Current Shop Hours are 9am – 5pm daily (Closed Tuesdays)
Not much new to report on my end…I have been surprisingly busy for this time of year. After a crazy busy 2022, I have been playing catch up with chores and preparing for another great year (both on and off the river)! Re-loading fly boxes, organizing/prepping gear, stocking the shop shelves and finalizing inventory orders for the shop…we are on the door-step of our spring season…and summer for that matter!
Thanks again for an amazing 2022 year for BBT, BBT Motel and our Guide service! We worked extra hard, but you all made it worth the effort. We feel we have the best customers and clients in the business….THANK YOU!!! Given the current state of our economy, we regretfully have to announce rate increases. Due to inflation across the board we are raising our Guide and Lodging rates effective March 1, 2023. The cost of equipment, food/drinks, car shuttles, tackle, flies and fuel (just to name a few) have all gone up and are impacting our guide’s costs of doing business. This was a very tough decision for us to make, however we felt it was unavoidable. Below is a summary of the new rates:
Full Day Guide Trip (1 or 2 Anglers) – $550
Full Day Guide Trip (3 Anglers) – $825
Half Day Guide Trip (1 or 2 Anglers) – $425
Half Day Guide Trip (3 Anglers) – $625
Single Room – $80 (plus tax)
Double Room – $100 (plus tax)
Suite – $200 (plus tax)
We just wanted to give everyone a heads up to avoid any confusion. Also, as a “Public Service Announcement” all licensed car shuttlers along the river have raised their rates as well…$35 direct and $40 through the shop.
The river has been fishing pretty well. Our mild winter is back and we are preparing for an early spring. Don’t be afraid to get out on the river before it gets busy. Over the last couple years, mid to late February steelhead fishing has been great! This year is setting up to follow suit. We have plenty of guides available between now and early March…give us a call to take advantage of the mild weather…231-745-3529. My current open dates are: February 23 – 28 March 1 – 3, 5 & 8…give the shop a call to lock in a date.
We are looking at another low water spring since we have very little snow in the woods at the moment. Mother nature always keeps us on our toes…so always be prepared! The groundhog predicted another 6 weeks of winter, so who knows??? Only time will tell…but the fall fish think it’s spring and new fish are swimming up the river. Who knows, March could be cold and snowy everyday???? Either way, we will be out there and keep you posted with weekly fishing reports…stay tuned!
Please be mindful of the regulation on the Pere Marquette…Everything up-stream of M-37 and the Baldwin River are closed until the last Saturday in April, from M-37 to Gleason’s Landing is “Flies Only/Catch & Release” (NO BEADS WHAT SO EVER), from Gleason’s Landing to Lake Michigan is open to all legal techniques (bait, hardware, beads and flies). We have been doing some bead fishing a little more and sell beads in the shop; but trying to educate/communicate where they can be fished.
Argentina 2023
Steve already posted a great report about out Argentina trip, but I just wanted to follow up with a couple more pictures from my camera. A HUGE thank you to all of our guests that joined us and our amazing outfitter (Fly Maniacs)!!!!! Epic adventure and experience! Tons of great memories and laughs. We have our dates set for next year if you are interested in joining us – January 6 – 16, 2024 for $6,450 USD. That’s 9 days of fishing, 10 nights lodging and all your meals while in Bariloche, Argentina. The rate is based on double occupancy for lodging and guide boats. Give us a call if you are interested….a deposit locks in your spot. I am already looking forward to next year fishing those amazing resources and spending time with my Patagonian friends.
We are busy getting the shop set for this spring season. Stay tuned for more frequent updates as we get closer to March. Plus, our shop hours will get extended in the next few weeks. Good luck out there and enjoy the solitude of the season and the mild weather.
Later,
John