FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS
1. What do you fish for?
2. Do you clean our fish?
3. When do you guide for crappie?
3. How many people can you take fishing?
5. What time do your trips go out?
6. Are we guaranteed to catch fish?
7. What is the best time of year to catch big (trophy) fish?
8. How far in advance do we need to contact you to book a fishing trip?
9. Where is the best place to stay if we come from out-of-town for a fishing trip?
10. What do we need to bring on our fishing trip?
11. What is your cancellation policy?
12. Can we keep the fish we catch?
What do you fish for?
The majority of our guide trips are either for largemouth bass, smallmouth bass, catfish, crappie (on a seasonal basis) or walleye (during winter months only). Return to Questions
Do you clean fish?
We do NOT clean fish and encourage catch & release on all bass fishing trips. If you wish to keep fish to eat (catfish, crappie or walleye) we ask that you bring a cooler with ice. Following your trip we will put your fish in your cooler for you to care for. Return to Questions
When do you guide for crappie?
Crappie can be caught on Chickamauga Lake 365 days a year. But some of that time requires advanced techniques and skill levels. Therefore we ONLY book guide trips for crappie in the winter to early spring, OR we have one guide who likes to troll crankbaits for crappie in early summer (and does VERY well). We often (but not always) prefer trolling for crappie where ANYONE - even novice anglers and young children - can catch fish. These trips are extremely popular and our available dates typically book up FAR in advance. Return to Questions
How many people can you take fishing?
Most of our boats carry two anglers most comfortably, however we regularly do trips with three anglers. Only one of our guides, catfish guide Capt. Aaron Massey, has a boat large enough to safely carry four anglers (for an additional $100 charge). There is a small surcharge above our posted Rates for individuals who ride along but don't fish. Return to Questions
What time do your trips go out?
Usually (but not always) our preference is to begin trips at first light. However, we can usually be flexible and adjust our times to accommodate your preferred schedule. Return to Questions
Are we guaranteed to catch fish?
It is is very rare (almost non-existent) that we get skunked on any of our fishing trips. However, we do NOT offer a guarantee. Weather can sometimes dramatically affect the fishing and sometimes the client's experience and or skill level makes a difference - although our guides work hard to help teach even beginners. Again, it is EXTREMELY unusual to not catch some fish, but never guaranteed. Return to Questions
What is the best time of year to catch big (trophy) fish?
Whenever anyone asks this we always ask, "What is your definition of "big?" Some people consider a 5-pound catfish big while others don't consider it big until they break the 50-pound mark. The same principal is true for bass. We strongly recommend that you review our Photo Galleries. EVERY photo is specifically dated so you know exactly what we caught and when. In GENERAL trophy fishing is best in late-winter and Spring (March-May), or in the Fall (October/November). However fishing for trophy fish is like playing the lottery. You never really know when a big one will hit. It can potentially happen 365 days a year.
How far in advance do we need to contact you to book a fishing trip?
This is EXTREMELY variable and impossible to predict. Our high-demand dates, especially spring weekends, regularly book up two months in advance (sometimes much more). Our limited winter walleye trips routinely book up many months in advance. If you can come on a weekday you stand a better chance of booking a date with less notice. And during the summer tourist season, we have more guide days available and are often able to accommodate trips on less notice. But as a rule, you should always try and book as far out as you possibly can... but never hesitate to contact us about a potential trip even if it is on short notice. Return to Questions
Where is the best place to stay if we come from out-of-town for a fishing trip?
Please see the paragraph called "Places to Stay" at the bottom of our Rates page. Return to Questions
What do we need to bring on our fishing trip?
Our guide trips do NOT include a fishing license. Please see the "Fishing Licenses" section of our Rates page for information on purchasing a Tennessee fishing license (if you don't already have one). We don't need to see your license ourselves, however, if we are checked by enforcement officers during our trip (which happens occasionally), it is YOUR responsibility to be properly licensed. We provide all fishing equipment, all bait, water and good attitudes. YOU provide - Sunscreen, sunglasses, weather-appropriate clothing, food, snacks and soft drinks. You also need to bring a cooler/ice if you want to keep fish (We do NOT clean fish), weather-appropriate clothing. MOST IMPORTANT! BRING YOUR DESIRE TO HAVE FUN! Return to Questions
What is your cancellation policy?
If we have to cancel a trip due to severe weather or water conditions, we will either reschedule your trip or provide a full refund of your deposit - your choice. Rain, without high winds or lightning is not considered "severe weather." While we always try to be accommodating for our client's comfort level, our guides are always prepared to fish if it's just raining. You should be too. We are more flexible on our cancellation policy during winter cold weather months. If you cancel a trip with more than three weeks notice, we can refund your deposit. If you cancel with less than three weeks notice, we keep the deposit but you can reschedule your trip at the earliest mutually convenient date during the SAME CALENDAR YEAR. Return to Questions
Can we keep the fish we catch?
Our dedicated bass fishing guides request the release of ALL bass. Our catfish guides, who occasionally run live bait bass/catfish combo trips, allow the keeping of legal-sized bass. Keeping catfish, crappie, bluegill or other legal species is always allowed. However, we do NOT clean fish. Any fish you keep, you are responsible for caring for. We ask folks who want to keep fish to bring an ice chest (or two) with ice. We keep fish in a livewell while we are fishing and then will put them in your cooler for transport home. Occasionally individuals don't bring ice chests large enough to hold all the fish they choose to put in our livewell. Please don't let that happen to you.Return to Questions