Big things will start to happen in 2024 with the construction of the new and improved McKenzie River Discovery Center, which will be a world-class interpretive center highlighting the McKenzie River’s fish and ecology, cultural history, and geology and hydrology.
Named after the Pine Marten, Marten Rapids is a wild ride, but guide Doug Caven makes it look easy. Marten Rapids sits right above the Wayfarer Resort, home of the McKenzie Masters Invitational.
Fur trader and explorer Donald MacKenzie was part of John Jacob Astor’s Pacific Fur Company. Mackenzie and his team trekked across the United States in search of the little known Columbia River in an effort to expand Astor’s fur trade with the Pacific Rim. After staking claim to Fort Astoria in 1812, MacKenzie continued his exploration efforts throughout the Pacific Northwest and traveled up the Columbia and Willamette Rivers. The party discovered a blue-water tributary of the Willamette River which was ultimately named the MacKenzie’s Fork, later the McKenzie River, in MacKenzie’s honor.
Oregon’s McKenzie River winds and flows 90 miles from its headwaters that originate at the outflow of Clear Lake in the Cascade Range, which is part of the volcanic Pacific Ocean’s Ring of Fire. The excellent quality of its water and fish habitat supports a variety of fish species including three native wild trout—rainbow, bull and cutthroat trout—as well as naturalized steelhead and Chinook salmon. The fishery is also supported by the McKenzie Hatchery for spring Chinook, and the Leaburg Fish Hatchery that raises and releases rainbow trout, summer steelhead, and Chinook. In 1988 the first 12.7 miles of the upper McKenzie River was designated as part of the National Wild and Scenic Rivers System and is managed by the US Forest Service and Willamette National Forest.
A perfect example of a McKenzie River Redside just prior to its safe release. Kelsey Helfrich image.
This amazing watershed supports farms, forests, critical fish populations, recreation opportunities and supplies drinking water for area residents. It’s no wonder that back in 1941 Roderick Haig-Brown said “Oregon’s McKenzie River is a perfect type of Pacific Northwest trout stream”.
With the McKenzie River being such a pristine and vital resource to its diverse community it takes careful and responsible stewardship to help maintain and safeguard its watershed and world class fishery…. Enter the McKenzie Masters and the McKenzie Masters Foundation, whose motto is “Each gives back more to the resource than they take”.
The McKenzie Masters
The McKenzie Masters are a group of like-minded fishing guides and river enthusiasts who felt the McKenzie River needed a guardian providing essential stewardship and a voice at the table for all things “McKenzie River.” The group organized back in 1990 and held their first fundraising event which was led by McKenzie River Guides Ken Helfrich, Steve Schaefers, Jeff Helfrich, and Sisters, Oregon’s ‘The Fly Fisher’s Place’ owner and noted author Harry Teel. Fast forward 33 years and the McKenzie Masters are still sheparding efforts to keep the McKenzie River a healthy and vital fishing and recreational watershed. Coincidently, this three-man dynasty of Helfrich, Schaefers, and Helfrich is still an active today.
Fishing, Food, and Fellowship sums up the McKenzie Masters Invitational.
Today the McKenzie Masters operates with a ten-person board entrusted to carry out their chartered mission, however, after the 2020 Holiday Farm Fire their goals shifted to focus on the exigent needs in-and-around the river caused by the wildfire.
For the last 33 years the primary annual fundraiser for the McKenzie Masters is the McKenzie Masters Invitational. Past and present benefactors of this fundraiser include The McKenzie River Trust, McKenzie River Discovery Center, McKenzie Watershed Council, McKenzie Guides Association, McKenzie High School Outdoor Education, and Eddyline Entertainment; the creator of Oregon’s Boat, The McKenzie River Drift Boat.
The McKenzie River Trust was formed in 1989 to protect critical habitats and scenic lands in the McKenzie River basin. The group partners with land owners, members, foundations, and partner organizations like the McKenzie Masters, to protect land and water within the watershed. To date they have helped protect 7,000 acres, planted more than one-million trees and shrubs, and restored more than 25 miles of salmon bearing streams. The McKenzie River Discovery Center sits on a 46 acre site that is the original location of the McKenzie Hatchery that was established in 1907. It currently includes the old hatchery building, the superintendents house, and an auxiliary building where legendary boat builder Keith Steele use to build boats. The site also includes its historic hatchery rearing pond which is currently being restored and when finished will be stocked with fish for special events and onsite viewing. During the Holiday Farm Fire approximately 2/3rds of the property suffered damage, but luckily the primary structures and assets survived. Big things will start to happen in 2024 with the construction of the new and improved McKenzie River Discovery Center, which will be a world-class interpretive center highlighting the McKenzie River’s fish and ecology, cultural history, and geology and hydrology. McKenzie River Discovery Center President Gene Jones is excited about the future, “Our goal is to educate and encourage future stewards of the river.” The Center will feature evolving content central to its three keynote themes, and its interactive exhibits will use virtually reality, augmented reality, and other state-of-the-art technologies to enhance the experience. “Imagine an exhibit where you’re rowing a drift boat down Martin Rapids, or fly casting to a raising trout… we’re talking real state-of-the-art interactive learning tools,” shares Jones. The new McKenzie River Discovery Center is schedule to open its doors in late 2025.
Guide Steve Schaefers boat tells it all: McKenzie River Trust, McKenzie Masters Invitational, Oregon Guide Outfitter, and member, McKenzie River Guides Association. Brian Hoyt image.
McKenzie River Guides Association
The McKenzie River Guides Association started in 1931 with a simple mission, “To provide quality river trip and protecting our river.” Legendary names like Prince Helfrich; Milo, Dayton, York, and Carey Thomson; John and Roy West; and Rube and Howard Montgomery were founding members of the guides association. Veltie Pruitt joined in 1940. Back in the day the association also coordinated the famous McKenzie River Whitewater Parade. Today, five generations later, legacy names like Helfrich and Pruitt still appear on the list of active guides and associate members.
The association is govern by a charter, bylaws, and a board and officers, and boasts 70 active guides that provide drift boat and rafting trips on Oregon’s McKenzie River. And although its stated mission is still in-line with its founding fathers, it’s much more diversified today, focusing on its guides, the river, and the fish. They do this by being politically involved locally and at the state level. Past guide association president and second generation McKenzie River Guide Doug Caven shares, “We have a strong voice for conservation, the fishery, and everything else that goes on out here on the river!”
River safety is also a priority for the McKenzie River Guides, and making sure the river is safe to run is a never ending challenge. Fallen trees blocking passage or creating dangerous sweepers and strainers are one of the biggest reoccurring problems, and the guides work diligently to maintain a safe route. They also communicate the known hazards to the Marine Board, Sheriff’s Office, and other guides, and post the known hazards on their Facebook page. The association also hosts their award winning Life Jacket (PFD) lending program at area boat ramps, and the annual McKenzie River Wooden Boat Festival. Note, if you need a McKenzie River Guide go to www.mckenzieguides.com and click on the “Guide” tab.
McKenzie River Guide Doug Caven is a second generation McKenzie River Guide and long standing, McKenzie Master participant, and an expert on the sticks.
Holiday Farm Fire and Restoration Fund
The McKenzie River valley suffered a tragic fire in early September of 2020 dubbed the Holiday Farm Fire. The fire consumed over 173,393 acres, destroyed over 450 structures, and left an impact to the area that will take years to fully recover from. In the immediate aftermath the community, the watershed, and the McKenzie River fishery faced an uncertain future… “But the community is strong” exclaimed Kelsey Helfrich, a fourth-generation fishing guide on the McKenzie River and outfitter.
“We were all traumatized after the fire,” explains Kelsey… “The fire was certainly unexpected, but we as a family, and as a community wanted to get involved the best we could”. The Helfrich name is unquestionably synonymous within the McKenzie River valley, serving over six-generations and recently celebrating their 101st year guiding on the river, so it didn’t take long for the phones to ring, “What can we do… How can we help,” shared Kelsey.
“It was so special to see people from all over the country pledging their support,” and with the help of the McKenzie Masters Foundation, a 501 C (3), they started the McKenzie River Restoration Fund with the goal to restore river navigability, to put the guides back to work, kickstart the river economy, and enhance recreation opportunities. “We were bringing in vital funds, and we felt comfortable entrusting the McKenzie Masters to provide the necessary oversight when it came to project support and funding.” The McKenzie Masters Foundation partnered with the McKenzie River Trust, the McKenzie River Discovery Center, the Eugene Water and Electric Board, the McKenzie CDC, and the McKenzie River Guides Association. To date, more than $100,000 of donations has been received for the McKenzie River Restoration Fund.
The author loves his Bamboo, and shows off a nice McKenzie River Redside caught below Finn Rock.
The McKenzie Masters Invitational
As a newly invited guest to the 2023 McKenzie Masters Invitational, which is only open to 32 participants, I was not certain what I was getting myself into, but I was eager to participate and learn more about this group and its stewardship of the McKenzie River; the river I cut my teeth on as a self-taught 10-year old fly angler, fly tyer, and rod builder. The McKenzie Masters Invitational includes three nights, with one-day of guided fishing and one-day of golf at the nearby Tokatee Golf Club. All meals and a hosted bar are also provided throughout the event.
Leading into the event I understood I would need to bring an item or items for the auction, a key element for the annual fundraiser. Knowing I’d be networking with fly anglers, I decided to build a custom Rainshadow Unity Olympic Green 8 ½’ 4-weight fly rod wrapped in green and gold, since the Eugene/ Springfield area is home of the Oregon Ducks. I was nervously pleased with how the rod turned out and hoped it would catch a decent final bid.
The events epicenter is located at the Wayfarer Resort, which is located just below the famed Marten Rapids and accessed by driving through the historic Goodpasture Rd. Covered Bridge, one of the most photographed covered bridged in the country. The resort sits along the south-side of the McKenzie River, is bordered by Marten Creek, and encompasses 10-plus relaxingly beautiful riverfront acres.
One of the most iconic sites on the upper McKenzie River is the Goodpasture Covered Bridge, built in 1938.
During the 2020 Holiday Farm Fire the Wayfarer Resort suffered tremendous on-site damage, including the loss of nine of its cabins and several out-building primarily along Marten Creek. Although fire damage to the surrounding area is evident, to the untrained eye of a new visitor the Wayfarer Resort is standing tall, with green grass, thriving foliage, and well maintained buildings that survived the major assault of the fire. These include the main building referred to as the Octagon, and the Hemlock Cabin. Currently the prior cabin sites serve as unimproved RV sites, as the rebuild process is one-step at a time.
The Wayfarer Resort is not only the gathering site for the annual event, it’s where all meals are cooked and served, and where the evening festivities occur, including the silent and oral auction, and the scheduled presentations. This year the presentations included The McKenzie River Trust and the McKenzie River Discovery Center.
One of the highlights of the event is having the guides cooking the breakfasts and dinners, just like they would along the riverbank or while outfitting a multi-day river trip on the middle fork of the Salmon River. Open fires, huge Dutch ovens, long handled cast iron skillets, and enough butter to make everything taste good. We dined on salmon, fried chicken, and steak for our dinners, and eggs benedict, bacon and eggs, and breakfast skillet for our breakfasts. They even made a huge skillet of mouth-watering oysters as an appetizer, and the Leaburg Store catered lunches. To say the food was good is an acute understatement.
The author (right) with guide Doug Caven (middle) and the author’s brother Todd Buzalsky (left) share a cold one at the take out located at Wayfarer Resort after a long and productive day fishing the McKenzie Masters Invitational.
Participants were scheduled to golf one day and the fish the other. My group fished day one, and we were teamed up with McKenzie River Guide Doug Caven, who has been fishing and guiding on the McKenzie River for over 50 years. We fished from Fin Rock to the Wayfarer Resort, about 11 river miles, and our two-person team landed 19 fish,” which was average on that day. Our technique was a typical hopper dropper rig using 4 and 5 weight flyrods. The groups the day later had better weather, and most groups doubled our numbers…and that’s why they call it fishing. Interestingly, the hot setup this year was fishing Euro Nymph tackle and techniques. This not only caught more fish, but also more of the larger native trout the McKenzie River is known for. I guess next year a Euro Nymph rod might make the auction table.
After the conclusion of the fishing and golfing events medals were awarded for best performances. Our teams, both fishing and golf, were trophyless, yet we were huge winners, being invited to participate in the McKenzie Masters Invitational and having a better understanding the groups over-arching mission, “Each gives back more to the resource than they take.” This year’s event not only netted newly formed friendships and camaraderie, but also raised more than $25,000 from the McKenzie Masters Invitational. For more information on the McKenzie Masters and the McKenzie River Restoration Fund go to: www.facebook.com/McKenzieMaster.
Troy Buzalsky recently retired from a 40 year career in the fire service and now spends his time chasing fish in the Pacific Northwest and the 49th State and writing about those adventures. Troy can be reached at troybuz@comcast.net
Editors Note: As of 2026 the McKenzie River Discovery Center has broken ground but is not open tpo the public yet.
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