Riverside Guide Service offers salmon, steelhead, and sturgeon fishing charters across Washington and Oregon rivers, led by full-time fishing guide Ryan McCaughan, who has been guiding for more than 14 years and fishing Pacific Northwest waters since childhood. Locally owned and operated out of Yelm, Washington, the business specializes in knowing each river and its specific fish runs, timing trips to hit peak season on both small and large rivers.
Riverside Guide Service follows the seasonal runs throughout the year, targeting winter steelhead on the Chehalis and Cowlitz Rivers from December through March, spring Chinook on the Columbia, Cowlitz, Wind, and Willamette Rivers along with Drano Lake from March through May, and summer Chinook on the upper and lower Columbia River in June and July. Sockeye salmon fishing runs through July around the Brewster Pool, Wells Dam, and Wanapum Dam on the upper Columbia, while fall Chinook and coho fishing picks up from August through November at Buoy 10 near Astoria, the mouth of the Lewis River, Drano Lake, and the Chehalis, Cowlitz, and Lewis Rivers.
Trips run out of a larger jet sled capable of fishing up to six people at once, with a top and mister on board to keep guests comfortable during hot summer trips. Full-day charters run $250 to $275 per person plus tax depending on the fishery, with Buoy 10 season out of Astoria priced at $275 per person. Half-day charters are also available. Singles are always welcome and can be paired with another group, or guests can book the entire boat for a private trip.
A deposit is required to reserve a trip, scaled to the size of the group, and Riverside Guide Service offers a $20 military discount for active or retired service members along with gift certificates for any occasion. Ryan McCaughan is a licensed and insured Washington and Oregon fishing guide, bringing a personable, dedicated approach built around helping every guest hook into a trophy salmon or steelhead.
For anglers looking to fish Washington and Oregon’s rivers across a full season of salmon, steelhead, and sturgeon runs, Riverside Guide Service offers experienced, locally guided trips timed to when the fish are actually running.
