OUR GUIDES
AARON GRAYBILL
Fishing, family, and friends are what is most important to Aaron. His passion for all 3 have become the foundation that established what is now the premier and largest freshwater fishing operation in the region. Aaron dedicated his life to fishing, founded Lake Hopatcong Guide Service, and began guiding full-time in 2019. The success that he and his team have had on Lake Hopatcong led to our expansion to Greenwood Lake (Greenwood Lake Guide Service) in 2023. Aaron now oversees full-time guide services with multiple boats and talented guide teams on the top two fisheries in our region.
With help from his team, the value of the LHGS brand, and their network of close friends/fishing buddies, Aaron helped established our "Professional Bass Experience" trips, the LHGS Fly Fishing department, and LHGS Musky/Pike trips.
Aaron's desire to host kids fishing camps finally came to fruition in 2023 when LHGS partnered with Roxbury TWP Recreation and rolled out a truly unique offering to our local youth. The camps, held at Horseshoe Lake Recreation Complex, have been a major success and were something meaningful and important to Aaron, his team, and their desire to spread our love of fishing!
He is also a proud family man with two amazing children, River and Brooke!
KEVIN COOL
Kevin Cool, Aaron's business partner and fellow die-hard fisherman, was the first person brought into the LHGS family when the business expanded. Since then, Kevin has played a major role in the success of Lake Hopatcong Guide Service. Since beginning his guide career in 2021, Kevin has firmly established himself as one of the most well-respected fisherman on Lake Hopatcong and surrounding region. His tireless work ethic, creativity as a fisherman, and uncanny instincts on the water are what sets Kevin apart. Kevin also owns Lake Hopatcong's all-time lake record for hybrid striped bass! The fish (pictured above) was a 12 lbs 4 behemoth.
In addition to being an awesome fishermen, he is an incredible person and truly passionate about sharing his love for fishing with everyone around him. His personality, love of what we do, and genuine nature has made him an incredible guide who has gives everyone in his presence a great fishing experience every time they leave the dock.
DAN DACEY
Dan is a seasoned LHGS veteran and has been an important part of our team for a number of years. His relentless dedication to fishing Lake Hopatcong has paid off and customers can rest assured that Dan has the experience and knowledge to turn even the toughest of days into a great day of fish catching!
DANIEL GOYKHMAN
Dan Goykhman is a highly skilled and accomplished professional bass angler. With two decades of fishing experience, he has established himself as a serious competitor in numerous tournaments and events. Dan is known for his tenacity and persistence, which has helped him secure high placements in competitive events. His passion for bass fishing has led him to become a respected figure in the angling community, and his knowledge and skills continue to inspire and influence anglers of all levels.
12th BFL Angler of the Year Standings in Northeast Division - 2021
3rd Reynolds Boats Northern Bass Tournament Trail / Tournament of Champions - 2022
8th Reynolds Boats Northern Bass Tournament Trail / Team of the Year - 2022
13th BFL St. Lawrence River 2 day Super Tournament - 2021
15th BFL Lake Champlain - 2021
21st BFL Upper Chesapeake Bay (Flats) - 2021
60th AOY Standings MLF Toyota Series Northern Division - 2022
MATT CALIFANO
Matt grew up on Lake Tamarack in Sussex County NJ; the last of a generation that was given a pole and told to "just be home before dark." Matt has been very fortunate to experience fly a flats slam in the Florida Keys, a backcountry slam in the Everglades, bull redfish in Homosassa and the Outer Banks, striped bass of the Hudson Bight, Coho salmon, trophy rainbow trout and dolly varden on the Kenai River in Alaska, yellowfin tuna, wahoo and mahi-mahi in the deep blue fathoms off Hawaii, sea-run brown trout of the Kennebec in Maine, wild rainbows and cutbows in the Gunnison River, wild browns in the headwaters of the Arkansas River in Colorado, monster rainbows of the San Juan River in New Mexico and even a few native, European browns in Ireland. Still to check off on the bucket list in the near future: Patagonia and New Zealand.
Closer to home, Matt still loves to fly fish the Flat Brook and Delaware Rivers. When the water temperature is below 68 degrees, you will find him nymphing with his own, hand tied flies in the morning and throwing dry-droppers in the afternoon and evening. When the water gets too warm to safely release trout, you will find him either on Delaware River tossing streamers or stonefly nymphs at the remarkable smallmouth bass population or helping throw a bright pink 1 weight with his 4-year-old daughter to catch dozens of panfish in their backyard.
COLE SWANSON
Cole was born and raised in Hopatcong and has been fishing the lake his entire life. He is an extremely versatile angler who enjoys targeting all species of fish from panfish to walleye, though his 5 tournament wins in recent years have cemented him as one of the top bass fishermen in the area. An active member of Byram Bassers Tournament Club, he was won tournaments on Lake Hopatcong (2022 Club Championship), Greenwood Lake, Swartswood (2023 Club Championship), Wawayanda, and Merrill Creek Reservoir. He's always eager to share his passion of fishing with those around him and brings a great energy to the boat every time you fish with him!