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You're in good hands

Book your trip with confidence — We only work with the best local guides that know where to put you on fish.

About Your Trip

Water Type

Lake

Skill Levels

Beginner, Intermediate, Advanced

Weather

You won’t lose your deposit if the trip is canceled due to weather.

About Your Trip

Join Captain Bill for a hands-on bass fishing adventure across some of the most productive waters in Upstate New York and the Thousand Islands region. With more than 30 years of experience fishing Oneida Lake, the St. Lawrence River, and the northeastern basin of Lake Ontario, Captain Bill brings both tournament-level expertise and a passion for teaching anglers how to improve their skills on the water.

A competitive bass tournament angler for over 16 years, Captain Bill has fished at both the local and regional levels and understands what it takes to consistently locate and catch fish. His introduction to guiding came early while working as a first mate on his uncle’s Lake Ontario charter, where he learned that a great trip isn’t just about catching fish—it’s about helping anglers understand the patterns, techniques, and structure that lead to success.

That philosophy carries through every trip. Whether you're new to bass fishing or looking to sharpen your techniques, Captain Bill focuses on helping you learn while putting you on fish.

Trips take place on a variety of legendary bass fisheries including Oneida Lake, the St. Lawrence River, Henderson Harbor, Chaumont Bay, and the Thousand Islands region—all known for producing impressive numbers of Smallmouth and Largemouth Bass. These waters offer incredible structure, from rocky shoals and humps to grass beds, bridge pilings, shipwrecks, and current breaks around the islands.

The St. Lawrence River and Thousand Islands are world-famous for their hard-fighting smallmouth bass, with fish commonly ranging from 2½ to 4 pounds and the very real possibility of landing trophy bronzebacks in the 5–6 pound range. Clear water conditions often allow anglers to see the fish while fighting them, creating a unique and exciting experience.

Oneida Lake, located just north of Syracuse and recognized among Bassmaster Magazine’s Top 100 Bass Lakes, offers both smallmouth and largemouth opportunities. Grass beds, bays, and rocky structure provide ideal habitat for bass feeding on perch, shad, and crayfish.

You’ll fish from a 21’ Nitro Z21 tournament bass boat, fully equipped with modern electronics and powered by a Mercury 250 Pro XS, giving you the speed and technology needed to stay on productive water throughout the day.

Captain Bill provides rods, reels, tackle, and life jackets, though anglers are welcome to bring their favorite gear. The boat also has a cooler onboard for your lunch, snacks, and drinks. Guests should bring sun protection, polarized glasses, weather-appropriate clothing, and a valid New York State fishing license (a Canadian license may also be required depending on where you fish).

Captain Bill is also a US Coast Guard licensed captain, certified in First Aid and CPR, and carries full commercial insurance, ensuring a safe and professional experience on the water.

Trips are available in 4, 6, or 8-hour options for up to 3 anglers, making them perfect for individuals, friends, or small groups looking to experience some of the best bass fishing in the Northeast while learning from a seasoned tournament angler.

Amenities

Water Type

Lake

Skill Levels

Beginner, Intermediate, Advanced

Tackle

All rods, reels, and tackle are included.

Beer

Feel free to enjoy responsibly, but please no glass.

Location

This guide can be flexible with the departure location.

Weather

You won’t lose your deposit if the trip is canceled due to weather.

Kid Friendly

This trip can cater to small children.

Flexible Cancelation

This trip can be canceled up to 14 days before the trip.

Fish Cleaning

No cleaning service provided.

Boat Restroom

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

Live Bait

Live bait is not used on this trip.

Disability Friendly

This trip is not suited for those with disabilities.

Lunch

Please provide your own food / snacks.

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Pricing Matrix

	4 hours	6 hours	8 hours
1 Person	$635.00	$690.00	$805.00
2 People	$635.00	$690.00	$805.00
3 People	$780.00	$835.00	$950.00

Pay $150 as a deposit today, with the balance due on the day of the trip.

About Your Guide

Bill L.

Independent Guide

Talkative

Laid-back

Instructional

Beginner Oriented

Comfortable

Quality

I have been fishing on Oneida Lake and the 1000 Islands region for over 30 years. I have been tournament bass fishing for the past 22 years on both the local and regional level. I was introduced to guiding by my uncle who ran a successful charter business on Lake Ontario. Through my years of being a first mate on his boat I learned and experienced first hand the value of educating fisherman. Our goal...

About Your Guide

Bill L.

Independent Guide

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Rapid Fire Guide Q & A

What’s the biggest fish you’ve caught?

8.45 lb smallmouth

If you were cooking for all your friends what would you cook?

Burgers

Rapid Fire Guide Q & A

What’s the biggest fish you’ve caught?

8.45 lb smallmouth

If you were cooking for all your friends what would you cook?

Burgers

What’s your favorite sports team?

Bills

What’s your drink of choice?

Water. I like to be one with the fish!

How did you get started guiding?

First mating for my uncle on his charter boat.

What makes you different from other guides?

Focus on having a great time along with catching fish. Laughs all day long.

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Start Location & Lodging Options

Your guide can be flexible with your start location.

You can work with your guide after booking to set a more specific start location in the area.

Watertown, New York

Areas Fished

About Your Boat

Boat Type: Bass Boat
Boat Manufacturer: Nitro
Year Built: 2021
Boat Length: 21'

About Your Boat

Boat Type: Bass Boat
Boat Manufacturer: Nitro
Year Built: 2021
Boat Length: 21'
Boat Restroom: No
Engine Manufacturer: Mercury
Total Horsepower: 250
Number of Engines: 1

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Trip Details & Amenities

Water Type

Lake

Skill Levels

Beginner, Intermediate, Advanced

Tackle

All rods, reels, and tackle are included.

Beer

Feel free to enjoy responsibly, but please no glass.

Location

This guide can be flexible with the departure location.

Weather

You won't lose your deposit if the trip is canceled due to weather.

Kid Friendly

This trip can cater to small children.

Flexible Cancelation

This trip can be canceled up to 14 days before the trip.

Fish Cleaning

No cleaning service provided.

Boat Restroom

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

Live Bait

Live bait is not used on this trip.

Disability Friendly

This trip is not suited for those with disabilities.

Lunch

Please provide your own food / snacks.

Target Species

Color-coded seasonality below is based on .

View Full Species Seasonality Chart »

Get it while it's HOT!
This species is in play.
You might get lucky (as long as things are in-season).
Couldn't tell ya! (no data)

Techniques

Artificial Lure Fishing
Light Tackle Fishing

Everything Else to Know

Everything is included, but we also recommend bringing sunglasses, sunscreen, weather-appropriate clothing, and anything else you might want on the trip.

You'll need to buy a fishing license before getting out there. Find out more about licenses here.

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%).

Cancel for free up to 14 days before the trip and receive credit back to your account. Cancelling within 14 of the trip will forfeit your deposit to the guide. Day-of cancellations and no-shows will be charged the full balance of the trip to their card.

In the event of inclement weather you'll be covered by out 100% Weather Guarantee and will not lose your deposit.

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First Time Booking with Us?

Captain Experiences is home to thousands of quality, vetted fishing, hunting, and other outdoor sports guides across the US and beyond. Our mission is to Unlock the Outdoors by making it quick and easy to book the trip of a lifetime every time with our Damn Good Guides.

We vet our guides and only partner with the best of the best. Our guides do their very best to keep you safe, show you a great time, and send you home with a memorable experience shared with family and friends.

Once you've paid your deposit at checkout, we'll send you a QR Code 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 event of inclement weather, our guides will check the conditions and make the final call on whether its safe to go on the trip. If they decide the trip needs to be postponed, we'll work closely with you to reschedule or provide a credit for the full deposit, which can be applied to any of our trips in the US and beyond.

Each trip's price is determined by the guide and reflects all associated costs. A significant factor in pricing is often the type of boat and the corresponding fuel expenses. Additional costs may include leases, marina or slip fees, and the expenses involved in providing and maintaining the necessary gear for your trip.

After booking your trip, we'll connect you directly with your guide to discuss additional details. In the meantime, our team is here to answer any questions via email, text, or phone.

Upstate Ny Bass Fishing

About Your Trip

About Your Trip

Pricing Matrix

About Your Guide

About Your Guide

Rapid Fire Guide Q & A

Rapid Fire Guide Q & A

Start Location & Lodging Options

About Your Boat

About Your Boat

Trip Details & Amenities

Target Species

Techniques

Everything Else to Know

Recent Reviews of Captain Experiences

First Time Booking with Us?