We had an outstanding experience with Smoky Mountain Fishing Company, special thanks to our guide Derek. Booking was seamless, and Derek reached out ahead of time to make sure we were fully prepared for the trip. When we met at the ramp I could tell he knew exactly what he was doing, and that confidence carried through the entire day. He was easy to talk to, very friendly, and kept the experience relaxed. especially when we made mistakes, or missed a fish, which he handled with a playful attitude that made the experience even more enjoyable.
Once we got on the water, Derek didn’t waste any time. He was direct. if the fish were on the left, cast left. On the right, cast right. That kind of clarity made a big difference because we didn’t waste time fishing in the wrong places. We started upriver and he had his vehicle shuttled downstream, which allowed us to cover several miles of water.
The bite was steady all day, and we caught both rainbow and brown trout. The highlight was my wife landing her biggest rainbow trout ever. Derek handled that moment like a professional. He stopped the boat, kept my wife focused, and made sure that fish made it into the net. While I caught a solid one too, hers was definitely the star of the show.
Derek was clearly invested in getting us on fish, while still keeping it our responsibility to catch them, which is exactly how it should be. He came fully prepared with all the gear we needed, and everything ran smoothly from start to finish.
I highly recommend Derek and Smoky Mountain Fishing Company to anyone looking for a great guided fishing experience. I wouldn’t hesitate to book with him again.
