Alexandria Bay · Thousand Islands · NY
Laurentian Tours is Richard Drake's charter on the St. Lawrence. Smallmouth in summer, musky in the fall, ducks on cold mornings, and a shore dinner on an island that you'll be talking about for years.
From a quick morning for the kids to a cold November day hunting a 50-inch musky, every trip runs on Richard's boat and goes where the fish are biting that week.
Fish the morning, then Richard runs you out to an island picnic spot and cooks your catch right there over the fire. Fresh fish, salt potatoes, BLTs, and his French toast with real maple syrup. Guides here have been doing it this way since the 1800s.
When the water cools off, the biggest predators in the river start feeding. Richard trolls for them along the drop-offs, which he's found works best on this stretch of river. Musky are called the fish of ten thousand casts for a reason, so dress warm and bring a camera.
Four hours on the river. A good fit for first-timers, kids, or anybody who wants a morning of bass and pike and is still back in time for lunch in Alex Bay.
New to fishing? Start here →
Seven hours gives you time to try more spots, chase more species, and wait out a slow bite. Pack a lunch and a cooler and plan on a good day.
Cruise past Boldt Castle, Millionaires' Row, and the islands, and hear the stories from someone who runs this river for a living. Richard plans the route around what you want to see.
Cold sunrises and birds moving down the flyway. You hunt from the boat or a blind, depending on the day. Richard sets the decoys and cleans your birds, and your dog is welcome. Flying in? He has shotguns you can use.
All about our guided duck hunts →
Perch, pike, and walleye through the ice in the bays. Richard supplies everything: the shanty, the heater, the rods, and the bait. You just dress warm.
All about guided ice fishing →The price is per boat, not per person, so bringing a friend barely changes it. Tap how many people are coming to see your price.
4 hours of fishing
7 hours of fishing
4 hours fishing, then dinner on an island
Musky, waterfowl, ice fishing, and sightseeing trips are priced by the trip. Call Richard or send a request and he'll give you a quote. Rates follow the Alexandria Bay Fishing Guides Association schedule.
Back in the late 1800s, river guides rowed their guests out in skiffs, fished all morning, then pulled up on an island and cooked whatever they'd caught. The rowboats are gone, but guides here still do the shore dinner the same way.
Fish the morning bite with Richard. Everything you keep goes toward dinner.
Pull up to a picnic spot in the middle of the river and get the fire going.
Richard cooks the full spread while you sit back and take in the view.
A slow cruise back to Alexandria Bay on a full stomach.
Richard has been running boats on the St. Lawrence since he was 18. He started out as a kid working the deck for a local fishing guide, spent ten straight years captaining for Uncle Sam Boat Tours, and has run his own fishing charters for the last five. He's a U.S. Coast Guard licensed captain and a New York State licensed guide.
Most of the people who fish with Richard have never been on a charter before, and he likes it that way. He'll set up the rods, show you what to do, net your fish, and clean and bag your catch at the end of the day. Families, first-timers, and anyone who just wants a day on the water are all welcome. He's a member of the Alexandria Bay Fishing Guides Association.
The Thousand Islands has some of the best freshwater fishing in North America. Here's what you might reel in. Tap any fish for how to identify it and when it bites.
The fish the river is famous for. Bronze, strong, and it jumps when you hook it.
Best: July – September
Long, toothy, and aggressive. It hangs on weed edges and hits hard.
Best: May – June, Oct – Nov
The top predator in the river. Many anglers fish their whole lives hoping to catch one.
Best: October – November
Bites best in low light, and it's some of the best-tasting fish in fresh water.
Best: May, Oct – Nov
Back-bay lily pads, topwater blowups, and a big mouth that takes the bait hard.
Best: July – August
Great for kids, great on the shore-dinner fire, and the main catch through the ice.
Best: May, Sept – Oct, ice
Speckled panfish that gather in schools. A spring bonus you'll be glad to find.
Best: May – June
Red-eyed and scrappy, and it lives right where the name says.
Best: July – August
Probably the most colorful fish in the river. A dockside favorite with kids.
Best: June – July
A living fossil that's slowly making a comeback. It's protected, so you can look but not keep.
Protected · catch & release
The boat comes stocked with everything you need to fish. You just bring yourself and a few basics.
Everyone 16 and older needs a fishing license. The river is the border, so depending on where the fish are, Richard may suggest a New York license or an Ontario one. Both are cheap and easy to buy online. Ask him which one when you book.
Kids love it out here. Children 12 and under have to wear a U.S. Coast Guard-approved life jacket while the boat is moving. Tell Richard their ages when you book and he'll have the right sizes ready.
Still wondering about something? Richard is happy to talk fishing. Give him a call.
315-836-5798Thanks, friend. Richard has your request and will reach out by text soon.