How to Buy a Fly Fishing Ranch, pt. 1: Do Your Research
This is the first of a three-part series on how to buy a fly fishing ranch. In this article, Greg covers the basic steps for researching the right property. We hope that you enjoy this series and that it helps you with your journey in making one of the best decisions of your life, purchasing a fly fishing ranch.
Step 1: Ranch Research
So you are thinking of buying a fly fishing ranch? There are definitely a few steps to keep in mind as you embark on this adventure—but let me back up a bit. I [Greg Fay] am the founder of Fay Ranches. I’ve been an avid fly angler since I was a kid. When I started the company in 1992, I named it Fay Fly Fishing Properties. It was the first brokerage company in the world to focus on selling fly fishing ranches. You could say we wrote the book on the subject, and this remains a strong focus of the company. I’ve also owned a ranch on the Ruby River in Montana with partners for the past 15 years.
Here is my attempt to share a few insights I’ve gained about the two phases of a successful process for becoming the owner of a fly fishing ranch: (1) selecting your ranch broker and (2) making the right offer on the right place.
I’m going to assume you’ve done some fly fishing out West, ideally a few times in different places. You can begin searching the Internet for ranch brokerages that service the states you are interested in. Download a few brochures on properties that appeal to you. Start organizing the brochures by state, price range and even by river. Note the companies that have the listings of interest to you as well as the ones that have the most informative websites and professional materials.
Through this process you will also become more familiar with rivers and locations and terms. Fly fishing guidebooks can be another helpful resource, but don’t put too much stock in them. Fishing guides and fly shop owners are almost always the information source for the author, and they may not want the public to know how good a fishery is—or how bad. Additionally, some stretches of rivers that have historically been less productive can be improving due to work by the state, Trout Unlimited or private landowners.
If a fishery is not in a guidebook, this does not mean it isn’t a good fishery. It could mean it doesn’t get a lot of public use. Take everything with a grain of salt. If you ask 10 anglers their opinion on a river, you will get 10 different answers. Most anglers are happy to provide their opinion on rivers they’ve never even fished. What may be appealing to you may not be to the next guy. Be wary of the amateur expert.
There is a limit to what you can learn online. Your Internet research will likely open your eyes to how much you don’t know. Don’t let this scare you. Becoming knowledgeable about buying a ranch can be a fun process.
Next week, Greg will discuss the next step in purchasing a fly fishing ranch: Finding a Broker.
Greg Fay is an avid outdoorsman, conservationist and ranch broker and resides with his family in Bozeman, MT. Greg and Fay Ranches represent the finest fly fishing properties in Montana and the west. Feel free to Contact us today, if you have further questions or would like help finding the perfect sporting ranch or property, and start living the life you deserve.
The rest of the three-part series can be found below:
