Looking for the best guide service

[MFD_Firefighter661]

Me and my uncle want to take my grandfather out on one last big outing.  We live in middle Tennessee and are all very big fans of topwater bass fishing.  We were thinking about taking him to Guntersville this coming spring but are very open to other lakes if someone can suggest something better.  Since none of us has ever used a guide service, we have no idea what to look for in one.  Since this may be the last big outing my grandfather is able to do we want to do everything top of the line, the best guide service out there.  If any of you have any recommendations for guide services that would be great or if you think that we may have a better time fishing topwaters on a different lake please let us know.  Thanks in advance and tight lines to all.

[frogtog]

You might want to check out the BR get together at Guntersville in March. Go to the top of the forum for info.

[roadwarrior]

Fred McClintock is one of the top guides in the country and VERY close for you. You need to call and talk with him about EXACTLY what you are wanting to do.

http://www.trophyguideservice.com/

[MFD_Firefighter661]

Me and a buddy are thinking about the BR roadtrip, but for this occasion I would like to get a guide since this may be my grandfathers last big outing.  I called Fred and he doesn't do any largemouth and is exclusively on Dale Hollow, which is a lake that we have fished a few times and since it is considered a local lake, not really what I am looking for.

[roadwarrior]

If you are willing to travel, we have three members that guide:

Randall Kirkpatrick at Lake Varner (Georgia)

George Welcome at Stick Marsh/ Farm 13 (Florida)

Tom Redington at Lake Fork (Texas)

[Gatorbassman]

I did alot of research on guides for Guntersville for the trip. I asked one of my friends who is a pro and recently finished high in a tournament on Gville. He told me to call Jeff Read.  I booked him for the BR Roadtrip. He is a full time guide on most of the lakes on the Tennessee River. Give him a call at 423-635-2459.

[krisjack69]

About how much does a guide charge norminally around here?

[MFD_Firefighter661]

I did alot of research on guides for Guntersville for the trip. I asked one of my friends who is a pro and recently finished high in a tournament on Gville. He told me to call Jeff Read. I booked him for the BR Roadtrip. He is a full time guide on most of the lakes on the Tennessee River. Give him a call at 423-635-2459.

Thats good Jeff is actually one of the guides that we have looked at online.  Ill give him a call then and see what we can come up with.  As far as traveling we don't mind to go as far as a full days drive away so Florida would be about the farthest we would go.  Not sure how far Lake Fork is from here.

[George Welcome]

Guntersville: Troy Jens

http://www.anglingalabama.com/

[MFD_Firefighter661]

anybody hear any reviews on the spinnerbait kid?

[roadwarrior]

As far as traveling we don't mind to go as far as a full days drive away so Florida would be about the farthest we would go.

Well, you can't get to Stick Marsh/ Farm 13 in a day, but that would be my DREAM destination!

I think a couple of days in Georgia with Randall would be the "Ultimate Fishing Trip", too.

[WestTNbass]

If you're going to Guntersville, I have to second the Troy Jens trip.  In the past 4 years, I've been on guided trips to Dale Hollow, Lake Fork, and Guntersville.  Troy was the most helpful guide I've ever had on any trip, anywhere.  

When we fished with him (PM 1/2 trip), he helped us learn to fish the patterns the fish were on at the time (1 oz. jigs flipped in deeper grass edges & swimming worms through some those same edges-neither of which I had done before) and helped us use old techniques (spinnerbait, lipless cranks, topwater) over the beds.  

After the trip, Troy took our new map of G-ville and marked 8-10 places where, during the next two days, we went and duplicated the patterns fished with Troy.  I think our 3 day total was 5 fish over five lbs. and 5 limits (AM and PM trips-all fished released alive) weighing between 14 - 21 lbs.  Lots better than our usual outings.

That's the only trip I've taken with Troy, and haven't talked to him since the trip.  I saw on the net that he had gotten married (I think) and maybe wasn't guiding as much anymore.  I also saw that he's spending lots of time doing Christian charity events for special needs children.  An above thread listed his website, so I won't do it again, but take a look at it.  

Good luck with your grandfather's trip.  Make some memories.

Mike C. in West TN

[roadwarrior]

If you're going to Guntersville, I have to second the Troy Jens trip. In the past 4 years, I've been on guided trips to Dale Hollow, Lake Fork, and Guntersville. Troy was the most helpful guide I've ever had on any trip, anywhere.

When we fished with him (PM 1/2 trip), he helped us learn to fish the patterns the fish were on at the time (1 oz. jigs flipped in deeper grass edges & swimming worms through some those same edges-neither of which I had done before) and helped us use old techniques (spinnerbait, lipless cranks, topwater) over the beds.

After the trip, Troy took our new map of G-ville and marked 8-10 places where, during the next two days, we went and duplicated the patterns fished with Troy. I think our 3 day total was 5 fish over five lbs. and 5 limits (AM and PM trips-all fished released alive) weighing between 14 - 21 lbs. Lots better than our usual outings.

That's the only trip I've taken with Troy, and haven't talked to him since the trip. I saw on the net that he had gotten married (I think) and maybe wasn't guiding as much anymore. I also saw that he's spending lots of time doing Christian charity events for special needs children. An above thread listed his website, so I won't do it again, but take a look at it.

Good luck with your grandfather's trip. Make some memories.

Mike C. in West TN

I have been trying to get in touch with him for more than a month.

No response.

[Randall]

Time of year is real important in where you go. Some lakes topwater bites peak at different times and if it were me here is where I would go and when I would go if I were going with a guide. If you want to topwater fish in late spring /early summer I would call Ryan Coleman at Lanier Spots (www.lanierspots.com) and tell him you just want topwater fish and ask him when the best time is to go just for topwater. Lanier is probably the best topwater lake in the country when the time is right and Ryan is a great guide.

Since I was recomended my best topwater fishing is during mid Summer often in the middle of the day (keep in mind it's usually HOT) on two different lakes just South of Atlanta. One lake is a numbers lake (lots of one and two pounders) and the other is good for big topwater fish in the four to seven pound range but usually fewer bites.

In the fall I would go to Guntersville and I would suggest Troy Jens for a guide as well and that seems to be when the topwater bite is best there. Also, keep in mind no matter who you go with that there is no guide that can get the conditions for a good topwater bite everyday and you need to let the guide know in advance what you are looking for in a trip but also have realistic expectations and know that sometimes to get the fish to bite you may have to do something else.

[Gatorbassman]

I have researched the Spinnerbait Kid. I think his story is cool and I wouldn't mind going out with him but from what I gather from his reports over the last few years he is good at numbers but he doesn't seem to be able to consistently catch the larger ones like other guides do. This is just my observation so it may not be true.

[Randall]

I have been trying to get in touch with him for more than a month.

No response.

[Shadcranker]

Tim Chandler is the best IMHO.

Great guy, and he stays on the fish.

The topwater fishing gets good down there in mid April through June (post spawn to early Summer). You might want to try to schedule something the last two weeks of April. the shad spawn should be going on, and the spinnerbait fishing is awesome in the grass, plus you should be able to catch some on top.

[TheBeast]

Got to reccomend heading to Georgia, just north of ATL with Randall and hitting Varner.  Just check out my avitar.

[blanked]

too bad the peacock bass in south america wouldnt work for you

[burleytog]

Fish Atlanta Guide Service is second to none.

[MFD_Firefighter661]

Me personally I would love to go fishing for peacocks its just getting the others to put up the funds to go too.