About Your Trip

River

If you've been looking for a truly exceptional day on the water, go no further. Ellis is a fly-fishing expert, and we would argue that there are few better guides east of the Mississippi. He offers trips tailored to the local waters around Johnson City, Tennessee, and his goal is to tie, fish, and guide in ways that are perfectly suited to the rivers that you'll be fishing. Trout are fishable all year long, but ... Read More

About Your Guide

Independent Guide

7 Years of Experience

In Ellis' own words: "I am a full time, year-round fishing guide in Johnson City, TN, specializing in Fly Fishing and Light Tackle, with a emphasis on angler education, casting instruction, streamer fishing, and dry fly fishing. I tie all flies used on our trips, and I fish those same flies when I am out on my own.
Other job titles: Dad, fly designer, commercial tyer, bucktail processor

While the Watauga Tailwater is just down the road, I am not much farther from Boone Lake, ... Read More South Holston Tailwater, Holston Proper, and mountain streams. Within an hours drive, I can find good musky fishing, and within two hours, I can be on some of the premier Musky fisheries (Melton Hill in TN, New River in VA) in the Southeast. I am constantly exploring this area and everything it has to offer, and I enjoy nothing more than sharing it with others.

I was born and raised in Cincinnati, though the bulk of my fishing took place on Torch Lake - about 45 minutes from Traverse City, Michigan - where my family would spend a few weeks every summer.

I went to school at Vanderbilt University, and after graduating with a degree in Physics, I worked in the Washington, DC area for over 10 years. While my job titles changed, I focused primarily on data analytics, corporate finance, and healthcare economics. As odd as it may sound to those not familiar with the mid Atlantic, it was during this time that I started tying, picked up a fly rod for the first time, and quickly discovered the diversity of species and watersheds that were within a two hours drive. The two types of fishing that really sunk their teeth in were 1) wade fishing schoolie striped bass coming in from the Atlantic and staying for the summer, and 2) the variety of brown trout fisheries from south-central PA to southwest Virginia. Before that fully took off, I had started to poke my head into the local shop, District Angling. The crew there and community fostered by the owner, Richie, continues to influence how I operate both on and off the water. After enough of those puzzle pieces were in place, I knew I wasn’t going to be in an office until retirement age, and in 2019, I managed to get out.

After moving to Johnson City, and prior to beginning my life as a full time guide, I spent in excess of 400 days not just on the water, but actually fishing the water. The goal with this up front investment was to gain an understanding and perspective of these rivers and lakes that cannot be attained when the goal is to have someone else catch fish, or even to catch fish myself on many days.

I have been afforded amazing opportunities, knowledge, and experiences through the fly fishing and tying community, and my goal is to contribute, share what I love, and educate anglers and tyers - new and experienced - where possible.

Start Location

2306 Abbott Dr, Johnson City, TN 37601, United States (this guide can be flexible with their start location) | Bodies of water fished: Watauga River, Holston River

About Your Boat

Boat Type: Drift Boat
Boat Manufacturer: Hyde
Year Built: 2004
Boat Length: 15

Amenities and Information

Water Type

River

Skill Levels

Advanced, Beginner, Intermediate

Tackle

All rods, reels, and tackle are included.

Beer

Feel free to enjoy responsibly, but please no glass.

Music

You can play your own bluetooth music.

Location

This trip has multiple pickup locations.

Weather

You will get a refund if the trip is canceled due to weather.

Fish Cleaning

No cleaning service provided.

Boat Restroom

No, this boat does not have a bathroom on board.

Live Bait

No live bait provided.

Species

Brown Trout, Hybrid Striped Bass, Muskie, Rainbow Trout, Striped Bass

Techniques

Artificial Lure Fishing, Fly Fishing, Light Tackle Fishing, Sight Casting, Topwater Fishing

Packing / Extras

Everything you'll need for your trip: Sunscreen, Polarized Sunglasses. Tennessee Fishing License with additional Trout License. North Carolina Fishing License for Musky Trips. For fly trips we provide: Rods and reel setups ranging from 4 weights to 8 weights for trout, 7-8 weights for striper and smallies, 10-12 weights for musky. All configurations of line needed for any type of fishing: floating, intermediate, and different categories of sinking line. All flies from big gamechangers to size 26 midge emergers are tied by Ellis. For conventional trips we provide: 6-9 Fast Action 1 piece Saltwater rods for trout, striper, and smallmouth. Salt rated Spinning reels.
Where to Buy a Fishing License: Find out more about fishing licenses here.

Things to Keep in Mind

Payment & Tipping: We use a cashless autopay system. We'll send you a boarding pass, and on the day of the trip, your guide will scan your boarding pass to automatically transfer the remaining balance. The only cash needed is to tip your guide (we recommend 20%).
Cancellation/Refund Policy: Cancel for free up to 30 days before the trip and receive credit back to your account.

Pricing Matrix

	8 Hours
2 People	$632.50
1 Person	$495.00

First Time Booking with Us?

Captain Experiences is the home of over 1500 Damn Good fishing and hunting guides. Our mission is to unlock the outdoors for everyone, and we want to help you get out there through our no-hassle online booking experience and our team of outdoors experts.

We vet our guides to make sure they are the best of the best. We want guides who not only put you on 'em, but show you a great time, keep you safe, and give you a memorable experience with your group.

Once you've paid your deposit at checkout, we'll send you a boarding pass. Just show your guide your boarding pass on the day of the trip, they'll scan it, the remaining balance will transfer automatically, and you'll be all set to get out there. Just make sure you bring a cash tip for the guide!

In the case of inclement weather, our guides will make the call and we'll work with you to reschedule your trip or issue a credit for the full deposit of the trip to be used on any of our trips across the country. Your safety is our top concern.

Each trip’s price is set by the guide and factors in all of their costs. A big determinant of cost is often the type of boat and associated fuel costs, but other guide costs include leases, marina / slip fees, bait costs, and the cost to provide and maintain all of the gear you’ll need on your trip.

Once you book the trip, we will connect you directly with the guide to go over any additional details. In the meantime, our team is always available to answer your questions via email, text, chat, or call!

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