Damn Good Lake Fishing Guides

Check real-time availability and compare rates on lake fishing trips. Confidently book your next day on the water.

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4.97/5 Average Rating

Damn Good Guides

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Top Cities for Lake Fishing

Top Species for Lake Fishing

“Our Damn Good Guides go above and beyond, and we’ve handpicked every single one. We’re passionate about the outdoors and look forward to getting you out on the trip of a lifetime, every time.”

Jonathan and Attison   |   Co-founders   |   Austin, Texas

Lake Fishing Guides

Fishing in Destin
Fishing in Destin
Fishing in Destin

Inshore, Nearshore, River, Lake in Delray Beach

Lake Ida And Osborne Fishing

100% (8)
20 ft 1 - 6 People From $500
Fishing in Destin
Fishing in Destin
Fishing in Destin

Lake Fishing in Clay Township

Harsen's Island Charter Adventure

NEW
24 ft 1 - 4 People From $425
Damn Good
Certified Damn Good Guides offer 10/10 trips. Guides earn this badge through quality reviews, quick and responsive communication, and low cancellation rates.
Fishing in Destin
Fishing in Destin
Fishing in Destin

Inshore, Nearshore, Lake, Flats in New Orleans

Half Day NOLA Fishing

NEW
19 ft 1 - 6 People From $500
Damn Good
Certified Damn Good Guides offer 10/10 trips. Guides earn this badge through quality reviews, quick and responsive communication, and low cancellation rates.
Fishing in Destin
Fishing in Destin
Fishing in Destin

River, Lake Fishing in Kissimmee

Pontoon Fishing Charter

100% (3)
25 ft 1 - 6 People From $550
Fishing in Destin
Fishing in Destin
Fishing in Destin

Lake Fishing in Vega Baja

Puerto Rico Peacock Bass Slam

100% (2)
17 ft 1 - 4 People From $375
Fishing in Destin
Fishing in Destin
Fishing in Destin

Lake Fishing in Delray Beach

Lake Ida Freshwater Slam

100% (7)
20 ft 1 - 6 People From $225
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Everything to Know About Booking a fishing trip

What are the best lake fishing trips?

Why should I book a lake fishing trip with Captain Experiences?

Our Damn Good Guides currently offer 480 lake trips, and the most popular trips are Lake Okeechobee Trip - 21’ Ranger guided by , Largemouth Hookfest guided by , and Trout and Redfish Full Bite guided by .

Our guides are rated a 4.97 out of 5 based on 4082 verified reviews on Captain Experiences.

All guides on Captain Experiences are vetted by our team. You can access their reviews, click through trip photos, read bios to get to know them, and preview trip details like species, techniques, group sizes, boat specs and more.

Looking for kid friendly lake guides / fishing lessons? Check out our beginner and family friendly lake guides.

What types of lake fishing trips are common?

The most commonly sought after species for lake fishing are: 1. largemouth bass, 2. walleye, 3. brown trout, 4. chinook salmon, and 5. rainbow trout.

The most common fishing techniques are light tackle fishing, artificial lure fishing, and trolling but live bait fishing and drift fishing are popular as well.

How much does a lake fishing trip cost?

Prices lake fishing can range anywhere from about $425 to $2,000, but the average price for a half day trip lake fishing is $620. The average price for a full day trip lake fishing is $1,791.

Is booking a fishing guide worth the money?

Hiring a guide provides a number of benefits and many choose to book a fishing guide for a combination of experience, local knowledge, convenience, and cost-effectiveness.

Working with experienced fishing guides who know the best local spots and techniques can dramatically increase your odds of a great day. Having someone who is on the water every day and knows the area like the back of their hand is going to give you the best chances of success.

Booking a guide is also more cost effective, especially if you only get out a handful of times per year. When you consider all of the costs you would incur on your own such as the price of a boat, maintenance, insurance, gas, high-quality gear and tackle, repairs, and more, you’ll find that DIY is sometimes not worth the expense.

Even if you’ve got a great setup already in your home waters, booking a guide also provides a great opportunity to experience new techniques, new locations, or even a chance at a new target species to knock off the bucket list.

What month is best for lake fishing?

The most popular season for lake fishing is spring, and most anglers book their trips 40 days in advance.

Do I need a fishing license and what are the bag limits?

See here for more information on fishing licenses, bag limits, and fishing season regulations. When in doubt, your fishing guide will always know the right rules and regulations.

Recent Reviews

  • ★★★★★
    Richard was super friendly and full of knowledge! He had great tips to better refine, (or learn how to) use baitcaster reels. The morning started out pretty slow, but we did end up catching a few smaller guys after the water warmed up. We will definitely go out with Richard again!

    Adam P. | February 28, 2025

    Trip: Half Day Lake Conroe

  • ★★★★★
    Another awesome trip with Jake. This time, we headed out with Tierra from FOX 7 Austin for her Tierra's Texas Series. We caught em up, check it out here! https://www.fox7austin.com/video/1544986. Thanks Jake, good times as always. – Jonathan with Captain Experiences

    Jonathan N. | December 9, 2024

    Trip: Hill Country Bass Fishing

  • ★★★★★
    Took my buddy and Tanzania-based guide Dom out with Jake and we had a blast! Jake put us on a number of nice fish. Highlight of the trip was Jake marking a fish with his live scope and Dom and I watching on the livescope as it chased Dom's swimbait and gulped it up! – Jonathan with Captain Experiences

    Jonathan N. | December 9, 2024

    Trip: Hill Country Bass Fishing

  • ★★★★★
    Had some family in town for Easter and the spring bite did not disappoint. Jake had plenty of rods rigged up and got us dialed as soon as we figured out what they were hitting. Some nice fish, can't wait to get back out there! – Jonathan with Captain Experiences

    Jonathan N. | December 9, 2024

    Trip: Hill Country Bass Fishing

  • ★★★★★
    We had an epic time fishing with Jake as always. Got out there with my buddy Pat from StarterStory and we crushed it. It was Pat's first time fishing in a while but Jake put us on fish and the topwater bite was on. Will be back soon! – Jonathan with Captain Experiences

    Jonathan N. | December 9, 2024

    Trip: Hill Country Bass Fishing

  • ★★★★★
    My buddy and I had an awesome time fishing with Kevin and Lee. This was our first time carp fishing and it didn't disappoint. These guys run a great program from setting up a nice camp (with fresh coffee) to cannonball launching multiple rods with their cornmeal balls that carp love. We had numerous bites on a quick trip and landed a giant! Kevin and Lee were first class handling the fish and got some great shots for us. – Jonathan with Captain Experiences

    Jonathan N. | December 9, 2024

    Trip: Carp On The Fly - Austin, TX

  • ★★★★★
    Fantastic morning with Richard bringing in catfish by the dozens. Very helpful, informative, and easy to get along with. I highly recommend him for your next trip out on Lake Conroe.

    Kirk M. | October 20, 2024

    Trip: Half Day Lake Conroe

  • ★★★★★
    Blake is outstanding. You will not be disappointed.

    Michel M. | October 12, 2024

    Trip: Weekends Chasing Stripers

  • ★★★★★
    Real nice guy and he put me on fish no complaints

    Clayton C. | October 5, 2024

    Trip: Carp and Buffalo on the Fly

  • ★★★★★
    Had a blast. Been fishing for a while and Jake taught me a lot. Definitely knew what he was doing! Must recommend!

    Roland P. | October 3, 2024

    Trip: Hill Country Bass Fishing

  • ★★★★★
    Matt was a terrific guide. Really enjoyed our conversations. I want to book with Matt again next June! Nate was great in that he communicated with me right away and provided information I needed for the trip. Overall a terrific experience. Would highly recommend to others

    Robin B. | September 18, 2024

    Trip: Hebgen Lake Full-Day Jet Boat

  • ★★★★★
    Captain Blake made a valiant effort trying to get us on fish that were just not cooperating. He was on time, great at giving directions, extremely attentive the entire time and most of all he was friendly and treated us with the utmost respect. This was a last minute booking because our original guide canceled. Captain Experiences did a fantastic job accommodating our needs and constantly communicated with us the entire time. I would definitely book again with C-E and Captain Blake. I highly recommend both!

    Ronald C. | September 16, 2024

    Trip: Weekends Chasing Stripers

  • ★★★★★
    Ron was a great guide! He was super funny, did the best he could to make sure we caught fish, & overall gave us a great experience. 10/10 would recommend, would totally book again!

    Emily B. | July 30, 2024

    Trip: Half-Day Lake Erie Hook-Up

  • ★★★★★
    Great evening of fishing. Caught 15 bass. Grant is very knowledgeable and taught this old man some tricks

    Keith A. | July 22, 2024

    Trip: Big Swim Baits for Big A** Bass

  • ★★★★★
    My son and I and 4 other friends had a blast on our full day excursion with Capt. Alex. He was a wonderful Captain, kind courteous, informative and fun. I would highly recommend Captain Alex and Captain Experiences to anyone looking for an enjoyable day of fishing. Thank you Alex. Dave Vachon.

    David R. | July 21, 2024

    Trip: Lake Erie Walleye Roundup

  • ★★★★★
    Mike was an amazing host. Took my 9 year old grandson who doesn’t fish very much and taught him quickly how to live line shiners for some very large bass. We went through 4 dozen baits in three hours and I am guessing we caught around 20 bass up to 8 pounds. He has the patience you need and a lot of fun to fish with. Highly recommend!

    Mike J. | July 7, 2024

    Trip: Lake Okeechobee Bass Trip

  • ★★★★★
    110% book this guy if your ever in the Austin area. This guide knows his stuff. Myself and a couple of teenagers were on fish quick and the catching lasted the entire trip. He knows the spots and the baits. Complete professional when it comes to accommodating and encouraging guests. We fished Lady Bird Lake and easily caught 40 fish in a morning trip. Most of the fish were heavy, no dinks. Step out of a downtown high rise, onto a boat deck, at Lady Bird and slay them with this guy or hit a surrounding Austin area lake if that’s your thing.

    Bernie M. | June 30, 2024

    Trip: Hill Country Bass Fishing

  • ★★★★★
    Capt James was great. Knows his way around the water was able to bring us right to the fish everytime. Definitely would recommend. Can’t wait to come out again.

    Torren C. | June 27, 2024

    Trip: Lake Ponchartrain Lunkers

  • ★★★★★
    Great Experience!! Marc is the Best! Every aspect of our experience was Off the Chart! Marc is a Great Human Being and Knowledgeable would be an understatement! Thank you for Connecting us Captain Experiences!

    Norm H. | June 26, 2024

    Trip: Lake Fork Bass Trip

  • ★★★★★
    Excellent trip

    Kyle W. | June 19, 2024

    Trip: Lake Erie Walleye

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Didn't Find What You Were Looking For?

Our guides are Damn Good Guides, which means they’re vetted by our team of outdoor experts who know them on a first-name basis. We hand pick each and every one of them, and our network spans all across the US and beyond.

The proof is in the pudding, and we’re incredibly proud of our 4.9 / 5 average review score. Hit the button below to see more trip options:

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