Do you ever wonder what our fishing guides do in the winter? Sure from April to November they are busy floating some of the best rivers on earth but what do they do the rest of the year? Each guide is different and has carved out a specific life for themselves. In this series we will take some of our favorite guides and let you know what they do to get through the long dark months between guide seasons.
Nick Acosta:
Many of you know Nick as our right hand man around the shop and a darn good fishing guide for us on the Madison River. He is one of our most requested guides because of his fish finding ability, easy going attitude and great instruction while fishing. He is a true pro that works really hard during the season and lives the fish bum life.
During the
off-season, Nick Acosta migrates south like the ducks. He spends his time in Sonora, Mexico, where his family runs a cattle ranch and a hunting lodge, Rancho El Palomar. Back in the 1950s, Nick’s grandfather was the first dove hunting guide in the area. Nick and his father, Felipe, continue the family tradition in the town of Alamos, at the southern tip of the Sierra Madre Mountains. Nick grew up at Rancho El Palomar, learning first to be a bird boy and eventually becoming a guide for guests who return year after year for a truly exceptional dove hunting experience.
Nick and Felipe begin scouting local
fields for doves in November. The season runs from the end of November through the beginning of March, when guests flock to Rancho El Palomar for exclusive access to the lodge and premium hunting locations. During the season, Nick guides two hunts per day, maintains firearms for the lodge and its guests, and helps his father run the family business. He is lucky enough to do what he loves year-round: fishing the Madison in the summer and hunting the Sierra Madres in the winter. A sportsman’s dream.
