Big Ridge River Guides
+34If you're here to make the most of fishing in Sevierville and throughout the knoxville area look no further than Big Ridge River Guides. Having logged many hours on these rivers Captain Ridge knows them forwards and back. My goal as a guide is to not only make sure you have a great time on the water but also to equip you with the knowledge and skills to have success on your own on the water.
Captain Ridge specializes in catching Smallmouth Bass on light tackle on the beautiful rivers here in East TN. Fishing on these trips is strictly for sport, and all the smallmouth you catch will be released. TIME AND LOCATION WILL BE PROVIDED DAY BEFORE TRIP IS SCHEDULED.
Capt. Ridge will bring you aboard a 20ft Jet boat with room for 3 passengers or a upriverboatworks guide raft fit for 2 clients for our longer float trips.Rods, reels, and tackle are provided. Before coming aboard, you'll need to buy a local fishing license for everyone in your group which can be purchased online, walmart or bass pro shops. The Captain will discuss methods of payment with you. This information is usually available online, or you can ask the captain.
Trips with Big Ridge River Guides are kid-friendly. There will be some drinks and light snacks on offer, but let the captain know if you wish to bring your own. Alcohol is allowed in moderation, just avoid hard liquor as well as glass bottles. Dogs are also aloud in the boat as well!
Captain
Ridge Palmer
Highlights
Plan your trip
In demand! Last booked: 3 days ago
Customer reviews
Rating summary
Photos & videos by reviewers (110)
+107Angler rating
Anglers claimed
Good experience
97%
Appropriate for children
100%
Friendly captain
100%
Satisfied with the boat
100%
Recommend this charter
94%
Caught fish
95%
The captain canceled
Trip was supposed to happen on July 8, 2025
The charter operator canceled on trip date. This is an automated posting.
Experience:
Boat
Crew
Overall
Great experience
Half Day morning Trip on June 13, 2025
Captain Ridge was excellent! First he text me to let me know due to large amounts of rain in the area, fishing conditions were less than optimal. He offered to refund my deposit even though we were inside the 7 day cancellation period. My son really wanted to fish so we went anyway. Ridge put us on fish and we caught a mixed bag but caught a couple smallmouth bass and had a fantastic time. Great equipment, great boat, top notch guide and we definitely will be back if we return to the area!
Captain Ridge was excellent! First he text me to let me know due to large amounts of rain in the area, fishing conditions were less than optimal. He offered to refund my deposit even though we were inside the 7 day cancellation period. My son really wanted to fish so we went anyway. Ridge put us on fish and we caught a mixed bag but caught a couple smallmouth bass and had a fantastic time. Great equipment, great boat, top notch guide and we definitely will be back if we return to the area!
Experience:
Boat
Crew
Overall
Ridge
Half day afternoon trip on June 20, 2025
The experience was great. Ridge was great with my 10 year old and displayed great enthusiasm and patience with him. The weather wasn’t ideal and he did all he could to make our day great. We learned a lot about the river and how the water level is affected by the dam releases. All in all great afternoon.
The experience was great. Ridge was great with my 10 year old and displayed great enthusiasm and patience with him. The weather wasn’t ideal and he did all he could to make our day great. We learned a lot about the river and how the water level is affected by the dam releases. All in all great afternoon.
Experience:
Boat
Crew
Overall
Smallmouth Bass
Half Day morning Trip on July 16, 2024
Me and my 14 year old son Kasyn went fishing with Ridge on July 16, 2024. Ridge took us out on the Holston River, about 45 minutes from Gatlinburg, and we started to catch smallmouth bass immediately. In fact, our second cast pulled in a 17” long bass. Early on I was catching more than Kasyn but he ended up snagging a few more than me. Ridge was extremely knowledgeable and very helpful which led to a great morning of fishing. We had never fished for smallmouth bass, and he showed us a few techniques on how to catch them. If you’re close to the Smokey’s and want to catch some fish and have a great time, look this guy up! Thank you Ridge!
Me and my 14 year old son Kasyn went fishing with Ridge on July 16, 2024. Ridge took us out on the Holston River, about 45 minutes from Gatlinburg, and we started to catch smallmouth bass immediately. In fact, our second cast pulled in a 17” long bass. Early on I was catching more than Kasyn but he ended up snagging a few more than me. Ridge was extremely knowledgeable and very helpful which led to a great morning of fishing. We had never fished for smallmouth bass, and he showed us a few techniques...
Experience:
Boat
Crew
Overall
Beautiful morning float trip and bass!
Half day afternoon trip on June 23, 2025
Ridge was a great guide. He was knowledgable, patient, kind and really helped my 12 year old fisherman grandson improve his casting and learn where to find fish. We also saw a ton of wildlife along the river. It was great.
Ridge was a great guide. He was knowledgable, patient, kind and really helped my 12 year old fisherman grandson improve his casting and learn where to find fish. We also saw a ton of wildlife along the river. It was great.
FAQs about Big Ridge River Guides
What are the trip rates for Big Ridge River Guides?
Big Ridge River Guides offers the following trips to customers:
- US $375 per group, additional US $50 per person after 2 guests - Half day afternoon trip (4 hours)
- US $375 per group, additional US $50 per person after 2 guests - Half Day morning Trip (4 hours)
- US $550 per group, additional US $50 per person after 2 guests - 6 hr afternoon trip (6 hours)
- US $550 per group, additional US $50 per person after 2 guests - 6 hr morning trip (6 hours)
- US $750 per group - Full Day Trip (8 hours)
Which amenities are available onboard with Big Ridge River Guides?
When you book a trip with Big Ridge River Guides, you can expect the following amenities onboard:
- GPS
- Fishfinder
- Live Bait Well
- Wireless Trolling Motor
- Ice Box
What's included in the trip price with Big Ridge River Guides?
Trips booked with Big Ridge River Guides include:
- Rods, reels & tackle
- Live Bait
- Lures
- Catch cleaning & filleting
- Snacks
- Drinks
What types of fishing does Big Ridge River Guides offer?
Big Ridge River Guides offers the following types of fishing:
- River Fishing
- Lake Fishing
What fishing techniques does Big Ridge River Guides offer?
Big Ridge River Guides offers the following fishing techniques:
- Light Tackle
- Spinning
- Drift Fishing
- Bowfishing
Which fish species can I catch with Big Ridge River Guides?
Top targeted fish species with Big Ridge River Guides include:
- Bass (Smallmouth)
Meet your captain
Sevierville, Tennessee, United States
Hello all! I am Ridge Palmer, a proud local from East TN, born and raised. My passion is being a fishing guide, and I love showing people the wonders of our stunning rivers and helping them create unforgettable experiences. Let's discover the true beauty that our town has to offer!
Fish you can target
Your boat
Where you can fish
River Fishing
Lake Fishing
How you can fish
Light Tackle
Spinning
Drift Fishing
Bowfishing
What's on board
GPS
Fishfinder
Live Bait Well
Wireless Trolling Motor
Ice Box
Included in the price
Rods, reels & tackle
Live Bait
Lures
Catch cleaning & filleting
Snacks
Drinks
How cancellations work
Free cancellation up to 7 days prior to trip
You can cancel or modify your booking up to 7 days before the trip date, free of charge. If you cancel or modify your booking later, or fail to show up, you'll forfeit 100% of what you've paid.
Listing policies
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
Catch and Release Allowed
Smallmouth are all catch and release
Catch and Release Mandatory
How to pay
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
Checks
When paying the remaining balance with a credit card, an additional 3% charge will apply.