Looking for the top-rated Guntersville fishing guides? Our client testimonials highlight the incredible fishing experiences our guests have on Lake Guntersville. From personal best catches to expert guidance, here’s what they had to say!
What Our Clients Are Saying
Looking for the top-rated Guntersville fishing guides? Our clients love sharing their incredible fishing experiences on Lake Guntersville. From personal best catches to expert guidance, here’s what they had to say!
Jay Maurice
Morgan Altherr
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We also loved that Mike fished with us. Not all guides do that. It was great to reference what he was doing while we were fishing along side of him! Go with Mike you won’t regret it.
03/2018. Third year coming back twice per year. Jim is one of the hardest working guides I know. He knows when I come to the BIG G, I'm looking for quality, not quantity!! He finds big fish, and he finds them quickly!!
I've told Jim on a number of occasions that if he needs a reference, have anyone contact me. I'm telling everyone, you won't be disappointed, from 1st time anglers, to fast action fishing, to hunt for big bass, Jim's got it all!!! Thank you Jim!! We will do it again tomorrow!!
As for Jim, you won't meet a nicer guy. He puts in work day after day to make sure his clients are satisfied. He's the type of guy that will make you feel right at home while away from home. I highly recommend Jim if your thinking about fishing G-Ville.
03/2018. Third year coming back twice per year. Jim is one of the hardest working guides I know. He knows when I come to the BIG G, I'm looking for quality, not quantity!! He finds big fish, and he finds them quickly!!
I've told Jim on a number of occasions that if he needs a reference, have anyone contact me. I'm telling everyone, you won't be disappointed, from 1st time anglers, to fast action fishing, to hunt for big bass, Jim's got it all!!! Thank you Jim!! We will do it again tomorrow!!
03/2018 part 2
To all reading this!! All I can say is after today I have a new personal best!! Jim battled the wind, the rain, and even a tornado two nights ago, and today almost 30 lbs. in five fish anchored by an 11 lb. big old bass!! Guntersville Bass Guides, you rock!! Captain Jim is top notch, if you book with him, just listen to him and fish!! Jim will give you the trip of a lifetime, just listen to him. He is an amazing guide, and a great person!! Thank you Jim Leary.
fisherman and guide. I brought my boys down from PA to experience Lake Guntersville bass fishing and what a time we had with Mike. We got 19 bass with several 4-5 pounders and a 6 pounder for me! it was truly an unforgettable experience and when we return next year we are going out with Mike again!
We’re limited out on fish and memories
We see a return trip in our future
Captain Jim was there the next morning as scheduled at 5:15am with two other guides and their fully equipped bass boats and fishing gear and away we went. The next eight hours were filled with an amazing life experience that none of us will forget.
My fear of bringing 4 guests from out of town and not catching any fish was soon nullified. Within 15 minutes of launching we (Cpt Jim and I) had caught 3 fish and we had reports that the other boats were also having luck! I was introduced to Belle, Capt. Jim’s fishing partner who was bringing us all luck. She would give each fish we caught “sugar” (a little lick) before throwing them back, and then she’d curl up in the bottom of the boat to prevent getting a treble hook embedded in her doggie hide.
Capt. Jim knows the lake well, not only for fish, but also for the other wild life that inhabit the area. As we were cruising to the next hot fishing hole, an American bald eagle flew about 30 feet above our heads, undoubtedly looking for morning breakfast. What a beautiful site!
We cruised to five or six different holes trying to catch the big ones we could see on the fish finder. Capt Jim checked all his resources to find the fish. He checked how much water was being released through the dam up river. Knowing this, would most certainly affect the fishing. Capt Jim adjusted how we fished...depths, types of bait, and retrieval methods, to entice the fish to bite.
We all met at the end of our eight hours and shared our fishing experiences. In all we had caught between 80 to 100 fish. If you’re looking for a great fishing experience, give Capt. Jim a call! He’s one of the best!
I definitely recommend their service!
I have fished with Jim for several years now and have been absolutely blown away each time. I have always caught fish, even in the worst conditions, and have never felt let down at all. Even when the wind chill is single digits and waves are white capping he provides the best service possible and yes I have fished with him multiple times like this. (It is actually pleasant as there will only be one or two other boats on the lake)I most recently went fishing late February 2018 due to a cancelation he had (last minute). Boy did I pick a good time. I scheduled 2 consecutive days and the fishing was so great we spent 23 hours on the water in these two days. My family sent messages thinking I was injured or lost we were gone so much. 50+ keepers, several large bass over 5 pounds, many 4 pounders, and got to the point that I was calling 3 pounders babies! Once again, and for several years now, I left a deposit for my next trip that isn't even planned yet. I know when I get ready it will be worth it! I can't schedule dates far out so I leave a deposit on hand for when he has a cancellation that fits my time frame.
Give him a shot and you will see for yourself!
*Original review*
I fished with Jim on 7/25. We quickly went over the gear and launched the boat at daylight. We made a fast trip across the lake and started fishing deep grass. Within 10 minutes I had caught a 5lb7oz bass and we continued throughout the morning (4 hour trip) to catch 15 total with top five being 22lb5oz. These were by far the largest bass I had ever caught, using reels that were foreign to me, and in the heat of the summer! What more could I have asked for! I can't wait to schedule another trip in March when he said the fish would actually be biting!
03/2018. Updated. Third year coming back twice per year. Jim is one of the hardest working guides I know. He knows when I come to the BIG G, I'm looking for quality, not quantity!! He finds big fish, and he finds them quickly!!
I've told Jim on a number of occasions that if he needs a reference, have anyone contact me. I'm telling everyone, you won't be disappointed, from 1st time anglers, to fast action fishing, to hunt for big bass, Jim's got it all!!! Thank you Jim!! We will do it again tomorrow!!
03/2018 part 2 Updated
To all reading this!! All I can say is after today I have a new personal best!! Jim battled the wind, the rain, and even a tornado two nights ago, and today almost 30 lbs. in five fish anchored by an 11 lb. big old bass!! Guntersville Bass Guides, you rock!! Captain Jim is top notch, if you book with him, just listen to him and fish!! Jim will give you the trip of a lifetime, just listen to him. He is an amazing guide, and a great person!! Thank you Jim Leary.
11/242018.
Yet another great trip with Jim. The fishing was tough, but Jim found them once again. Fishing with Jim is no longer client based, we just click. I said it before, but it's like fishing with a friend!
Anyone looking for a quality trip, Jim is that guy, yes, he can put you on quantity if that's what your looking for, but when I come to G, he knows we will be in search of big bass. If anyone wants to enjoy the BIG G with a great guide, and more so, a great person Jim is that guy.
11/2019
Another great trip with Jim Leary and Guntersville Bass Guides!! This time I brought a buddy from Michigan, Hunter Buter made his first trip to Guntersville Lake. Although the size fish that Jim and I are used to wasn't there, the numbers were. The fish were on the move, but as usual Jim found them. We all were catching fish.
I've said this before and I will continue to say it, Jim Leary and Guntersville Bass Guides are top notch!! Jim will always work to find fish in any weather pattern! I will be back again and again.
Fishing with Jim over 3 years now, and it's not a guide/client relationship!! Jim and I are great friends!! I'll be back!! Highly recommended for sure!!!
As for Jim, you won't meet a nicer guy. He puts in work day after day to make sure his clients are satisfied. He's the type of guy that will make you feel right at home while away from home. I highly recommend Jim if your thinking about fishing G-Ville.
Being a fly fishing guide from CO I could see that Capt Phillip was professional, on time, and has a beautiful ranger boat and lowrance electronic setup. This stood out to me, and was a great experience.
03/2018. Updated. Third year coming back twice per year. Jim is one of the hardest working guides I know. He knows when I come to the BIG G, I'm looking for quality, not quantity!! He finds big fish, and he finds them quickly!!
I've told Jim on a number of occasions that if he needs a reference, have anyone contact me. I'm telling everyone, you won't be disappointed, from 1st time anglers, to fast action fishing, to hunt for big bass, Jim's got it all!!! Thank you Jim!! We will do it again tomorrow!!
03/2018 part 2 Updated
To all reading this!! All I can say is after today I have a new personal best!! Jim battled the wind, the rain, and even a tornado two nights ago, and today almost 30 lbs. in five fish anchored by an 11 lb. big old bass!! Guntersville Bass Guides, you rock!! Captain Jim is top notch, if you book with him, just listen to him and fish!! Jim will give you the trip of a lifetime, just listen to him. He is an amazing guide, and a great person!! Thank you Jim Leary.
Captain Mike T. took care of us for an experience that will make lifetime memories. He went above and beyond for two reasons i'm convinced; he loves to fish, and he loves to spend time and help people have great experiences. I can't imagine a better guide—thank you.
Now save some time booking with the questions I already asked -
*Deposit is taken upfront - $100(for now - subject to change of course ) the rest is due at the time of your trip. Cash is always great , there is a small surcharge to use a cc. Don’t forget to tip these guys ! They deserve it ☺️
*Boats- the guides all have Ranger, Phoenix , etc. No jiloppy boats / I mean being from out of town you gotta ask right 😂
*Lodging- there’s sooo many places around and the info is in the confirmation email they send you . Definitely Skip the Wyndham!!!! Stay at the Anglers Retreat cabins ! They’re awesome!
*Alabama Fishing License - that link is also in the email.
*Fishing Poles- these guys have a ton but feel free to bring your own 🙂 You want to be comfy and knock it out of the park!
Relatively slow bite over the past few days but he was patient and put us on fish.
Would recommend
Our day of fishing started bright and early 6:15 am. Jim was already waiting for us with the boat already in the water. We launched off and went to the first spot. We were provided with all the equipment needed to go fishing (rods, reels) on a new Triton boat. Everything was top notch! First spot landed a 7 pound fish... WOW! I don't see those in the lake I fish. We quickly moved on fishing several different spots throughout the day. Fishing was a challenge that day due to the high winds, But that didn't phase Captain Jim. He is a true professional. He just pushed on locating the fish.
I highly recommend booking a fishing trip of a lifetime with Captain Jim and Guntersville Bass Guides. I promise that you will not be disappointed. This was a trip I will never forget and I hope that we will be able to go back this October or November and do some frog fishing with him.
Thanks again Captain Jim.
Landon
Our day of fishing started bright and early 6:15 am. Jim was already waiting for us with the boat already in the water. We launched off and went to the first spot. We were provided with all the equipment needed to go fishing (rods, reels) on a new Triton boat. Everything was top notch! First spot landed a 7 pound fish... WOW! I don't see those in the lake I fish. We quickly moved on fishing several different spots throughout the day. Fishing was a challenge that day due to the high winds, But that didn't phase Captain Jim. He is a true professional. He just pushed on locating the fish.
I highly recommend booking a fishing trip of a lifetime with Captain Jim and Guntersville Bass Guides. I promise that you will not be disappointed. This was a trip I will never forget and I hope that we will be able to go back this October or November and do some frog fishing with him.
Thanks again Captain Jim.
Landon
****Update**** February 16th of 2018 my fishing partner Johnny and I booked another appointment with Caption Jim. All I can say is a picture is worth a thousand words. Best trip anyone can ever have, again many great memories made. He always is very helpful on all your fishing needs. His first mate Belle is the best dog ever, she to likes to give all the fish a kiss. If anyone has any questions about Guntersville Bass Guides you can message me.
We caught or 70 bass, 2 were 7 pounders, several 4 and 5 pounders. We were fishing lipless crank baits and man were they crushing them. He will supply you with everything you need to catch'm, all you need is time to enjoy, relax, and make great memories.
The weather was crazy that day, 65 degrees that morning with lite rain and 45 degrees after lunch. You can tell by looking how we were dressed. But the fishing was HOT🎣🎣.
Brian and Angie
Chicago/Northwest Indiana
We wanted something to do as a team and this was the chosen activity although, I had never fished before.
I was enthusiastic but, to be honest did not know what to expect and wasn't really expecting any success or if I am really being honest, to enjoy it all that much (fishing had never really appealed to me).
How wrong I was! We arrived on Monday night at the cabin that had been organized by Jim and it was great. Clean, comfortable and with everything you would possibly need. It was also across the road from the boat jetty where we would be collected the following morning, this really made a difference when we were hitting the water at 05:30.
There were 5 of us which, meant we had three boats and our particular captain was Jeff.
We quickly hit the water and found our first fishing spot (we had many throughout the day) where Jeff, was a great instructor and very patient with a complete newbie and really took time to teach me everything from casting, to the technique's for attracting and catching fish to finally reeling them in.
As I said I, was pessimistic about my potential success and with my initial lack of casting abilities, we were all amazed (especially me) that I didn't hook someone and that at least one of us, didn't get a new piercing to go home with. Mix this, with my uncanny ability to knot the line or, cast in the wrong direction and less that a few meters from the boat, it looked like it was going to be a long day.
Jeff however did not give up on me and was supportive and encouraging throughout, always having a rod available ready to go with bait irrespective ofd how many times I fouled the line.
So lets move on a few hours and I am casting (fairly competently and still injury free for all) and catching fish that I would never believe and in fact, not only did I get the biggest fish of the day (although my colleagues may argue) I also believe I caught the most fish....
The whole experience was incredibly well organized and I cannot fault anything or recommend highly enough.
Jim and his team are incredibly well organized, knowledgeable and most importantly great fun and focus on making the day a great fishing experience. If I get the opportunity I will definitely be back.
So whether you are an experienced fisherman like most of my colleagues or, a complete novice like myself I could not recommend Guntersville Bass Guides highly enough.
Jim thanks to you and your team for an unforgettable day and hope to see you again.
We had the most excellent time, ever. My son and I have talked about it nonstop since we left Guntersville yesterday. He wants to go back at Thanksgiving, Christmas, and Spring Break. And it gets a lot worse for my pocketbook - he wants the entire Spring Break Week.
Captain Jim was there waiting on us at 5:45 and Belle took off at full speed to meet us strangers at the boat ramp. What a welcome! Although Jim explained that the fish were acting a little funky the past few days, his enthusiasm and expertise never waned. He taught us about the entire ecosystem. We got an education as he patiently explained everything about fishing to us, along with water levels, grasses, how the dam affects the water level and how that affects the fish, water temperatures, best times of year for fishing Guntersville, and on and on. It was fascinating and SO MUCH FUN!!! Capt. Jim is THE most patient person ever. He "mentioned" to my son at least 100 times how to be patient and how to do this or that. And Capt. Jim worked like a dog to take us to the fish, untangle, fix, explain, etc. He did everything possible to make sure we had the time of our lives. No joke.
My son hauled in a couple of nice ones and although I won the grass-catching tournament, I'm not sure who had more fun ... my 12 year old son or me. I expected to have a nice time, but my main goal was a great outing for my son. Well, clearly the great outing part was achieved in the first 30 minutes and it only got better and better. But I was shocked that not only did I have a great outing ... it was one of the best days I can remember.
We will book again with Captain Jim and Belle just as soon as we can get back up there.
Y'all will not find a better time or a better guide. Book with Capt. Jim now - just don't book so many that we can't get back in!!
Go for it, y'all.
Client testimonials
When you book with the top-rated Guntersville fishing guides, you’re guaranteed a memorable experience. Our Client testimonials about our expertise on Lake Guntersville and share stories of amazing catches
Q) How much do your fishing trips cost?
A) We offer 4-hour, 6-hour, and 8-hour trips at competitive rates. Our rates start at $350 for a 4-hour trip. You can check out our full pricing breakdown here.
Q) What can I expect on a fishing trip with Guntersville Bass Guides?
A) On your trip, you’ll experience top-tier equipment, expert guidance, and plenty of action on beautiful Lake Guntersville. Whether you’re a beginner or an experienced angler, our guides will ensure you have a great time and help you catch fish. Expect a personalized experience with rods, tackle, and electronics provided, along with the option to request specific fishing styles, such as trophy bass hunting or family-friendly fishing.
What Our Clients Say
Our customers love fishing with us! Here’s what they have to say about their experiences with Guntersville Bass Guides.