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Gary Hilton lost his battle with cancer and passed Sunday morning. He will be greatly missed by so many.

We love you, Gary. You have touched so many lives.

Mark, a friend, writes:

Gary passed away in his sleep last night. He's scouting out new
places to fish so he'll be able to guide me when I join him.

Sorry about the delay in posting this info, but we needed to wait for approval from the family, which came this morning.

Jen

 

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I'll never forget how wonderful it felt, in the midst of being a stranger in a strange land in Alaska, to go to catch a flight to a remote fishing place with Chris Sessions and be greeted by Gary Hilton, there where we caught the flight! Surprise!

He was just everywhere there was fishing!

Ah, the memories.

Jen

 

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Now, I have some phone calls to make to friends that I have thought about in the recent weeks.
DON'T WAIT!

Bill was going to call Gary just last week. We were talking about him. You know? That "Oh! I should call Gary..." And then you get too busy? Uh huh.

Don't get too busy. We all have those phone calls to make. Don't regret not making them. You'll be SO glad you did!

 

[Keta]

Bummer. Cancer is not good, I know but I won the fight.

 

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If anyone has some good pictures of Gary, I would LOVE it if you would share them. This is the only one I have. I took this at the Rendevouz, I think.

That's Gary in the gray sweatshirt, strolling down the stairs thinking to himself, "Oh! Another award... Yet another award!"

 

[freespool]

Always enjoyed talking fishing with Gary at the Guide Shop, he was a constant figure on the Wilson.
Say hi to my Dad, he's fishing that same tailout.

 

[CATCH AND EAT]

Very sorry to hear this and very sorry for your loss.

 

[Johnny Bowles]

What a good egg Gary is,was & always will be in my book.
He had good eggs 2, that Pic jen posted at the rendezvous he won 1st place for guides & he only fished 1 of the 2 days.
Hope you & my folks are gettin big ones up there. :thisbig:
R.I.P.
:meme:


Johnny B

 

[Joe Schwab]

Very sorry to hear about Gary. He was really one of the good guys. He has been in my thoughts lately.

I had the pleaseure of fishing with him in one of the first Rendesvous I attended and he put us both onto fish!

Rest in peace Gary,ray:ray:ray: Save me a rock!

 

[Trey Carskadon]

I'm heartbroken by the news. Gary was one of the truly good guys in this business and he was a guide's guide. I first met Gary in the late 70's on the Mollala River. He was waiting for his trip to show up as me and a buddy readied to launch our drift boat. In the span of about 10 minutes we watched Gary catch two steelhead while he waited for his guests...I asked my buddy who he was and he said, "That's Gary Hilton...he's one of the best guides in the area." That was 30 years ago!

I had the pleasure of fishing with Gary on the Lewis for silvers, the Clackamas for steelhead and down on the coast. When I was a young guide he treated me as an equal and over the years I came to admire him as one of the living legends in our sport.

Gary was an under-the-radar guide who stayed out of the spotlight but he was a giant among those that knew him and fished with him.

He will be missed and I will always be grateful to him for the lessons he shared with me and the time we spent on the water.

Rest in peace Gary.

 

[bigdoggz21]

I never met Gary but it sound like he was a great guy and a great guide. People like that make this sport, and this world, a great place. His contributions will not be forgotten I'm sure. Peace be with him and his family, they will be in our prayers. ray:

 

[Trollin]

First the Guide Shop burns down and now we have lost Gary truly the end of an era. Gary was always friendly, and willing to share some tips. During fall Chinook season you had to get up really early to beat Gary to the Wall on the Wilson still find myself looking for him when we round the corner.

RIP Gary

 

[fishbait]

Sad day. Knew him for years and as Trey said, "He was a guides guide"

Nice guy, great fisherman, quiet unassuming fish catching nice Guide.

Next time I'm over at his favorite hole on the ditch, I'll grab a couple of clusters of eggs and toss them in the water. Wont be able to see his line or bobber from where he now has his boat anchored, but bet he gets bit.

RIP Gary, The world is a better place because you were in it.

:flowered:

 

[Amahnee]

I knew him when I was just starting out when he worked at Larry's Sport Center. Plain and simple, he was just a good human being and always pleasant on the river.

 

[Dave G]

He is now fishing where no tags are needed. :angel:

 

[Get Bit]

Here is a pic from Alaska from many years ago. This was at the end of a great day fishing for Silvers on a fly-in trip with AWA. Gary was one of the best fishermen and human beings I've ever had the pleasure of being around. RIP

 

[David Johnson]

He was a legend, seeing him on the river and in the old guide shop will be missed

 

[riverhound]

I remember Gary coming to baseball games in Kenai, Alaska when Jim Hardesty and I were umpiring 20 years ago. We would then go out for a barley pop afterwards. This friendship continued, and there was not a time that I did not stop at the Guide Shop to talk to him. He was always helpful and respectful. It did not matter if you were a rookie or a veteran fisherman. A class act, good friend, and a great mentor to the sport. He will be missed.

 

[Premo]

I learned a ton from Gary Hilton. I will miss hanging out in the Guide Shop and talking fishing and eggs. He was one of the good ones.

 

[Oarman]

For all my 30 years of fishing in Tillamook Gary Hilton was a legend. His fishing boats always had a special place in my vision. I remember Rusty and I helping clean Gary's boat at the end of a fall season. IT WAS SPECIAL. I hated to be behind Gary on the Wilson as he and his crew would get most of the bitters before I could get there.
Now St Peter has a buddy to fish with and show him some new tricks.
The end of an ERA for sure. We will miss you buddy.ray: