Russell A Finehout

Russell A. Finehout, 89, known to many as “Captain Russ,” died on Thursday, September 24, 2026, at the Winter Haven Hospital in Winter Haven, Florida.

Born June 29, 1937, to Clifford and Kathryn Finehout in Watertown, New York, Russ graduated from Clayton High School in 1954. After working as a carpenter, he turned his part-time job and love of the outdoors into a full-time career as a fishing guide along the St. Lawrence River between New York and Canada and within Lake Ontario.

As captain of both the Woodbutcher and the Woodbutcher II, he served countless people from across the world, especially during the height of the muskie fishing craze of the 1980s. He was a devoted conservationist and an early advocate of catch-and-release for muskie. After taking guests on his beloved boats to fish for muskie, smallmouth bass, walleye, perch and northern pike, he would host a shore dinner on his island on the river. Well known across the Thousand Islands, Russ was featured on the cover of New York Sportsman in June 1983 and in the first episode, “Northern Pike,” of “Bill Saiff's Rod & Reel,” which premiered in 1986. In 2019, he retired from the Clayton Fishing Guide Association after over 45 years of service.

Besides guiding, he was an owner of the Calumet Motel in Clayton, New York. He was also an avid bowler, snowshoer and hunter, a Freemason for more than 70 years, and loved a good cigar. Russ was also a dedicated musician and singer, learning to play the trombone in high school and guitar and keyboard in his later years. At Shady Hammock Baptist Church in Lake Wales, Florida, Russ was a part of the worship team, played weekly at a local nursing home and performed throughout River Ranch in central Florida.

Russ is survived by his first wife, Carrie Finehout, and his life partner, Jacqueline Coleman; sisters Claudia Finehout (Steve Bashore) of Orlando, Florida and Rhonda Finehout of Ballston Spa, New York; five children and their spouses, Wayne (Irene) of Kamiah, Idaho, Clark (Susan) of Creston, Iowa, Karen Russo (Jim) of Albuquerque, New Mexico, Laura Weber of Northlake, Texas, and Kimberly Galluccio (Ed) of St. Marys, Georgia; 15 grandchildren; and many great-grandchildren, nieces and nephews.

Russ is predeceased by his parents and brother, Craig Finehout.