Reel in the thrill of the Tennessee River and its impoundments with a guided fishing adventure! I am able to take up to 3 people fishing in my brand new 21 foot Excel Catfish Pro! I am a fully licensed and insured fishing guide that lives in Knoxville Tennessee. Book now! Your fishing adventure awaits here in east Tennessee!
Rates and info
- Half-Day trip (~4 hours) – up to 2 anglers $350, additional anglers over 16 are $50 each (3 guests max). Anglers under 16 fish for free with a paying adult. Please bring appropriate personal floatation device (PFD) for the child. Deposit required. Lakes and Rivers fished are in the Knoxville/Kingston Tennessee Area.
- “Trophy” trip – $150 up charge on Half-Day trip above. This trip focuses on catching trophy-sized catfish, with a shot at a trophy striped bass too. We’ll travel more south to prime spots (Watts Bar Dam and further south), and if the trophies don’t bite early, I’ll extend the trip to give us more time. We may switch boat ramps to keep the action going, but I can’t guarantee a trophy fish. Since this is a special request trip please contact me about it before booking.
- Deposit – $100 (subtracted from total)
- Payment Methods – You can make a deposit through PayPal, Venmo, or by using the booking calendar below with debit cards, credit cards, or PayPal. My booking calendar allows you to pay in full if needed. At the end of the trip, I accept debit cards, credit cards, cash (preferred), PayPal, or Venmo for the remaining balance. You’re welcome to tip if you’d like, but it’s not mandatory.
- Note: Currently weekends are open for instant booking although I suggest contacting me first. Furthermore, with advance notice and enough PTO at my day job, I have the flexibility to book weekdays or multiple days.
Explore below the booking calendar for extensive details on my guide service. You will discover the fish species we target, our meeting and fishing locations, and accommodation options. Don’t forget to secure your Tennessee Fishing License from Go Outdoors website: https://gooutdoorstennessee.com/. Book now before your date is taken!
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What we fish for:
- Catfish – Our waterways are home to three main types of Catfish – Blue Catfish, Flathead Catfish, and Channel Catfish. Employing both traditional bottom fishing and modern dragging techniques with the freshest baits, Catfishing is the cornerstone of my trips!
- “Mixed Bag Of Fish” – From Striped Bass to Walleye, White Bass, Largemouth and Smallmouth Bass, Drum, and more, our waters offer a diverse range of fish to catch. Utilizing Fish Lab Tackle artificial baits for trolling or casting, alongside live bait options like large shiners or gizzard shad (utilizing my new Creek Bank bait tank!), we ensure an exciting angling experience.
Less popular trips I offer
- Common Carp – Experience the thrill of Common Carp fishing using European methods with rod and reel. These catches are just as exhilarating as Catfish!
- Musky – For those seeking the challenge of Musky fishing, prepare for an fun adventure. With the “fish of 10,000 casts”, perseverance is key. I only schedule Musky trips during cooler temperatures avoiding the summer months. This maximizes chances for optimal success and survival of the Musky.
- Other fish – There are many other species to chase in our waterways beyond what I typically target. If you’re looking for something specific, feel free to reach out! While I may not specialize in every species, I’m always excited to explore new fishing opportunities and tailor a trip to your interests.
How the fishing trip works:
I provide all the fishing equipment, bait, and the boat for us to fish out of. Additionally, please be sure to buy a Tennessee fishing license online at the Tennessee Wildlife Resources Agency’s “Go Outdoors Tennessee” website before we go fishing.
Please dress appropriately for the weather conditions and bring a cooler with ice if you plan on keeping any fish. I do not clean fish or recommend keeping any fish from our lakes (with the exception of Tellico Lake). Please take care of cleaning after the trip if you decide to keep any. Furthermore, please bring some non-alcoholic drinks and snacks for yourself if needed. Children under 16 must have life jackets on at all times and I ask you bring one due to the varying size of children. Book now so you don’t lose the date you want to fish!
Where we fish:
I fish in various rivers and lakes in East Tennessee around Knoxville Tennessee. The lakes I fish include Watts Bar, Fort Loudon, and Melton Hill. In addition, the rivers have great fishing as well. The rivers I fish are the Tennessee River, Clinch River, French Broad River, and Holston River. During high water times (late spring, summer, early fall), I prefer to meet at the Kingston City Park Boat Ramp for Catfish trips. During low water times (late fall, winter, early spring), I usually meet at the Ladd Landing Boat Ramp for Catfish trips. However, I do change ramps and lakes often and will make sure to inform you if we need to meet at another ramp.
Where to stay:
I live in Knoxville, which is situated at the intersection of I-75 and I-40. It takes me 30 to 45 minutes to reach many of my fishing spots from here. Although there are plenty of hotels for travelers in Knoxville, I tend to fish around Kingston, Tennessee, if you are looking for a place near the water. Sometimes I fish at Fort Loudoun Lake, which is in Knoxville itself. Other times, I venture further south to fish at Watts Bar Dam.
While there are some hotels in the Kingston and Oak Ridge areas, there are fewer attractions there compared to the Sevierville, Pigeon Forge, and Gatlinburg areas. These areas are situated in the Great Smoky Mountains National Park. They offer a range of accommodations including log cabins for rent and hotels for tourists. Visitors can enjoy popular attractions like Dollywood and the Ripley’s Believe It Or Not Aquarium. Furthermore, check out this website for more information about places to stay in the Smokey’s: https://www.visitmysmokies.com/. Sevierville and Pigeon Forge are around 1.5 hours away from my fishing spots. Additionally, Gatlinburg can be over 2 hours depending on traffic.
You can also check out KAYAK for travel deals! Search flights, hotels, and places to stay easily and fast!
The boat!
At present, I guide fishing excursions from the Excel Catfish Pro 21. This boat is a robust 21-foot catfish boat accommodating up to six passengers. Furthermore, my boat is fully equipped with a self deploying Ulterra Trolling motor, spud poles for shallow water, and MulTbars featuring Smackdown Catfishing Rod Holders ready for your next catch. Additionally, the boat is powered by a dependable Suzuki 150 horsepower outboard. This vessel is primed to embark on your upcoming fishing escapade!
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Other info:
TRANSPARENCY
As a dedicated YouTube content creator, I pride myself on being among the most transparent guides in the industry. As a result, I cannot promise a trophy fish catch (no guide can) and the catch of a specific fish. However, I commit to employing top-tier techniques customized for targeting trophy fish. Therefore, for a chance to land a trophy fish, I recommend booking a trophy trip and being ready to travel a substantial distance.
CANCELLATION POLICY
If we have to cancel a trip due to severe weather we will either reschedule your trip or provide a full refund of your deposit (your choice). If you cancel a trip with more than two weeks notice I will refund your deposit. Additionally, I am prepared to fish if it just raining and I advise you should be too. If you cancel with less than two weeks notice we keep the deposit. We can reschedule your trip at the earliest mutually convenient date.
NO FISH POLICY
If we are unable to catch any fish during our fishing trip you do not have to pay me for my services until we catch fish on a makeup trip in the future (minus deposit).