Next AvailableMay 08
Book with Jerad Sorber
River Wanderer Outdoors
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Jerad Sorber, Guide at River Wanderer Outdoors
Identity Verified
Jerad Sorber
It would be a cliché to say that fishing is my passion, it would also be inaccurate. Fishing is a part of my identity, it’s part of who I am. My earliest memory is reeling in my first chinook on my grandpa’s boat. My parents had dropped me off on the way to work and grandpa had an adventure planned.
When the rod went down he left the rod in the holder while I cranked the reel. Some advice is timeless and his shouts of “don’t stop reeling” still echo across boats everywhere. When the fish was netted and on the deck he smiled, told me good job and covered it with a damp burlap sack to keep it cool. Somewhere in a shoebox there is still a picture of me holding up one end of the handle of a garden hoe with the other end rested on a wheelbarrow and the fish hung in between. That fish was nearly as big as I was and it had hooked me as much as I had hooked it. Even now, after thousands of fish ranging from trout to sturgeon, I feel that same sense of excitement every time the line goes tight.
While I learned about knots, lures, presentation, reading water and tactics from my grandfather and father. They also taught me that the most important part of fishing isn’t the fish. It’s being connected to the water, to nature, the people you share time with, and the world around you. The best parts of fishing are the moments spent with your son or daughter when they feel that line go tight for the first time. It’s watching as your best friend’s eyes go wide when the fish rises up out of the water or takes a long run. It’s that ear to ear grin on your parent’s face coupled with a deep sigh of relief when the net finally contains that shimmering collection of scales. It’s the stories told while waiting for some action to happen. It’s watching seabirds, otters and seals play and feed. It’s watching the seasons change along the shoreline. It’s meeting with new friends and old around a shared past time. Sharing all of this is with others is why I keep on wandering.
Trips Available with River Wanderer Outdoors
Fishing
Starting At $250
Buoy 10 Chinook and Coho
Fishing: River
Fishing Boat:
Blue Jay • 20' Smokercraft • Max 5 guests (base trip price includes 5 guests)Description: Running August 1 through September 2, this 8-hour shared trip targets the region’s most iconic salmon fishery—Buoy 10. Located where the Columbia River meets the Pacific, this fishery is known for high action and strong runs of Chinook and Coho. As the summer sun warms the estuary, salmon stage in the area before heading upriver, offering a window of opportunity for anglers. We’ll troll through the current with proven setups, targeting aggressive fish in prime condition. Rods, bait, and gear are included. Price is for two guests. Free cancellation with 3 days’ notice.
Fishing
Starting At $250
Summer Ocean Chinook and Coho
Fishing: Offshore
Fishing Boat:
Blue Jay • 20' Smokercraft • Max 6 guests (base trip price includes 6 guests)Description: "Whack ’em and Stack ’em” is the rallying cry of this fishery. Once the weather warms up, the fall Chinook and early Coho start stacking up in the ocean to size up and chow down on bait fish just outside of the mouth of the Columbia. This trip offers your best chance at a true fishing rodeo when a school of Coho starts chasing down the gear. On a typical day we will leave port first thing in the morning and start trolling along seams in the current. Favorite gear includes bait rigs with herring or anchovies, spinners, and stuffer baits. These fish will eat almost anything!
Fishing
Starting At $250
Catch and Release Sturgeon
Fishing: Flats
Fishing Boat:
Blue Jay • 20' Smokercraft • Max 6 guests (base trip price includes 6 guests)Description: These prehistoric beasts put on a show and fight hard. Some of these fish have been known to reach over 10' in length. We'll fish for them up on tidal flats and in ditches low in the estuary. In between fish you'll be able to watch for shorebirds, seals, sea lions, harbor pourposies and every now and then a wayward orca will come into the bay.
Fishing
Starting At $150
Shared Dungeness Crabbing – Columbia River
Fishing: River
Fishing Boat:
Blue Jay • 20' Smokercraft • Max 5 guests (base trip price includes 5 guests)Description: From September through December, enjoy a hands-on crabbing trip right where the Columbia River meets the Pacific. This 8-hour shared charter targets Dungeness crab—known for their rich, sweet flavor and generous harvest limits. We’ll set pots a couple of hours before high tide, then switch it up with rod-and-reel action while waiting for the catch. It’s a fun, productive way to stock up your cooler and enjoy time on the water. Ideal for fall outings, this trip departs from Astoria and is priced for two guests. Rods, bait, and gear included. Free cancellation with 3 days’ notice.
Fishing
Starting At $250
Spring Chinook Fishing
Fishing: River
Fishing Boat:
Blue Jay • 20' Smokercraft • Max 5 guests (base trip price includes 5 guests)Description: Loaded with enough nutrients for a thousand mile journey upriver, these fish can brighten a cloudy spring day or shimmer in the sun between April showers. While the cold spring runoff makes these fish difficult to target, the reward is some of the best eating fish on the planet. On a typical day, we will leave at first light and anchor up in a favorite spot on the outgoing tide and fish with plugs. Early in the season and on the slack and incoming tide we will troll with bait. This opportunity usually lasts through May but can extend into June depending on how many fish come in.
FAQs about River Wanderer Outdoors
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