TC Bass Destination Charters

TC Bass Destination Charters and Guide Norvel Derickson bid you a warm welcome to Traverse City. Chasing the nationally known Bass in the northwestern Michigan area is the guide’s passion and he is ready to share his knowledge of the Grand Traverse Bay and the numerous inland lakes in the area with you. Bass fishing in the area is has become full-scale and is regarded as some of the best in the country. Numbers of Bass are always available and a true trophy fish may hit on your very next cast, so come aboard and fish with TC Bass Destination Charters!

Your trip will start on a 21’ Ranger Z521 bass boat that can accommodate 3 anglers. Running on a powerful 250 HP Yamaha SHO engine that can reach a maximum cruising speed of 65 knots, the boat will quickly take you to the desired spots. For safe and efficient navigation, the boat uses modern Lowrance HDS fishfinder and GPS systems, as well as a VHF radio. In order to make a quieter approach to the fish, the boat has got a wireless trolling motor.

You and your guide will use light tackle to target Smallmouth Bass by bottom fishing, spinning, and jigging. Kids are free to join the trip, alcohol is not allowed, and some of the fish will have to be released due to the local regulations.

Guide Norvel will take care of all the tackle, lures, snacks, and drinks, meaning that the only thing you should bring is your fishing license.

Come to Traverse City and have a memorable lake fishing trip with TC Bass Destination Charters!



Trip availability and prices

  • Private trip
    4 Hour Trip
    Low rate deposit non-refundable
    4 Hour Trip, starts at 7:00 AM
    Seasonal trip Apr 1 - Oct 31
    Price for up to 2 persons
    US $440
    A half day trip brings you 4.5 hours on the water. The trips typically start at 7:00 a.m. or 8:00 a.m. depending on your choice and will return at 11:30 a.m. or 12:30 p.m. respectively. Afternoon and evening trips are also available upon your request with negotiable starting times.
    Types of fishing
    Lake Fishing
    Fishing techniques
    Light Tackle
    Jigging
    Spinning
    Drift Fishing
    Targeted fish
    Bass (Smallmouth)
    Smallmouth Bass
  • Private trip
    6 Hour Trip
    Low rate deposit non-refundable
    6 Hour Trip, starts at 7:00 AM
    Seasonal trip May 1 - Oct 31
    Price for up to 2 persons
    US $560
    A 3/4 day trip brings you 6 hours on the water. The trips typically start at 7:00 a.m. or 8:00 a.m. depending on your choice and will return at 1:30 p.m. or 2:30 p.m. respectively. Afternoon and evening trips are also available upon your request with negotiable starting times.
    Types of fishing
    Lake Fishing
    Fishing techniques
    Light Tackle
    Jigging
    Spinning
    Drift Fishing
    Targeted fish
    Bass (Smallmouth)
    Smallmouth Bass
  • Private trip
    8 Hour Trip
    Low rate deposit non-refundable
    8 Hour Trip, starts at 7:00 AM
    Seasonal trip Apr 1 - Oct 31
    Price for up to 2 persons
    US $660
    A full day trip will have you stay for 8 and a half hours on the water and fish for any species available. It usually starts at 7:00 a.m. and ends at 3:30 p.m. Just bring your license and embark on this lake fishing adventure.
    Types of fishing
    River Fishing
    Lake Fishing
    Fishing techniques
    Light Tackle
    Spinning
    Drift Fishing
    Targeted fish
    Bass (Smallmouth)
    Smallmouth Bass
There are 3 people looking at this charter.

Customer reviews

Rating summary
Excellent
4.9 / 5
out of 5 stars from 30 reviews
Boat
Excellent
4.9 / 5
Crew
Excellent
4.9 / 5
Experience
Excellent
4.9 / 5
Photos & videos by reviewers (37)
Good trip!
New personal best
Excellent experience !
+34
Angler rating
28
2
0
0
0
Anglers claimed
Good experience
90%
Friendly captain
100%
Recommend this charter
100%
Appropriate for children
100%
Satisfied with the boat
100%
Caught fish
89%
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Featured  
Showing:
5 of 30 reviews
Chad G.
Excellent
5.0 / 5
Experience:
Excellent
5.0 / 5
Boat
Excellent
5.0 / 5
Crew
Excellent
5.0 / 5
Overall

New personal best

VERIFIED   4 Hour Trip on June 25, 2024
Fishing conditions were a bit tough after a big storm rolled through over night, but Butch still put my on my new personal...
Chad G. recommends TC Bass Destination Charters
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Chad G. recommends TC Bass Destination Charters
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Rob D.
Excellent
5.0 / 5
Experience:
Excellent
5.0 / 5
Boat
Excellent
5.0 / 5
Crew
Excellent
5.0 / 5
Overall

Good times

VERIFIED   4 Hour Trip on July 3, 2024
On the day of our trip the weather was less than perfect, but our capt. was very prompt and had us catching fish quickly. The...
Rob D. recommends TC Bass Destination Charters
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Rob D. recommends TC Bass Destination Charters
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Charles W.
Excellent
5.0 / 5
Experience:
Excellent
5.0 / 5
Boat
Excellent
5.0 / 5
Crew
Excellent
5.0 / 5
Overall

Great time!!!

VERIFIED   4 Hour Trip on June 13, 2024
Capt. Butch put me on the fish and was as professional as could be.  I would highly recommend him for any future fishing trip!!! ...
Charles W. recommends TC Bass Destination Charters
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Charles W. recommends TC Bass Destination Charters
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NICHOLAS W.
Excellent
4.7 / 5
Experience:
Excellent
5.0 / 5
Boat
Excellent
5.0 / 5
Crew
Very good
4.0 / 5
Overall

Good trip!

VERIFIED   8 Hour Trip on July 4, 2024
Butch was professional and worked hard to put us on fish.  It was a slow day, as sometimes happens, but Butch stayed positive...
NICHOLAS W. recommends TC Bass Destination Charters
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NICHOLAS W. recommends TC Bass Destination Charters
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You found this review helpful

Terry E.
Excellent
5.0 / 5
Experience:
Excellent
5.0 / 5
Boat
Excellent
5.0 / 5
Crew
Excellent
5.0 / 5
Overall

Excellent experience !

VERIFIED   6 Hour Trip on June 17, 2024
We had a great time and caught a ton of small mouth fish and several That were huge ! What an amazing day of fishing in tough...
Terry E. recommends TC Bass Destination Charters
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Terry E. recommends TC Bass Destination Charters
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You found this review helpful

FAQs about TC Bass Destination Charters

TC Bass Destination Charters offers the following trips to customers:
  • US $440 per group - 4 Hour Trip (4 hours)
  • US $560 per group - 6 Hour Trip (6 hours)
  • US $660 per group - 8 Hour Trip (8 hours)

When you book a trip with TC Bass Destination Charters, you can expect the following amenities onboard:
  • GPS Lowrance HDS
  • Fishfinder Lowrance HDS
  • Wireless Trolling Motor

Trips booked with TC Bass Destination Charters include:
  • Rods, reels & tackle
  • Lures
  • Snacks (I keep Kind snack bars onboard)
  • Drinks (Bottled water on ice)

TC Bass Destination Charters offers the following type of fishing:
  • Lake Fishing (Mostly Grand Traverse Bay, inland lakes available)

TC Bass Destination Charters offers the following fishing techniques:
  • Light Tackle
  • Bottom Fishing
  • Spinning
  • Jigging

Top targeted fish species with TC Bass Destination Charters include:
  • Bass (Smallmouth)

Your captain

Norvel Derickson
Traverse City, Michigan, United States
1 Fishing Report
ID & license verified
30 Customer reviews
Response time within an hour
Member since July 2020
After retiring as a mechanical engineer in the power industry, Captain Norvel Derickson turned his passion for Bass fishing into a charter business. Come join him in Traverse City and create lovely memories on the water.

The fish you can target

Bass (Smallmouth) Smallmouth Bass

What the boat is like

Boat Image
Boat category
Skiffs and flats boats
Capacity
2 persons
Boat length
21 ft
Year built
2011
Boat manufacturer
Ranger
Boat type
Bass boat

Engine model
Yamaha
Powered by
1 x 250HP
Max cruising speed
60 knots

Which types of fishing are offered

Lake Fishing
Mostly Grand Traverse Bay, inland lakes available

Which fishing techniques you can try

Light Tackle
Bottom Fishing
Spinning
Jigging

Which amenities are available onboard

GPS
Lowrance HDS
Fishfinder
Lowrance HDS
Wireless Trolling Motor

What’s included in the trip price

Rods, reels & tackle
Lures
Snacks
I keep Kind snack bars onboard
Drinks
Bottled water on ice

How cancellations work

Deposit non-refundable

If it is unsafe to travel, you may still cancel free of charge or change the date(s) of your booking.

What the listing policies are

Pickup agreed upon reservation
Transfer to/from departure site may be available and included in price depending on your location and distance from the dock.
Child Friendly
No Alcohol
Catch and Release Mandatory

How you can pay

Pay online in full

Pay online in full through FishingBooker and save on credit card fees at the dock.

No additional fees.
Book with 10% deposit, pay rest to captain

When the captain confirms your trip, FishingBooker charges your credit card a 10% deposit to guarantee your reservation.

The remaining balance is to be paid directly to the charter operator on or prior to your trip date in one of the following payment methods:

Cash
Visa
Mastercard
American Express
PayPal

What’s biting in Traverse City right now

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