Guided South Branch float trips:

[thmyorke1]

bow fishing for carp id pay for

shad sounds fun too but that would have to compete with the quality shad runs just nextdoor at the delaware.

otherwise i dont think a guide would make much from doing floats
just not a lot of demand for it, not matter how good the guide was.

[Mikey topaz]

I been looking into all this and a few other things along the way..... state doesnt require you to have insurance but you take someone out and they get hurt or die forget it! I looked into the insurance as well and a lot of places won’t give you insurance without having prior experience working with a outfitter or something along those lines.... years back I ran deck for capt Ron’s the guy told me those years would count.

[bigfishy]

Just need the LLC n the insurance with it and its feasible....we looked into it yrs ago...the only way its profitable is as a side hustle with kayak rentals and shuttles as the forefront!!

[AndyS]

The great things about the rafts is you can launch and retrieve just about anywhere you can get close to the water, AND are incredibly stable ! A side kayak rental would be a great idea also.

[cruiser1234]

Funny this topic pops up! Friday I was out on the ice on a local pond and ran into a guy named Mike Snook (The River Monster). And he was talking about taking people for bow trips on the raritan and other local spots. I don’t have Facebook but he’s on there. Looks like he likes huge carp and catfish. Never used him or anything but was a nice guy and DEFINITELY knew the area.

[Lard Almighty]

I think the two main things you have working against this idea are A) most of the Raritan is accessible by wading, so you don't need a drift boat/kayak to get to most of the good spots, and B) while the fishing may be good, it's not consistently good enough to make the Raritan a destination fishery. People travel from all over the Northeast to fish the Beaverkill, West Branch, etc.; would they do the same for the Raritan?

Even the kayak rental/shuttle may not be profitable enough. Based on all the flotillas that go down that river on summer weekends, it's pretty evident that organizing such a thing isn't difficult without a "professional" service. Anyone who wants to float the river for an afternoon likely already has the means.

As much as I would love to see someone set up shop on the Raritan and showcase what a great river it is, the incentive just isn't there.

[Jigman13]

Originally Posted by Lard Almighty

I think the two main things you have working against this idea are A) most of the Raritan is accessible by wading, so you don't need a drift boat/kayak to get to most of the good spots, and B) while the fishing may be good, it's not consistently good enough to make the Raritan a destination fishery. People travel from all over the Northeast to fish the Beaverkill, West Branch, etc.; would they do the same for the Raritan?

Even the kayak rental/shuttle may not be profitable enough. Based on all the flotillas that go down that river on summer weekends, it's pretty evident that organizing such a thing isn't difficult without a "professional" service. Anyone who wants to float the river for an afternoon likely already has the means.

As much as I would love to see someone set up shop on the Raritan and showcase what a great river it is, the incentive just isn't there.

Well-stated, Lard. I agreed.

[AndyS]

I've floated sections of the North and South branch that seem so remote. You float for miles, no roads, no people nothing. Probably right, it boils down to a numbers game but those unfamiliar with the area looking to do some trout or bass fishing may be up to hiring a guide for a day. I think if the price were right it could work.