TONY OWSIAN.
Navy veteran. Ten years at the Veterans Affairs Medical Center. Fishing the Columbia for over 25 years. Started Tony O Guided Adventure in 2018. Volunteer guide for The Fallen Outdoors.
The long version
THE LONG VERSION.
Tony came out of the Navy and went to work at the Veterans Affairs Medical Center. Ten years there. The whole time he kept fishing the Columbia in his off-hours — over 25 years on this river by now. In 2018 he purchased a boat — a 23-ft Alumaweld Columbia — and turned his attention to the river full-time.
He saw what it costs to come home. He saw what helps people come back. A guided fishing day on the Columbia helped a lot of people come back. Tony noticed. He launched Tony O Guided Adventure in 2018 and went full-time on the water.
95% of the weekly guided trips run at the veteran rate. Tony also volunteers for The Fallen Outdoors (TFO) — sturgeon derbies for sailors coming off the ships, kokanee events at Yale Lake, anytime they need a boat.
→ Tony's Rule 1: know what to expect. Sometimes the fish need to cooperate. Tony always has fun. Rule 2: revert to Rule 1. See what past clients say.
THE PATH.
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Early career
U.S. Navy
Tony served in the Navy out of high school. The years in uniform shaped how he approached every job after.
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10 years
Department of Veterans Affairs
Tony spent ten years at the Veterans Affairs Medical Center. Every working day, his job was making sure veterans got the care they earned.
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25+ years
Fishing the Columbia
Tony has fished the Columbia for over 25 years — first in his off-hours, then full-time. The river is his backyard.
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2018
Purchased a boat, launched Tony O Guided Adventure
Tony purchased a boat in 2018 — a 23-ft Alumaweld Columbia — and launched the guide business the same year. Veteran rate was in from day one. 95% of weekly trips run at the veteran rate.
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Ongoing
Volunteer guide for The Fallen Outdoors
Tony runs trips at no charge with The Fallen Outdoors (TFO) — sturgeon derbies for sailors coming off the ships, kokanee events at Yale Lake, and on call when they need a boat.
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Today
On the water seven days a week
Tony runs his Alumaweld 23 out of Gresham — salmon, sturgeon, walleye, and Buoy 10 trips, every day the weather holds.
RECEIPTS.
- ✓ U.S. Navy veteran
- ✓ 10 years at the Veterans Affairs Medical Center
- ✓ 25+ years fishing the Columbia
- ✓ Volunteer guide for The Fallen Outdoors (TFO)
- ✓ Licensed and insured fishing guide — Oregon
- ✓ Coast Guard safety standards · CPR and First Aid certified
THE BOAT.
A 2018 Alumaweld Columbia, 23 feet, six-passenger configuration with the gear and electronics you'd expect from a guy who's been on the river for over 25 years. Fully covered top, heater for cold mornings, rod holders for every line.
It launches out of ramps from Gresham to Astoria depending on the trip. Tony does his own maintenance. The boat passes Oregon State Marine Board commercial guide inspection every year.
That's an American flag on the hull. It's there because Tony put it there.
- Length 23 ft
- Capacity 6 anglers
- Make Alumaweld Columbia
- Year 2018
- Top Full cover
- Heater Yes
- Electronics Side & down imaging
- Inspection Annual · OSMB