Open Mon-Sun 7am-7pm

CATCH FISH GUARANTEED!

Lake Taneycomo's Best Fishing Guide

John Sappington is a FLW Tour Classic Champion with over twenty top-10 tournament finishes and more than 27+ years of experience as a fishing guide in Branson.

Book Your Fishing Trip Today Call or text John at (417) 460-5747

Over 600 5-Star Reviews!

FLW Tour Classic

Champion

Guided Trout Fishing Trips on Lake Taneycomo

LAKE TANEYCOMO

Guided Boat Trips

Up to 2 Adults & 4 Children
Fishing gear included
Starting at $250

Guided Boat Trips & Rates

LAKE TANEYCOMO

Guided Wading Trips

Up to 6 people (all ages)
Fishing pole & tackle included
Starting at $225

Guided Wading Trips & Rates

Guided Boat Trips

2-Hour Guided Boat Fishing Trip on Lake Taneycomo

Experience world-class fly fishing on Lake Taneycomo with FLW Champion John Sappington as your guide. This 2-hour guided boat trip departs from Cooper Creek Resort aboard my 20' Carolina Skiff, offering you the chance to land a beautiful brown or rainbow trout in the heart of the Ozarks. All gear is provided. All skill levels are welcome.

$250

Includes 2 Adults or 1 Adult + 1 Child

*Add up to 4 additional children for $50/each

Book Now

4-Hour Guided Boat Fishing Trip on Lake Taneycomo

Experience world-class fly fishing on Lake Taneycomo with FLW Champion John Sappington as your guide. This 4-hour guided boat trip departs from Cooper Creek Resort aboard my 20' Carolina Skiff, offering you the chance to land a beautiful brown or rainbow trout in the heart of the Ozarks. All gear is provided. All skill levels are welcome.

$350

Includes 2 Adults or 1 Adult + 1 Child

*Add up to 4 additional children for $75/each

Book Now

6-Hour Guided Boat Fishing Trip on Lake Taneycomo

Experience world-class fly fishing on Lake Taneycomo with FLW Champion John Sappington as your guide. This 6-hour guided boat trip departs from Cooper Creek Resort aboard my 20' Carolina Skiff, offering you the chance to land a beautiful brown or rainbow trout in the heart of the Ozarks. All gear is provided. All skill levels are welcome.

$500

Includes 2 Adults or 1 Adult + 1 Child

*Add up to 4 additional children for $100/each

Book Now

Guided Wading Trips

2-Hour Guided Wading Fishing Trip on Lake Taneycomo

Experience world-class fly fishing on Lake Taneycomo with FLW Champion John Sappington as your guide. This 2-hour guided wading trip takes place at the Shepherd of the Hills Fish Hatchery and gives you the chance to land a beautiful brown or rainbow trout in the heart of the Ozarks. Fishing poles and tackle are provided. All skill levels are welcome.

$225

Includes 2 Adults or 1 Adult + 1 Child

*Add up to 4 additional people for $50/each

Book Now

4-Hour Guided Wading Fishing Trip on Lake Taneycomo

Experience world-class fly fishing on Lake Taneycomo with FLW Champion John Sappington as your guide. This 4-hour guided wading trip takes place at the Shepherd of the Hills Fish Hatchery and gives you the chance to land a beautiful brown or rainbow trout in the heart of the Ozarks. Fishing poles and tackle are provided. All skill levels are welcome.

$325

Includes 2 Adults or 1 Adult + 1 Child

*Add up to 4 additional people for $75/each

Book Now

6-Hour Guided Wading Fishing Trip on Lake Taneycomo

Experience world-class fly fishing on Lake Taneycomo with FLW Champion John Sappington as your guide. This 6-hour guided wading trip takes place at the Shepherd of the Hills Fish Hatchery and gives you the chance to land a beautiful brown or rainbow trout in the heart of the Ozarks. Fishing poles and tackle are provided. All skill levels are welcome.

$450

Includes 2 Adults or 1 Adult + 1 Child

*Add up to 4 additional people for $100/each

Book Now

Meet Your Fishing Guide, John Sappington

My daughter and I landing a beautiful brown trout on Lake Taneycomo

John Sappington’s Branson
Fishing Guide Service

471 Cooper Creek Rd Slip #1
Branson, Missouri 65616

Hi, I’m John Sappington,

I’ve been a fishing guide in Branson for over 27 years.

I’ve been lucky to experience some big wins, like the FLW Tour Classic and more than twenty top-ten pro finishes, but my greatest achievement is being a dad and helping others fall in love with fishing.

It’s been an honor to guide thousands of anglers of all skill levels on Lake Taneycomo.

No matter how many fish I’ve seen caught, watching someone reel in a big trout still gets me fired up.

Whether you’re into fly fishing, spin fishing, or just getting started, I’d be thrilled to share the water with you.

Over Six Hundred 5-Star Reviews

“My son caught more trout on fly rod this morning than he’s ever caught in his life.”

“When I want to go fishing in Branson there’s only one person to call... John Sappington”

“This was my first-time fishing ever... we caught too many fish to count. I’m hooked!”

“Between my wife and I, we caught 40 trout in 4 hours... he is a fish whisperer”

Frequently Asked Questions

We have more than 6 people in our group, can we still book a guided trip?

Yes, if you have 7 or more people in your group, I can arrange to have another guide and boat available to accommodate your entire party. Please send me an email with your group size, preferred dates, and trip type (boat or wading trip) to john@johnsappington.com.

Do I need to purchase a fishing license and trout stamp?

Yes, you’ll need a valid fishing license and trout tag from the Missouri Department of Conservation. You can order both online by visiting their website.

What’s included in the guided boat fishing trip?

I provide everything you need for a great day on the water—boat, fishing poles, tackle, bottled water, and life jackets are all included. All you’ll need to bring is a valid fishing license and trout tag.

What’s included in the guided wading fishing trip?

For wading trips, I provide the fishing poles, tackle, bottled water, and life jackets. You’ll just need to bring your own waders, along with a valid fishing license and trout tag.

What should I bring with me on my fishing trip?

In the Summer, I recommend bringing a light coat or sweater for morning trips. During the Spring, Fall, and Winter, I recommend bringing lots of layers, as the water on Lake Taneycomo stays pretty cold and can make things feel quite brisk with some wind.

Can I bring my own fishing gear?

You're welcome to bring your own gear, especially if you're an advanced angler. However, I will provide professional quality fishing gear already rigged up and ready-to-go when you arrive.

Where do I park for the boat fishing trip?

For my guided boat fishing trips on Lake Taneycomo, you'll park at Cooper Creek Resort & Rv, located at 471 Cooper Creek Rd Slip #1, Branson, MO 65616 and meet me at Slip #1. Parking is free.

Where do I park for the wading fishing trip?

For my guided wading fishing trips on Lake Taneycomo, we'll meet in the parking lot at Outlet #2 at the Shepherd of the Hills Fish Hatchery, located at 483 Hatchery Rd, Branson, MO 65616. Parking is free.

What kinds of fish will we catch on Lake Taneycomo?

We'll catch lots of rainbow trout, and if we're lucky, the elusive brown trout. We'll fish with flies, lures, and jigs, depending on what's biting and how much water is being released by Table Rock Dam. Only flies and artificial lures will be used (no scented baits).

Can we keep the fish we catch?

Yes, each person can keep up to 4 fish, 4 rainbows or 3 rainbows and 1 brown. If we fish the "Trophy" area, which is between Table Rock Dam to the mouth of Fall Creek, rainbow trout between 12 and 20 inches must be released. Brown trout under 20 inches must be released.

Have a question?

Call or text John at (417) 460-5747

Email John at john@johnsappington.com

The Boat Behind Branson's Best Catches

The Brown Bomber

Guided Boat Trips & Rates

Get ready to fish like a champion aboard my 20' Carolina Skiff, custom-wrapped with the unmistakable pattern of a trophy brown trout! This boat is the perfect balance of comfort and performance, with room for up to two adults and four kids to fish, relax, and enjoy the beauty of Lake Taneycomo.

20' Carolina Skiff

Up to 2 adults & 4 kids
Seating for five

Guided Boat Trips & Rates

Conveniently Located on

Lake Taneycomo

John Sappington’s Branson Fishing Guide Service is located right in the heart of Branson, at 471 Cooper Creek Rd Slip #1, Branson, MO 65616. Less than a 10-minute drive from top attractions like Historic Downtown Branson, Bass Pro Shops, Fritz’s Adventure, and Tanger Outlets.

Whether you're staying at Big Cedar Lodge, visiting Silver Dollar City, or just squeezing in a morning on the lake before lunch, let’s hit the water and catch some fish!

4 Miles from Downtown Branson

4 Miles from Bass Pro Shops

3 Miles from Tanger Outlets

2 Miles from Fritz's Adventure

6 Miles from Table Rock Dam

9 Miles from Silver Dollar City