Beginnings

I started fishing at an early age, probably 5 or 6 years of age. While growing up in the northwest on the Alsea River, I had the privilege of fishing on close relatives' properties when once you had permission you were good for future fishing as long as you abided by the rules. Everybody had to know the pecking order with the relatives: Grandparents, women and children first of the immediate family.

I hooked my first steelhead above the town of Alsea across from Ermey Walters property and never landed the fish but had several other hook-ups on different dates. Now Ermy is known in the northwest as one of the best fisherman for salmon and steelhead you will find. Folks would pine to visit to fish with him. More about Ermey later.

While moving around a bit, I got to watch a fisherman on the Wind River in Washington when I was age 7- to 12-years old hook and catch summer steelhead with spinners. It was a site to behold as he would visit about the time of day and how to present the spinner. Although I never caught any on the Wind river, I never got tired of watching him.

Back to the Alsea.

We moved back and settled in at a place called Tidewater, Oregon, and about a quarter mile from our house was a place called Cozey Cove which is still in business. We had a boat and would go and fly fish for the sea run cut throat trout. What a hoot. This was the ages of 12 to 18.

As I got more involved with sports there was less time to fish, but every free chance I would take advantage of it. I landed my first steelhead at the top of the Hellyan on the Alsea at age 14 way too long in my eyes. I'll never forget Stubby Thissell telling me to cast to a specific spot in the river because the steelhead would come out of the heavy water and rest there. Oh, by the way, it took me three tries before I hit the spot. When I did, the 11 pound steelhead hit it like a Mack truck.

As I continued on with fishing, there was not a fish I didn't want to catch from flounder in the Yaquina Bay to the legends in the fall on the Willson River, Tillamook, Oregon. Fast forward a bit. After High school I was accepted to Pacific University and received a scholarship and aid to play baseball. Well it took some time to balance school, homework, social life, baseball, and fishing. Some how I was able to make it work.

Once settled in, I was able to learn the fisheries in the Tillamook rivers, catching spring chinook, steelhead, fall chinook, and some summer stealhead. After graduating from Pacific, I landed my first teaching job in McMinnville, Oregon.

The dedication to position took away a lot of free- and fishing-time. It was a one year position for the job with the previous teacher coming back. The next year, I landed a teaching position in Scappoosse, Oregon, where there was the Columbia River in my back yard. Needless to say, I was able to learn sturgeon fishing, shad fishing, and salmon fishing there.

The move south

After four years, my wife and I moved to Eugene. We have been here for 23 years. In the mean time, I learned the rivers and fisheries by trial and error. Personally, I think it makes sense to learn on your own. The best experience is your own. Everybody is different on how to approach philosophies, fishing and otherwise.

I got my guides license nine years ago, and I'm glad I fished and learned the rivers and techniques beforehand.

I had the privilege of fishing with two of the best fisherman in Oregon or maybe the northwest: Ermey Walters, steelhead, and Jim Wilson, arguably the best bobber fisherman on the Alsea river for fall chinook.

It was a treat to watch them and of course join them on several trips. They had a couple of things in common in that they loved to fish, share their knowledge, and most importantly have fun.

What I learned from Jim and Ermey I have tried to incorporate into a day on the river with the people that I take:

Good bait, good gear, a clean boat and most importantly always have fun...everything else will take care of itself.

Jim Martin, a.k.a. Harmless.