ediblecentraloregon.com | 23 My guide is my friend Matt Mendes. He has been a fixture on the Deschutes River since he was taken under his grandfather’s wing upon moving from a bad situation in California. Running shuttles, packing gear, and various grunt work suitable for a 14-year-old is where he got his introduction to the river. Often waiting hours for his grandfather and clients to arrive at the takeout, he brought a fishing rod with him and learned to enjoy fishing as the groups arrived. A deep reverence for our waterways naturally developed. “The river is my church,” he says. Soon he was running the show and took over the business, working his way from the bottom.
RkJQdWJsaXNoZXIy MTcxMjMwNg==