My good friend Eric Strader has made the bold step of opening a fishing lodge in Montana. This is how it all happened
I started guiding at the ripe ol’ age of 19. I was working at a fly shop in Missouri when I caught wind of a fly fishing guide school in Montana. At first I had no idea that there was such a thing as a school to be a fishing guide, but once I heard about it, I was in 100%. I was lucky that the lodge that hosted the school was looking to hire an extra guide for the summer. I immediately began guiding, nothing like jumping in feet first! It was the best time of my life, taking people fishing all day in one of the most beautiful places in the world, then getting to go fish myself once the day was done! A young man couldn't ask for any more.
Many extraordinary memories and a few years later I found myself starting to question if this was just a “fun” job or if I was going to make this my career. That winter I was living in Costa Rica guiding inshore and offshore fishing trips on the fly. With an entire winter to think on it, I decided to buy my own drift boat and go for it. Except, it's not that easy to buy a boat when you're not in the country! As soon as I landed, I made a few phone calls and bought my very first drift boat. With all of the great fishing in Costa Rica I had just experienced, I was full of energy and ready to tackle the independent guide business. Trips started off slow and I was getting a little discouraged at first, but I stuck the summer out and made a little bit of money. I decided to stay that winter to try to get a jump start on guide trips the next year. Boy was that a looong winter! My first winter in Montana with the previous one being in a tropical rainforest was quite a shock!! But once again I stuck it out and got a great jump on the summer, making new connections and working a ton that summer!
A few more years passed as I hustled trips from local shops, independent outfitters, and even a few lodges. Work was great and plentiful. Then by fate, I was introduced to two gents from Pennsylvania. They were building a lodge in the beautiful Shields River Valley. I talked to them for a bit and they were really great. I felt like I knew everything about them after just a few minutes. So I had to ask them “What are you guys going to do with this amazing lodge in the summer?” The wheels in my head had already started to spin out of control before they could even reply. “We haven't really got any plans for it in the summer time” they responded. Before they could even finish that sentence I was ready with a plan to make this awesome spot a wonderful fishing lodge in the heart of trout country. “Let's make it a fishing lodge in the summer” I said with enthusiasm! So after some business planning and a few conference calls I was off to the races!
Well that's when the work started, so many projects to complete before the lodge would even be ready for the first group of summer guests. We ran a fishing school to break it in. I had way more on my plate than anticipated. I mean if you have a lodge all you have to do is book clients and take them fishing right?! No way! I was staining the deck, creating a logo, working on a website, booking a client or two, getting artwork for the lodge, the list never seemed to end the first summer. Cooking, cleaning, guiding, and repeat. It was two full time jobs at least and I was trying to do it all myself. That's when I called in some back up! I hired a couple of amazing people to help me cook and clean and keep up with the dailies, so I could focus more on guiding as well as booking the clients....Oh ya the clients!!!
A lodge is useless if there are no clients. I was bound and determined to make things work at the lodge. Although the first year was extremely hectic and full of projects, I didn't do as well as I had anticipated. Now my first priority was finding clients! I expected to make a couple of phone calls and business would just be pouring in, well that wasn't the case. So ya, I guess they say it takes awhile to start a business and make money but I didn't want to wait, I couldn't wait. So I used every contact I had and after 10 months of cold calling, google ads, website, and social media my phone started to ring. THANK YOU little baby Jesus!! All my hard work was starting to pay off. With lodge staff ready for the second season and all the kinks worked out, we were ready to rumble!
The second year went extremely well with happy guests young and old. I’m still getting some kinks out and making the lodge better each day. I have always tried to learn something new and improve each day as a fishing guide. I believe that makes you a much better guide and fisherman over time. I have also applied this in my experience with The Spring Creek Lodge and feel like we have made leaps and bounds in what is now going to be our third year open. Every day is a learning experience and a chance for me to make someone's day, month , year, or life. My “learn something new everyday” motto has sure kept me busy, but I would trade my life for anything. Afterall Montana is a place where I was only supposed to visit for a seven day guide school and I've ended up calling it home after eleven of the best years in my life!
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