Marvin Henkel Jr. has more than 24 years of experience operating a professional fishing guide service for thousands of happy customers. In fact, he’s been fishing most of these same waters much longer, ever since his dad took him fishing as a toddler.
Simply put, Marvin is one of the top fishing charters in the Portland area.
Marvin’s clients catch the Pacific Northwest’s premier gamefish, including salmon, sturgeon, and walleye. He lives right here in Portland, Oregon, and fishes in the Columbia and Willamette rivers close to home and Vancouver, Washington, and from Astoria to the Columbia River Gorge and beyond.
Depending on the season, Marvin also charters trips on the Pacific Ocean for salmon, halibut, rockfish, and lingcod. His Dungeness crab trips are practically legendary.
Whatever you want to catch, Marvin will take you where you’ll have the best odds and the best time.
Let’s take a quick look at Marvin’s most popular fishing trips.
Salmon Fishing
The Northwest’s favorite fish doesn’t stand a chance when you’re fishing with Marvin’s Guide Service, one of the Portland area’s most experienced salmon fishing guides.
Marvin’s customers start chasing the world-famous spring chinook salmon run in March near Portland on the Columbia River and Willamette River. We promise you’ll never taste better salmon than a fresh springer.
When late July and August roll around, you can be on board as Marvin takes you to the first arriving fall chinook and coho salmon. Those first trips are out on the ocean, and then when the salmon move into the lower Columbia River, you’ll fish the Buoy 10 area, which is bar none Oregon and Washington’s best salmon fishery.
When the calendar turns to fall, Marvin’s customers are still catching coho and amazing king salmon … whether in the mighty Columbia River near Portland or Bonneville Dam, on Tillamook Bay, or elsewhere along the spectacular Oregon Coast.
Read more about Salmon Fishing with Marvin’s Guide Service
Sturgeon Fishing
You’d be hard-pressed to find a fishing guide with more experience and excitement when it comes to landing North America’s largest freshwater fish, the white sturgeon.
Whether you’re out to take home a keeper or ready to catch and release a 12-foot monster weighing over 700 pounds, Marvin’s sturgeon fishing trips are the opportunity of a lifetime.
Read more about Sturgeon Fishing with Marvin’s Guide Service
Walleye Fishing
Walleye are the Midwest’s favorite fish, but they sure have made themselves at home in the Northwest. This is especially true in the Columbia River, which many serious walleye anglers believe will produce the next world record.
These fish are fun to catch and even better to eat, and Marvin has dialed in the best walleye fishing water for you a comfortable drive up the Columbia River from Portland.
Read more about Walleye Fishing with Marvin’s Guide Service
Rockfish and Lingcod Fishing
Did anybody say Fast Action Fishing? You’ll find it fishing the reefs and rocks off the Oregon Coast, where you’ll catch spunky rockfish, big lingcod, and other bountiful bottomfish.
We might even get you on a 40-pound halibut!
Read more about Ocean Fishing with Marvin’s Guide Service
Dungeness Crabbing
That’s right. The world’s most scrumptious shellfish, the ones that cost a gazillion dollars at the market, are crawling across the bottom of North Oregon’s bays and the Columbia River estuary.
You can’t see them down there, but Marvin knows right where to set the traps to haul up your 12-crab limit of delicious Dungeness.
Read more about Crabbing with Marvin’s Guide Service
It’s All About Customers
Marvin’s name may be on the boat, but once you step aboard, it’s all about you, the customer.
You’ll Go Where the Fishing is Best
You might not know where the fish are biting, but Marvin knows where the fishing has been the hottest. And he will take you to the top spots on the Pacific Northwest’s best fishing waters close to home in Portland or within an easy drive.
You’ll Go With Quality
Marvin makes sure you’ll use only the freshest baits, most effective tackle, and highest-quality rods and reels. Marvin works closely with some of the top fishing manufacturers and bait dealers in the Northwest.
You’ll Go in Comfort
Marvin captains a 27-foot Alumaweld Intruder that is covered and heated for anything the Pacific Northwest throws at us. Have you suffered through a day of fishing in the rain and wind and cold? Not on Marvin’s boat. It’ll already be in the water, warmed up and ready to fish when you arrive.
You’ll Go in Safety
Marvin is a U.S. Coast Guard-licensed captain with CPR training, and his boat is second to none for safety. You can’t always trust Mother Nature, but you can trust Marvin.
You’ll Be in Good Company
Marvin’s Guide Service has been featured on some of the Portland area’s top media outlets. For example, Fox 12 Good Day Oregon has fished with Marvin on 16 different occasions. You may have even watched while host Andy Carson caught salmon, sturgeon, and walleye on live TV.
That could be you reeling in all those fish!
Now’s the time to book a trip with one of the best Portland fishing guides! Marvin’s Guide Service will hook you up.
Do you have a group for one boat? No problem, Marvin works alongside many other great guides and will line up as many as it takes to get the whole crew on the water and reeling in fish.