Tim Skoraszewski
Having fished, hunted, backpacked all over the US since being a young boy, Tim has always been at home in the woods and waters of Pennsylvania and New York. In recent years the pursuit of fish on the fly has driven him into all aspects of fly fishing including fly tying and rod building. When not working in the shop, rowing a drift boat on the Lehigh, Delaware, or Susky, or guiding wade anglers on the many freestone and limestone streams of PA, he can often be found on those streams testing new fly patterns and further enhancing his knowledge of it's fish and forage. For Tim, steelhead fishing is an addiction and you'll find him in the tributaries of Lake Erie and Lake Ontario for most of the fall guiding and fishing for the awesome chrome motherload that begins migrating into these small streams every September.

For 2010, Tim has been selected to be part of the Orvis Contracted Fly Tyer program, which highlights the level of expertise that our fly tying classes offer. Specializing in a broad range of patterns and techniques, Tim can teach you how to tie flies for virtually any fishery on the planet, from classic patterns to cutting edge techniques. Many of his clients are excited to see his newest patterns and progressions each season but are never surprised at their effectiveness for fooling trout, bass, salmon, steelhead, and more from coast to coast.

Paul L. Kanaskie
Growing up fly-fishing French Creek in Chester County, Pennsylvania (a kindergarten dissertation on the principles of camouflage attests to his early start in outdoor pursuits), Paul was introduced to Atlantic Salmon fishing on what would become an annual trip to the Miramichi River in New Brunswick, Canada at the age of 12. While living in Lewisburg, PA, Paul tempted the local trout in Penn’s Creek, Big Fishing Creek, and the Pine Creek Valley. After moving with his wife and two daughters to the Lewistown Valley near Tamaqua, Paul became an expert guide on the Lehigh River and the Upper Lehigh Gorge. More recently, he has also become addicted to the challenge that is the Upper Delaware. A dry fly specialist known for his big fish karma, Paul’s positive attitude and patience make him a popular guide and fishing partner.

When he’s not at his daughters’ swim meets or casting his favorite waters, Paul can be found hunting big game, turkeys, or waterfowl with his yellow lab, Jessie.

Jay Wisnosky

As a proud member of the Rivers’ “Ski Patrol,” Jay figures into our guiding group as the soft spoken, patient guide. To chase away the Chicago blues, he took his Schuylkill County roots with him to Chicago’s Orvis store in 2002 and taught city slickers the art of fly fishing. His Midwest adventures also included chasing trout, steelhead and salmon along the productive tributaries of Lake Michigan and the Wisconsin and Michigan interiors. After three years, he was thankful to return home and meet up with Rivers in 2005 to become a guide and instructor.

His love for fishing small streams like Clark’s Creek is only superseded by his desire to share his knowledge and love for fly fishing with the novice, as well as soak up the stories and history of the sport from his peers. Be it in the fly fishing classroom or behind the oars on the Lehigh, Jay takes pride in delivering an enjoyable and productive experience for all. When fishing with the other guides, Jay somehow manages to wiggle his way out of rowing, but his uncanny ability to “break the ice” and find the first fish usually gets him off the hook. Residing between the shop in New Ringgold and the Lehigh Valley, Jay covers plenty of water in Lehigh, Berks and Schuylkill Counties.

George Maciag

George Maciag has been involved in fly fishing and fly tying since childhood. He holds college degrees in biology and biology education. His many interests include entomology, nature photography, and stream ecosystems. As a person who taught high school and college biology for many years, he is skilled at communicating his knowledge about the life cycles of fish and the organisms upon which they feed.

George keeps pace with the technological advances in fly tying while maintaining his passion for classical patterns and materials used in the past. He is particularly interested in the Catskill style of tying wet and dry flies. The timeless feather-winged streamers that originated in the Rangeley Lake region of Maine are another area of expertise.

The Fly Fishing Show and the International Fly Tying Symposium in Somerset NJ are two major events that George participates in. In addition, George has taught fly tying and casting at the L.L. Bean store in Center Valley PA since its opening. He has also instructed at numerous fly shops and gives both private and group lessons. His classes are very popular since he has the ability to combine science and humor to the sometimes complicated mechanics of fly tying.

George is a certified guide who is thoroughly familiar with many eastern and central Pennsylvania streams. His teaching skills are a tremendous benefit when it comes to on-stream instruction.