Three fishing guides pose with their catch. These fishing guides would paddle gentlemen fishermen about 30 miles a day in their skiffs. Most of the time, they would cook the tourists’ dinner with the fish they caught, called shore dinners. Circa 1870s. On the St. Lawrence River near Alexandria Bay, NY. Courtesy of the Alexandria […]
William James Estes opened a boat livery at the west end of Thousand Islands House in 1899. He built most of the boats and skiffs he rented, and was also a fishing guide. Early 1900s. Alexandria Bay, NY. Courtesy of Jim Estes.
Pictured is Jack Houghton taking a fish off the line. Houghton was a fishing guide in his later life, and was a part of the fishing guide association in town. Early 1970s. Alexandria Bay, NY. Courtesy of Linda Dingman.
Margaret Houghton standing next to a line of sturgeon caught in the St. Lawrence River. Circa 1940. Alexandria Bay, NY. Courtesy of Linda Dingman. Margaret and Cecil Houghton were married in the 1920s, and spent their lives living on the St. Lawrence River. Their granddaughter, Linda Dingman, says her grandfather was a true “river rat”. […]
Romaine Wenborne, a fishing guide and barber, displaying a 102-pound sturgeon. Date 1900-1910. Cape Vincent, NY. Originally published in the Thousand Islands Sun. Courtesy of Linda Dingman.
Ernie Mance, Jr. holding a large sturgeon he had just caught on the St. Lawrence River. Mance owned a marina called Mance Marine Basin, tore down buildings while the seaway was being built , and fished sturgeon for years, until they stopped issuing licenses for them in the mid-1970s. Circa 1970. Alexandria Bay, NY. Courtesy of Ernie […]
Jeff Garnsey on his boat, the Muskie, which he uses to take clients fishing on the St. Lawrence River. Garnsey, who started working on the river as a deck hand before he turned 10, is a third-generation fishing guide. He is one of only a few guides left who use traditional boats and fishing techniques. […]
A young guide shows off a muskie while other guides sit on benches outside the Clayton Opera House, hoping to be hired for the day. Clayton, NY. Circa 1940. Photo: Personal archives of Jeff Garnsey
Guide Roly Garnsey, left, with a client showing off an impressive day’s catch in downtown Clayton, NY. Circa 1940. Photo: Personal archives of Jeff Garnsey
Guide Roly Garnsey (second from left) with clients after a day’s fishing. Clayton, NY. Date September 26, 1940. Photo: Personal archives of Jeff Garnsey
