Traverse City Bass Guide Fishing Reviews
My wife and I fished 2 days the first week of June this year with Capt. Chad. We had a great time and caught several smallmouth in the 3lb. to 4 lb. range. Chad seemed to know every rock, log and grass bed that was holding a quality smallmouth. The boat and equipment were all first class, as was Chad. He taught this old fisherman a few new tricks and methods as well. Chad made a special effort to ensure that my wife caught plenty of fish. If you want a great time on the water with good people, I highly recommend Traverse City Bass. We plan to go back for many years in the future.
Greg S.
Absolutely amazing guide service company! My wife and I came up to try the famous clear water smallmouth fishing on Traverse Bay and were not disappointed. From the initial contact with Capt. Ben to the day on the water spent with Capt. Ron, who guided us both to our personal best smallies, it was a great experience. Very professional and communicative. And even though Capt. Ron is young, he’s incredibly passionate and knowledgeable about the smallmouth fishing in the Bay. Which I’m sure is true of all their guides. You can trust them to put you on the fish.
We’ll definitely be back.
Todd T.
What an amazing two days on the water with Ben Wolfe. I’ve been fishing Northern Wisconsin and Canada with my Dad for over 20 years. We have had a lot of success. The success we shared with Ben this past weekend was pretty spectacular and made me a believer of the Michigan fishery. In addition to putting us on fish, Ben was open to sharing details and pointers.
MatthewZ
Wanted to throw in some enthusiastic support for young Captain Ron Dohm. My father-in-law, sister and I had an absolutely fantastic morning with Captain Ron in early August jigging for lake trout. As my father-in-law said on the drive home, it was more like ‘catching’ than ‘fishing’. Regardless of the fact that we were hauling in the fish faster than Ron could release them, we were most impressed by his professionalism and easy-going, good-natured and enthusiastic character. So mature and clearly skilled. I’m sure Captain Ben and Chad are great, but we will ask to go out with Ron again next time we head out.
David O
My two sons and I fished with Capt. Ben in June, and I can’t say enough about his professionalism, and dedication to giving his clients a great fishing experience. We boated some really nice smallies, one of which Ben spotted on a bed and proceeded to coach me in the fine art of drop-shotting, and after teasing the bass for ten minutes I hooked him. I still marvel at how he saw that fish in clear water with a bright sun reflecting on it. I’ve hired several guides over the years, and would put Ben right there at the top. He’ll work hard to put fish in the boat.
James C.
I booked a trip with Capt. Ben to catch some big smallmouth bass. He didn’t disappoint. I landed close to 30 smallies, several pushing 4 lbs. or better, with a personal best 5 lba+ trophy-size smallmouth. Capt. Ben is a very knowledgeable guide, he kept us on fish all day and even taught me a few new techniques. In all, it was a great outing and I hope to go again soon. Thanks Again Capt. Ben. GO BLUE !!!!!!!!
Bob J.
We came up from Florida to visit friends and had booked a full day trip with Traverse City Bass. This was our first trip to Michigan and my first trophy smallmouth bass fishing. Now I’ve fished with some great guides from Panama, to Key West to Lake Toho, but none have compared to this trip. This was by far the most enjoyable. Captain Ben was passionate, professional, and patient. We caught fish all day long using a variety of techniques and baits. He quickly had us landing smallmouth one after another. If you want to learn about bass behavior, seasonal patterns, and the right equipment to use, I strongly recommend a trip with Captain Ben. Definitely Five Stars. Speaking of equipment, the tackle, the baits, and gear were all high-end which made for a hassle-free day and added to the joy of fighting big fish. Heck, even his camera and the pictures were top-of the-line! In my mind, Captain Ben Wolfe and his Guide Service are the epitome of "Pure Michigan". Thanks again Captain– already looking forward to our next trip!
Bill A.
Myself and 2 friends were fortunate to book a trip with Capt. Ben. What a hoot! We had a wonderful time, plenty of laughs, fish, and smiles the entire time we were out. Capt. Ben has plenty of reviews about the fish that were caught, there is no doubt that he WORKS to get you onto the fish, as we caught plenty of Salmon while out with him. I’d like to shed a bit of light on the person that you will be actually fishing with when out with Capt. Ben. The Captain (Ben) is truly an individual that I would be proud to go out with again. He has a very calming demeanor about him, a great sense of humor, and an excellent way of conveying information (tips, tricks, and techniques) to help increase your odds of hooking into and landing the fish. We were all very impressed with his knowledge of the river, and his ability to bring us to the fish. Ben is a genuine individual, always a smile on his face, you will be able to recognize this from the first hand shake. We will be making plans with Ben for years to come, as he instantly becomes another fishing buddy you will be happy to spend time with on the river. His equipment/gear is second to none and what a sweet boat! Ben, I thank you for the great time, great fishing and great comradery. I can’t wait until next fall!
Brian K. (Fished September)
Troy, MI
Great fishing trip with captain Ben! My wife purchased trip as a surprise and I took a couple of friends along. We had some weather issues – Captain Ben adjusted to them like a pro and we were catching fish in no time! Great smallies and the knowledge of Capt. Ben was remarkable!! Will definitely be booking again!! See You Soon!
John I.
Have been out 3 times with Capt. Ben……had a GREAT time each trip out. One trip was with my semi-pro Bass fishing buddy from Oklahoma and I will say that he is looking forward to coming back to Michigan and fishing with Ben again. Ben’s personality, the equipment, the experience… all TOP NOTCH and best of all – FUN!!!!! Thanks Ben, will see you very soon!!!
Barth N.
My daughter and I went out fishing recently with Capt. Ben. We have fished several times on our own and never caught anything. We got so many smallmouth bass in one afternoon!! Ben is a great guide and knows the waters around Traverse City. He worked hard to see that we had a great afternoon and had success catching fish. He is also a great guy to get to know. My daughter and I can’t wait to go back to Traverse City when its warmer and really catch a lot of fish, with Capt. Ben!
Bob P. (fished mid-May)
Dayton, OH
Captain Ben is the best!!! Great to fish with. We will never forget the day we had. See you next time we vacation in Michigan.
Gerry G.
Went out with Captain Ben for my first time fishing in Michigan. I had an amazing time! Ben really knows the waters and was very patient with a novice. 🙂 Planning a trip back in the summer and definitely going to book a day (or two) with Traverse City Bass! Thanks Captain Ben!
Jessica C. (fished July)
Brooklyn, NY
My son-in-law and I had our best fishing trip ever. We had a great day of fishing, laughing and learning about smallmouth bass fishing in the Traverse City Bay area. Captain Ben definitely knows what he is doing on the water. Can’t wait to share my trip with others about Traverse City Bass Guide Service. We will absolutely book another trip in the future!
Brian S (fished July)
New Buffalo, MI
I have fished with Capt. Ben many times over the last few years and always had a great time. Fishing with Capt. Ben is everything you would expect from a world-class guide. Last year I had the pleasure of bringing my brother up to fish with Capt. Ben and we have been looking forward to returning ever since. Capt. Ben stays current on the newest techniques used by the pro’s and his knowledge of local waters is second to none.
Curtis R. (fished June)
Columbus, OH
Awesome morning of fishing on the bay, Ben knew where to go and how to get it done, great job, we will be back for sure if not this fall in the spring for sure. We were holding the largest smallies we had ever caught no more than 10 minutes after we stopped at the first spot, like I keep saying “Awesome!” Great equipment, positive attitude from Ben, and the fantastic waters of the Grand Traverse Bay made this a great trip. We had a 3 hour trip home and could not stop talking about it…Thanks Ben!
Mike S. (Fished August)
Paw Paw, MI
Went bass fishing with Captain Ben this past weekend and it was such a great time. He is a nice guy and very helpful! We had a blast and couldn’t have asked for better weather for October! He knows exactly what he’s doing and the great spots to make sure you have a great time reeling in those small mouths! I would recommend Captain Ben to anyone who wants to go out and enjoy what Northern Michigan waters and fishing is all about.
Tiffinee F. (Fished in October)
Traverse City, MI
I’ve been fishing with Captain Ben for a couple of years now. Every time we get out on the water, it’s tons of fun with lots of laughter. I feel that Captain Ben really knows his fishery well. He knows where the fish are and knows how to hook ’em. That’s all you can ask of your guide. Captain Ben is as good as it gets! He even got my girlfriend to fish! I always learn a lot, and am anxious to fish with him again this coming year.
Gundy L. (fished July & September)
Orlando, FL
Outstanding day of fishing, 1st class service, great captain and most of all great fishing. Recommend Captain Ben to anyone and everyone. Ben takes his time, shows you what to do and delivers; this trip was by far the best charter I have ever had. Would not have guessed smallies in Traverse Bay would beat Trout fishing in Calgary Canada but it did. Can’t wait to go again. Special thanks again Ben you have made our outing a day not to forget.
God bless you.
Ron H. (fished July)
Elkhart, IN
We had a wonderful experience bass fishing with Captain Ben on Traverse City’s East Bay. It was a great time for family bonding with my teenage children, plus Captain Ben baited all my daughters hooks and released the multitudes of small mouth bass she caught so I could actually spend time catching fish myself for once! As a guide he was very knowledgeable and led us to some huge monster fish. One really neat part was being allowed to test out some new custom baits that Ben made the night before. I guess he knew what he was doing because the bass really liked to hit on them. All in all, it was a great experience I would suggest it to anyone desiring to catch some really big fish and have a good time. I would highly recommend Traverse City Bass as a friendly, knowledgeable, experienced and fun guide service.
Will K. (fished July)
Mechanicsburg, PA
Great guide, great fishing, great fun! Ben Wolfe is friendly, courteous, and willing and able to work to put you on the fish. He knows the waters as well as what works to catch smallies! The equipment he uses and supplies is top notch and a pleasure to use. I would highly recommend a fishing trip with Ben and I look forward to going out on the water with him again.
Mason R. (fished June)
Powell, OH
Really enjoyed fishing with Capt. Ben. Had a great two days on Traverse Bay. Found everything to be first class, including Capt. Ben. The small mouth fishing was fantastic! Looking forward to another trip.
Chuck B. (fished July)
Traverse City, MI
Ben Wolfe is exceptional. I will definitely fish with him again. My 14 year old Grandson and I had an incredible day with him Don’t look any further for a first class guide and gentleman.
Chuck B. (fished July)
Traverse City, MI
I really had a wonderful time catching bass with Capt. Ben at Traverse City Bass. Fresh water fishing was new to me, as I live in Guam where trolling fishing is more common. Yet I found that catching bass is as much fun as catching tuna or mahi in the Pacific Ocean. I really enjoyed the boat ride…weather was perfect, nice breeze and scenery was wonderful at Lake Michigan. He was well prepared, including serving his own brand of coffee. His coffee was so good that I ended up buying 10 packs which he shipped to Guam. Finally, I must say that Capt. Ben’s great service really makes a difference. His character was so cool, as if you met with your long-time friend even if you just met him. I would really like to recommend this experience if you travel around this area. Absolutely wonderful!!!
Kevin Y. (Fished June)
GUAM
My wife and I fished with Captain Ben. Had a great experience. We had plans to be on The Bay, but got hit with a nasty cold front. That did not stop us from having a great day on the water. Captain Ben came through and put us onto the fish. He is easy to talk to, has a great personality and a great teacher. We had some great laughs and I learned a ton. Can’t wait to get back out next summer.
Brian C.(Fished June)
St. Louis, MO
Had a great day of fishing with my two boys. Thanks to Capt. Ben for exceptional knowledge of the waters and where to catch the small mouth. If you want action and lots of fun Traverse City Bass is the one to book.
Mick S. (fished July) Corydon, IN
I have been bass fishing with Captain Ben for the past 2 years. He always has an upbeat attitude while we’re on the water, and always seems to know what to do to catch fish. I think that Captain Ben runs a great guide service. He is a friendly, courteous, and respectful guide, willing to teach what he knows and most importantly he knows how to put customers on fish. I can’t wait to get up to Traverse City this summer for some more smallmouth bass fishing with Traverse City Bass Guide Service.
Kyle B. (fished June & September)
Muskegon, MI
This was our third year fishing with Captain Ben. This year we were able to get out on E. Grand Traverse Bay and had an awesome day catching small mouth bass! Captain Ben was a wonderful guide, assisted us with our equipment and fish, and was a pleasure to spend time with on the water. We look forward to fishing again in years to come. Would recommend to anyone – don’t hesitate to enjoy a trip with Traverse City Bass!!
Dan and Claire
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