A FISHING GUIDE: NAVIGATING WATERWAYS AND A PANDEMIC
Written by Hazel Cramer
COVID-19 impacted the tourism industry nationwide, but when the lockdowns reached Montana, a state that relies heavily on tourism for its economy, it left seasonal workers reeling.
Tourist numbers dropped as trips were cancelled, and business owners in the fly fishing industry lost their early season clients due to the 2020 stay-at-home order issued March 26.
“We had about 200 boats booked for our spring season.. and we did 12,” said John Herzer, co-owner of Blackfoot River Outfitters in Missoula, Montana.
Having just built a new retail store before the pandemic, John and his wife, Terri Herzer, said they struggled to keep afloat.
“We’re trying to save our business, but then our kids were struggling with remote learning in school. We kind of pushed them aside because we had to keep our house,” said Terri Herzer, “that was the hardest part, for me as a mother.”
The Herzers weren’t the only ones juggling family duties with the pandemic.
“Coronavirus has affected this shop in many many ways and has impacted me tremendously.” said George Kesel, a lifetime angler and master fly tier at the Missoulian Angler.
Kesel has been fishing for 48 years and has worked in the industry for 44 years. Last year, he started caretaking for his father before the pandemic hit.
“He’s 88 years old,” Kesel said, “and he is declining at what we feel is a more rapid rate then he should be.”
According to Kesel, there are many limitations to his father’s ability as an 88-year-old, but with the pandemic, Kesel had to limit himself too.
“I haven’t worked in this shop since late March, because I cannot be exposed,” he said. “I love being in the store, but those things have disappeared.”
When Montana’s lockdown ended, the fly fishing industry went from bust to boom..
According to Montana Fish, Wildlife & Parks (FWP) spokesperson, Greg Lemon, the state saw a small dip in the number of fishing licenses bought since 2016. But when Gov. Bullock’s stay-at-home order was lifted in April, as well as the travel restrictions in June, the number of fishing licenses and park visitation increased dramatically..
“We knew then that it would lead to an uptick in use, but we didn’t realize just how much," Lemon said.
In June, park visitation increased 20%, resident fishing licenses grew 17.14%, and non-resident fishing licenses climbed 12.51%. Montana’s fly fishing industry was back in business.
Jenny West, another outfitter in Western Montana, ended up having a great season after initially wondering how to stay in business this year.
“Once the state opened up in June, everybody was coming to Montana, wanting to experience fishing, and I had a really busy season,” she said.
West’s business is based in the Bitterroot Valley, about an hour drive south of Kesel and the Herzers. And she too was hoping for a late season turn around, even if it would be a little different.
“We had guidelines for cleaning your car, sanitizing your vehicle and boat,” West said, “but once you were on the water in your boat I felt really safe, because you were outside.”
With the travel restrictions gone and the stay-at-home order lifted, Montanans left home for the outdoors, and summer tourists flocked to Montana to escape the pandemic in other places.
According to Christine Oschell, River Recreation Manager at Montana FWP, it was an insane summer. Parking lots for recreation sites overflowed and boats crowded many of Montana’s rivers.
“I don’t think we ever realized that that many people could come,” she said.
Although outfitters were glad to finally see business, many expressed concern with the number of people and the pressure it put on Montana’s waterways. According to Kesel, agriculture and tourism run neck in neck for monetary wealth brought into Montana, so conservation is key for keeping Montana’s tourism and fly fishing economies healthy.
“When your business is extraction of a resource... why would you not want to protect it for the next generation, and why would you not want to care for it as if your business depended on it?” Kesel said.
According to Montana FWP, the increase of river use for recreation won’t stop anytime soon.
“So conservation work helps us figure out how to provide recreation for this many people, but do it in a way where we can still do it ten years from now,” Oschell said.
For Kesel, the Herzers and West, keeping the water clean is essential for their livelihoods and their passion.
“It’s what we love, and it’s who we are,” said John Herzer.
It’s this love for both fly fishing and the outdoors that helped these local Montanans endure and overcome the chaos and hardships of last season.
Although the pandemic continues, people like Kesel, West and the Herzers let their passion lead them through these unstable times as they weather the storm and hope for a better year to come.
