How to pick the right Oregon Steelhead Fishing Guide
So you want to go steelhead fishing in Oregon but you want to make sure you pick the right steelhead fishing guide.
What are some of the questions you should ask before deciding?
First off let's start with a basic breakdown of Oregon steelhead fishing guides. For all intensive purposes, Oregon steelhead fishing guides can be classified into three categories.
The first category are guides who fish with traditional gear. This means spinning rods, spinning reels, baitcasting rods and baitcasting reels.
The second category is guides who fish only with fly fishing gear.
The third category of Oregon steelhead fishing guides are those who fish with both types of gear or a combination of both. Are you comfortable letting your fishing guide choose the type of gear you are fishing with or do you have your heart set on steelhead fishing in a specific way with a specific type of gear or a specific technique? Maybe you have no preference.
The second thing to think about in picking the right Oregon steelhead fishing guide is the type of water you and your guide will be steelhead fishing in.
You might hear something like this from a prospective guide, "I won't know until the day before where or what river we will be fishing at." OK that is fine but then you must be prepared for all different types of water. Typically, steelhead prefer fast moving water. On smaller tributaries and coastal rivers this usually means you will be fishing and boating in a minimum of class II rapids on up to possibly a class IV rapid on select drifts. A class IV rapid and even a class III rapid is not something everyone is prepared for so keep this in mind during your conversation with your prospective Oregon steelhead fishing guide. Some people just don't want to go whitewater rafting and steelhead fishing at the same time, while for others that is exactly the type of steelhead fishing experience they are looking for.
Along these same lines, what about your guide's boat? Will you be fishing out of an aluminum jet sled with armchair seats or sitting on a cooler in a 14' cataraft. You can't ask too many questions about your guide's boat, fishing guides love to talk about their boats.
The next question you should ask is what are your prospective Oregon's steelhead fishing guide's expectations of his clients.
For example, will your guide expect you to get out of the boat at certain times of the day, for portages or maybe for landing fish? If you have physical limitations which limit your ability to get in and out of a boat multiple times during the day, then be prepared to discuss that before you book. Sometimes the best way to fish a specific river or a specific hole is from the bank. In other instances an entire river or certain stretches of a river are designated "wild & scenic.” In this case all fishing from a floating device is strictly prohibited by regulation. If a boat is used on a "wild & scenic" river it can only be used for transport and you will be fishing from the bank 100% of the time.
This by no means is an exhaustive list, just a beginning. Make sure you know exactly what kind of Oregon steelhead fishing trip you are booking. Steelhead fishing techniques, methods, and approaches can vary greatly from river to river and from guide to guide. Expectations are everything, for both the client and the guide. Each side should be aware of the expectations of the other for best results and maximum success.
Last but not least make sure your guide is licensed in Oregon by the Oregon State Marine Board. This insures your Oregon steelhead fishing guide has basic training in First Aid &CPR, carries a minimum of a $500,000 liability insurance policy required by law, and is Coast Guard licensed if required. Please contact the Oregon State Marine Board at (503) 378-8587 for more information.
