About Steelhead Outfitters
Steelhead Outfitters is a year-round fly fishing guide service owned and operated by Sam Sickles, a Hood River-based angler with decades of experience on the rivers of Oregon and the Columbia River Gorge. Specialising in steelhead and trout, Sam runs guided trips on the Deschutes, Klickitat, Sandy, and other premier Pacific Northwest rivers, with a particular focus on swinging flies for wild steelhead — the holy grail of Northwest fly fishing.
Trip formats range from single-day wade trips and drift boat floats to multi-day jet boat expeditions on the lower Deschutes River, where anglers camp riverside and fish remote water that receives far less pressure than road-accessible stretches. Sam tailors each trip to the angler's experience level, from first-time fly casters to seasoned spey enthusiasts. He provides all rods, reels, flies, and terminal tackle, and his jet boat gives access to steelhead water that walk-and-wade anglers simply cannot reach.
What makes Steelhead Outfitters stand out is Sam's deep knowledge of seasonal fish movements and river conditions across multiple watersheds. He shifts between rivers throughout the year to follow the best fishing, and his multi-day Deschutes trips are consistently booked well in advance by repeat clients. For Hood River visitors who want a genuine Oregon fly fishing experience — not a tourist operation — Steelhead Outfitters is the real deal.
