Capt. Billy Clabough loves to take kids of all ages fishing, but kids
under 16 years old fish for free on his charter trips.
Guide of the Month: Billy Clabough – Tennessee River Valley Guide Service
by Capt. Richard Simms
Photos courtesy of Capt. Billy Clabough
Sometimes life’s biggest setbacks become its greatest opportunities.
For Tennessee guide and YouTube personality Billy Clabough, losing his “real” job became the catalyst that transformed a longtime weekend passion into a full-time career with Tennessee River Valley Fishing Guide Service (TNRVG). Today, after about seven years of guiding and more than a decade of creating fishing videos on YouTube, he spends his days doing what he loves most—helping others experience the excitement of catching catfish and a variety of other freshwater species on East Tennessee waters.
“I lost my day job due to corporate downsizing,” he explained. “It gave me the opportunity to go full-time guiding and YouTube.”
Operating under U.S. Coast Guard Merchant Mariner credentials, commonly known as a “6-Pack” captain’s license, he is fully licensed and insured. His primary catfish trips depart from Kingston, Tennessee, while his popular mixed-species adventures launch from the north end of Lenoir City.
Most clients choose one of his four-hour trips aboard his 20-foot Pro-Steelheader boat, which comfortably accommodates up to three adults. His pricing remains family friendly, starting at $300 for one angler, $350 for two, and $450 for three. Children under 16 fish free, making the trips especially attractive for families introducing youngsters to the sport.
Although blue catfish are the primary target on dedicated catfish outings, anglers regularly encounter flatheads and channel cats as welcome bonuses. His preferred technique is dragging fresh bait across productive areas, although he isn’t hesitant to anchor and bottom fish when conditions dictate.
“I like to say I’m always fishing for trophy fish,” he said. “My local area has fewer trophies, but it does have fish to catch.”
Clients typically catch five to ten catfish during a trip, but anglers looking to take fish home have another option. He also offers occasional “eater” trips on Tellico Lake, one of the region’s cleaner reservoirs, where jug fishing often produces as many as 30 channel catfish destined for the dinner table.
The vast majority of his guided trips, however, emphasize catch-and-release conservation.
“I encourage catch and release,” he said. “If someone really wants a fish fry, Tellico is the place to do it.”
His equipment reflects the versatility of his guiding style. Catfish anglers fish with dependable Okuma tackle and whatever fresh bait is available, while mixed-species trips feature ultralight tackle and live threadfin or gizzard shad. Guests are welcome to bring a favorite rod or two, but virtually everything else is provided. Anglers need only bring a valid Tennessee fishing license, weather-appropriate clothing and any snacks or drinks they’d like.
Despite this year’s drought creating more challenging fishing conditions, he says every recent client has caught fish, even if the bigger bites have occasionally proven elusive.
One unforgettable trip perfectly illustrates why flexibility often pays dividends on the water.
Unable to locate fresh skipjack before the trip, he reluctantly relied on three white bass along with frozen skipjack for bait. The decision produced an unforgettable surprise.
One of those white bass baits was inhaled by a massive 46-pound flathead catfish, a fish that exceeded even Capt. Billy’s own personal best. Several more flatheads weighing between 20 and 30 pounds followed.
“The frozen skipjack caught a few smaller blue cats afterward,” he recalled, “but that trip taught me you don’t only need skipjack to catch big catfish.”
It’s a lesson his clients benefit from every day. Success often belongs to guides who adapt to changing conditions instead of relying on yesterday’s formula.
Whether introducing beginners to their first catfish, helping experienced anglers chase a trophy blue or simply creating lasting family memories on the water, this East Tennessee guide has turned an unexpected career change into an opportunity to share his passion with others, one fishing trip at a time.
(From Chattanooga, Tenn., author Capt. Richard Simms is owner of Scenic City Fishing Charters, Inc. He has been a catfish guide on the Tennessee River for 20 years. He began his outdoor career as a Tennessee game warden later choosing journalism and guiding as his chosen profession. You can contact him at Richard@ScenicCityFishing.com or connect with him on his Facebook page.)
