Next Monthly Club Meeting & Program

Tuesday, June 16, 2026 at 7:30 p.m.

Camellia Room
at Heather Farm Community Center
1540 Marchbanks Drive, Walnut Creek

Free Casting Instruction 5:30 p.m. to 7 p.m.

Doors Open at 6:30 p.m.
Meeting Starts at 7:30 p.m.
Invites to the Online Session to be
Sent to Members via Email

The Rogue River: 42 Miles of Steelhead, 
with Garrett Helfrich

Presentation to be Made in Person

The Rogue River is known for its salmon, steelhead, and rugged scenery. The river begins near Crater Lake and flows 215 miles to the ocean. We’ll follow Garrett, fourth-generation Northwest guide/outfitter, as he introduces us to 42 miles and 30-plus Class II, III, and IV rapids in pursuit of the famous Rogue steelhead. The Rogue was among the first rivers designated under the Wild and Scenic Rivers Act of 1968. Roughly half of its length is protected under this designation and managed by the Bureau of Land Management, preserving its free-flowing character and surrounding wilderness.

The 40-mile section Garrett operates on offers a unique experience not commonly found on wilderness river trips – the use of historic river lodges. These lodges provide family-style meals, hot showers, and a warm bed at the end of each day, offering a comfortable way to experience a remote and wild setting. Originally established in the early 1900s during the region’s gold mining era, many of these lodges were later grandfathered into the Wild and Scenic River designation.

Rogue fishing is as varied as the seasons; however, salmon and steelhead are the foundation of its fame. Garrett offers classic swinging, hopper/dropper, indicator and even gear options on his trips. This presentation will appeal to hardcore steel headers as well as the uninitiated. Join us for a trip on one of the West’s renowned rivers…you might find yourself angling to run the Rogue.

Garrett grew up in Springfield, Ore., graduated from Southwestern Oregon Community College and then Montana State University Billings with a Bachelor of Science in Criminal Justice. He played baseball throughout college, however as a fourth-generation river guide he returned to his roots and has been on the water ever since.

Since graduating from college, he’s continued guiding across the Pacific Northwest and expanded to hosted trips in Mexico and the Bahamas. With more than a decade on the water and special use permits in multiple regions, Garrett’s seasons now follow the best rivers and fisheries throughout the year. In the off-season, he is based in Salmon, Idaho, where he serves on the Ski Patrol at Lost Trail Powder Mountain. When not on the hill, he’s on the Salmon River chasing steelhead, one of the most incredible fisheries anywhere.

With more than a century in the industry, it’s fair to say river guiding runs in the family. Garrett’s great-grandfather, Prince Helfrich, began guiding in 1925, building a legacy rooted in a deep passion for the outdoors and for exploring the river corridors of the West. That passion helped shape both a way of life and innovation on the water, including contributions to the development of the modern drift boat designed for technical rivers. Over the years, the Helfrich name has become closely tied to a long tradition of guiding, conservation, and adventure—one that even includes time on the river with President Jimmy Carter.

You can join online or join the DVFF online or download a membership application. (The membership form requires Adobe Acrobat Reader.) Print out and complete the form and either bring it to a meeting or send it to the club mailbox (Diablo Valley Fly Fishermen, P.O. Box 4988, Walnut Creek, CA 94596). You may also pick up an application at a meeting. (You can renew your membership online by clicking this link.)

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