OREGON CHAPTER
Where it all Started
It started in Oregon when Pastor Baugh asked Jason Atkinson to teach him to spey cast (two-handed fly rods for steelhead). Being a Pastor, Baugh had Monday’s off, and so it started. Today, Pastors from all over the west have come, lifelong friendships forged, new appreciations learned and certainly fish have been hassled. Today in Oregon our guides handle fully booked Mondays (we keep the numbers low so we can ensure a quality experience) on the famous Rogue River.
Oregon Guides
Jason A. Atkinson
pastors monday founder
JASON A. ATKINSON is a leader, filmmaker, a writer, speaker and a public servant. After 14 years in the Oregon Legislature, Oregon State Senate and House of Representatives, he took a sabbatical to make the film “A River Between Us” documenting the largest restoration project in US history: the Klamath River. His life’s work, Atkinson has been involved in the Klamath restoration negotiations since the Clinton Administration culminating in victory with President Obama and the final FERC decision in 2022. He is a Rodel Fellow with the Aspen Institute. He was recently named in the top 20 most influential fisherman in the west and Field and Stream named him a hero of conservation. Atkinson consults finance, branding and crisis strategy. He has created several large-scale finance projects as well as created trade associations, NGO’s and private foundations. He has worked for over 20 years in the Middle East beginning creating a leader-to-leader exchange program for the Kurdistan Regional Government and most recently working to place hospitals along the Jordan/Syrian border. He is an accomplished storyteller with three books and multiple articles published and remains a sought-after speaker. Atkinson serves as Chairman of the Board of Directors of the Dove Media Network and is Chairman of the Oregon Governor's Office of Film & Television. He has served as a Commissioner for Oregon Fish and Wildlife and founded Pastors Monday- a non-profit taking Pastors of all faiths fly-fishing on their day off with chapters in three states. He has an MBA from the Atkinson Graduate School of Management at Willamette University. His work has been featured in the New York Times, 60 Minutes, Men’s Journal, MSNBC, Steelheaders Journal and the Drake to name a few. Follow him @jasonaatkinson
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Bobby Baugh
GUIDE
Bobby Baugh is a pastor, passionate outdoorsman and proud husband and father. Though an artist deep down, his primary pursuits involve water, mountains and open sky. When he’s not deep in the wilderness chasing elk, he’s either flyfishing for trout and steelhead, flinging arrows at Blacktail deer, wing shooting anything legal, wrapping rods or tying flies.
After graduating from Medford Senior High, he attended Willamette University where he received his B.A. in Economics, became fluent in Russian (current fluency equates to 2yr old gibberish) and lettered in baseball. Upon graduation, he returned to Medford and began a management career in the wood products industry. Not long into that career he received Jesus Christ as Savior, which would change the trajectory of his life pursuits and desires. Fourteen years later, Bob stepped out of his boat of comfort and onto the waters of faith as a full-time pastor. His pastorate experience is as vast and wide as his outdoor pursuits, ranging from associate, children’s, executive, interim senior and men’s pastor.
Bob and his wife, Kelly, have raised three beautiful daughters, one handsome son.
He won the lifetime achievement award- twice!
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Scott Ashpole
GUIDE
If you get a chance to fish with Ash- take it! He is a wonderful instructor, easy company and has an infectious laugh! Scott is an owner of Sweed Machinery, a global company manufacturing recycling, material processing, and material handling equipment.
Scott is Dad and just became a Granddad and is a reluctant RV’er, however he keeps going. Scott has become the backbone of Pastors Monday Oregon putting over 100 days a year on his driftboat.