Jim Martin
Guide Service
Testimonials
Thanks, Jim….appreciate the compliments about the boys:-). Always nice to hear that all the years of parenting/teaching had a good end result! They enjoyed you as well and went on & on about how knowledgeable and professional you were on the outing. Glad you were able to introduce them to Oregon fishing.
I was looking for a little time away from the office so I decided to take a long fishing weekend and invited my business partner Chris along to give salmon fishing in Oregon a try. Since neither of us was very familiar with this type of fishing, I jumped on the internet and started looking for a guide. Fortunately, I found Jim Martin’s website. After exchanging a few emails and getting some assurances from Jim that he was still catching good spring salmon in July, we scheduled a date and crossed our fingers. Jim met up with us in Eugene and we followed him up the McKenzie until we dropped our car at the pull-out spot. We then headed upriver where Jim took care of getting the boat in the water and the gear set up. After a couple of quick lessons, Jim moved our drift boat into position at the first hole and told us to go ahead and put our bait in the water. A salmon hit my bait within seconds and tore off across the river. After a bit of a fight (and an altercation with a branch drifting down the river) my fish came off the hook. I didn’t have much time to worry about the salmon getting away, as Chris hooked a monster salmon about 45 seconds later. After some great maneuvering by Jim, Chris caught and released a beautiful wild Chinook. The morning progressed in a similar routine – Jim would put us right on the fish, I would hook-up and lose fish while Chris kept bringing them to the boat. We ended the day with some great fish in the box and a bunch of pictures and memories. I had never used a guide on a river before, and Jim was worth his weight in gold. He put us on the money in every hole and kept us rigged up with his “special” concoction of bait. When the fish were biting, Jim stayed on top of the action without getting into the action and when the fishing slowed down, or we were in between spots, we could just sit back and enjoy the scenery while Jim worked the boat down the river. Thanks for the great time Jim.
I first met Jim Martin in 2002 when I moved from Idaho to Eugene, Oregon. I had fished a lot of different places in the country and I wanted to try the salmon and steelhead in the Western Oregon rivers. Jim was referred to me by a friend who said I wouldn’t be sorry. The first time I went salmon fishing on the Mckenzie River with Jim, I thought I had died and went to heaven. Jim put the drift boat in, rowed across the river and dropped anchor. Jim showed me exactly what to do and on the third cast I hooked a salmon. That was great but it got better. A little further down the river we came to a hole that we made six drifts through and I hooked six salmon. I have fished several times each year with Jim, in most of the rivers in Western Oregon. Jim’s equipment is the best I have seen, his knowledge of the rivers and how to fish them shows the years of experience he has. Jim is not only a great fisherman but an extremely fun person to be with. If you come to Western Oregon and want to experience a trip of a life time, give Jim a call. You won’t be sorry.
Hi Jim, Thanks so very much for an absolutely wonderful day on the river. Carman and I are still talking about it!! You are a great guide with a wonderful sense of humor! – Thanks again, Ann & Carman
Just wanted to thank you again for the great time fishing last Saturday up on the McKenzie. I might have not shown it up there but I had a lot of fun and I learned a lot from you too. Hopefully next summer I can get my brother out here in June and I will arrange a one-day trip with you down the river.
I can not thank you enough for your guided salmon fishing trip today. It was amazing! I was so impressed that I had to write you a thank you letter. My four year-old daughter had the time of her life on the river today with you. You really made her comfortable so she could have a ball on her first ever fishing trip. You are wonderful with children, especially the safety part. Your professionalism and experience made the trip absolutely everything we wanted and more!! Like how about a MONSTER 25 pound King Salmon I yanked out of the McKenzie!!! It was like magic how you knew where they were!! I kid you not!! It was all completely amazing from the jigs, to your fast water rowing (up river I might add), to your expert fishing guidance. I could not have asked for a better trip, a better guide, or a better bag of fish to take home!! That King Salmon was so big, it was all the talk at the Fish Market about how THEY don’t even get them that big!!! Thanks for making a dad and his baby girls’ wildest fishing dreams come true!! And if anyone wants the best guide and the biggest fish out there, Call Jim!!!
Let me start off by saying I HATE boat fishing. Really, truly hate it. Hours and hours on end of sitting in an uncomfortable hard plastic seat. Nothing to do. Gotta pay attention to the line and the fish so you can’t be textin’ and a-twitterin’. THEN I got suckered into going on a freezing cold Christmas Eve fishing trip on the Umpqua with Jimmy in his new boat. He paid attention to detail and got some very comfortable seats. After 7 or 8 hours of sitting on my you-know-what I was still quite comfortable. No low back pain from poor back support or anything like that. He even had a very nice radiant heater set-up that did a decent job of fighting off the 30 deg. temperatures that were prevalent that day. Don’t worry about being bored, Jimmy can tell “fish stories” with the best of them and keep you entertained. A very witty fellow even if he has to say so himself. I hauled in a real nice 15 lb. steelhead (which is what we were after so that’s a good thing). So my wife and I went again early February. This time on the Siuslaw above Mapleton. Again a great time was had by all. Even some of the sporting Steelhead that managed to give us the slip. Caught a 9 lb. keeper and had to release one Native. Had another on line for about 3 or 4 minutes that slipped the line after surfacing and doing a double back flip (which I gave a 10, by the way). Wife got a couple on line but they were elusive also. One was a wizened old man of the sea. He let her reel him in to about 20’, gave us the stink eye and took off like a shot stealing line off the reel. What he did is head straight for the bank and snagged his line around some of the flood debris and ended up breaking the line (now that’s a fish story about the one that got away, and it must have been at least 40 lbs). All said and done I’m looking forward to my next trip aboard the “Jimmy M.” Maybe salmon season, I’m thinkin’.
I had the pleasure to fish with Jim during this past Thanksgiving holiday and as an avid angler from Southern California who had never caught a salmon, I was hoping that he was going to put me on the fish. Well, he did not disappoint! I was able to the check the Coho off my list. Jim was always pleasant and all the gear and equipment was first class. He was knowledgeable and a continuous source of invaluable information regarding the fishery and the surrounding environment. An outstanding guide and person. I brought home unforgettable memories and can’t wait to do it again! Thank you Jim, ’till next time.
I have been a fisherman all my life, but have always been a bit intimidated by salmon and steelhead fishing (regs, where to fish, when to fish, what gear, etc…) However, when fishing with Jim all those questions go away. Jim is extremely knowledgeable and skilled at getting us into fish. Plus, he is quite a character and a lot of fun to hang with. I am so grateful to get to fish with this excellent, professional, quality person.
It was great fishing with you too. I hope we get a chance to do it again sometime. Always great to know a guide worth referring and hanging out with. Hoping that tight line prevail!
Hi Jim, Brandon and I had a great time, this was Brandon’s first guided trip ever and he had a great time, even though he’s only my stepson he’s a lot like me. It’s no how big or how many fish you caught. But how much fun with good people on the trip. I hope I inspire that in him. After all isn’t that is what fishing is supposed be? We couldn’t have picked a better guide and we will fish with you again. I guess that’s the best compliment I can give you. Thanks Bob and Brandon P.S. My fish is in the brine ready to smoke tomorrow Brandon is cooking his up for himself and his Dad.
We had a wonderful day of fishing with Jim. In the brief periods between beautiful fish, Jim shared his vast knowledge of the fish and the river. Great conversation, great fishing, great weather… What else could you ask for? We will definitely do it again as soon as we can! I have been fishing for twenty years on the Umpqua, where Jim took us, and learned more eight hours with Jim than two decades on my own. I can’t thank him enough for sharing his knowledge and expertise. I can’t wait to do it again!
I was referred to Jim by an other guide (imagine that) nine years ago and then never had or wanted to go fishing with anyone else in your neck of the woods. I’m an East Coster who visits Oregon once or twice a year. When I do, I call Jim every time I come out there. Jim has always put us on some fish and I have yet come home empty handed. His ability, knowledge and personality make for wonderful memories and fishing every time out. The tools of the trade: the freshest bait and tackle are always the best available. A clean state of the art drift boat with a heater (for those chilly days) and a professional atmosphere makes the time spent on the water even that much more enjoyable each and every time. I would highly recommend Jim to even the most seasoned angler.
If you’re looking to not only catch fish, but learn some tips and tricks along the way, Jim Martin of Jim Martin’s Guide Service is the perfect guide for your next adventure. Jim, Cabela’s newest Pro Staffer from the Northwest, has years of experience fishing Oregon and is focused heavily on salmon and steelhead. Passionate, obsessed, and addicted to fishing and hunting, Jim caters to many clients from across those world. During a day on the water, Jim addresses all clients’ needs while ensuring a memorable trip full of adventure and good laughs to last a lifetime.
I agree with the others and put you up on a pedestal myself. However and in the end, your deserving to be there has less to do with your in-depth knowledge and catching fish than it has to do with your willingness to working hard, having a great personality, and giving it your best. You have all those qualities…that’s what counts. Perhaps you can learn from me, but never forget that I have learned a great deal from you…both as a guide and a respected friend. My best…Bob
I relocated from Minnesota, the land of lakes, to the Oregon, the land of rivers, and I really did not know how to fish these new waters. I have been in Oregon for four years and decided to finally go fishing and to teach my son Finan, who is seven years-old, the sport. Enter Jim Martin, a great guide. Jim not only helped my son and I through the regs and rules but he also made the day very enjoyable with his knowledge and by catching fish. We landed a 12 pound salmon and some trout that my son really enjoyed. What really struck me different about Jim was his professionalism and his courteousness on the River. He made sure we did not interfere with others who were fishing and he always asked before entering an area to fish if it was OK with the fisherman who were already there. I was also very proud with the way that he handled the catch of a native salmon. We did not shore the boat to take pictures with it we did not even pull the fish out of the water. As soon as we brought it to the boat Jim pulled the hook and the fish swam away off to spawn. This was a great experience especially when I got to teach my son about native versus hatchery born. Thanks to Jim for making a great first fishing experience for my son.
Is Jim Martin one of the best (if not the best) guides for salmon and steelhead in the Pacific Northwest? The answer there is clear and the results of my fishing with him on ten trips verifies this. Just last week we limited out in four hours during a time that nobody thought much was happening on the river What sets Jim apart is his attention to detail, organization, and his great presence as a host on the boat. He not only helps you catch fish, he ensures that you have a great, comfortable time along the way. I feel so strongly about Jim’s ability that I don’t hesitate to bring people who have never been fishing for a trip. He’s always patient, funny, and the look on them bringing a fish in for the first time is priceless. You can’t go wrong here- Jim’s one of the best.
We want to thank you for a terrific day on the river – we had a ball . We understand that this is a difficult time of year to find fish. You so very thoroughly worked the river to ensure that we experienced the thrill of “catching” vs just fishing. You definitely went the extra mile, and we appreciate it! We enjoyed your sense of humor and respect your knowledge, expertise and how deeply you care about the fish and the rivers. Thank you for a great experience!
I have fished for Steelhead and Salmon with Jim Martin for several years. I always fish with guides and do 15-20 trips a year. I have also fished with 50+ guides for many types of fish. Jim is at the top of my list of guides as he is always pleasant, easy going, well prepared, and knowledgeable. His equipment is top notch, clean and ready to go. It is always a pleasure to fish with him.
National Sporting Conservation Council Director, Idaho Department of Fish and Game, 1997-1999 “I’m 66 years-old and have been hunting and fishing for more than 56 of those years. I was a river/fishing and big game outfitter/guide in Idaho’s Salmon River Country in the late 1960s and early 1970s. I’ve hunted and fished with guides in Alaska, the lower 48 states, and Canada and with stalkers and ghillies in Scotland. I know what guides are supposed to do and I’ve been with some of the best—Jim Martin among them. Jim knows the rivers he fishes and their fish and he works hard, ethically, and effectively to get them. Most of all, fishing with Jim is fun. We’ll be fishing another Oregon River together soon.”