Guide Richard Simms (left) with Bob Raines holding a 75 lb. blue cat. This fish qualified Raines to become a Master Angler III in the Tennessee Angler Recognition Program.
Brittany Sapp from Pennsylvania has traveled to Chattanooga to fish with Scenic City Fishing Charters several times.
Daryl Ratajczak, TWRA's Chief of Wildlife, took time out from managing wildlife for a day of fishing with Scenic City Fishing Charters, along with friend Stephanne Dennis
Laurie, Landon & Greg Howell with proof positive that a day with Scenic City Fishing can definitely be a family affair.
Scenic City Fishing Charters, Inc. is expanding to a fulltime operation in Chattanooga. Owner & fishing guide Richard Simms announced Tuesday that after operating since 2006 as a part-time business, conducting fishing excursions primarily on weekends, Scenic City Fishing Charters is now available seven days a week, 365 days a year.
“After more than 30 years as a professional journalist, I’ve decided it’s time to put fishing on the front burner,” said Mr.
Simms. “Many years ago Chattanooga government and civic leaders did a fantastic job developing our Riverfront, providing great opportunities to get visitors ‘to the edge of the river.’ Scenic City Fishing Charters takes them one step farther – getting folks ON the river, enjoying our incredible natural resources up close and personal.”
Mr. Simms is a licensed U.S. Coast Guard captain. He is also a former Tennessee game warden, a freelance outdoor writer, book author and self-proclaimed “river rat.”
Ranked as the #1 Activity in Chattanooga on TripAdvisor, Scenic City Fishing Charters fishes primarily on Nickajack and Chickamauga lakes, specializing in making sure anglers have fun, hopefully finding plenty of action on the water. Mr. Simms most often targets trophy catfish. His clients have landed blue catfish up to 75 pounds. Depending upon the season and “the bite” however, he will also target crappie, believed to be the best table fare in the river. He also sometimes target smallmouth bass, thought to be the most elusive and hardest fighting fish in our area. Many times he and his clients will be fishing literally in the shadow of the famous Tennessee Aquarium.
“I always tell folks that it is a great experience to see giant blue cats in the Nickajack tank in the Aquarium, but it is another thing entirely to see, and feel one on the end of your line,” said Mr. Simms.
In the last nine years, Simms said he has been forced to turn away too many tourists who are only visiting on weekdays. By expanding the operation he said he looks forward serving many more anglers, novice or expert, and introducing them first-hand to another great aspect of Chattanooga’s great outdoors.
On his TripAdvisor review Randy Johnson writes, “I've fished with Richard just about every year that Scenic City has been in operation and we've ALWAYS caught fish. There are no sure things fishing, but with Richard Simms your chances go WAAAAAAAAAY up of putting a lot of fish in the boat.”
Stephanne Dennis writes, “The good thing about Scenic City Fishing is that it's not one of those often-cheesy things that is just for tourists! My guide, Richard, was a wealth of knowledge on both fishing, local history, and fun tidbits.”
Scenic City Fishing Charters is a member of the Chattanooga Convention & Visitors Bureau. Rates for fishing trips range from $150 up to $400, depending upon the length of your trip and number of people. Learn more and check out the Scenic City Fishing Photo Galleries (all photos dated) at www.ScenicCityFishing.com. Read more TripAdvisor reviews at bit.ly/sceniccitytripadvisor or watch video clips of clients on the Scenic City Fishing YouTube Channel: bit.ly/1vFY3G9.