Central Oregon born and raised, Cory has been guiding the Deschutes for over two and a half decades. He spends the majority of his winters fishing and improving steelhead habitat working for the Oregon Fish and Wildlife’s Trout Creek Project. A self-described “dry-fly nut,” Cory has a nose for rising fish and a knack for finding new spots where trout like to take a deftly-placed fly.

When the Deschutes season finally winds down, Cory shifts gears and goes to work for the Oregon Department of Fish and Wildlife. So really it is back to the river. Spring and winter he operates the smolt and adult steelhead trap on Trout Creek and helps with redd counts. This on the ground habitat work helps the future of the Deschutes fishery and brings him full circle on his love and quest for steelhead knowledge.