Grande Ronde Giggler

Just returned from a 4-day Grande Ronde river fishing mission with Nick and Mary – who have a great thing going where they’re fishing buddies, also happen to be married and have been together 43 years, I think it is.

Mary has a distinctive reaction to catching fish, which earned her the name of The Green River Giggler on a previous trip of theirs. It’s a versatile title, as I now think of her as the Grande Ronde Giggler. She won the impromptu fishing derby from camp at Sickfoot and was gracious in her victory.

Saw pelicans in the upper stretch of river. Unusual.

Also saw the cutest drift boat ever go by. I just want to pet it and feed it a saucer of milk. Awwww.

Jarrod Wilcox, a new Winding Waters team member, passed his "training" with flying colors, mostly by fishing from a raft and stacking rocks. Good on him

The landing site at one of the camps seemed excessively rocky to my eye, so I asked him to please move the offending stones and stack them out of the way. He did an outstanding job.

We had something of a warmish spell last week. Paul and crew were on the Lower Salmon and Morgan with his band of merry rafters were floating Hells Canyon. So we had a trifecta of three different river trips going all at once and we were all consulting the super-secret river guide code book which reveals which camps have the most shade and cooling breezes.

With a bit of a heat wave moving through, we had trips on the lower salmon river, Hells Canyon, and the grande ronde river simultaneously. All of us flipped through the grande ronde river guidebook, that super-secret tome that helps you pick shaded camps and breezy bends.

It was so pleasant under the cottonwoods and pines at one camp, even the water jug took a siesta.

Camp Life and Good Grub



Plenty of butterflies (flutterbys?) danced across the water. They even took a break on my ammo box. And the pork chop topping game was strong—guide Tom Farnam brought out a fresh apple drizzle that was next-level.

And the culinary prize for best pork chop topping goes to fishing guide Tom Farnam, who whipped up a fresh apple drizzle that couldn’t be beat. The man knows his way around a grill and definitely gets his sear on.

Exploring the Grande Ronde Region

Nick and Mary have fished everywhere—from Alaska to the Grande Ronde River flows. Their Alaska story involved a float plane drop, mistaken raft sizes, and a low river that required constant paddling. They now prefer letting others handle the logistics.

Good call—our Whitewater Rafting service is designed for exactly that. Let us manage the gear, the food, and the shuttles. You just show up, enjoy the water, and maybe giggle while pulling in some steelhead.

Nick described the trials of setting up camp, breaking it back down, rigging the boat, navigating the river and then being so worn out the fishing they were there for was hard to get to. So in the future they decided to let other folks handle that end. That’s what we’re here for and I’m hoping to see the Giggler and Nick back for steelhead season so they can exercise more fish on the Grande Ronde.

River Knowledge: Maps, Flow & Shuttles

The Grande Ronde River flow has been solid lately, perfect for both casual floats and targeting fish in those eddy lines. With the Grande Ronde shuttle service running smooth, access points are reliable and efficient.

Bring your Grande Ronde River map or reference our guides who know each twist and canyon wall. Whether you're floating to fish or joining us on a full Grande Ronde River rafting trip, we’ve got you covered.

This stretch, seen on the Grande Ronde, Oregon, map, winds through the Grande Ronde Valley, past spots like Grande Ronde Lake, and is ideal for anyone interested in fishing the Grande Ronde River. From casting lines for trout and steelhead to just floating for fishing, there’s no better way to explore the water.

Planning Your Grande Ronde Adventure

For those serious about fishing, we recommend checking out the latest grande ronde steelhead fishing report. Whether you're headed out solo or joining a guided trip, it helps to know what’s biting.

And if you're looking to plan ahead, consult a Grand Ronde map. It’ll help you visualize the bends, access points, and elevation shifts of this scenic waterway.

Thinking of letting someone else do the legwork? That’s what we do. Our whitewater rafting trips make planning stress-free and full of laughs—especially with gigglers like Mary around.

Come Fish, Float, and Laugh with Winding Waters

Join Winding Waters River Expeditions for your next Grande Ronde getaway—whether you're here for Grande Ronde fishing, relaxing river time, or a full Whitewater Raftings experience. We handle the details. You bring the giggles. Let the river do the rest.



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