News & Views
So You Think You Want To Own A Trout Stream?
You've dreamed of owning a private section of prime spring creek and a fishing camp for the exclusive use of your family and friends. You could fish any time you want...in solitude.
Consider your options...There are some properties in the West with private spring creeks like Armstrong's, Nelson's, and DePuy's, but they are not currently for sale. However, a recent web search revealed a few Western properties for sale with private spring creeks. They range from Aubrey Springs Ranch in Idaho, with a cottage and 1.5 miles of private spring creeks selling for $4.2 million; Flint Creek Valley Ranch in Montana, no home, 500 acres, and two miles of creeks (1/4 mile private) for $2 million.
Here in Pennsylvania, many spring creeks are tied up in multi-generational family farms and estates or fishing clubs...they are simply not for sale and probably never will be. And, if a mile of prime spring creek does become available, it'll cost you at least a million dollars to buy it.
- Count the Cost
- We believe that buying your own trout stream is not a wise use of resources. Actually, for less than the annual cost of upkeep and taxes on a mile of trout stream with a fishing camp, Spring Ridge Club members enjoy exclusive and unlimited access to an ever-growing portfolio of private, blue-ribbon spring creeks.
- Less Cash at the Front-End
- Consider buying a $2 million trout property at 30 percent down; your out-of-pocket costs would be $600,000 immediately. Spring Ridge Club membership is just over 15 percent of that amount, and it's fully refundable.
- Less Cash Every Single Year
- That $2 million property will cost you over $150,000 per year to maintain and operate (debt service, maintenance, utilities, insurance, and taxes). On the other hand, the no-hassle Conservation Membership is under $10,000 in annual dues.
- Easy Liquidity
- If you've ever had a vacation home, you are well aware of the liquidity issues in a fluctuating real estate market. Instead, if you wish to resign from the Club, your entire membership deposit, minus a modest transfer fee, is refunded. (Special restrictions apply; please ask one of our sales guides for clarification.)
- No Maintanence Headaches
- Why spend half of your fishing time cutting grass, washing windows or fixing leaks in the roof or plumbing? As a member of Spring Ridge Club, you can enjoy every single minute you spend at the Club.
- Fly Fishing Diversity
- After a while, fishing the same stretch of trout water over and over can become monotonous. Conversely, the wide variety of the ever-expanding Spring Ridge Club waters will hold your interest for more than a lifetime of fishing.
- Poacher Control
- Don't laugh. It's one of the primary problems in maintaining a high-quality fishery on private properties. We know because we manage more than 30 miles of streams. From experience, we have found that some of the biggest poachers in the world can be the caretakers of fishing estates (and their family and friends). Our aggressive poacher control program strongly discourages this form of predation.
- You Have All the Fun -- We Do All the Work
- You never really own a gold-medal fishing property...it owns you. By becoming a member of Spring Ridge Club, you will have the peace of mind knowing that you can enjoy world-class fly-fishing without the worry.
- A Family Legacy
- Your modest, refundable membership deposit in Spring Ridge Club is fully transferable to your spouse, kids or grandkids. Unlike an expensive, time-consuming property that your family may not want to deal with, you can pass on your membership with total peace of mind. If you would like to know more, call our sales staff at 888-772-5820 (toll-free).
