Ellis Ward Guide Service offers guided float fishing trips for trout, musky, and smallmouth in the rivers of East Tennessee and Western North Carolina. Our guided trout trips will take place on either the South Holston River or the Watauga River in Tennessee. Guided Musky Trips will take place on either the Clinch River system near Melton Hill Reservoir in Tennessee, or on the French Broad River outside of Ashevile, North Carolina. Guided Smallmouth Trips will be on sections of the Holston River, the Nolichucky, or the French Broad River.
Ellis has spent thousands of days fishing and guiding these rivers, and as many days at the vise working on fly designs based on his personal experiences watching what triggers big fish to 'go' when in most instances, they will likely stay.
The program for the day changes on a trip-to-trip basis based on fish behavior, seasonality, angler preferences, and conditions. It can include streamer fishing, sight casting dry flies to rising Trout and tailing Carp, mousing for Brown Trout at night, fishing topwater plugs and flies for Striped Bass and lake run Brown Trout, or a healthy combination of many of the above.
If you've ever been bored by Trout fishing or wondered how anyone could stand to watch a bobber for 8 hours straight, you're in good company! Anglers rarely nymph fish; if they do, it's in targeted areas for a limited time. Ellis has developed his fishing, tying, and guiding business around the idea that fishing a tailwater for big Trout should be engaging, exciting, active, and adventurous!
Ellis Ward Guide Service runs catch-and-release trips, but the captain is happy to make some exceptions for a few fish! You'll need to get a fishing license before the trip. This information is available online, or you can ask the captain. Food, drinks, and all the necessary gear are included.
For an exciting fly fishing adventure, book your trip with Ellis Ward Guide Service!
Rating summary
Photos & videos by reviewers (5)
Angler rating
Anglers claimed
Good experience
100%
Appropriate for children
100%
Friendly captain
100%
Satisfied with the boat
100%
Recommend this charter
100%
Caught fish
100%
May 5, 2023
Full Day Trip – Trophy Trout
My wife and both caught rainbows and browns which was great because we've never caught them before. Captain Ellis was a great guide who offered alot of varieties to fish the river. We started with conventional lures because we weren't familiar with fly fishing. The lures caught fish but after awhile we both had fly rods in our hands. One of my favorite parts was watching the browns eat the dry flies on the surface. Captain ellis worked the river great and put us in the right spots to make the cast. Would do it again ?
My wife and both caught rainbows and browns which was great because we've never caught them before. Captain Ellis was a great...
Old Westbury, NY
Aug 27, 2023
Full Day Trip – Trophy Trout
Ellis is an excellent guide— friendly, patient, knowledgeable. My 8 year old son and I greatly enjoyed spending seven hours on the river for him.
Ellis is an excellent guide— friendly, patient, knowledgeable. My 8 year old son and I greatly enjoyed spending seven hours on...
Wilmington, NC
Aug 21, 2023
Full Day Trip – Trophy Trout
Beautiful scenery and great trip overall !
Beautiful scenery and great trip overall !
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Rating summary
Photos & videos by reviewers (5)
Angler rating
Anglers claimed
Good experience
100%
Appropriate for children
100%
Friendly captain
100%
Satisfied with the boat
100%
Recommend this charter
100%
Caught fish
100%
Experience:
Boat
Crew
Overall
Full Day Trip – Trophy Trout on May 5, 2023
My wife and both caught rainbows and browns which was great because we've never caught them before. Captain Ellis was a great guide who offered alot of varieties to fish the river. We started with conventional lures because we weren't familiar with fly fishing. The lures caught fish but after awhile we both had fly rods in our hands. One of my favorite parts was watching the browns eat the dry flies on the surface. Captain ellis worked the river great and put us in the right spots to make the cast. Would do it again ?
My wife and both caught rainbows and browns which was great because we've never caught them before. Captain Ellis was a great guide who offered alot of varieties to fish the river. We started with conventional lures because we weren't familiar with fly fishing. The lures caught fish but after awhile we both had fly rods in our hands. One of my favorite parts was watching the browns eat the dry flies on the surface. Captain ellis worked the river great and put us in the right spots to make the...
Old Westbury, NY
Experience:
Boat
Crew
Overall
Full Day Trip – Trophy Trout on August 27, 2023
Ellis is an excellent guide— friendly, patient, knowledgeable. My 8 year old son and I greatly enjoyed spending seven hours on the river for him.
Ellis is an excellent guide— friendly, patient, knowledgeable. My 8 year old son and I greatly enjoyed spending seven hours on the river for him.
Wilmington, NC
Experience:
Boat
Crew
Overall
Full Day Trip – Trophy Trout on August 21, 2023
Beautiful scenery and great trip overall !
Beautiful scenery and great trip overall !