20 Year Anniversary

August 31st, 2005. Celebrating 20 years of Silver Bow community

This Labor Day Weekend marks my 20th anniversary of owning the Silver Bow Fly Shop. Crazy to believe it was that long ago. At the same time, it feels like yesterday and yet a distant memory.

Long before I started working at the Silver Bow, I was a customer. Spending my allowance and birthday money when I was kid on tying materials, leader / tippet, flies, rods, etc. It was the one shop that was always willing to help and answer questions. Fast forward a number of years... after an unfortunate boating accident in 2001 that claimed the life of a close friend and three of his family members, it was through a connection with his family that I developed a friendship with who was soon to be the new owner of the Silver Bow Fly Shop at the time.

When Wayne Williams purchased the shop in 2002 he was looking to hire more help in the store. Wayne knew of my fly fishing obsession through the connection we had made after the loss of my friend and his family. He offered me a chance to pursue my fly fishing passion and help him with the Silver Bow. Over the course of three years my role developed and in early 2005, at a dinner meeting, he proposed to sell the Silver Bow to me and a good friend who helped at the store at the time. My friend declined the offer as he was already in another career and let me pursue this new endeavor on my own.

Through Wayne's guidance and generosity we set up the transfer for August 31st, 2005. A date that forever changed my life and numerous others that have come along for the ride.

Over these past twenty years I have seen many changes, both good and bad, in the world of fly fishing. Our shop and team has weathered the ups-and-downs of the economy, a changing retail environment, competition both locally as well as online, the pandemic, direct to consumer sales, you name it. We are still here, still kicking, and still trying to offer quality service, knowledge, and tackle for all fly anglers.

For those that have been hanging with us the past two decades (or longer!), thank you. For those that have more recently started to support the Silver Bow, thank you. To my family, friends, and wife Jen (whom if it wasn't for the Silver Bow I would have never met), thank you for your support! To the past shop team members and the current team who are the reason the Silver Bow still exists and operates like it does, THANK YOU. The Silver Bow team has always been incredible at helping anglers with their needs and keep the machine running.

The Silver Bow is more than just me, it is everyone that has helped support it in one way or the other over the years that make it what it is today. As the saying goes... it takes a village.

I am humbled by the opportunity that I was given by Wayne and his family, thank you everyone for coming along on the ride.