North 40 Fly Shop eMagazine December 2015 | Seite 5

I grew up in Wisconsin casting to any body of

water within bicycle distance of my family’s home. As
soon as I obtained a driver’s license, it was Wisconsin’s
northern rivers that captured my imagination and my
gas money. Constantly yearning for more, I found myself
fantasizing of western rivers and steep powder lines.
Unable to fight the craving, I moved to Colorado at the
age of 21. I spent the next 6 years honing my fly fishing/
snowboarding skills around the Vail Valley. I usually
fished on the Eagle River, but the Roaring Fork, Frying
Pan, and the Blue were all within striking distance. I was
a Sno-Cat operator (groomer) at Beaver Creek Mountain
in the winter, which gave me unlimited opportunity to
snowboard incredible powder lines.
After visiting a friend in Coeur d’ Alene, ID almost 10 years
ago, I returned to Colorado only to gather the rest of my
belongings. Swingin for Steelhead and then Schweitzer
Mountain on a bluebird powder day all in the same
week...I was sold hook, line and sinker. I started guiding
for Row Adventures in Coeur d’ Alene and became the
fishing manager a few years later. Fly fishing is who I am.
It’s what I wake up thinking about, and it’s what I go to
sleep thinking about. Stop in to North 40 in CDA, and
let’s talk fishin.’