Renton River Adventures A Family’s Passion for the Rivers of Oregon
By Andy Archer
A
The Rentons: David, Debbie, Knut & Dillon. Photo: Arian Stevens
t 27 years old, Dillon Renton has already established himself as one of the finest fly fishing guides in Oregon whose experience far exceeds his age. I first met Dillon Renton in 7th grade. Then, fly fishing had been the center of my universe for only two years, and the number of flies I had lost far eclipsed the number of trout I had caught. I vividly remember standing there as a 12-year old, feeling baffled, if not perplexed, as Dillon recounted landing his first steelhead on the fly at age seven and rowing the Deschutes River’s notorious Whitehorse Rapid at age 11. When we got around to talking flies, he couldn’t remember tying his first because he was, literally, still in diapers. In the following years, Dillon and I became great friends and steadfast fishing buddies. With each new adventure on the river, my initial skepticism about his accomplishments were proven wrong time and time again. When I met the rest of the Renton family, everything came full circle. It began to make perfect sense. He was the real deal, a kid that went from the crib straight to the river and never looked back. Dillon’s parents, David and Debbie Renton, built Renton River Adventures on a foundation of passion, hard work and astute attention to detail. David and Debbie are the ultimate outfitting pair and they shared their love of Pacific Northwest rivers with their two children, Dillon and his younger
brother Knut, from the moment the boys were old enough to take their first steps. David’s knowledge of fly fishing, rowing and guiding the rivers of the region spans more than 30 years, and through his mentorship, Dillon blossomed into David’s preferred guiding partner by age 16. David and Dillon’s shared passion for putting clients on fish, and in the process taking instruction and education to the next level, has not only earned them the distinction of being Sage Elite Pros but also made them Fly Water Travel’s go-to outfitters for Oregon’s Deschutes and Umpqua rivers. Debbie Renton’s gifts shine brightest in camp with cooking and logistics. She, assisted by Knut, acts as the camp host and chef on Renton River Adventures’ trips. Debbie is an extraordinary cook, and her skills are deliciously clear in the culinary wonders she whips up under the canopy of a riverside dining tent. Whether it’s a rack of lamb paired with a Caprese salad or king salmon accented by a mint pea puree, Debbie serves it up with style and a smile. All of the Rentons contribute their unique skills, warm personalities and accommodating attitude to making client experiences on the river unforgettable. For them, this isn’t a career — it’s what they were born to do. They are living their dream, and luckily for us, they are eager and willing to share it with the rest of us.
WWW.FLYWATERTRAVEL.COM
RENTON RIVER ADVENTURES Below, you’ll find an overview of Renton River Adventures’ key programs across Oregon. Umpqua Winter Basecamp
From January through March, Oregon’s famed North Umpqua River transforms into a brilliant winter steelhead system that is home to some of the largest anadromous specimens in the West. To help share the wonders of this impressive river with guests, the Rentons have secured a large rental home where up to four guests can each enjoy single occupancy rooms and home-cooked meals. This homestay venue is very comfortable and positioned strategically close to the fishing grounds. The program is ideally suited for those keen to target winter steelhead with swung flies while wading the famous “Fly Only” section, as well as with indicators and swung flies in the lower reaches of the river out of drift boats. For those that want the chance at a wild winter steelhead of a lifetime, this is the venue. Rate: $2,250 per person for a 3 night/3 day package Umpqua Summer Basecamp
Following years of work at his family’s camp on the Deschutes River, Dillon created a similar camp in the woods of the North Umpqua. With comfortable wall tents, a camp kitchen and a firering, the Rentons host up to four ambitious summer steelhead anglers during July and early August. Guests will fish a split day schedule, concentrating on raising summer steelhead to dry flies during the prime low light hours. For hard-charging anglers keen on upping their game, few programs compare. Rate: $1,950 per person for a 3 night/3 day package
Lower Deschutes Float Trips
The lower Deschutes River is a desert oasis that roars it’s way through a vast, scenic canyon. The waterway has the distinction of being one of Oregon’s best rainbow trout fisheries, as well as a fantastic venue for summer steelhead. The Rentons offer a variety of multi-day float trips that cumulatively cover all 100 miles of the lower Deschutes, where depending on the season, anglers can target steelhead, trout, or both on the same trip. The Rentons are well known for setting up some of the most comfortable camps on the river. Guests float into fully equipped camps where they will enjoy gourmet meals and spacious, double occupancy wall tents, all within a stone’s throw of fantastic water. Rate: $2,000 per person for a 3 night/4 day package based on 2 to 4 anglers Lower Deschutes Steelhead Jetboat Camp
For anglers serious about targeting summer steelhead and improving their anadromous fishing skills, the Lower Deschutes Jetboat Camp is an ideal program. To make these trips possible, Dillon and David operate under All Star Rafting’s permit to enable jetboat trips of the highest quality. These trips offer the strategic advantage of allowing guests to chase shaded runs both up and downstream of camp. Multi-day trips are available beginning the third week of August and run through November. These trips are best suited for groups of two to five anglers. Rate: $2,400 per person for a 3 night/4 day package based on 2 to 3 anglers
1-800 -552-2729