Chad Smith Guide Service, Monroe

When it comes to catching fish, Chad Smith is more than well equipped. After all, the professional angler captains a 20-foot pontoon boat decked out with advanced Humminbird mapping and color sonar systems. Still, all of his fancy gadgets pale in comparison to his memory. Having fished in the area for much of his life, he's familiar with the best spots to hook multiple species, including striper, spotted bass, crappie. His passion, though, is trophy catfish, which led him to a record catch weighing 61.33 pounds.

On five- to eight-hour trips on Lake Oconee, Chad helps total novices and seasoned fishers alike haul in large catches. If clients aim to net a catfish, he even guarantee their success. Those who don't hook one of the bottom dwellers on their current excursion can give it a second shot on another trip within a year, free of charge. He also helps established fishers set up their own sonar equipment, meeting them on the water for a test run and a lesson on how to distinguish fish schools from fish retirement homes.