For Oregon fishing guide Dan Dieter, piloting a boat full-time has been a lifelong calling. From the time he was a kid waiting at the dock for his dad to get off work, Dan has been captivated by boats and the water they traverse.
He bought his first boat at age 15 – a retired wooden Sportcraft Marine rental boat he found under the 205 bridge on Oregon’s Willamette River for $50. And while it may have been little more than firewood to anyone else, it was a thing of beauty to Dan. A gorgeous glimpse into his future, a future filled with promise, passion and purpose.
Dan spent that summer restoring his boat and working hard to earn enough money for an outboard motor. Akin to transforming a mirage into a miracle, his crude little wooden boat would serve as a catalyst for what would become a lifelong career as a guide. A career that began back in 1987 and continues to this day.
“Being on the water is something I’ve thought about my whole life,” explains Dan. “And as a guide, I get to share my passion with others. For me, that’s what it’s all about – sharing my love of the water and giving people an experience they’ll never forget.”
Life as a Fishing Guide in Oregon
Guiding on Oregon’s rivers is dynamic – migratory fish move through the waters, tides shift, and each tour is different from the last. Dan thrives in that world of constant change, where each day feels unique.
He takes comfort in the graceful flux of the natural world around him, grateful for the ever-changing narrative. Guided by his knowledge of the waterways and a natural instinct for finding fish, Dan delivers an experience that is wholly unique.
A stickler for details, Dan makes sure everything is in order before leaving the dock. “In order for me to be able to focus on my guests and giving them a memorable experience, I first make sure that the gear, rods and the boat are all in tip-top shape before heading out.”
Transforming the Guest Experience Via Repower
Because he believes in the correlation between a well-maintained vessel and a positive experience for all those onboard, Dan repowers his boat with Stevens Marine in Tigard every two years with a brand-new Mercury outboard through the Mercury Pro Team program.
By doing so, he’s been able to keep his 2019 Alumaweld Columbia fishing boat running the latest tech. He did so in 2021, 2023 and now again in 2025 – each time with a Mercury 225hp FourStroke outboard for performance and a ProKicker for dialing in precise presentations.
“Repowering allows me to stay ahead of things so that I can give my guests the best experience possible,” remarks Dan.
And the cool thing is that the outgoing outboards still have a ton of life left in them, so their new owners inherit all the awesome, cutting-edge Mercury innovations. Most of them, in fact, are purchased before they even come off of Dan’s transom.
Why Mercury?
Dan’s connection to Mercury goes way back. He’s always been drawn to Mercury’s commitment to innovation, power and reliability. Dan got his first taste for Mercury innovation decades ago at Stevens Marine.
At that time, Stevens Marine founder, Page Stevens, was doing some really interesting custom tiller installations. Stevens had engineered a way to put a tiller on larger Mercury outboards – something no one else was doing at the time. This combination of hands-on ingenuity and American-made, high-performance Mercury outboards captured Dan’s imagination and spoke his language.
“I’ll never forget those early Mercs – they were completely different, and I was in awe,” he said. “They ran smoother, had amazing power and looked so sleek with their cool black cowls.”
Guiding with the Heart of a Naturalist
Today, Dan’s focus is as much on stewardship as it is on fishing. He guides with a deep love for Oregon and the Pacific Northwest, participating in the Oregon Department of Fish and Wildlife’s wild broodstock program, an initiative designed to support the long-term sustainability of salmon and steelhead populations.
A hands-on guide, Dan teaches guests how to work the gear, read the water and tune in to the language of the river. Keeping screen time to a minimum, his approach is more instinctive than digital. It’s a testament to Dan’s prowess as a guide that he can create an experience that is simultaneously low-fi and lush.
“People live such hurried lives,” he says. “Fishing has a timeless way of slowing the chaos. It gives people something far more authentic and real. It’s palpable.”
That’s what makes Dan such an extraordinary guide. It is his insistence on guiding like he lives – authentically. He is deeply committed to his craft and to giving people unforgettable experiences. One where fish, the boat and the company all come together for something meaningful. And there’s no algorithm for that – it comes from the heart.
As Dan so succinctly puts it, “When you’re with a group that loves the water and enjoys being together, that’s when adventure comes to life.”
We applaud Dan for his commitment to creating authentic experiences for his guests, for being a good steward of the environment and for understanding that good things come when you repower.