Meet the Crew
Chris O'Donnell
Fly Fishing Guide
Chris is a native Oregonian, born and raised just west of Portland in the heart of steelhead and salmon country. When Chris was old enough to wrap his fingers around a cork handle, his Dad gave him his first fishing pole... an early 80's Fenwick River Runner. With this rod, Chris explored Oregon's northern coastal rivers and discovered wild winter steelhead. Chris decided he was some day going to be a fishing guide. Chris landed his first job on the Deschutes at age 18. Chris now owns and operates River Runner Outfitters, named after his first "fishing pole." Chris is on the pro staff of Beulah Fly Rods and Hatch Fly Reels, and has been guiding the Deschutes full time since 2003. Chris prefers spey casting for steelhead and upstream dry fly fishing for rainbow trout... but as one of his clients put it, "he is just a real guy who loves to fish."
Nick Rowell
Fly Fishing Guide
Oregon not only grows great steelhead, but great steelhead guides as well. Nick Rowell is originally from Dallas, Oregon. Having grown up near the Siletz River on the Oregon Coast, Nick became a steelhead fisherman at a young age. Nick graduated from Oregon State University with a degree in fisheries and wildlife. Nick's guiding experience includes a summer guiding fly out trips around Lake Iliamna (AK), two seasons chasing 'bows and Kings on the Kanektok River (AK), three years of steelhead guiding on the Clackamas, Siletz, and northern coastal rivers, and is currently guiding the Lower Deschutes for trout and steelhead. Nick lives near Portland, Oregon, with the Clackamas River in his back yard, and just a short cast away from the Deschutes. Nick and Chris met working together in a fly shop in downtown Portland, Oregon. With a strong background in spey casting to anadromous fish, Nick is one of the most well rounded, laid back, yet technical fly fishing guides you will find.
Nate Koenigsknecht
Fly Fishing Guide
After a youth spent in the Midwest chasing trout, steelhead, salmon, bass, pike, and all manner of game fish, Nate was drawn to Oregon to pursue the native steelhead of the Pacific Northwest. For the past ten years Nate has dedicated his life to steelhead, salmon and trout angling with a fly. While Nate is beyond proficient with a single handed rod, his obvious talent lies in the various styles of spey casting. Nate is an extremely talented angler with a positive attitude and infectious enthusiasm towards the rivers, fish, and natural world. Nate is a patient instructor who would rather help his clients fool a fish than catch one himself. Because of his highly desirable spey casting and teaching abilities, Nate is on the CF Burkheimer Pro Staff and is a casting instructor for CF Burkheimer Spey Schools. Nate is the newest member of the River Runner guide team. Chris and Nate met in 2002 at a Deschutes River fly fishing rendezvous sponsored by Burkheimer Fly Rods and Westfly online magazine. Chris immediately noticed Nate's fishing and casting expertise... "the guy is down right fishy!"
Ben Hedberg
Fly Fishing Guide
A seasoned outdoorsman, skilled boatman, and passionate fisherman, Ben Hedberg is what every serious angler wants in a guide. Ben and Chris have been chasing steelhead together for a decade. Having fished literally hundreds of hours with Ben, floating many northwest rivers, and lots of scotch inspired fly tying sessions, it is only natural for Chris to turn to Ben for help guiding. Ben graduated from Oregon State University with a degree in environmental sciences in 2001. Ben is a software engineer by trade, bringing an analytical approach to fly fishing. If there are trout or steelhead around, Ben will find them and figure out how to catch them. Ben guides trout and steelhead on the Deschutes River, and winter steelhead on the Sandy and North Oregon Coast rivers. When Ben is not on the river, he likes sports and bird hunting with his German Shorthair, River.
Michael Fritz
Chef - Bio coming soon!
Cairn Young
Business Development
Originally from Yreka, California, Cairn spent most of her youth in Bend, Oregon. Growing up in a fishing and hunting family, Cairn is at home in the outdoors. Her stepfather, Bruce Fox, has been fly fishing and chukar hunting the Lower Deschutes for over thirty years from his trusty jet sled. Cairn left Bend after high school and entered the corporate world in downtown Portland, Oregon. With over a decade of experience in marketing and business development, Cairn is responsible for the growth and success of River Runner Outfitters. Her father, Jim Nelson, is a successful district manager for a large insurance corporation in the San Francisco Bay area, providing Cairn with a rare combination of outdoor and business experience. From invoicing, to bookkeeping, to helping guests plan their itineraries, Cairn is behind the scenes making the wheels turn. Outside of "work" and fishing Cairn enjoys music, wine, hiking, skiing, traveling, and playing with the dogs on the beach.
PO Box 42, Maupin, OR 97037 / 541.978.0152 / Email / 
