Meet Our... Fly Fishing Guide - Mike Steiner
Tell us a little about yourself?I am originally from Sharon, Pennsylvania, but I have been living in Uniontown, Pennsylvania for the last 6 ½ years with my awesome and beautiful wife, Melodi. I, obviously, love everything about the sport of Fly Fishing. I also enjoy anything sports related, especially Pitt Football and Basketball and the Cincinnati Bengals (I love them almost as much as Fly Fishing). Outside of that I tend to stay pretty low key…
When did you start fishing and who introduced you to the sport/hobby?
I started fishing at a very early age (maybe 5ish), and if you asked my grandfather (Big Wump) he would say he introduced me to fishing. When actually it was my father who had me out with a Snoopy fishing rod catching fish as far back as I can remember. Fly Fishing came along later, my teenage years. I actually was self-taught in the beginning, and over time I have learned a ton from many different fly anglers.
What are the benefits to fishing? What would you tell a first-timer to the sport?
The benefits of Fly Fishing are almost too many to share. I would say the biggest benefit is just getting outside and enjoying nature. It is a great way to relax and unwind and forget about the office or anything else that may be bothering you. My advice to a first-timer would be, don’t put too much emphasis on catching the fish. Enjoy the whole experience. Take in the surroundings and enjoy the process leading up to catching the fish. Fly Fishing is something you will never master, you learn something new every time you are on the water.
What do you enjoy about guiding?
Everything!!! The biggest reward I get is working with a client who wants to catch a specific fish. I love when it all comes together. It is so rewarding to watch someone make a great cast, get an awesome drift and then connect with the fish. That sequence of events is what makes Fly Fishing so unique.
Favorite Fly?
Whatever is working that particular day. If the fish are eating it, then it’s my favorite… (My least favorite is the Green Weenie, because our Activities Director Matt Grobe likes it).
What is your favorite Fly Fishing trip?
I love any type of Saltwater Fly Fishing. It’s a nice change of pace from trout fishing, but it’s still tough to beat a day on the Youghiogheny River. Our river is such an awesome fishery, and can reward you with a fish of a lifetime on any given day.
To date, what is your proudest accomplishment?
Being a Fly Fishing Guide... I am blessed to be able to make a living doing something I truly love. I wake up in the morning excited for what each day will bring. I literally get to stand in a river and experience the sport of Fly Fishing with someone different almost every day. It doesn’t get much better than that!
What is your favorite candy bar?
Twix (you get two of them).
What made you want to join the Nemacolin team?
I actually was attending an Orvis Guide Rendezvous (in Millbrook, New York) and met a few guides from Nemacolin. We got to talking one evening about our places of employment, they told me a little about Nemacolin, and eventually we exchanged contact information. About a year later I was interviewing for a guide position. That was my first real look at the Resort. I was sold the minute we pulled up to the Chateau Lafayette. At that moment I realized the potential for the Fly Fishing program. Not only was the fishing great in the area, Nemacolin has so much to offer to get people to the Resort.
You have been at Nemacolin for a few years now. Any “WOW” moment?
There are always “WOW” moments at Nemacolin, especially on the water. Anytime you get someone tight with a fish you see it in their eyes. It’s the same for me also; I get more excited than the angler when he/she hooks the fish! So, yeah I would say plenty of “WOW” moments (because we catch a lot of fish)…
Interested in booking a guided trip with Mike at the Nemacolin Woodlands Field Club? For more information or to schedule a fly fishing trip, please contact the Nemacolin Woodlands Field Club at 724.329.6770.
