Pro Shop | Katie and Cooper Anderson | Avon CO January 29, 2024 – Posted in: Ambassadors, PRO SHOP – Tags: , , , , , ,

Pro Shop | Katie and Cooper Anderson | Avon CO

Tell us a little about yourselves and your business.

Cooper has been guiding for 20 years and me for 14. We have been together for 15 years, and I set up “Anderson’s Fish Camp” as a way to promote ourselves and try and gain more trips, with a secondary benefit of being paid as Anderson’s Fish Camp because I didn’t want to keep track of who used what flies between us for tax deductions: WHO WOULD?!

We have always been stronger working as a team.  Even though we worked under another shop as guides, we slowly built Anderson’s Fish Camp just out of pure desire to get more business on our book.  I took graphic design in college and I was always transferring what I learned over to fly fishing in every single class, at some point it was comical, and yet, I would have never answered the question “ what do you want to be”, because I could never see an ending for myself.  I still struggle with that. Now I just try to follow ideas and passion.

We launched our guide business a few years ago, shortly after I became pregnant with our daughter, Phoenix.  We couldn’t work harder than 7 days a week, and hit a ceiling for growth at the shops around town.  We realized that we needed a definite shift if we wanted to make more out of ourselves in fly fishing.  Additionally, I wasn’t able to get maternity leave or any kind of benefit or special treatment due to pregnancy because as guides we work as independent contractors, so the solution to that was to start guiding on our own, as our own business.

We always had “our own shop” sitting at the top of our minds and this was the push. We ended up leaving out the “shop” part because after travelling down that rabbit hole, we decided we were better at guiding than running a brick and mortar and we wanted to keep our energy focused. As a guide, you work hard as hell and give this sport your all, however, you still need to be human at the end of the day. Starting out on our own was like jumping off a cliff, and when we hit the water COVID hit too, so that made everything scarier. On the other side of the risk, I can say, it was the best move we could have made. It is STILL scary at times. We work our faces off, and there are plenty of times I wonder if it’s going to be worth it. But before I think too hard, I remember that there are no guarantees in life other than death, and I just keep going.  I do love working in fly fishing, this industry has so many facets and so many cool people, and I hope I am just getting started. I still have a handful of ideas waiting to come to life.

Favorite thing(s) about guiding; least favorite thing(s)

We love being out on the water, connecting with nature, seeing cool nature spectacles, and joking around with fun clients that we have built friendships with over the years. Fishing is truly something we love to SHARE.  I say it all the time, but fly fishing is a riot we love what we do. 

Least Favorite:  We hate that people see guiding as this amazing lifestyle without considering any of the hardships that working a seasonal job with little to no benefits puts on someone, especially a family. We are constantly giving and sacrificing, and there is zero security for guides. You break your leg or get COVID, and we just don’t get paid. There’s not a single vacation day or sick day or health benefit or retirement plan to guiding the way we do. 

How do you manage a guide schedule with a young daughter?

The one and only; Nana! She comes over as early as we need (5:30am some days!)  and drops Nixy off at pre-school when it opens, 5 days a week, and then we rotate who gets to play with her on weekends. My daughter is my heart, so I try to carve out time for her after school, and at least one weekend day/week in July and August when we are cranking. No part of it is easy, and I won’t lie, when I hit my pillow at night, I am completely exhausted. I laugh at myself at how hard I run around and work, all in the name of trout on the line and moments spent with my 3- ear-old, but that is this beautiful life!  I keep in mind that our guide season is relatively short, and that by the end of fall, I will have some sanity back, not that I was ever a picture of sanity to begin with, so the bar is low.

Favorite SA Products and why?

Weight Forward 5WT Amplitude MPX Fly Line and SA Absolute Fluorocarbon Tippet in 5X and 6X.  SA tippet is noticeably tougher.  I have used all brands at some point. The knot strength on that product is noticeable to someone who uses size 20-22 flies on the regular. I can tell when I cinch my knots down what brand I am using.  I run through those products like candy. Nixy wears my tippet spool keepers (those rubber things) like little bracelets, and I think that is the cutest thing.  Also- TIPPET RINGS! If you get a tangle or catch a rock/stick these little tiny silver doughnuts SAVE you from blowing through leader after leader. They also make re-rigging faster.

Any tips to share that make your lives easier?

Oh Boy, I have had some interesting trips lately. I think there are two types of trips. One where you blame your guide for the wrong spot or wrong flies and the fish for “not eating” even though you are not putting in the work; and the other where you realize that you might always have something to learn or get better at while acknowledging that it takes work/time to be good at anything. And once you so get “good” at fishing, you realize that no bite is guaranteed which is what makes it so satisfying EVERY SINGLE TIME I see that bite. We ALWAYS have the goal of getting you to catch fish. I live for trout bites. Simple, right?  We have caught thousands of fish, and there is always something to learn. Ask questions, don’t make your own assumptions. And if you have physical limitations of any kind, tell us before you hit the water! We can work with almost anything if you are honest, but we will do better with a heads-up. Especially if you want to bring a cat in a stroller to watch “Daddy catch a fish” (true story) or you just had knee surgery last week (yep).