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Tennessee fishing waters. Backdrop for the Angling Hubs Tennessee guide directory

Fishing Guides · Tennessee

Fishing Guides in Tennessee

Cast 20 guides across Tennessee. Maps, hours, contact info, photos, and verified operator profiles, all in one place.

Smokies, Cumberland Plateau, and the Mississippi River bluffs.

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Highest rated

Fishing Guides in Tennessee by Google rating

Ranked by Google rating, then by number of reviews, across the 14 of 20 guides in Tennessee with 10 or more Google reviews.

GuideCityFishingRating
The South Holston River Company Fly Shop & Outfitter, Piney Flats, TNPiney FlatsFly Fishing, Trout Fishing, Bass Fishing5.0205 Google reviews
Goliath Striper Guide Service, Rocky Top, TNRocky TopInshore Fishing5.0196 Google reviews
Fish Memphis Guide Service, Memphis, TNMemphisCatfish & Carp5.0144 Google reviews
High Country Angler Fly Fishing, Johnson City, TNJohnson CityFly Fishing, Trout Fishing5.0139 Google reviews
Sam Presutti Fly Fishing, Bristol, TNBristolFly Fishing, Trout Fishing, Salmon & Steelhead +15.0113 Google reviews
Scenic City Fishing Charters, Sale Creek, TNSale CreekBass Fishing, Catfish & Carp, Walleye Fishing5.0103 Google reviews
South Holston Angler, Bluff City, TNBluff CityFly Fishing, Trout Fishing5.075 Google reviews
High Flying Flies Guide Service, Bristol, TNBristolFly Fishing, Trout Fishing5.050 Google reviews

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20 guides in Tennessee

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Top camping

Most-booked campgrounds in Tennessee

Federal campgrounds in Tennessee that Recreation.gov lists for fishing, ranked by how many times they were booked in fiscal 2025.

  1. 1

    Elkmont Campground

    22,150 bookings
  2. 2

    Cades Cove Campground

    16,780 bookings
  3. Defeated Creek Park3

    Defeated Creek Park

    9,671 bookings
  4. Bandy Creek4

    Bandy Creek

    6,052 bookings
  5. Seven Points5

    Seven Points

    5,658 bookings

Bookings: Recreation.gov, fiscal 2025 (Oct 2024 to Sep 2025).

On the map

Guide businesses, fishing spots, rivers & creeks and camping in Tennessee

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Browse all 1,490 fishing spots

About Tennessee

Tennessee is river country, dam country, reservoir country, and every one of those dams made a fishery. From Kentucky Lake in the west to the deep Tennessee Valley Authority (TVA) impoundments in the east, the state stacks up water for trophy largemouth, smallmouth, and spotted bass, crappie by the cooler-full, hard-pulling striped bass, and trout in the Appalachian foothills. Guides who work lakes like Chickamauga near Chattanooga or Dale Hollow on the Cumberland Plateau earn their keep on local knowledge; these are complicated waters, and the fish move.

The fishing changes as you cross the state. East Tennessee sits against the Great Smoky Mountains, with cold, clear trout streams and big reservoirs like Norris and Douglas that hold strong bass and striper populations. Middle Tennessee runs on the Cumberland River system, Percy Priest and Center Hill among its lakes, with smallmouth bass and walleye the draw. Keep going west and you hit Kentucky Lake, shared with the state next door and famous for crappie and bass, then the Mississippi River tributaries, where catfish take over.

A guide changes the math on all of it. Fish patterns shift week to week (stripers schooling deep in winter, bass pushing into shallow coves to spawn in spring), and a working guide is on the water often enough to stay ahead of the changes. They fish with beginners chasing a first catch and veterans chasing a personal best, and most trips include the gear, the bait, and often fish cleaning at the dock. You show up; the logistics are handled.

When to fish in Tennessee

Peak Mar–May

Full season

Quick facts

Fishing spots mapped
1,490
Rivers mapped
1,085
Guides listed
20
Best season
April through November

Trip guide

Know before you go in Tennessee

Federal permits, lotteries and timed-entry reservations in Tennessee, from Recreation.gov.

  • Timed entryGreat Smoky Mountains National Park Vehicle Reservations

Confirm current requirements with the agency that sets them before your trip. Rules and fees change every season.

  • Tennessee Fishing License

    All anglers 13 years of age and older, including those participating in guided trips, must possess a valid Tennessee fishing license. Various types are available for residents and non-residents, including annual, 3-day, and 10-day options, which can be purchased online or through licensed agents. Fishing for trout requires a license that already includes trout, or a base license plus the annual trout supplement.

    Tennessee Wildlife Resources Agency (TWRA)

  • Creel and Size Limits

    Specific daily creel limits and minimum size restrictions apply to various fish species across different bodies of water in Tennessee. Anglers must adhere to these regulations, which are designed to manage fish populations; guides are knowledgeable about these rules and will ensure compliance.

  • Boating Safety Education

    While licensed fishing guides are certified operators, individuals born after January 1, 1989, who wish to operate a vessel powered by a motor over 8.5 horsepower in Tennessee without a guide present must possess a Tennessee Boating Safety Education Certificate. This requirement typically does not apply when fishing as a passenger with a professional guide.

01Do I need a fishing license to fish with a guide in Tennessee?
Yes. Everyone 13 and older needs a valid Tennessee fishing license, guided trip or not. Non-residents can choose annual, 3-day, or 10-day options, sold online and through authorized vendors, buy yours before you meet the boat.
02What species can I expect to catch on a guided trip in Tennessee?
The reservoirs hold largemouth, smallmouth, and spotted bass, plus crappie, bluegill, and several kinds of catfish. Head for the cooler mountain streams and trout become the target; on the bigger impoundments, striped bass offer the heaviest pull in the state.
03What should I bring on a guided fishing trip?
The guide handles rods, tackle, and bait on most trips. You handle your license, weather-appropriate clothes, sunscreen, sunglasses, a hat, and your own snacks and drinks. Every operation runs a little differently, so check with yours before the day.
04Is Tennessee known for saltwater fishing?
No, Tennessee is landlocked, so there's no saltwater option here. What the state has instead is one of the country's deepest benches of freshwater fishing: big reservoirs, major rivers, and mountain streams, all with guides who know them well.
05Are guided trips suitable for beginners or families?
Yes, and they're arguably the best way to start. The guide brings the equipment, teaches the techniques, and puts you where the fish are, which is exactly what a new angler needs. Most guides happily tailor the pace and the target species to kids and first-timers.
06How far in advance should I book a guided trip?
As early as you can, honestly. Spring and fall are the busy seasons, and the guides with the best reputations can be booked months out. Early contact gets you your preferred dates instead of whatever's left.

Free tools

Your free outdoor toolkit

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River levelsLive levels for every gauged river in Tennessee.
Fishing SpotsBrowse 24,783 named waters, then read the state stocking record: species, size, and when.
River ExplorerExplore named rivers from USGS data. Filter by water type, with live flow where a gauge sits.
Fishing TimesMajor and minor solunar periods, sunrise, sunset and the moon for your exact spot, all week.
Fishing License CheckPick your state, your age and whether you live there for a yes or no from the state's own rule, plus the next free fishing days.
Skill DrillsInteractive 3D drills, one decision at a time. Pick wrong and you watch it fail, then learn why.

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