Welcome to “The Guide Test.” No one beats up gear like the guides who are on the water day in and day out. In this series, we will get a full look into some badass guides, their programs, and a full gear review of products we send to them for testing.
Meet the owners of Little Creek Outfitters, Marty and Mia Sheppard. From snowboarding to fishing, the Sheppards have dove head first into guiding in the Pacific Northwest. River bass in the summer and steelhead in the fall and winter, they live for fly fishing. In our exclusive feature, “The Guide Test,” we delve into a conversation with the Sheppards, explore the intricacies of fly fishing the PNW, and hear about their thoughts on the Grundéns Vector Collection.
Initial Background:
We are Mia and Marty Sheppard; we own Little Creek Outfitters, a year-round fishing guide service in Oregon. Marty and I met snowboarding back in the 90s, and we started fishing together in 1996. We got married in 2006 and have a daughter named Tegan, who is 16. She loves art and theater. We also have 2 dogs: Eddy is a Small Munsterlander, and Gotcha is a potcake from South Andros, Bahamas. We support the Deschutes River Alliance and love to take people fishing!
We live in Maupin, Oregon, based on the lower Deschutes River, where we pursue steelhead and trout. We also spend significant time guiding day trips and multi-day float trips on the Grande Ronde, John Day, and Sandy Rivers. Our targets are smallmouth bass, trout, and steelhead.
Our operation is a home-based mom-and-pop business. What’s special about our operations is that we specialize in outfitting anglers for multi-day river trips on wild rivers. We believe in the total trip experience. Together, we have over 22 years of experience on the rivers we guide; trust that you will eat well, fish hard, and have fun!
Mia – I started guiding steelhead trips around 2007 on the John Day River. We acquired a Deschutes River SRP (Special Recreational Permit) in 2013, and that’s when I started doing steelhead trips on the Deschutes. What I love most is being out there on the river and sharing it with others. Catching a steelhead is just the bonus.
Marty – I started guiding in 2001. My favorite thing to do is target summer steelhead on a dry line and classic fly. Feeling the tug of a wild steelhead hitting a swung fly is the best feeling in the world, and sharing that experience with others is even better.
The Pacific Northwest offers a diversity like no other for river fishing. Trout, steelhead, and smallmouth bass provide just about everything anglers could ask for in terms of fly fishing. You can nymph for trout one day, rip poppers for bass the next, and round out a trip swinging flies for steelhead. That’s what we love about guiding and showing people these systems; the diversity is unmatched.
Steelhead our are bread and butter. The mystery behind their life history, intersecting at a single point where angler and fish meet through fly fishing, is magical and what brings us back time and time again. These tricky fish can be tough for people who do not have the time to commit to learning the river. That is where we come in. The biggest thing we find new anglers struggle with is finding great water and fishing it with consistency. Every cast counts, so we take pride in putting clients on good water and teaching them how to swing flies properly.
Initial Impressions–The Vector Line:
As full-time guides, quality gear we can count on is essential to our livelihood. We constantly adapt to changing conditions and demand gear that can do the same. Grundéns has built a reputation for building exceptional gear, and we know what to expect. In other words, we trust Grundéns.
When Grundéns released the new Vector Collection, we were eager to check it out. The PNW is notorious for rain and less-than-ideal conditions when fishing. Protecting ourselves and our clients from the elements is our number one priority. We need gear that keeps us dry and comfortable for long days, both in and out of the water. The Vector Collection delivers just that, with a comfortable wader, boot, and jacket that are designed with the serious angler in mind.
But with that, we need durability to last countless trips. The material in the Vector line is bomb-proof. It is designed for the active angler who spends many hard days on the water and brush. Through countless challenging miles, both wading and hiking, everything has held up. Having fished these for the last six months, we feel more than confident in outfitting ourselves and our clients with this collection.
Field Testing:
We fish in rivers with challenging terrain. Rimrock basalt ledges and large jagged boulders make for tough wading conditions on gear. We also battle sagebrush country, which is full of cheatgrass, blackberry bushes, and hackberry thicket. Whacking through that brush and wading the ledges is a daily grind, but it pays off in chrome.
The Grundéns Vector collection has met all our demands and more throughout the season. Built with durability and longevity in mind, anglers have a product they can depend on. Below are our thoughts on each piece in the collection.
Vector Wader:
Mia- Out of the box the first thing I noticed was the nylon construction, perfect for improved durability in rugged terrain. Marty and I quickly confirmed this on the water along with a host of other features. These Vector Waders excel in terms of flexibility and breathability. We were able to comfortably fish, hike, and float in hot or cold all day long. It is a winning formula, for sure!
After guiding with them for the last six months, they have passed the durability test. With the Vector Waders on, we bushwack through blackberry vines daily and load and unload dry boxes, coolers, and camp gear. The mobility and durability combine to create a performance-based wader capable of anything we throw at it. I’ve even run into sharp slate edges, which have ruined other waders before, with no punctures or tears. They are simply built to last.
Vector Wading Jacket:
Marty – The Vector Jacket is an affordable, waterproof, breathable jacket that is useful on cold, rainy days when you want to stay warm and dry. It offers 20K/15K waterproof performance and has tech features that will benefit all anglers. Even when it’s dry out, I find myself reaching for the jacket while running the jet boat in the early morning to stay warm.
My favorite feature of the Vector Jacket is the two zipper fleece-lined handwarmer pockets, which keep my hands warm. Cold and wet days are the norm when steelhead fishing, so having a place to warm and dry your hands is a must. In addition, the large chest pockets hold fly boxes and other guide tools. Strategically placed high on the wader, they keep my gear dry and out of the water.
Bedrock Wading Boot:
Mia – Marty and I paired the Vector Collection with the Bedrock Wading Boot. Out of the box, the first thing we noticed was how comfortable these boots were. With no break-in period, something uncommon in other boots, we were able to hit the river right away. They are also easy to lace up, creating a firm connection between your boot and wader. With jagged rocks and rough terrain, this keeps us planted and comfortable fishing. The soles are supportive, and the boots run true to size.
Over the past six months, I’ve really come to appreciate their durability. Hiking several miles a day through rough terrain is not easy on boots. The Banksides still look new and deliver the support and stability we need to tackle this tricky terrain.
Final Review:
As steelhead season begins to pick up, we are dialing in our gear and getting ready to host clients. The impending weather and tricky wading conditions of our home waters mean only the best in terms of waders, boots, and jackets. Our main criteria for evaluating products that make the cut are durability, comfort, and affordability. With over 100 years of making gear for fishermen and women, we knew we would be getting premium products. The Vector Collection delivers just that but at a fraction of the cost of other manufacturers. Paired with fast delivery, environmentally conscious packaging, and thoughtful designs, the Grundéns Vector Collection checks all these boxes and more. It has become a staple in our gear kit for ourselves and our clients.
Durability:
Comfort:
Price:
Utility:
Warranty:
Marty and Mia Sheppard, seasoned steelhead fishing guides, call Maupin, Oregon, home. There, they can often be found swinging flies for ocean-run fish on the lower Deschutes River. To discover more about the Sheppards and their fishing program or to schedule a trip with them, click HERE. For further information about Grundéns Vector Line, click HERE.
