Oak Ridge
Instant Confirmation
Trips from
US $300
Captain
William Clabough
Oak Ridge, United States
Angler's choice
25+ reviews
As a Knoxville Tennessee native, I've had the privilege of growing up surrounded by beautiful lakes, rivers, and creeks. As a young child, my parents would take me on fishing trips. Without a doubt, I quickly became hooked on the thrill of the catch. Since then, I've spent countless hours exploring the many waterways in East Tennessee, and I've become an avid fisherman. I am a licensed and insured Fishing Guide and US Coast Guard Captain, available for booking guided fishing trips! With years of experience, I specialize in providing a safe and enjoyable fishing experience for all skill levels. Book now or contact me for more info. Let's go fishing and create lasting memories!
Charter
Rating
5.0
29 reviews
5.0
Boat & Equipment
5.0
Captain & Crew
5.0
Fishing Experience
Anglers' gallery (76)
All reviews (29)
Showing 1 – 5 of 29 reviews
Kenneth KuzelRepeat angler5.0VerifiedBest trip we coukd gave hoped for
East TN Multi-Species Trip • 2 adultsRain was forecast, so we thought it might ruin our plans, but it was only light sprinkles on and off. Our guide gave us options and made the trip remarkable. Great fishing knowledge of spots, baits and techniques - and we caught over 20 fish in less than 4 hours. Including a striped bass that was the largest game fish i ever caught! We had a great time!
Reported catch:
Response from CaptainThank you again for allowing me to be your captain! That Striped Bass was an awesome catch!
Mark Hanson5.0VerifiedFast and furious!
East TN Multi-Species Trip • 2 adultsGrandson and I were on fish within minutes of entering the river and it was non-stop fun. We caught seven different species of fish and our Captain worked hard to keep lines bated and wet. Highly recommend!
Reported catch:
+1Response from CaptainThank you! It was an awesome morning!
Phil Weather5.0Amazing trip and captain
East TN Multi-Species TripMe and my son had an amazing day on the water today, my son caught his first fish and I caught my biggest fish. The boat was in the water and ready when we got there and he had live bait and cut bait at the ready. He went above and beyond to make sure we had a fun and successful trip and his work definitely paid off. Will %100 be booking again when back in Tennessee.
Reported catch:
Response from CaptainThank you!
Stephanie Jones5.0VerifiedReally Great Trip
East Tennessee Catfish Adventure • 2 adultsCpt Billy was very knowledgable on the area and good fishing spots. We caught a total of 6 catfish. It was a great day, and I would recommend him to others interested in catfishing.
Response from CaptainThank you!
George ZavalaRepeat angler5.0VerifiedCatch Multiple Species of Fish!
East TN Multi-Species Trip • 2 adults • 1 childWe caught catfish, large mouth bass, drum, white bass and sriper bass. It was a great experience and a lot of fun. Captain Billy was informative and kind.
Reported catch:Response from CaptainThank you!
Real catches shared by our community
- East Tennessee Fishing ChartersLenoir City, TN
- East Tennessee Fishing ChartersLenoir City, TN
- East Tennessee Fishing ChartersLenoir City, TN
- East Tennessee Fishing ChartersLenoir City, TN
- East Tennessee Fishing ChartersLenoir City, TN
- East Tennessee Fishing ChartersLenoir City, TN
- East Tennessee Fishing ChartersLenoir City, TN
- East Tennessee Fishing ChartersLenoir City, TN
- East Tennessee Fishing ChartersLenoir City, TN
- East Tennessee Fishing ChartersLenoir City, TN
Fishing reports
Cooling Water Temperatures = Catfish
Sep 28, 2026 • Oak Ridge
We started the day drifting in warmer water, around 75°F, and caught plenty of smaller catfish. Once we found cooler water around 70°F and switched to dragging baits instead of drifting, we started catching some better-sized fish, including a few worth taking photos of.
We used a variety of fresh-cut bait, including White Bass, Gizzard Shad, Skipjack Herring, and Bluegill. The catfish seemed to be feeding on all of them about equally, giving us a good opportunity to experiment with different baits.
Conditions were calm, with little to no current and large schools of Threadfin Shad in the area. As the sun climbed higher on this clear, bluebird-sky day, the bite slowed considerably and eventually came to a stop around 11 AM.
With water temperatures finally cooling down, it's an encouraging time to be fishing the upper end of Watts Bar Lake near Kingston, Tennessee.
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Late Summer Catfish Bite Is Heating Up!
Aug 29, 2026 • Oak Ridge
It’s that time of year again! As summer begins to transition into fall, the catfish are becoming more active and starting to move around in search of food. After the spawning period, they’re hungry and looking to put on some weight before the colder months arrive.
On my most recent trip, my guests and I located a moving school of catfish and were able to put some quality fish in the boat — including the biggest catfish they had ever caught! That’s always a special moment for any fishing trip.
This time of year can be an excellent opportunity to target catfish because they become more mobile and are often easier to locate when they are actively following schools of baitfish. As the water begins cooling, the fall feeding pattern can really start to develop, creating some exciting opportunities for both numbers and quality fish.
I’m currently booking late-summer and early-fall catfish trips, so if you’ve been wanting to get out and battle some Tennessee River catfish, now is a great time to book a trip.
Grab a date and let’s go fishing!
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Striped Bass Finally Arrive – Strong Bit
May 31, 2026 • Oak Ridge
The Striped Bass have finally made their migration up the river! After being noticeably late this year with almost no fish showing in April, they have now pushed all the way into the cool water section and all the way up to the dam. Numbers are increasing steadily each week, and even on my mixed-bag multi-species trips we are now catching a couple of Stripers on a regular basis.
The fish are surprisingly focused on smaller Gizzard Shad right now instead of the bigger baits they usually prefer. Just today, a guest landed a beautiful 35-pound Striped Bass on a very small Gizzard Shad. The bite has been excellent whether the turbines are running or not. Due to the ongoing drought, the river hasn’t been generating much lately, but that hasn’t slowed the fish down at all. We are still a little below summer pool but getting very close, and these conditions seem to be triggering a really strong bite.
If you’ve been waiting for the stripers to show up in good numbers, now is the time. The migration is in full swing and the fishing has been as good as we’ve seen so far this season. Whether you want a dedicated Striper trip or a fun multi-species day, we’re getting into them consistently.
Tight lines!
Captain Billy
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Tough Spring for Striped Bass
Apr 23, 2026 • Oak Ridge
Not every guide will say it, but this has been a tough spring for Striped Bass fishing. Last year, water levels were already above summer pool by mid-April, and the bite was incredible across multiple species.
This year has been a different story. A dry April has left water levels nearly four feet below normal summer levels, and the Striped Bass bite has been slow, with fish seemingly locked down.
That said, other species have been active. Catfish, White Bass, and Freshwater Drum are biting in good numbers and helping keep trips productive.
We did manage to land a big Striped Bass today, though the bite was unusual—pretty typical of how unpredictable they’ve been lately. At first, I thought it was a small Largemouth Bass, but once it realized it was hooked, it took off hard and gave my client a serious fight. A great surprise!
We also caught a lot of catfish on this combo trip, and my guest landed a few new personal bests, which made for a great day overall.
Hopefully, as water levels rise back toward summer pool, the Striped Bass bite will improve.
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Dogwoods are blooming! White Bass Time!
Apr 3, 2026 • Oak Ridge
It's that time of year when the White bass start running up our rivers and creeks! Over the past week the bite has been on fire for White bass! Not only are we catching them on live bait, we are catching them on artificial baits like A-Rigs! They are very fun and very easy to catch! Book your trip now before it slows down!
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Freshwater Drum Bring Non-Stop Action!
Jul 19, 2025 • Oak Ridge
Freshwater Drum are the unsung heroes of the fishing world, delivering non-stop action and some of the most thrilling fights you'll find. These underappreciated fish bite nearly year-round, eagerly hitting both artificial baits and minnows. While other anglers twiddle their thumbs waiting for "popular" species, Drum keep your rod bending with fast, aggressive strikes.
Using a simple free-line setup with just a hook and minnow, you’ll reel in Drum consistently. Want bigger ones? Artificial baits are the go-to, triggering epic battles that’ll leave you grinning. As a bonus, you’ll often hook other overlooked gems like White Bass while targeting Drum, adding even more excitement to your trip.
If you’re after numbers and a good time, Freshwater Drum fishing is the way to go. They’re feisty, fun, and ready to make every cast count!
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