Guides & Services

Guide & business reviews are not paid advertising. These are personal recommendations by members of Oregon Anglers, drawn from their experiences fishing or doing other business with quality guides and angling supportive businesses. This list is intended as a personal referral source, and not an evaluation of those not mentioned here.

      For other listings of organizations and photo sites visit fishtring.com

Guides

Bob Toman's Guide Service- Considered to be the dean of Oregon guides, Bob has been guiding for 40+ years in Oregon and Alaska. I have fished with him on the Clackamas  (Me below with a limit of steelhead on a trip w/ Bob) (usually mid-December through May) and on the Deschutes (Aug. 15 - mid-September) in Oregon. He also fishes Tillamook Bay (mid-September - Mid November), where he  designed the "Toman Thumper" spinner blade, used by guides and recreational anglers alike.

Bob debunks the old "banana curse" on Tillamook Bay.

       Toman's King Camp on the Nushigak River in Alaska runs from mid-July to mid- August. I have fished there with Bob, and caught over 50 bright King salmon in the 5 days of fishing. The fishing is absolutely incredible, and the cabin style-tents and food make this a wonderful experience that spoils your return to fish at home. And one other feature: your fish are cleaned, vacuum packed and frozen for your return home. Nushigak kings are the best tasting salmon I have ever eaten- and that' saying a lot! The cost of the Nushigak Camp looks spendy, but many extras (License, fish cleaning and vacuum packing, transportation from Dillingham, etc.) are all included in Bob's price.

                Phone: 503-658-6493  Email: bob_toman2@msn.com

Priddy Good Fishing and Hunting Guide Service- Wayne Priddy has been guiding for over 21 years, and is one of the masters of the profession. Board member Bob Thompson fishes with Wayne regularly, and says, "I've been with many guides over the years and Wayne hands down catches more fish constantly for me and my clients by far. His knowledge of the rivers and streams go beyond the individual nuances of each hole and drift. It's almost like he was a fish in a previous life."

Bob with a minnow, Wayne in the background.

     Wayne fishes Spring Chinook in March and July, Buoy 10 for Fall Chinook from August 10 through September, and the coastal rivers August through November. Winter Steelhead are on tap in the coastal streams October Through March, andSturgeon trips are booked in July and August.

 Phone: 503-631-4334  www.priddygood.com

Marv's Guide Service- I've fished with a lot of guides in and out of Oregon. Marv  McQuinn, with over 20 years of experience, is one of the most enjoyable. He really knows how to get onto fish, whether Spring or Fall chinook, sturgeon, Buoy 10 coho, or winter steelhead, Marv finds the "biters" if there are any around. He is a gentleman and an enthusiastic angler.

One of my fondest memories fishing with Marv is when I was fishing the North Coast Rendezvous several years ago. My partner was State Senator Rick Metsger. Marv would stop at a hole and say, "we are going to get 2 fish out of this hole",  or stop in another and say, "this hole is good for one fish, but no more", and each time he would be right. We came to a 90 degree turn in the river, and he told us no one fished that hole because it was full of stumps. But we should cast our lines into the frog water on the inside of the turn and be ready. Just then one of the other guides went by, making fun of us for fishing in a "the stump hole". He no sooner got past us when we got a double on, and both of us landed bright, beautiful twin hatchery keepers. We had smiles on for the rest of the day.

Marv books winter Steelies Nov. through March, Springers March through May. Sturgeon May through July, Buoy 10 July and August, and Fall Chinook Sept. through Nov.

Phone:503-649-5444, www.marvsguideservice.com

Russ Morrow's Sport Fishing Guide Service- Russ has become one of the best young guides in Northwest Oregon. The first time I fished with Russ was in a tournament on the North Coast rivers. Fred VanNatta and I drew a young guy we hadn't heard of, but it didn't take long to find out this guide knew his business. Fred ended up with the "big fish" prize for the 2 days ( and I got to take the picture).

Fred's "Big fish" for the North Coast Rendezvous, with Russ Morrow

It obviously was not a fluke, since Russ has consistently been in the top of almost every one of these tournaments that many of the guides donate their time to for the overall betterment of our sport fishing. Russ is a polite and enjoyable person to fish with! He fishes The coastal rivers for steelhead and Dec. through Feb., the Columbia and Willamette for sturgeon and spring Chinook March through June. He especially loves to fish Nehalem Bay and Tillamook Bay for Fall salmon.

below: Fred and Denny with Russ in the middle. Springers caught while participating in the 2008 Salmon Quest fundraiser. Our boat limited out with 2 other anglers from the NW Steelheaders.

Phone: 503-310-9733, email: fishwithruss@hotmail.com

www.fishwithruss.com

Wildlife Fishing Adventures- Paul Woodrum is another guide that we met fishing a tounament. we fished with Paul on the Willamette in a fundraiser for the Oregon Wildlife Heritage Foundation. He is knowledgeable and fun, with over 15 years of experience. Paul is one of the few guides I've fished with that also takes clients for bass, shad, and other warm water species. He spent seven years on the national fishing tournament circuit, and teaches those skills to his clients.

Phone: 503-650-8280 or 971-235-0941

www.WildlifeFishing.com

 Garibaldi Charters- On the Oregon Coast we have many good reputable charter operations. I have not had much recent experience in this area, but I would definitely recommend Garibaldi Charters. They operate safe and comfortable boats with experienced skippers, and a wide variety of trips. (For all you hardcore fishermen they even offer burials at sea.)

Phone: 503-322-0007 or 1-800-900-HOOK(4665)

Email: fishon@garibaldicharters.com,  www.garibaldicharters.com

Northwest Trails Fishing Adventures- Trevor Smith is another of the young, but very experienced guides that we have used a lot. He is great to fish with, and consistently produces. He seasonally fishes salmon. steelhead, trout and sturgeon

Here is Fred VanNatta with a sturgeon too big to keep with Trevor in the background.

This one was caught in the Columbia River estuary and returned unharmed.

Phone: 503-540-3060  cel:503-871-3948

Email: nwfishing@msn.com

Kutzkey's Guide Service- Albert Kutzkey is a third generation fishing guide that Fred and I drew while fishing the OR/CAL Tournament February of 2007. He had won the last year's tournament and 3 of the past 4. Even with us he was in the running after the first day of fishing on the Chetco River. The next day we fished the Smith River in California, and it was blown out. We never got a bite, but I came in second for the big fish award. In the 2009 tourney, he again had the big fish in his boat, caught by former astronaught Chuck Yeager.

Denny with a nice wild winter Steelie.

Albert below kept us in the water and fishing.

Albert fishes the Klamath, Smith, Chetco, and Sacramento Rivers.

Phone: (530) 842-2229

or (53) 941-fish (3474)

email: albert@kutzkeyfishing.com

www.kutzkeyfishing.com

River Run Guide Service and custom rods- Eric Eggertsen was our guide on the Situk River in SW Alaska. He did a very good job handling the boat on a small but fast river chocked with log jams, some barely had a cut passage wide enough to get a boat through. The Situk is an incredible river. We SAW over 2,000 steelhead in a 12 mile drift, but the day before had trouble getting them to hit. Eric got us into biting fish and I caught about 20 per day in the 2 days we fished with him. These are crazy jumping, running strong fish. We had a ball. Eric does guide here in the metropolitan area, but we have not had the opportunity to fish with him here.

Here I am with another beautiful Situk River chromer.

Eric is in the Middle, while Fred mans the camera.

Phone: (503) 621-1145

Cell #:  (971) 219-4268

riverrunrods@aol.com 

     Ampro - (prop & boat repair)

                   Cumberland Center, 11497 S.E. Hwy 212

                    Clackamas OR 97015

                    503-655-9013

I went there to get a prop fixed, and ended up buying a second to carry in the boat and 2 fish holders for carrying or taking pictures. These guys do great work. I have gone back and had them build an aluminum custom box to mount a boat seat, and 2 gates for my deck on my cabin.

Fishing Gear

Sy's Jigs and Flies- Larry Sydow has built a small business into a major fishing tackle supplier. His products are first class. I can testify that they certainly catch fish!

1295 Elser Ct. S.E.   Salem OR

503-585-4877

lpsydow@comcast.net

Dee's Diamond Flashers- Dee's flashers are unique in that his assortment of sizes, colors, and either right or left spinning gives a variety of looks an angler can  throw at the fish. Also the foil center gives off a sound similar to clicking baitfish. I've used them for springers and trout with very good success. Sizes and colors are too many to list here.

Available at most sporting goods stores or at:

www.DeesdiamondFlashers.com