Our Guides
Experienced, veteran-owned, and dedicated to putting you on East Texas fish
Hard Work. Respect for the Outdoors.
Local Knowledge
We know every cove, point, and brush pile on these East Texas lakes.
Veteran-Owned
Serving our customers with the same dedication we gave our country.
Licensed & Insured
TPWD licensed guides. You're in safe, professional hands.
Captain Chuck
Chuck has spent a lifetime on the water. He caught his first fish at 4 years old and grew up fishing the creeks, rivers, and reservoirs of the South. In the 1970s, he began fishing Toledo Bend—back when the lake was still being discovered as a powerhouse fishery—and his passion only grew from there. By 19, Chuck was fishing tournaments and went on to compete in Media Bass, Fishers of Men, and the Bass Fishing League.
After retiring from a successful career as a teacher, Chuck chose to return to what he loves most—fishing, teaching, and helping people succeed on the water. Though he built his foundation as a bass fisherman, he always chased crappie in the off-season and eventually made it his full-time focus.
Chuck brings a calm, confident style to guiding. He's patient with new anglers, steady under pressure, and loves teaching seasonal patterns, boat control, and how crappie truly behave. Whether you're brand new or chasing a personal best, he makes the day enjoyable and educational.
He's been married to his wife Jodi for 36 years. Together they have two daughters and four grandchildren who remind him why time outdoors still matters.
"Fishing isn't just catching—it's time worth spending. I'd be proud to share that with you on the water." – Chuck
Specialties
Crappie
Bass
Tournament Fishing
Seasonal Patterns
Boat Control
Certifications / Background
Retired Educator
Tournament Angler
Bass Fishing League Competitor
Captain James
U.S. VeteranJames Chesnut is a U.S. Army veteran and lifelong East Texas angler who built ETX Outdoors from the ground up. Born and raised in the Piney Woods, James has spent decades learning every creek arm, timber line, and brush pile on Lake O' the Pines, Lake Bob Sandlin, Lake Cypress Springs, and Martin Creek Lake.
His guiding philosophy is simple: work hard, be honest about conditions, and put people on fish. James uses LiveScope electronics and forward-facing sonar to locate fish precisely, but he'll be the first to tell you that technology doesn't replace time on the water and knowing how to read it.
When he's not on the water, James is a family man and a faith-driven business owner who takes pride in treating every customer like a guest, not a booking.
Specialties
Crappie (Slab Fishing)
Catfish
Corporate & Group Trips
LiveScope / Forward-Facing Sonar
Certifications / Background
U.S. Navy Veteran
Texas Parks & Wildlife Licensed Guide