The making of a fly fishing outfitter

South Wasco County gained a new fly fishing outfitter this year. Local fly fishing guides Ben Stephenson and Evan Unti partnered to form Outfishing Adventures, a new permitted guide service and outfitter on the Lower Deschutes River. 

Ben Stephenson grew up in Tygh Valley on Church Avenue. When he was about 12 years old his interest in fishing began with help from his neighbors. Kenny Edwards would take Ben fishing at Pine Hollow and Rock Creek, and Norm Hyder, who lived in the former Tygh Valley Methodist Church, took Ben fly fishing on the White River. Even at an early age, Ben found himself rummaging through yard sales looking for fishing rods and tackle boxes. His family’s garden shed was filled with old rods and gear that he had been stockpiling with hopes of reviving even the rustiest lures.

Ben started working when he was twelve and continued to acquire a wide range of skills over his teens with a variety of jobs—from ranching and retail to working at a whitewater photography shop and the local fly shop. He knew from a young age that he wanted to find a job that didn’t feel like he was going to work every day. At eighteen he began working as a raft guide on the Deschutes in the summer and as a lift operator on Mount Hood in the winter. In 2015 he began working for Deschutes Angler Fly Shop year-round as retail staff and camp support while training to become one of their fly fishing guides. Over the next seven years he learned the ins and outs of the industry and gained a deep knowledge of fly fishing on the Lower Deschutes.

By 2022, Ben was ready to expand his fly fishing career. That summer he took the leap to pursue opportunities to guide on other rivers in the Pacific Northwest and form his own guide service. He spent two months in Alaska guiding on the King Salmon and Kanektok rivers. He says it was a “challenging, fun, and crazy experience,” but he doesn’t regret a minute of it. He returned to Maupin in the fall to work as a guide and camp support boat for multiple local outfitters on the Deschutes. 

In November, he and Evan formed Outfishing Adventures and received their own permit from the Bureau of Land Management to operate on the Lower Deschutes. They also worked with Mid Columbia Economic Development District to get a microloan to fund startup costs for the business.

Their mission is to “get everybody out fishing.” This vision includes working with the South Wasco County School District on a youth fly fishing program and donating guided river trips to nonprofits such as the Deschutes River Alliance and the Native Fish Society. In the future they hope to partner with nonprofits that bring youth and people with disabilities to the Lower Deschutes River. “I hope I can help kids here to embrace curiosity about the river and spark their interest in fishing and the outdoors, as well as make the sport of fly fishing accessible to anyone who is interested,” says Ben.

Find more information about the guide service and fly fishing on the Lower Deschutes River at outfishingadventures.com