Fishing Guides

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An experienced guide can help you reel in the right catch and offer tips and advice for how to make the most of your time on one of the lakes, rivers, or creeks in the Roanoke Region. From Virginia’s largest lake — Smith Mountain Lake — to the second largest municipal park in the United States — Carvins Cove — you are sure to find the perfect fishing hole.

What should you expect to find? These waters are home to native and stocked trout, bass and plenty of smaller fish. Here’s a quick look at what you can find:

  • Smith Mountain Lake: Large and Smallmouth Bass, Striped Bass, Crappie, Sunfish, Catfish, Muskellunge
  • Carvins Cove: Bass, Crappie, Large and Smallmouth Bass, Walleye, Striped Bass, and Muskie
  • Philpott Reservoir: Largemouth and Smallmouth Bass, Walleye
  • Lake Moomaw: Largemouth and Smallmouth Bass, Rainbow and Brown Trout
  • Rivers and creeks: Native and Stocked Trout, including Brook, Brown, Rainbow, and Golden

Find Fishing Guides

Area Fishing Guides

  • Appalachian Waters Expand Collapse

    Let guide/owner Dale Byer take you on a fantastic fishing and whitewater experience – float fishing at its best.

    James, Jackson, New, and South Holson Rivers

  • Big Pine Trout Farm Expand Collapse

    Big Pine Trout Farm is nestled in the mountains of Craig County, just 25 miles northwest of Roanoke. The stream is stocked with beautiful rainbow trout. Reservations are required.

  • Blane Chocklett Fishing Expand Collapse

    For the past 30 years, Blane Chocklett has lived his passion. He grew up fishing the small mountain streams in Virginia’s Blue Ridge Mountains, starting a guide service as a youngster. Join him for a trip on the river. All equipment and flies are provided. Anglers are welcome to bring their own equipment, if desired.

  • Dead Drift Outfitters Expand Collapse

    Dead Drift Outfitters offers wade trips to local stocked and wild trout waters, trophy trout waters, as well as float trips on the James River. Dead Drift also offers fly fishing lessons.

  • Down River Outfitters Expand Collapse

    down river outfitters roanokeDown River Outfitters offers guide services for fly fishing trips, artist floats, and scenic river tours. The experienced pros also offer fly fishing instruction. Owners Aaron Conover and Davis Stanley have a passion for rivers, fly fishing, and sharing it with others. They’ll help you get on the water in style with Boulder Drift Boats.

  • Escatawba Farms Expand Collapse

    Located in the Blue Ridge Mountains of Virginia, Escatawba Farms is cradled in the heart of the George Washington National Forest and offers a secluded fishing experience on Dunlap Creek, a freestone stream that ambles it’s way through two miles of wooded mountains and fenced pastures. For novice anglers and stillwater enthusiasts, Escatawba Farms boasts a one and a half-acre, spring-fed lake.

  • Greasy Creek Outfitters Expand Collapse

    Greasy Creek Outfitters is a family-owned fishing guide service that serves the New River Valley in Virginia and specializes in float trips fishing for smallmouth Bass, walley, muskie, and land-locked striper.

  • James River Outdoor Co. Expand Collapse

    James River Outdoor Co. operates on the scenic James River between Lexington and Roanoke, VA. We offer professionally guided float trips on nearly 60 miles of the Upper James River in Botetourt and Rockbridge counties for both smallmouth and musky. In addition, we offer private, waterfront cabin rentals.

  • Matt Reilly Fly Fishing Expand Collapse

    Helmed by full-time guide and author, Matt Reilly, Matt Reilly Fly Fishing specializes fly fishing for smallmouth bass and musky on the New River, and wild trout in the Mount Rogers National Recreation Area. He is the only fully permitted and insured fishing guide in the Mount Rogers District, where wild rainbow and brown trout in mountain streams like Whitetop Laurel Creek and the South Fork of the Holston are the rule. The diversity and richness of the region’s rivers allow for active fishing and guiding 365 days a year.

  • New River Fly Fishing Expand Collapse

    New River Fly Fishing (the only guide service in the New River Valley specializing exclusively in fly fishing trips) is run by veteran fishing guide Mike Smith, a widely held authority on fly fishing the New River for smallmouth bass.

  • New River Outdoor Co. Expand Collapse

    New River Outdoor Company provides canoe and kayak rentals, guided fishing, and cabin rentals on the New River.

  • On The Water Expand Collapse

    Located in Floyd, On The Water offers kayak and canoe rentals, as well as guided trips on the Little River.

  • Potts Creek Outfitters Expand Collapse

    Potts Creek Outfitters offers private hunting and fishing packages on hundreds of acres of private land and stocked streams. Fly fishing gear is also available for rent.

  • Rock On Striped Bass Charters Expand Collapse

    Your source for freshwater sportfishing in Virginia and North Carolina. Guided float trips for smallmouth, walleye, and musky. Experience the best of what the river has to offer.

  • Virginia Outside Expand Collapse

    Virginia-Outside-logoFor over 12 years Virginia Outside has been helping kids develop a love for the outdoors through a variety of programs and camps. Based in Richmond, Virginia Outside runs programs in Northern Virginia, Fredericksburg, Deltaville, Charlottesville, Roanoke, as well as a variety of national and international student travel trips. Virginia Outside currently offers fishing day camps in Roanoke in partnership with the North Cross and Roanoke Catholic summer camp programs. Please see website for details.

  • Wesley Hodges Fly Fishing Expand Collapse

    Wesley Hodges Fly Fishing offers guided tours for first-timers to experienced fly fishers and upland bird hunters. Go out with avid professionals that are ready to share a new adventure with you on the James and New Rivers or almost anywhere you would like to fish. Wesley Hodges Fly Fishing also offers fly fishing schools, upland bird hunts,corporate trips, and standard guided trips on private waters and hunt lands.

Smith Mountain Lake Fishing Guides

  • Captain Bert’s Fishin Charters Expand Collapse

    Captain Bert’s Fishin’ Charters offers a full guide service that takes you fishing for the “ultimate” striped bass on beautiful Smith Mountain Lake. The lake reigns as Virginia’s top freshwater striped bass fishery and holds a lake record of 49.4 lbs. Capt. Daniel Berthiaume holds a U.S. Coast Guard License and is fully insured. Fish off a 22 ft. deck boat that accommodates parties of up to six people.

  • Captain Danny Dudley Expand Collapse

    Captain Danny Dudley is a full-time striper guide on Smith Mountain Lake. All fishing gear is provided. All fish are filleted and packaged at the end of every trip.

  • Kenny’s Striper Guide Service Expand Collapse

    Kenny Short fishes the professional Gold Cup tournament trail with the National Striped Bass Association. Kenny and his team “Team Polar,” won the NSBA’s Team of the Year in 2006. He guides charters on Smith Mountain Lake year round.

  • PointRunner’s Striper Guide Service Expand Collapse

    PointRunner’s Striper Guide Service is a high pace, high intense, striper fishing operation that specializes in live bait fishing for Smith Mountain Lake’s most aggressive big game fish — the striper.

  • Pullin’ Drag Expand Collapse

    Captain Wendell at Pullin’ Drag is a fishing guide with more than 17 years experience serving Smith Mountain Lake. Rods and reels, bait, gas, and oil are included in the captain’s trip pricing.

  • Rock On Striped Bass Charters Expand Collapse

    Your source for freshwater sportfishing in Virginia and North Carolina. Guided float trips for smallmouth, walleye, and musky. Experience the best of what the river has to offer.

  • Spike’s Prime Time Fishin’ Expand Collapse

    The team at Spike’s Prime Time Fishin’ have been full-time resident guides since 1988 and are U.S. Coast Guard licensed. Two completely equipped 22ft. deck boats make up the fleet and accommodate parties of up to six each, using live bait and artificial lure techniques. All equipment is provided, along with pictures of the day’s catch, and your fish prepared and packaged for take-home.

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Tips to safely get outside:

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