The "beaten path" stops well shy of this federally designated Wild and Scenic River. The crystal clear McKenzie rises in the Cascades' Clear Lake and flows through spectacular McKenzie Pass, past towering Eagle Rock, 60 miles to Eugene/Springfield where it joins the Willamette River.

The upper river hosts mainly Rainbows, to 20 inches. The lower river, near Springfield, is home to Cutthroats, to 16 inches. The average trout caught is about 10 inches.
The Oregon Department of Fish and Wildlife requires catch-and-release of native "Redsides". They stock the river with over 100,000 catchable hatchery Rainbows each year. A day's limit is five. We use some in our full-day trip's lunch fish fry...

PERSONNEL; Prince Helfrich, the first generation of this family of river guides, started fishing The McKenzie in 1925. His sons and their sons carry on this singular tradition. Each guide is state-licensed and insured. Each will provide expert fishing instruction, on request. Each is first aid certified. Each is skilled and experienced in both fishing and boat handling .

EQUIPMENT; Our high-rise rocker-bottom McKenzie drift boats were designed and built over the past eight decades for use on this favorite stream. They are superb in running whitewater and, with our able guides on the oars, maneuver precisely into the nooks and crannies where the big fish hide. We run a guide and two guests in each boat; up to 12 guests on a trip. We furnish the finest fly-fishing tackle, but guests certainly may bring their own favorites. Rods should be 8' to 9', 4-6 weight with a weight-forward floating flyline. Be sure to bring rain gear, beverages, and an Oregon fishing license. We recommend polarized glasses and a wide-brim hat.

2004 Rates

Half-day trip: $175 per boat, one or two anglers Full-day trip: $300 per boat