Lake Norman Catfish Guide Service 

5.0
(8 reviews)
Recent reports
 7321 Terana Lane, Denver, NC 28037, United States

Lake Norman Catfish Guide Service 

Denver, NC, United States
22 ft
3
5.0
(8 reviews)

Excited to catch some fish in Denver? That's what Lake Norman Catfish Guide Service is here for!

Catfish, Hybrid Striped Bass, and more can be found in Lake Norman and nearby Mountain Island Lake. Catfish bite all year long, but the best fishing is generally mid-March thru the end of May, and then July 4-mid October. Once the water cools off November-February, we tend to target the hard fighting Hybrid Stripers.

Kids are encouraged to come fish! Let me know their size life jacket, if they are too small, you may need to bring one for them.

My boat is a 22' Dual console that holds up to 3 passengers, four in a pinch, with a bimini top and ample seating.

I provide all bait and tackle, you just need to bring the appropriate clothing, a fishing license if 16 or over and whatever snacks/lunch and drinks you want. We generally do catch, photograph and release fishing, but if you are interested in keeping some to eat, let's make a plan before we launch.

I generally ask to limit having much alcohol on board, so let's chat if you'd like to bring something other than water or soft drinks.

The click of a button is the only thing keeping you from a great day on the water with Lake Norman Catfish Guide Service!

Excited to catch some fish in Denver? That's what Lake Norman Catfish Guide Service is here for!

Catfish, Hybrid Striped Bass, and more can be found in Lake Norman and nearby Mountain Island Lake. Catfish bite all year long, but the best fishing is generally mid-March thru the end of May, and then July 4-mid October. Once the water cools off November-February, we tend to target the hard fighting Hybrid Stripers.

Kids are encouraged to come fish! Let me know their size life jacket, if they are too small, you may need to bring one for them.

My boat is a 22' Dual console that holds up to 3 passengers, four in a pinch, with a bimini top and ample seating.

I provide all bait and tackle, you just need to bring the appropriate clothing, a fishing license if 16 or over and whatever snacks/lunch and drinks you want. We generally do catch, photograph and release fishing, but if you are interested in keeping some to eat, let's make a plan before we launch.

I generally ask to limit having much alcohol on board, so let's chat if you'd like to bring something other than water or soft drinks.

The click of a button is the only thing keeping you from a great day on the water with Lake Norman Catfish Guide Service!

Bill Ward
Captain
Bill Ward
ID & credentials verified
responds within an hour

Select date to see availability

Trip availability and prices

Trip date:
Group Size:
September 2026
SuMoTuWeThFrSa
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Group Size
2 adults • 0 children
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Full Day Trip
FREE Cancellation 3 days notice
6 hour trip starts at 6:00 AM
Catfish
Hybrid Striped Bass
US $350
Entire boat: 2 people
There is 1 person looking at this charter.

Customer reviews

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Rating

5.0
8 reviews
5.0
Boat & equipment
5.0
Captain & crew
5.0
Fishing Experience

Anglers' gallery (20)

All reviews (8)

Showing 15 of 8 reviews
Austin Burnier
Austin Burnier
us
California, US
Member since 2026
5.0
Verified
Must Do Fishing Trip On Norman
Full Day Trip on July 11, 20262 adults

Captain Bill is a wealth of knowledge. He didn't just put us on the fish, he actually took the time to teach us about the lake, the patterns, and the techniques he uses. He’s incredibly fun to talk to, and has great stories. Most importantly we caught some big fish! If you’re looking for a top tier guide who is knowledgeable, professional, and great company, Captain Bill is your guy. We will absolutely be booking with him again.

Reported catch:
Catfish
Rafael Osuna
Rafael Osuna
us
North Carolina, US
Member since 2026
5.0
Verified
New
Awesome Birthday Fishing Trip!
Full Day Trip on August 22, 20261 adult1 child

My 9-year-old son wanted to catch a bass for his birthday, and we ended up catching about 30 or 40 of them! Bill was great and knows every single corner of Lake Norman. I highly recommend booking with Bill!

Reported catch:
Catfish
Hybrid Striped Bass
Bill Ward
Response from Captain

He caught on to everything really quickly. He can come be my shiner scooper anytime. Great having you two on board. That was a really fun day!

Joshua Shepelsky
Joshua Shepelsky
us
New York, US
Member since 2026
5.0
Verified
New
Had a great time
Full Day Trip on September 7, 20262 adults

had an awesome time today. Caught tons of bass and some catfish.

Reported catch:
Catfish
Hybrid Striped Bass
Bill Ward
Response from Captain

You two were a hoot! Come back any time!

Brandi Decker
Brandi Decker
us
New York, US
Member since 2026
5.0
Verified
Great time
Full Day Trip on May 21, 20262 adults

If you want some good laughs and lots of interesting information, Captain Bill is your guy! He was very friendly and we learned a lot from him! Highly recommend for anyone wanting to get in a boat and catch some fish!

Reported catch:
Catfish
Bill Ward
Response from Captain

Thanks, Brandi! When the bite started, we got so distracted we forgot to take some pictures of the fish! Great having you two on the boat today.

Myron Horsey
Myron Horsey
us
Delaware, US
Member since 2026
5.0
Verified
Good time with Bill
Full Day Trip on July 10, 20263 adults

Bill was very knowledgeable and cool to everyone onboard. we would have liked to catch a little more fish but understood they just weren’t biting that day. Family friendly trip.

Reported catch:
Catfish
Bill Ward
Response from Captain

Sometimes the fish just don't want to play as much as we'd like. I would have loved to send you home with a couple more bags of filets, but hopefully you were able to make a nice fish fry out of the ones that did bite!

FAQs about Lake Norman Catfish Guide Service

Lake Norman Catfish Guide Service offers the following trip to customers:
  • US $350 per group, additional US $50 per person after 2 guests - Full Day Trip (6 hours)
When you book a trip with Lake Norman Catfish Guide Service, you can expect the following amenities onboard:
  • GPS
  • Fishfinder
  • Live bait well
  • Wireless trolling motor
Trips booked with Lake Norman Catfish Guide Service include:
  • Rods, reels & tackle
  • Live bait
  • Lures
  • Catch cleaning & filleting
Lake Norman Catfish Guide Service offers the following type of fishing:
  • Lake fishing
Lake Norman Catfish Guide Service offers the following fishing techniques:
  • Light tackle
  • Trolling
  • Spinning
  • Jigging
  • Drift fishing
Top targeted fish species with Lake Norman Catfish Guide Service include:
  • Catfish
  • Hybrid Striped Bass

Your captain

Bill Ward
Bill Ward

Denver, North Carolina, United States

7 Fishing Reports
ID & license verified
8 Customer reviews
Typical response within an hour
Member since April 2026

Operating a 22' Sea Hunt Dual console, Capt. Bill ensures a comfortable fishing experience in the waters of Denver, North Carolina. The crew has you covered if you wish to try spinning, trolling, drifting, jigging, or other techniques. The only way to learn is to join them on the water.

Bill Ward
Bill Ward
Fully verified
7
reports
8
reviews
2026
member since
~1h
response
Operating a 22' Sea Hunt Dual console, Capt. Bill ensures a comfortable fishing experience in the waters of Denver, North Carolina. The crew has you covered if you wish to try spinning, trolling, drifting, jigging, or other techniques. The only way to learn is to join them on the water.

The fish you can target

Catfish
Catfish
Hybrid Striped Bass
Hybrid Striped Bass
Catfish
Catfish
Hybrid Striped Bass
Hybrid Striped Bass

Real catches by this captain

  • Had a great time
    Joshua S.
    Joshua S.
  • Awesome Birthday Fishing Trip!
    Rafael O.
    Rafael O.
  • Good time with Bill
    Myron H.
    Myron H.
  • Great day on the lake
    Emilio W.
    Emilio W.

What is the boat like?

Boat image
Boat category
Speed boats
Capacity
3 persons
Boat length
22 ft
Year built
2007
Boat manufacturer
Sea Hunt
Boat type
Dual console
Engine model
Yamaha
Powered by
1 x 200HP
Max cruising speed
28 knots

What kind of fishing will you do?

Lake Fishing

Which fishing techniques you can try

Light Tackle
Trolling
Spinning
Jigging
Drift Fishing

Which amenities are available onboard

GPS
Fishfinder
Live bait well
Wireless trolling motor
What's included in the trip price
Rods, reels & tackle
Live bait
Lures
Catch cleaning & filleting

How cancellations work

Free cancellation up to 3 days prior to trip

You can cancel or modify your booking up to 3 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.

More details

What the listing policies are

Pickup included in price
Transfer from hotels or jetties in Denver to departure site is available and included in trip rates.
Child friendly
You keep catch
Catch and release allowed

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

 PayPal

Compare similar fishing charters

Current
Lake Norman Catfish Guide Service
Lake Norman Catfish Guide Service
5.0
(8)
22 ft
Group size 1 - 3
1 - 3
Fish 1
Fish 2
6 hour trip • 2 persons
US $350

Recent fishing reports


Bravery, Thy Name is Natalie
Bravery, Thy Name is Natalie
September 7, 2026
I had Joshua and Natalie out hybrid hunting today on Mighty LKN. We started at first light to try and get a jump on the Labor Day boat traffic. Bite started off slowly, but at our second location, I pitched a spoon towards a rocky point and had an immediate hook up on a decent fish. Handed the rod the to Natalie, and that's when I learned-- Natalie is terrified of fish. No particular trauma--she was never chased down the street as a child by a blue marlin, or anything...but the idea of reeling in the fish and being in the boat with it flopping around kind of freaked her out. Which was kind of funny, given that we were on a "fishing" trip, but that made the day a more interesting challenge. That first fish ended up being a 7 pound blue cat, which was a big wiggly fish start to her day. The next few were all hybrid stripers, and as the day wore on, Natalie began to rally. I told her it was like allergy shots. Each fish made the next one a little easier. By the end of the day we had 25-30 hybrids in the boat and Natalie was beginning to not only reel in her own fish, she was going to the rod holder, picking up the rod and giving the fish as good a battle as it was giving her. I couldn't have been happier for her sticking with it and getting just a little braver with each fish. We still couldn't get her to hold up her fish for the photo,and sticking her thumb in its mouth and lipping it was right out! Baby steps. Next time, we'll work on using the fish grip pliers, and then unhooking the fish herself. Well...maybe not, but you gotta have a dream, right?
Continue reading
Bravery, Thy Name is Natalie
Bravery, Thy Name is Natalie
September 7, 2026
I had Joshua and Natalie out hybrid hunting today on Mighty LKN. We started at first light to try and get a jump on the Labor Day boat traffic. Bite started off slowly, but at our second location, I pitched a spoon towards a rocky point and had an immediate hook up on a decent fish. Handed the rod the to Natalie, and that's when I learned-- Natalie is terrified of fish. No particular trauma--she was never chased down the street as a child by a blue marlin, or anything...but the idea of reeling in the fish and being in the boat with it flopping around kind of freaked her out. Which was kind of funny, given that we were on a "fishing" trip, but that made the day a more interesting challenge. That first fish ended up being a 7 pound blue cat, which was a big wiggly fish start to her day. The next few were all hybrid stripers, and as the day wore on, Natalie began to rally. I told her it was like allergy shots. Each fish made the next one a little easier. By the end of the day we had 25-30 hybrids in the boat and Natalie was beginning to not only reel in her own fish, she was going to the rod holder, picking up the rod and giving the fish as good a battle as it was giving her. I couldn't have been happier for her sticking with it and getting just a little braver with each fish. We still couldn't get her to hold up her fish for the photo,and sticking her thumb in its mouth and lipping it was right out! Baby steps. Next time, we'll work on using the fish grip pliers, and then unhooking the fish herself. Well...maybe not, but you gotta have a dream, right?
Continue reading
Birthday Boy Catches Fish
Birthday Boy Catches Fish
August 22, 2026
Saturday we had Sebastian and his dad Rafael on the boat. Sebastian just turned 9, and for his birthday, he wanted to catch a bass. So we went fishing. And he caught a spotted bass. And then a hybrid striped bass. And then another and another. We put 30 or more fish in the boat before the weekend boat traffic got too crazy. For someone with limited fishing experience, Sebastian was a fish catching machine. He got the rods out of the holders with fish pulling drag, reeled in the fish even while they were dragging him all over the boat, scooped bait out of the tank, and even netted a fish he let his dad catch. There is nothing like watching a youngster have that much fun catching fish. But best of all, first thing he said as he stepped off the boat: "When can we go again?"
Continue reading