Please Rate your Guide/Instructor/Host on knowledge of the sport or activity::
5
/
5
Please Rate your Guide/Instructor/Host on his/her ability to instruct and communicate::
5
/
5
Please Rate your Guide/Instructor/Host on overall enthusiasm and personality::
5
/
5
"Had an unbelievable half day of fishing with Dave. I wanted to coordinate a fly fishing experience as part of a bachelor party excursion through Wisconsin and Dave and his lovely wife were very accommodating to our unusual request. We were a group of 4 with little to no fly fishing experience. After a brief tutorial, we got right onto a lovely stream very well kept by the DNR in a pasture bordered by bluffs. We even caught a few small ones. Overall a fantastic experience with a personable and knowledgeable guide. Can't wait to go back."
Would you recommend this experience or trip to a friend? Yes
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