Established in 1989, The Trout Shop began turning the historic Craig Mercantile building located on Lot 1 Block 1, Township of Craig, Montana, into a fly shop and lodge. Instead of selling Peter Schuttler Covered Wagons, we started selling fly fishing products and services.

From 1990, when Montana Fish Wildlife and Parks initiated their plan to make the Missouri River the workhorse of Montana, we watched fly fishing history unfold. Stable river flow management and abundant public access paved the way to the fishery we all enjoy today. In Montana, only the iconic Madison River tops the number of annual angler days counted on the Missouri River.

As the resource's popularity grew, The Trout Shop adapted along with it. Change continues its movement.

Abundant public access assures a quality fly fishing experience for all that can't resist the temptation to check the river out. Whether you are going wade fishing for the day DIY, staying in the Craig Campground, booked into a full-service lodge, or everything in between, you have permanent access rights to a Montana Treasure.

The Trout Shop started where The Trout Shop Lodge is located today. At the time, the fly shop held lots of wasted space. We needed a restaurant to serve our lodging guests due to a lack of available options that let anglers fish until dark.

We renovated the fly shop and turned it into a food service establishment. The fly shop moved to our adjacent enclosed awning; a 16' x 8' space looking at the river. ​Good things came in small packages. No need for a showroom floor; just enough room for a recliner, a fly tying bench, a few fly bins and some peg board for a few product packages.

We sold flies we tied on Dai Riki Hooks with countersunk brass Spirit River Beads. Dai Riki Hooks, Leaders and Tippets imported by Dan Bailey’s and Dr. Slick Clamps rounded out our streamside tackle offerings. Custom built rods made out of Fisher and G. Loomis graphite decorated the empty wall space. Hardy Princess and Scientific Angler Fly Reels attached to most rods. We packaged Lightning Strike Indicators while doing shuttles. From time-to-time, we rented the S.S. Minnow for the day to our brave customers. Rooms rented for $35 / Night. Each extra person cost another $5. Rooms filled with guests and fly tying feathers. Portable TV’s and griddles occasionally fell out of guest's luggage. Guides “got up, rowed the boat and ate a Tombstone Pizza at Joe’s”. The shop closed when the bugs came off. Craig claimed a population of 32 (As of 2024 it's around 40).

In 1992, the movie The River Runs Through It hit the big screen. The Epic movie’s impact reached far beyond the big screen. Now, our fly shop proved to be way to small. The pendulum swung carrying our fly shop across the street to Parrothead Fly Shop's old location. We befriended the cats living under the building and learned to shut the computer off before we turned on the wall-shaker air conditioner. More than one chapter of the river’s history belongs to Norman Maclean’s novel. The impact never left.

From the beginning, The Trout Shop Lodge received our utmost attention to detail - the century old building needed it. Now the building’s 6 quality hotel rooms and a boutique, pub-style restaurant offer guests an unbeatable fly fishing experience when they get off the river.

In 1999 we eagerly sought a larger fly shop location again - one that we could call our own. We bought our present location adjacent to the Craig Interstate Hwy. 15 Exit Ramp and converted its small house into our fly shop. Today, Craig Mercantile Deli operates in the small house. The Trout Shop operates out of the larger, attached addition.

The Trout Shop's large parking lot, two blocks from the river, greets you and your drift boat when you arrive. The Trout Shop Lodge rests in the center of all the town’s action and only a couple sips of coffee away from all you need. Meet your guide at The Trout Shop in about 60 seconds. Meander across the street to the Craig Boat Ramp from the lodge in about 30 seconds. Take your time.

All roads, rails, trails and the Missouri River lead to Craig, Montana. Once you've conquered Montana's Missouri River with a fly rod, we're confident you'll follow a path back to The River Hub year after year.

The House of Fly takes over The Trout Shop

In the winter of 2023/24 Jerry Lappier and Chris Goodman decided to pass the torch to a new ownership group.  Both owners wanted someone who would be passionate to take The Trout Shop and all they created to the next level and the next generation.  In February of 2024, Sam Wike and Josh Wike, brothers who grew up fly fishing the Missouri since they were young purchased the shop with their partner Holly Schmidt.  That purchase came with an entire community that they had built who were eager to make things happen in Craig, MT.

That community is called The House of Fly.  The House of Fly began when Sam and Wayne Wike were called by Shadowcast Outfitters in Great Falls, Montana sometime around 2001.  Shadowcast's owner had passed and the daughter wanted someone to purchase the inventory and take over the business.  Wayne Wike, owner of North 40 Outfitters, allowed Sam and a few of his friends, namely Paul Considine and Erik Haugen to sell the inventory inside the families farm store.  The rest is history.  As new farm stores opened in good fishing spots we began to add fly shop areas inside the store.  We focused on getting the best possible shop employees in the area and having the best brands.  We also focused heavily on being open about anyone who wanted to learn about fly fishing.  

Today the House of Fly has grown in to a community of fly fishing talent.  We now have 6 fly shops inside the farm stores.  We operate a brand of fly fishing gear called The Fly Project, we have a custom fly line brand called Ballistic Fly Lines, we manufacture our own brand of Japanese fly tying hooks called Genryuu, and we have a program for fly tyers called American Small Batch to encourage the marketability and creativity of fly tying.  We have designers, customer service agents, illustrators, ecommerce developers, fly shop employees, fly tyers, media creators, guides, cooks, and more all centered around fly fishing.  We have more ideas and creativity coming soon.  

Of course, now we are so excited and grateful to get to carry on the legacy of The Trout Shop in Craig, Montana.  

We have too many people to thank but if you arrive in the shop today you will most likely meet some of our greatest people.  People who have helped build the House of Fly Community such as Fred Telleen, Caden Byrer, Calvin Fuller, Ethan Crawford, and also some faces that are new to the House of Fly for us.  

A special thank you to the original Trout Shop team, especially Jerry Lappier who has helped us through this transition, and a special thank you to Chris Goodman and Rocky, who have been foundational to The Trout Shop and continue to work on the team.  

Thank you.

The Trout Shop
Lot 1, Block 1
Township of Craig, Montana