Fishing and Fellowship

KOINONIA GUIDED BY FELLOWSHIP AND CONSERVATION

with Dave Neuman, Fishing Guide

What is Koinonia?

It’s fishing and fellowship combined with a guarantee you’ll have fun and weather-permitting, catch fish. Koinonia’s professional guides take fishing seriously but they also understand there’s more to fishing than catching fish.

Dave Neuman, Lewisberry, PA, pondered the question, “What is Koinonia?” when he accepted a position as a fishing guide for Koinonia Guide Service based in Carlisle, PA.

Watch this video of Dave Neuman to hear his answer and his thoughts about fishing, Koinonia, and spirituality. Be sure to subscribe to my new YouTube channel.

Whether you’re floating down the Susquehanna River in one of Dave Neuman’s shallow running aluminum bass boats or foraging for fish side-by-side with Dave on his private stretch of land, your fishing experience will be packed with individualized lessons, patience, and laughs – a lot of laughs. Dave’s sense of humor will put you at ease from the moment you meet him.

He’s one of four highly-skilled pro-staff guides available through Koinonia Guide Service, a seasoned business owned by Rod Bates. Koinonia’s fishing adventures are rooted in Rod’s commitment to promoting fellowship and conservation while offering his clients a safe, educational, productive and memorable experience.

I met Dave on Oct. 17, 2018, while I was on assignment for Visit Hershey-Harrisburg. If you live in Northcentral and Northeastern Pennsylvania, you know 2018 brought record rainfall to the state, which resulted in unusually high water levels in all rivers and streams and sporadic fishing throughout the summer and fall months. Rick Dunlap, Visit Hershey-Harrisburg, graciously arranged a mid-afternoon guided fishing trip for me with Dave as my guide, but on that particular day, the river was not fish-able due
to high wind.

That’s when Dave invited me to fish in a rural stocked pond that’s home to a variety of fish species from Smallmouth Bass to Crappie and surrounded by acres of extraordinary scenery. My visit was as much an afternoon retreat as it was a fishing event. The beautiful fish I’m holding below was my first catch of the day, thanks to Dave’s instruction. I’ve fished since I was a child but for the last six years I’ve devoted myself to learning to fly fish. Quickly, I realized how casting a spin rod requires an entirely different skill set than launching a fly onto the water.

As I prepared to drive back to the Hilton downtown Harrisburg on Wednesday evening, Dave offered me a guided trip on the nearby Susquehanna River. We made plans to meet at a boat launch on Friday afternoon. While the temperature was typical of a Pennsylvania fall day – chilly, the boat rides back and forth to the channel where Catfish often hide, was exhilarating and so was the moment I felt a hefty tug on the line. Out of the water came a TROPHY-SIZE 28-inch Catfish.

Yes, Dave is a perfect example of Koinonia’s commitment to extraordinary service. The beginner to the advanced angler can count on a guided trip that best suits their needs. Canoe and wading trips are available during warmer weather for anglers who prefer a more active approach but individuals who find wading physically demanding can opt for a float trip. Be sure to let Rod know your preferences when you book your date

What should you bring on your guiding fishing trip?

Don’t leave home without a valid fishing license, clothing appropriate for current weather conditions, rubber-soled or wading shoes or boots, rain gear, sunglasses, lunch or snacks, non-alcoholic beverages, and of course, your camera to record your fishing trip.

What should you leave at home?

I remember years ago, during my first guided trip, I worried about whether my casting was up to par. It wasn’t and by no means do I have a perfect cast today. That’s when instruction through Koinonia’s guided service is exactly what you need.

My Advice

Be sure to leave your worries or pre-conceived notions about your perceived skill level behind you when you meet Dave Neuman. If you’re in the Harrisburg area Feb. 2 to 10, you can meet Rod and learn more about Koinonia at the Great American Outdoor Show, Booth # 2408, in the fishing hall at the Pennsylvania Farm Show Complex & Expo Center. Stop by their booth or schedule your trip by calling Rod Bates at 717-805-7082.

The Great American Outdoor Show and the PA Farm Show are two of many events held throughout the year at the Pennsylvania Farm Show Complex & Expo Center. You’ll find a full schedule here.

My guided trip was comped by Visit Hershey-Harrisburg but my thoughts and opinions are my own. To learn more about Pennsylvania’s state capital, its businesses, and activities available, click here.