Get to know your guides.
With over two decades of combined guiding experience on the Lower Deschutes River, we are excited about educating new and experienced anglers alike. We hope every angler goes home from one of our trips with more confidence in their fly fishing abilities and are excited to return.
We are both advocates for the health of the Lower Deschutes and passionate about educating anglers on the best ways to enjoy the river and the art of fly fishing without harming the fish or the ecosystem. Each year we donate guided trips to the Deschutes River Alliance, a nonprofit working to restore cooler, cleaner water to river.
Ben Stephenson
I grew up in Tygh Valley, a small town of 200 residents just ten miles north of Maupin, and it’s where I found my love for the outdoors.
At ten years old I began fishing the local streams within walking distance of my home. If I wasn’t out fishing, I was talking my neighbor’s ears off over coffee and prying them for information on how to improve my angling skills or a blues lick on guitar. In high school I started making my way to the Deschutes on weekends and after school to chase hungry trout and raft the river with friends.
Over the last eight years I worked at Deschutes Angler Fly Shop as a camp host, fly fishing guide, and on the shop floor. During this time you could find me in the shop giving anglers friendly advice on fishing in Maupin, hosting multi-day camp trips, teaching fly fishing classes, and guiding anglers into prime holding water for trout, steelhead, and bass. I’ve also guided anglers on the Upper King Salmon and Kanektok rivers in Alaska and on the Grande Ronde River here in Oregon.
I have a passion for cooking that you will see showcased in my camp meals. I know all too well how much of a difference it can make having a good meal after a long day of fishing.
Whether you’re looking for tips on saltwater fishing the flats, trying to tie complex size 18 trout dries, or need help making a red wine pan sauce for your steak, I can help.
Evan Unti
My earliest, and most fond memories are of fishing with my dad on the lush, mossy banks of Oregon’s western rivers. Having grown up outside of Portland, OR we were never far from excellent water. I received my first fly rod for my 14th birthday and began chasing trout on the rivers and streams surrounding Mt. Hood. My passion intensified when I started college at Southern Oregon University where I was introduced to spey casting and encountered my first steelhead. From that first pull, I was over the top addicted and began a year round pursuit; an addiction that nearly led me to drop out of college countless times. But, I persevered; graduating with honors whilst simultaneously honing my true passion…. It is a balancing act that I utilize to this very day.
I moved to Maupin, Oregon in 2007 to work and guide for the Deschutes Angler Fly Shop and quickly fell in love with the area. I have honed my skills as an angler, guide and instructor, as well as grown into my roles as a husband and father. When I’m not guiding, I’m teaching my daughter how to read the water, how to swing flies and identify aquatic insects. I also work in the South Wasco School District’s special education department, and do my best to help my wife run our 12 acre sustainable farm. But, at day's end, my heart is on the river. I am a technically minded angler in all facets; from casting to presentation, to how to approach a given piece of water; I strive to not only teach technique, but to provide a conceptual framework. A framework far more valuable than mechanics; the ability to assess the surroundings, attune to the environment, hone one’s instincts and the confidence to excel. Catching fish is the easy part. I thrive as an instructor; teaching both new and seasoned anglers every aspect, including the subtle nuances, which is not something you can expect from every guide. Ben and I are both advanced in this area. To call my desire to leave my clients feeling exponentially more capable a passion is an understatement. It is my utmost mission to give you digestible knowledge to approach any run with confidence. From kids, to folks who are enjoying their final days on the water, these experiences make up a vast majority of my most treasured memories, and I’m eager to make many more of them.