Custom-Tied offers private fly fishing lessons and Guided half and full day Trips and a 3 hour business man's special, for those that already know how to fly fish, but don't have or want to take the time to fool around in unknown water. We are also opening a Fly Fishing School in affiliation with Penn National Communities. I am a licensed, trained, and certified professional fly fishing guide in the state of Pennsylvania. I will take you where you want to go; however, I specialize in the lesser known limestone and freestone streams in south central and central Pennsylvania including Adams (Gettysburg), Cumberland (Shippensburg and Carlisle), Franklin (Waynesboro, Greencastle, and Chambersburg), and Fulton (McConnelsburg) Counties.
March Brown Dunn Tan Caddis Sulpher Spinner
I am licensed and certified by the state of Pennsylvania to guide on her waters. I am trained in CPR, First Aid, and Advanced Lifesaving Skills. I am also insured so don't worry about a thing. I have been fly fishing for a bit more than 25 years, and am very familiar with the creeks, lakes, and ponds that I guide on. We also guide with spinning equipment as well.
Custom Tied has partnered with Strawberry Hill Nature Preserve in Adams County, PA. Strawberry Hill Nature Preserve offers 3 Fly Fishing Clinics per year and 1 Fly Tying Clinic. The dates of the clinics are listed here and on their web site. The next fly fishing clinic is 14 August. We are taking up to 10 students, so hurry and go to Strawberry Hill to sign up.
Fly Fishing Schools
Custom Tied has just partnered with Penn National Communities to open "The Antietam Creek School of Fly Fishing." If you have youth from age 8 to 15 that wish to learn how to fly fish we will be taking up to 10 per class beginning sometime in the early summer. This is a 5 hour course which includes lunch. The cost is $125.00 per student from 12 to 15 and $75.00 per student from 8-11. The student will learn knots, entomology, casting technique, and how to fight and land a fish. All equipment will be provided. If you desire to purchase a rod and reel combo we will have a limited number for sale. This is a dry course conducted on one of Penn National Golf Course's ponds, so no wading gear will be required. For more information or to book a course, please contact me at customtyer@custom-tied.com or (717)977-8804. You may pay through paypal or on course day.
We are also offering a Fly Fishing for Adults Course in July, August, September, and October. This is a much more in depth course which offers fly-tying as well. We are only taking 10 students per course for the adult course and the tuition is $450.00 per person. If you have your own equipment you are welcome to bring it, if not, I have equipment to loan at no extra charge. The details are available on the Fly Fishing School Page. If you would like reserve a spot for one of these courses please call me @ (717) 977-8804 or email me @ customtyer@custom-tied.com.
Fee Schedule
I offer full and half day outings. Full day outings include a light stream side meal. I am set up through www.paypal.com to accept online payments. I require a minimum of $50.00 to hold your spot. A full day trip is 10 hours of instruction and fishing, including drive time. Just click on the service which you desire and PayPal will do the rest; there is a $5.00 fee for this that you will see on your invoice when I receive the order and process it. If you don't have an account with them, it's free to set up, just click the link above. You may even use a credit card if you desire. If you do not desire to use PayPal, you may email me with an order customtyer@custom-tied.com, or call me at (717) 977-8804. I accept checks if you desire to avoid using the online methods. There is a $50.00 return check fee. If you book and must cancel, you must do so 3 weeks in advance for a refund. Absolutely no refunds are given after this period. All members of Strawberry Hill Nature Preserve will be given a %25 discount.
$50.00 Deposit holds your spot
The full day trip is recommended for the fly-fisher that has never touched a rod, or has very little experience. I teach this course every Saturday, and on some week days, if you book at least 1 month in advance. This is a 10 hour course including drive time. The fee includes rod, reel, line, flies, and lunch. While on the stream you learn entomology (what critters are in and around the stream), how to read the stream (where the fish are hiding, and about how big are they), casting instruction, how to match what is available to eat to what you have in your box, and knot tying. When you leave at the end of this 10 hour course, you will have enough knowledge and confidence to be able to go to your home water and apply what you have learned and catch fish. I have yet to have a client not catch fish by the end of this course. Full day trips start around 10 in the morning. Strawberry Hill members receive a %25 discount.
When you book the trip let me know if you want all of this, or some, or none. There are some of you out there that just want to be shown where the fish are and be left alone, because you already know all of the basics and just aren't from here. No problem, we can do that too. Just let me know and I'll give you what you want.
I will work with the least experienced of the group.
Half Day Trip
Half day is recommended for those who are somewhat experienced and want to get out someplace, but aren't quite sure where to go, and don't have a lot of time before the sun goes down to do some fishing. A half day trip is 5 hours of instruction and fishing including drive time. Strawberry Hill Members receive a %25 discount on half day trips. I l like to do half day trips on Sunday afternoon, from like 1pm to 6pm, or so. I am available in the summer for half day trips during the week, but, they are more like 5 hour blocks, beginning in the early afternoon around 3 or 4 and going into the late evening, once the sun starts setting later in the day. These trips are not available on Tuesdays. These later in the day trips need to be booked at least 2 weeks in advance so that I can plan for them, however, if you are a short notice type of schedule, call me, and I'll try to work with you. If you don't have equipment, that's no problem.
Half Day 2 People $160.00
Half Day 3 People $200.00
I will work with the least experienced of the group.
Business Man's Special
I also offer a Businessman's Special. The special includes 3 hours of fishing., if you need a rod and reel, don't worry, I can take care of that at no extra charge. Strawberry Hill Members receive a %25 discount. This special is designed for a person that already knows the basics and mechanics and is just looking to get in the water and get to it, but is not from around here and doesn't know where to go.
Business Man's Special 1 Person $90.00
Business Man's Special 2 People $160.00
Business Man's Special 3 People $200.00
We are now offering fly fishing lessons for children in 2 age groups, 8-11 and 12-15. Kids that are registered with the Cub Scouts or Boy Scouts and are working on the Fishing Belt Loop (Cub Scouts) or Fly Fishing Merit Badge (Boy Scouts) are free, however I do require the parent to be in attendance due to BSA policies. Kids that are not registered with Scouting, or are not working on a badge, must be accompanied by a paying and participating adult. These lessons are 5 hours in duration, so the adult would pay for a 5 hour trip above and pay $15.00 per child for kids 8-11 and $25.00 per child for kids 12-15. Kids 16-18 require a license and pay the regular rate unless working on a Scouting related badge. These lessons are conducted at the Scotland Pond at the Scotland School for Veterans Children. Please contact me at customtyer@custom-tied.com to set these appointments up.
Fly Fishing with the kids ages 8-11 $15.00
Fly Fishing with the kids ages 12-15 $25.00
Where to stay if you are not from here
I have made an arrangement with Holiday Inn Express of Chambersburg and Country Inn and Suites of Chambersburg for a package deal. You can book a stay with one of these hotels at the Custom-Tied Rate and receive a discounted rate if you book a trip with me as well. The discounted rate is $75.00 per night. You book your trip as normal with me. After I confirm your booking, I will send you an email with a control number on it and Carbon Copy the hotel with that control number. You pay the hotel for your stay at the discounted rate, separately. For example, if you were interested in coming to Franklin County, PA to do some Fly Fishing with Custom-Tied for one person all day the cost would be $250.00, and then you call the hotel and give them the control number to book your room at the discounted $75.00 rate for a total of $325.00. For this you get a night at one of the Chambersburg area's nicest hotels, a real breakfast (not just a muffin and a cup of Joe) each morning at the hotel, and a full day of Fly Fishing which includes a stream side lunch. All you have to worry about extra would be dinner. It's quite a deal. To book with the hotel, just click the emboldened link above, and when you call to make your reservation don't forget to give the desk clerk the control number for the Custom-Tied rate. Great News!!!! I just made a deal with Country Inn and Suites of Carlisle, PA for those that wish to fish in the Cumberland County area. Just click this link for Country Inn and Suites of Carlisle, PA.
Holiday Inn Express of Chambersburg, PA 1097 Wayne Ave, Chambersburg, PA 17201 (717) 709-9009. Country Inn & Suites of Chambersburg, PA 299 Bedington Blvd Chambersburg, PA 17201 (717) 261-0900. The Country Inn & Suites of Carlisle, PA 1529 Commerace Ave, Carlisle, PA 17105 (717) 241-4900
What you need to bring on trip day:
Resident or Non-Resident PA Fishing License you can buy one online at PA Fish and Boat Commission Web Site
Polarized Sun Glasses (for seeing into the water)
Waders or Hip Boots
A hat (fly fishers like to wear hats)
An open mind
I also offer off stream fishing lessons, casting, entomology, fly tying, creek reading, lake and pond fishing. I do these for an upfront fee of $200.00 plus expenses and $30.00 per hour.
I will also come and speak at any club meeting about local fly fishing for a fee of $200.00 plus expenses.
Donations: Since my wife and I set the company up to increase awareness and help to encourage people to get out and enjoy our rich out door heritage, we do a limited amount of donation based work for civic organizations. We offer gift certificates to organizations to raffle or use as door prizes, we do speaking engagements at some local clubs and fly-fishing lessons for youth groups and scouting units. Please contact us at customtyer@custom-tied.com or (717) 977-8804 to check availability. I do not charge kids that are working on a pin, belt loop, or merit badge. I do however require that their parents be present while we work (BSA policy for "Youth Protection")
If at the end of your trip you feel that your guide has provided you with more than what you expected from a fly fishing trip, please feel free to tip them. This let's them know how much you appreciate the extra time that they spent with you.
If you would like to inquire about available appointments please email me at customtyer@custom-tied.com or call me (717) 369-2487 or (717) 977-8804. Times fill up quickly so book early. The best time to book spring trips is in the winter.
Trico Dunn Golden Stone Fly Light Cahill Spinner
Our Headquarters is in Chambersburg, PA. We are located about 15 miles or so from I 81. If you are in Washington DC, it would take you about 2 hours or so to get to our meeting location. If you live in New York City, you have about a 5 hour drive in front of you, and if you are from Pittsburgh, about 4 hours or so. Those of you in the Phillidelphia area have about 2 hours drive to get here. I recommend purchasing your out of state permit if you need one, on-line at https://www.theoutdoorshop.state.pa.us. The PA non-resident fee for a year is $51.00, a 3 day non-resident license is $25.00, and a 7 day non-resident license is $33.00. A trout stamp is also required and sells for $8.00, this is also available on-line.
Sulpher Spinners
We have some of the best water in all of Pennsylvania here in Cumberland, Franklin, Fulton, and Adams Counties. We know where the more famous water is too, but, with fame comes turbulence. Fishing is a quiet sport. A reason to get out side and enjoy what God has given us. We like it that way.
A friendly reminder to the new Fly Angler. You can't expect to catch big fish or even fish for that matter the first time you go out. You can expect to have a wonderful time. A time that you will remember for ever. The important thing to remember is not to give up. This sport is not hard, but it is a bit different then what you may be used to. Practice is required as with any new skill to get good at it. So, be patient with your self and you will succeed. I will help you as best as I can. I will guarantee you that whether you are a 12 year old Boy Scout (lessons in conjunction with merit badge are free of charge) or a 40 year old career man or woman, you will have fun and learn a skill that you will continue to improve on and enjoy for the rest of your life. Every time you get your waders wet, you will learn something new.
Black Stone Fly Brown Drake
Again, thank you for stopping by Custom-Tied. I wish you tight lines and screaming reels.
B.George Hammond (Owner)
