Got Questions?
The most common questions we get about guided catfish trips on Eagle Mountain Lake and our other North Texas lakes. Don't see your question here? Text us →
BOOKING & PRICES
All trip rates start at $375 for a half-day. Full breakdown with per-trip details on our rates page.
Your trip includes the guide, boat, rods, reels, bait, tackle, and fishing instruction. On regular catfish trips, keeper fish are also cleaned and bagged.
Bring your fishing license, food, water or soft drinks (no alcohol at any time), and clothing for the weather. See current trip rates and options.
The base trip rate covers one or two anglers. Each additional angler is $100. Minimum charges apply on certain days.
The total shown in your booking confirmation covers the base rate. Additional anglers are charged separately. See the rates page for current details.
Yes. All trips have a 3-person minimum on weekends and a 4-person minimum on spring break, holidays and summer holiday weekends. You confirm the minimum when you book.
See the rates page for current pricing.
The deposit is $100 per trip. It's paid online when you book and reserves your date. It's non-refundable, but with 15+ days' notice you can move it to another date in the same calendar year. The balance of the trip is paid the day you fish.
In 29 years, numbers trips (Half-Day and 5-Hour) almost never come back empty. Fishing is never guaranteed. Trophy trips are different: we fish only for big blue catfish, so the action is slower and some days the big one doesn't bite. Chad explains this when you book, and you can switch to a numbers trip if you'd rather have steady action.
Choose a date and pay the $100 deposit through our online scheduler. See available dates and book your trip.
If you want to fish somewhere other than Eagle Mountain Lake, or you're interested in a seasonal white bass, hybrid or crappie trip, text 817-522-3804 before booking to confirm availability.
You’ll receive booking information and trip instructions, along with appointment reminders. We’ll also text you the evening before your trip with the final start time and meeting location.
If you haven’t heard from us by 7:00 p.m. the evening before, text 817-522-3804.
Yes. Everyone in your group must complete the online liability waiver before boarding.
Complete the liability waiver
Yes. If you’ve booked a trophy trip and decide your group would prefer more action, let me know at least 24 hours before the trip. We can switch to a regular catfish trip.
If you’re unsure which trip is right for your group, text me before booking and I’ll help you choose.
The $100 deposit is paid online at the time of booking (you'll receive an invoice by email). The balance of the trip is paid in cash or by card the day that you fish. Card payments include a 5% processing fee.
Yes — gift certificates are available through our scheduler. Buy a gift certificate →
Trips run 7 days a week, year-round. We don't fish on Thanksgiving Day, Christmas Day, or some summer holidays. Peak season fills 30–60 days out. Book early.
Cancellations made 15+ days before your trip — we hold your deposit and apply it to another date in the same calendar year. Less than 15 days notice = deposit forfeited. Late cancellations (within 72 hours) or no-shows incur additional charges. Full cancellation policy →
THE TRIP
We provide all bait, tackle, rods, reels, and fishing gear. All you need to bring is whatever you want to eat, plus water or soft drinks (no alcohol at any time), in a small cooler, sunscreen, and a Texas fishing license.
Please don’t bring alcohol, glass bottles or jars, sunflower seeds, bananas, or illegal substances.
Bring a small cooler for your food and non-alcoholic drinks (no alcohol at any time). It should be small enough to fit in the floorboard of a car.
Most anglers age 17 and older need a valid Texas fishing license with a freshwater endorsement. Children under 17 don’t need a license. Some other exemptions apply.
Licenses are available online through Texas Parks and Wildlife and at license retailers. Each angler is responsible for having the appropriate license before the trip.
Check license requirements and buy a license →
Most trips meet at Lakeview Marina on Eagle Mountain Lake:
Lakeview Marina
6600 Peden Road
Fort Worth, TX 76179
Meet at the green picnic table in front of the marina store. I’ll come get you when we’re ready to load the boat. Please don’t walk onto the docks without me.
We’ll text you the evening before your trip with the final start time and meeting location.
Park in the upper part of the parking lot and leave a note on your dashboard that says “Fishing With Chad.”
Please don’t park in trailer spaces. Those spaces are reserved for vehicles with trailers, and cars parked there can be towed. Parking elsewhere at the marina may result in a parking fee.
Yes. Restrooms are available at the marina before and after the trip. There isn’t a restroom on the boat.
Start times vary based on the season and what the fish are doing. Spring and summer trips typically start at first light. Winter trips may start a little later in the morning if it's cold. We'll confirm exact time and location the day prior.
Chad fishes from a 2026 26-foot SeaArk Pro Guide Patriot powered by a Suzuki DF250A Stealth outboard. It fishes 6 people comfortably (trophy trips up to 4), with a dry, comfortable ride, top-tier Garmin electronics and a Minn Kota Ulterra trolling motor. Additional boats used for large groups may vary.
Yes. We enjoy taking kids fishing, and regular catfish trips are a good option for many families.
I generally don’t recommend trips for children under five. If you’re considering bringing a younger child, text me before booking so we can talk about whether the trip is a good fit.
An accompanying adult needs to supervise and help young children throughout the trip. Children’s life jackets are available on the boat.
Yes. Many of our clients have never caught a fish. Chad baits hooks, takes fish off and gives as much instruction as you want, and experienced anglers can settle in and fish. Boat, bait, tackle, gear and instruction are included. If your group has little or no fishing experience, it's typically best to keep the group smaller.
Yes. Kids' life jackets are on board and the boat has comfortable padded seating. If an older or less mobile guest is coming, text me before booking so we can talk about boarding and seating.
We fish in a range of conditions, including cold weather, wind, and light rain when conditions are safe. Some of our best trophy fishing takes place during cold weather.
If conditions are questionable, we typically make the decision about whether to fish the evening before the trip. If conditions aren’t safe, we’ll reschedule and your deposit moves to the new date.
If you’re traveling from out of town and need an earlier decision, text me in advance so we can coordinate. Weather decisions are made by the guide.
No. "Guaranteed catch" is an advertising ploy — usually meaning the guide guarantees one fish in the boat. We don't operate that way. We do everything we can to put you on good numbers of fish, but some days are great, some are good, some are slow. It's very rare that we don't catch fish, as long as everyone listens to the guide and follows instructions. We have 525+ five-star reviews and 99% of our business comes from repeat clients and referrals — we want you to be happy, but we can't control what the fish do.
FISH & LIMITS
Our home water is Eagle Mountain Lake in Fort Worth — always available and bookable online. By request, depending on season and scheduling, we also fish Lake Lewisville, Lake Worth (catch & release only), Lake Ray Roberts, Lake Grapevine, Benbrook Lake, and Lake Bridgeport. Text us before booking if you want one of them.
Yes. Eagle Mountain Lake is our home water. Other North Texas lakes are available by request, depending on season and scheduling. We try to book at your preferred lake, but this is subject to availability. We may also recommend a different lake when current conditions make it a better choice for the species or type of trip you want. See where we fish.
The catfish bite is good year-round. Blue catfish are best October through April. Channel catfish bite year-round with no real peak. Trophy blue catfish trips run mid-November through February. Flathead catfish are best July through October. Full seasonal guide →
Beyond catfish, we run white bass trips (May through October; the best months are May, June and July), hybrid striped bass (June to September on Lake Lewisville and Lake Bridgeport) and crappie (max two guests). Text or call to check availability.
No. We don't currently offer alligator gar trips. Gar fishing may return seasonally in the future, but availability has not been confirmed. Learn more about longnose and alligator gar in North Texas.
No. We practice catch-and-release on all catfish over five pounds — no exceptions. We've been running a conservation policy on trophy releases since we started 29 years ago. If you want to keep catfish under five pounds you're more than welcome. Lake Worth trips are catch and release only because of fish-consumption restrictions on the lake.
It varies day to day — that's why it's called fishing and not catching. We always do our best to put you on the most fish possible. There are too many factors at play to estimate (weather, season, how the fish are biting, and whether you listen to instructions). At the end of the day, how many fish you catch has a LOT to do with the people holding the fishing rods.
The Texas catfish limit is 25 per person per day (not including the guide) and we release all fish over 5 lbs. White bass limit is 25 per person per day. Hybrid striped bass limit is 5 per person per day. Fish are a finite resource, and we encourage you not to keep more than you need. Regulations can change and some lakes have exceptions to statewide limits. We'll explain the limits on your trip, but every angler is responsible for following current Texas regulations — verify them in the TPWD Outdoor Annual.
Yes. On regular catfish and white bass trips, I fillet and bag your legal keeper fish at the end of the trip. Fish cleaning is available for an additional charge on trophy trips.
Fish are cleaned as fillets. We don’t gut fish, leave them whole, or cut them into steaks.
GROUPS & SPECIAL REQUESTS
Our boat holds a maximum of 6 anglers. In April and May we prefer a maximum of 4. Trophy catfish trips are limited to 4, and we really prefer to keep those trips to 3 when possible. Larger groups are handled with multiple boats — text or call to discuss.
Yes — text or call to discuss what you're planning, the number of people, and your preferred dates. We work with a network of trusted guides to handle multi-boat charter trips, and we've handled corporate groups as big as 80 people. Text for a group quote →
Yes, in the summer, but with limited availability based on schedules. Catfish typically bite better during the day — it's an old wives' tale that catfish bite better at night. Night trips aren't bookable through the online scheduler — text us or call 817·522·3804 to arrange one.
Many guests with limited mobility enjoy fishing with us, but everyone’s needs are different. Please text or call me before booking so we can talk about boarding, seating, and what assistance your guest needs.
I’ll explain the boat and meeting location and help you decide whether the trip is a good fit.
Ready to wet a line?
Peak season fills 30–60 days out. Lock yours in now.