The Beginning

At the age of five, it was Dre’s time to prove himself as a salmon fisherman along with the other locals on his first salmon excursion. On a blistering cold and windy early March morning, one that Oregonians know all too well, Dre caught his first salmon. Reeled in all by himself while standing in front of the balancing arms of his grandfather, he caught a rare 23+ lb wild spring Chinook salmon that unfortunately had to be returned safely back into the water. That was when he was taught the importance of protecting and preserving the wild salmon as they pass through our backyards, ensuring their safety as they travel upriver.  It wasn’t enough for Dre as he knew there was one out there to keep. During the short boat ride and drive back home, he was taught about farm-raised hatchery and wild fish here in the Pacific Northwest. He was taught where they came from, how they were raised, and where they were released each year. On that early March morning, Dre earned his position on the jet boat full of grown men 12x his age.

The Journey Continued

A year after catching his first salmon at the age of six, battled, and weather-hardened, Dre was brought to his second home in Astoria, Oregon. It was here he was taught what being a salmon fisherman out of Astoria meant. On a July morning in 2002, overlooking the Astoria-Megler Bridge, Dre stood next to his great-grandfather Larry. With a warm cup of coffee in hand, Larry motioned to Dre to look towards the mouth of the Columbia River, a place that soon would become well known to Dre. Soon enough, Dre found himself in the middle of where Larry had been pointing. Point, shoot, listen, and learn. That caveman style of listening and learning was quickly understood by him, considering the environment he was in. They made it across the “graveyard of the Pacific” on a day he’ll never forget. That day Larry taught Dre the beauty, value, and respect the ocean deserves. With hundreds of salmon bites, they returned from the calm and welcoming ocean with many salmon. Once again, Dre earned his spot with the big boys on the “Big C,” the Mighty Columbia, on every trip, every day, for every year that followed.

Discovering the Open Ocean

Watching ‘Deadliest Catch’ was a weekly passion of Dre and his great-grandfather, Larry. Each week they would anxiously await every new episode. At 11, Dre’s experienced his first ocean salmon charter fishing trip. Together with his great-grandfather, they both found themselves on a trip with “Ed Green,” a seasoned deckhand on ‘Deadliest Catch.’ Ed was known for working hard and having one of the highest-paying boats in that fleet out of Alaska. They couldn’t have been more excited or comfortable with the knowledge that would be provided to them. Dre found himself on the bridge steering, plotting points on GPS, finding fish on the sonar, and sharing some of Captain Ed’s leftover pizza for lunch.

“Nobody meets on accident.”  - Larry Campbell’s saying for “everything happens for a reason.” (Larry was Dre’s great-grandfather)

The Drive

At 11, Dre was deemed old enough by his grandfather (not great) to bushwhack hike his way around the valleys and coastal range forests, looking for the elusive steelhead, cutthroat trout, and salmon. Dre would bushwhack hike between the Dalles, Oregon, located in the gorge, and the coastal town of Astoria, Oregon. Between the nearly daily adventures with his grandfather, he was lucky enough to run into a special group of local fishermen. These local fishermen consisted mostly of members from the Oregon Department of Fish and Wildlife. This new group of fishermen showed Dre destinations and spots located all around Oregon, where steelhead and salmon traveled to. Not only did these special relationships last a lifetime, but they were also people that he found himself fishing with avidly. These guys protected him and showed him the way of the land here in the Pacific Northwest.

The Drive Continued

It was at the age of 16 when Dre acquired his driver’s license, and the real damage started being done. He was hooked for life. Taking early release and late arrival from school, Dre would fish as much as possible. He would arrive at football practice covered with leftover salmon or steelhead scales still stuck on his hands and arms. Finding a way to balance his hobby and the other interests of a teenager, he managed to graduate high school and move on to playing football at Ventura College in Southern California. At the time, Ventura College was ranked #3 in the country for football among junior colleges. This is where Dre and his mother became best friends, hanging out and spending time with each other for the first time in his life. The absence of his beloved great grandparents, whom he cared for most in this world, coupled with the lack of fishing, created the recipe for success and all the motivation Dre needed to earn an Associate’s degree, plus the opportunity to play football at a Division One college, Portland State University.

Things Take  A Turn

Sadly, one-day Dre woke up to the phone call he feared most, his best friend and father had passed away. Knowing that everything happens for a reason, he took the opportunity without hesitation to drive home. He drove straight through the night to be with and comfort his great-grandmother. With Dre at her side the next morning, he was ready for anything. It was there that he held things down while continuing his football career, playing for Portland State University. When he could, he would sneak away for a moment of fresh air on the river. For years following his arrival at Portland State in 2018, he worked relentlessly, 6 to 7 days a week, until he earned an opportunity to go to a training camp meant for NFL and CFL draft class participants based out of Seattle, Washington, or San Diego, California. Still, at his great-grandmother's side, he chose the closest route, making sure he would be able to access home as quickly as possible if needed. He spent almost four months at Ford Sports Performance training facility in Seattle between December & March of 21’-22’.

Taking A Chance

Receiving another hard phone call, Dre was heading back home. His great-grandmother was having heart surgery. Dre grabbed his bags and found his way through multiple airports and taxi cabs to Coos Bay, Oregon, located on the south part of the Oregon Coast. It was there he entered the United States Coast Guard OUPV training course. He spent many weeks qualifying and six months later became a licensed U.S Coast Guard OUPV captain. This was done in memory of his pops because everything happens for a reason. The locations and tactics that Dre uses today haven’t changed since his great--grandfather showed him once upon a time. This is undoubtedly what he was meant to do and where he was meant to be.

- Your Captain, Keondre Menefee