Chief Instructor Rob Endsley
Rob is a full time guide who has run saltwater charters and river trips in Washington State since 1993.  In addition to his extensive experience in the Pacific Northwest fishing for salmon and steelhead, Rob also operates a charter business out of Craig, Alaska during the summer months.  Rob has been featured in numerous publications and television shows on the subject of catching northwest salmon and steelhead and hosted the popular television fishing show, Fisherman's Heaven, for two years.  Rob is an instructor at Salmon University and gives seminars at sporting shows, clubs, and tackle shops throughout the year.

Rob grew up in Port Orchard and graduated with a B.S. in Environmental Science in 1994 from Western Washington University.  He spends a great deal of time on the rivers of the North Puget Sound, but frequents Washington's Olympic Peninsula and has spent a great deal of time travelling the west in pursuit of salmon and steelhead.

Rob operates Pacific Northwest Sportfishing in Washington and Prince of Wales Sportfishing in Craig, Alaska.

Chief Instructor Tom "TJ" Nelson
"Well, we kept him off of the water until he was five weeks old" says T.J.'s mother Marie. "Dad was a dentist in Marysville and he set his practice up so he only had to be in the office two days a week in the summer. The rest of the time we were salmon fishing on "Coho" our Steelcraft 26." T.J. grew up thinking that there were two kinds of people in the world: Those that trolled for chinook in the Hope Island slot and those that fished chinook in the Skagit River hog-line style. T.J.'s dad, the late Dr. H.L. Nelson was an early tackle innovator who used his dental tools to cut and drill the fluorescent plastic golf tees of the day so they would fit on the shaft of a Winner Spinner. Thus, the Skagit Special or "Tee Spoon" was born.

Following High School, T.J. attended the University of Washington's School of Fisheries and was subsequently employed by the school's Fisheries Research Institute (F.R.I.) as a Research Assistant for several Alaskan salmon projects. F.R.I.'s projects range from the Nushagak River near Dillingham, inland to Lake Illiamna, out to the Chignik lake system on the Alaskan Peninsula. T.J. was blessed with the opportunity to work in each area. Given this experience in salmonid research it's no wonder that T.J.'s career path has not strayed very far from the water.

After receiving his degree in Fisheries Biology, Nelson applied to the WDFW which at the time was beset by a series of budget cuts. Seeing his dream of becoming a Fisheries Biologist slipping away, T.J. made application to the Seattle Fire Department and became a Firefighter in the early 1990's. Today Nelson is a member of SFD's Marine Emergency Response Team and is an Acting Fireboat Pilot on the 97- foot Fireboat "Chief Seattle" moored at pier 53 in Elliott bay.

Shortly after joining the SFD Nelson started Skagit River Outfitters, a fishing and tour guide service offering overnight accommodations and complete fish processing. In addition T.J. began freelance writing and photography. His words and pictures have appeared in Salmon Trout Steelheader Magazine and Fishing & Hunting News. T.J. is also a frequent guest on KJR AM Sports Radio 950's "Call of the Wild" radio program airing Saturday mornings from 6 to 8am.

The fisheries of Alaska still beckon and T.J. manages an annual 2-week "working vacation" in Sitka, where the abundance of chinook and halibut hones his skills for Puget Sound salmon fishing. When not guiding or fighting fires, T.J. enjoys spending time with his wonderful wife Kathy and their two great kids Matthew and Sophia at their beach house just north of Tulalip Bay.

Tom operates Skagit River Outfitters and can be reached at 425-377-1167.

Associate Instructor Eric Linde
Eric has a reputation as the most skilled guide on the Columbia River. Eric is a member of the North River Boats fishing team however many people know him as the Captain of the Pabst Blue Ribbon Fishing Team boat.

Eric spends much of his time fishing the Columbia River for salmon, steelhead, sturgeon. Eric's favorite fishery is for spring chinook the most highly coveted salmon in the world. These fish enter Columbia River a full six months prior to spawning, full of vigor, and incomparable flavor.

Eric fishes them mainstream Columbia River, Oregon’s Willamette River, and Washington’s Wind River, moving between the three based upon conditions and numbers of fish present.

Eric is a expert with 20 years experience at making a spring salmon hit a bait-wrapped Quickfish. Many of you have attended Eric's lectures at the Outdoor Shows on the west coast on effective river fishing techniques.

Erics Operates Lindesportfishing and can be reached at 360-607-6421.