Willie Blog
From Struggle to Strength on the Water: Guide Lucas Weldin’s Story with Willie Boats
When professional guide Lucas Weldin pushes off the bank, whether he’s guiding clients through the waters of Alaska or the rivers of Oregon, he’s rowing a Willie Drift Boat. In Alaska, he runs a 20 x 72 Willie Boat, and in Oregon, an 18 x 60. For Lucas, those boats are far more than tools of the trade. They’re the foundation of his livelihood and a constant reminder of how far he’s come.
Lucas didn’t grow up planning to become a fishing guide. At nineteen, he was at a crossroads, struggling with addiction and searching for a way out. “I couldn’t afford rehab and didn’t have the heart to tell my mom what I was going through,” he recalls. “So, I bought a ticket to Alaska with fifty dollars in my pocket and started hitchhiking.” That leap of faith led him to a small Alaskan town filled with fly-fishing guides who took him in and taught him to row a drift boat. “They became my friends, my mentors,” he says. “They showed me how to work hard and how to live again. Alaska saved my life.”
Sixteen years later, Lucas splits his time guiding between Alaska and Oregon, helping anglers chase trout, salmon, and steelhead in some of the most pristine waters in North America. And through all of it, one thing has remained constant: he’s always rowing a Willie Boat. “The first boat I ever guided out of was a Willie,” Lucas says. “Every guide service I’ve ever worked with or helped out has run Willie Boats. Out of all the boats I’ve rowed, Willie tends to be the best. It tracks the best; it rows the nicest.” For guides like Lucas who spend day after day on the water, that kind of performance isn’t a luxury; it’s essential. A boat that rows easily, holds a line through tough current, and performs predictably allows a guide to focus on their clients and the fish, not on fighting the boat.
Beyond performance, Lucas values the craftsmanship and customer care that set Willie Boats apart. “Working with Jarrod is incredible,” he says. “He always answers the phone, no matter what I need. When you call Willie Boats, you talk to one of maybe three people. After your first build, they know you by name. You create a friendship, and they always take care of you.” That personal connection mirrors the brand’s approach to building boats.
Every Willie Drift Boat is handcrafted in Oregon with precision and pride. From design and weld quality to layout and customization, Willie Boats are built to handle the most challenging conditions guides face every day. They’re made by people who understand that a drift boat isn’t just a product, it’s a partner on the river. Lucas has experienced that durability firsthand. “If someone wants a boat that’s going to last them their life, Willie is the one,” he says. “I’ve got a 1996 Willie Drift Boat up in Alaska that I love with all my heart. It’s one of my favorite boats to row, and it’s still got another thirty years in it.” That kind of longevity doesn’t happen by chance. It’s the result of decades of experience, craftsmanship, and commitment to building boats that perform year after year.
For Lucas, rowing a Willie isn’t just about dependability; it’s about pride. “When you spend your life guiding, your boat becomes part of who you are,” he says. “Willie Boats have been with me through everything. They’ve carried me, my clients, and a lot of memories down some incredible rivers.”
Lucas Weldin’s story captures what makes Willie Boats special. They’re not just built to perform, they’re built to last, built for guides who live their lives on the water, and built by a team that stands behind every weld. For decades, Willie Boats has been the trusted name in custom drift boats and power boats, handcrafted in Oregon and tested in some of the world’s toughest fisheries. Guides like Lucas prove what generations of anglers already know: when you choose a Willie, you’re choosing a boat that’s made to last a lifetime, and then some. That’s why Willie Boats are simply the best.
