Fishing With Sam

Chattanooga, Tennessee guided fishing! Targeting catfish, bass, and panfish.

Contact me, Sam Simons, at sambino4141@yahoo.com or 423-802-7858 for further information.

CHECK BACK OFTEN FOR UPDATED PICTURES! TRY TO GET AN IDEA OF WHAT TIME OF YEAR YOU MIGHT WANT TO GO.

I bought a brand new 17 ft G3 boat with a 40hp Yamaha that is a dream.

Someone asked me why I didn't get a bigger motor.  Hey, I'm a teacher, what can I say?  It can comfortably fish 2 anglers on a trip.

Types of trips-

Drift fishing for bass/catfish

Typically from march-june, there can be a very good bite for bass and catfish drifting live bait or cutbait depending on what species you want to target.  Expect at least 5 fish on a morning trips drifting the dam, with sometimes catches of 20 or more fish.  Often times, if the bass are running the dam, I like to drift starting out for bass and then switch to catfish.  

Anchor catfish trip-

This is an 8 hr trip, and we are looking for that "big bite."  We are targeting big blue cats, and this trip is not for action.  Expect 1-5 fish anchoring, with that possibility of a large blue cat.  The personal best for my boat is a 52 inch blue that you can see on this page.

I will combine both styles of fishing.  When bass and cats run the dam, it's nice to run up to the dam and catch both species drifting on light tackle. Then, after you get fish in the boat, run downriver and look for  "the bite."  In the dead of winter, we can also try for a big smallmouth downriver.  They are fat, and well worth it if you catch one.

Rates- 4 hr trip $125

8 hr trip $200

No fish, no pay!  This covers you on a big catfish anchor trip.  Sometimes, they just don't feed.  In the middle of winter if the bite is tough, you don't have to worry about paying for a trip when they don't bite.  Middle of winter is your best chance for catching a filled out giant that will make all of your friends jealous.  Look at the 83 lb blue at the top of the page, that was in late December, 19 degrees that morning! 

Big Sam and Little Sam, little Sam has some serious luck!

My fiancee Kylene.  She went fishing from the bank one day in early May a few years ago.  She caught 6 smallmouth from 17-22 inches.  She goes with me about once a year!

Craig Smith locked into a giant recently December of 2011.  At first, he didn't think the fish was big.  After awhile, he took his statement back!  I finally had to pull up the anchor, my first time ever to do that, and Craig landed  the giant blue.  It weighed in at 85 lbs, and was the only blue cat we landed that morning.  The bass we landed that morning were fun, but nothing compared to a back breaker blue.

I caught this blue cat December of 2010.  It weighed 83 lbs and measured out at 52 inches long.  The current was swift, and it took around 15 minutes to land.  My back and arms hurt so bad, I was sore the next day.  This is the bite I look for in the winter. 

6 lb 8 oz smallmouth from the bank!

One day last May, the wind was absolutely terrible.  I went above an island and anchored up to beat the wind.  I didn't have my big scale with me, but this blue was fat and measured out at 48 inches.

Your Guide, Sam Simons