Providing the most exceptional experiences possible, centered around the best and most unique anadromous fisheries in the world.
Fish the Swing is a fly fishing guide service owned and operated by Jeff Hickman, specializing in two-handed rod fly fishing for steelhead in northern Oregon’s best rivers and now British Columbia too.
In our 40+ years of combined experience fishing these rivers we have gained a vast knowledge of the fish that inhabit them and how to catch them on the swing, the best way to do it! Using a jet boat, drift boat or raft to access the best water, all fishing is done while wading. Fish The Swing has the unique ability to use both your existing skills and teach you new skills to give you the best chance at catching fish while giving you the best experience possible on the water. With our laid back style of teaching and no nonsense approach to guiding and fishing, you are certain to learn a ton in a day spent on the water with us. We feel that you will agree, if its your first day with us or your 100th, it will be a blast. So come on out and Fish The Swing with us.
We are a young, fun, professional and energetic company. We have a deep commitment to customer service and our staff is the best in the business. The entire crew has a sense of ownership of Fish The Swing, that is apparent while you are here with us. We ensure that as a guest, you'll feel like an old friend coming for a visit, not just another customer. We pride ourselves as green minded and we take the conservation of our natural resources very seriously. We are all here because this place is incredible. We love sharing our appreciation, excitement and sense of awe with you.
We have a strong attention to detail that is noticeable throughout our operations. We serve the best food possible and we use the best equipment possible. State of the art boats, full selection of loaner spey rod setups, custom flies, tents, cots, BBQ's and camp stoves. We aim to make the best impression from your arrival and work to maintain it throughout your trip.
Jeff Hickman
Owner/Head Guide
Passions: wild anadromous fish, the environment, good food and good company.
History: Jeff taught himself to fly fish and tie flies when he was 10. Growing up in a lodge on Mt Hood that he helped his mom manage, he saved up his housekeeping wages to buy his first Spey rod at 12. Hitchhiking to the river before and after school, he was doomed to a life of fishing addiction. The strong addiction lead to fly shop employment, guiding in Oregon and Alaska and even management at a bonefishing lodge in the Bahamas. Jeff started Fish The Swing in '11 to show his commitment to "swing only" and now owns and operates three well respected and sought after fishing/guiding programs in Oregon as well as Kimsquit Bay Lodge on the Dean River in British Columbia.
Kathryn Hickman
Owner/Administrative
Passions: The mountains, yoga, hiking, snowboarding, being outside and near rivers and oceans.
History: Kathryn grew up in Edmonds, WA on Puget Sound. The coastal northwest childhood engrained her with a sense of adventure and travel wonder lust. After college in Ellensburg, she relocated to Hood River, Oregon for a career at DaKine. This is where she met Jeff. On a boat trip into the Kitlope Heritage Conservancy Park, Jeff proposed. After getting married they decided to join forces and run the business together, two weeks paid vacation a year just wasn't enough, why not just do vacation for work?
Barrett Ames
Guide
Passions: Rivers and Oceans, and the wild fish that live in them. Road trips, hiking and good food.
History: Barrett grew up on a river in Connecticut and taught himself to fly fish using a spinning rod standing in the driveway. Opening day of trout season was considered a holiday at his family home. This passion for fishing, the water and being outside has never left Barrett and has shaped his life. From a degree in Fisheries Science at Virginia Tech to guiding in western Alaska, the Florida Keys, and on the Kamchatka Peninsula in Russia, he is never far from the water. Barrett found his way to Oregon to pursue his biggest passion: wild steelhead and all the incredible rivers Oregon has to explore and to protect.
