What Is Gorman Fly Fishing? Guide Trips on the McKenzie and Santiam Rivers

Gorman Fly Fishing is the guide service of Michael Gorman, a fly fishing guide with more than 40 years of experience who runs drift boat trips on Oregon's McKenzie and Santiam Rivers. The site is built around one thing: booking a guided day on the water. If you want a full-day float with gear provided, beginners welcome, and a direct text line to the guide, this is what the site offers. If you're looking for DIY access maps, river reports, or shop inventory, that isn't what's here.

Who runs it

Michael Gorman is the guide behind the site, and the pages describe him as having over 40 years of fly fishing guide experience. The site also lists his fly fishing books, which suggests he writes about the craft in addition to guiding. Testimonials and video clips on the site are tied to actual trips, including a clip of a first-time fly angler on the water with her father.

What the trips include

The core offering is an 8-hour floating adventure by drift boat on either the McKenzie River or the Santiam River. According to the site's trip details:

• Duration: 8 hours
• Boat: drift boat, described as offering maximum access and safety while casting
• Gear per angler: 3 ready-to-cast fly rods, plus flies
• Food and drink: lunches, beverages, and refreshments
• Skill level: beginners welcome

The drift boat matters here. It lets the guide position you over water a wading angler can't reach, and it keeps the day moving rather than parking you at one run.

Cost and group size

So a two-angler day runs $625 total, and adding a third person brings it to $725. The site doesn't list deposit terms, cancellation policy, or seasonal rates, so confirm those directly when you book.

What you can fish for

The site describes the service as covering trout, salmon, and steelhead fishing across the two rivers. Which species you target depends on the river and the season — the McKenzie is presented as trout water, while the Santiam and the steelhead content point toward anadromous fish. The site doesn't publish a season-by-season breakdown, so the specific target for your date is a question for Michael.

How to book

Booking goes through a text message. The site repeats one instruction throughout: Text Michael at (541) 207-4000 for details and available dates. There's no online booking form or calendar shown in the site content, so expect to sort out dates and logistics by text.

What else is on the site

Beyond trip details, the site includes:

• McKenzie Overview and Santiam Overview — river-specific pages
• Beginners Welcome — a page aimed at first-timers
• Michael's Books — his fly fishing writing
• Testimonials — client feedback
• Video clips — including McKenzie River guided fly fishing footage and Rogue River steelhead fly fishing

The Rogue River clip is worth noting: it appears as video content, but the guided trips described on the site are on the McKenzie and Santiam. Don't assume a Rogue trip is offered without asking.

Who this is for

This service fits you if you want a guided, gear-included float day on the McKenzie or Santiam, you're new to fly fishing or bringing someone who is, or you'd rather text a guide directly than work through a booking platform. It's less useful if you're looking for walk-and-wade instruction only, shuttle services, or a lodge package — none of those are described on the site.