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This is Fred Ball for Zions Bank, speaking on business.
These days, it seems, outfitting companies, particularly those involved in the sport of fly fishing, are all the rage among sportsmen. But if you want a quality guide and a guaranteed good trip, you¹ve got to find an outfitter with the experience.
Well, I know of one in the Bear Lake Valley. It is Bear River Basin Outfitting, located in Garden City. I recently caught up with owner Jim Stone and asked about the business. Jim told me his experience dates back to 1983 when at just 15 years of age he began guiding waterfowl hunting trips on the Bear River for Utah¹s Millionaire Duck Club, which has now become the Bear River Club Company. Even prior to that, Jim spent much of his youth hunting and fishing around his hometown of Logan, Utah.
By the late '80s, Jim wanted to do more than just guide waterfowl trips. So, he opened Bear River Basin Outfitting in Garden City and began offering guide services for big-game hunting trips as well as fly and trophy fishing. To gain outfitting experience, Jim traveled to Alaska in 1992 where he worked for an outfitter. After nearly three years, he returned to run his business in the Bear Lake Valley and not too long after, teamed with Darin Pugmire to open a sporting goods store in Garden City. The store is called Pugstone's‹a name they created from each of their names. The official title is Pugstone's Ripples and Wave, and it is the only full-service fly and tackle shop and class "C" firearms dealer in the Bear Lake area. It is also the home of Bear River Basin Outfitting, which now, in its 15th year, is as busy as ever showing sportsmen from all over the world the thrill of outdoor adventures amid the Bear Lake Valley and nearby Bear River Basin.
Be sure to visit zionsbank.com for a transcript of today's feature or any past features. On the homepage, type "Speaking on Business" in the search and follow the links.
For Zions Bank, I'm Fred Ball. I'm speaking on business.
