Holtan's Resort, Part 1

I don't remember when I first learned to walk.  I do, however, remember when I caught my first fish and put on my first pair of hockey skates.  It's amazing that these two passions have become life long pursuits of mine. Most of you realize the fishing thing in my life, but not so much the hockey thing.  I often joke that growing up in Minnesota we had nine months of winter and three months of poor skating. I digress.  This blog is about fishing and I thought I'd share how I "got in the business."

In 1977, my family was living in southern Minnesota and for some reason my dad had a desire to buy a small resort in Brainerd, Minnesota.  When he told me this I couldn't have been more excited. My golden ticket was punched.  In April, Clark's Resort was purchased and the name was officially changed to Holtan's Resort.

At the ripe old age of 13, I became a bait and tackle dealer at our family resort. My dad converted a small building into what would become my first legitimate place of business (a Kool-Aid stand doesn't count).  He painted a sign that said "Keith's Tackle Shack" and put it above the front door.  It was open 24 hours a day, whether I wanted it to be or not.

I would trap shiner minnows and pick five gallon buckets full of night crawlers to sell.  What bait I couldn't get on my own I would buy from Marv Koep at Nisswa Bait.   I loved going into Marv's store because some of the most famous fishing guides in the state of Minnesota worked there.   I'd see Al Lindner, Ron Lindner, Babe Winkelman, Gary Roach, (all are in the Freshwater Fishing Hall of Fame).   I would also see the young guns as well: Mark Lee, Steve, Tim and Bobby Collette, Glen Belgum, Hank Ebert, Tom Briggs, and Kevin Koep.   I was in awe of these guys and what they did every day.

During my first summer at the resort, not only did I sell bait and tackle, but I also ran my very first paid, guided fishing trip.   There was a group staying in our cabins from New Mexico and after asking me the usual, "what are they biting on, where are they at" questions, they asked if I would guide them for the day.  "Oh, heck yeah", but I had to check with my mom and dad first!  We loaded up my 14ft Lund boat powered with a 15hp Johnson motor and spent the day catching northern pike, bass, and sunfish. At the age of 13, I was hooked on showing people how to fish.

The first summer of the resort was a dream for me. I was either fishing or talking about fishing every single day.  If you ask my mother about owning a resort she would say it was a nightmare. The second year of owning Holtan's Resort (1978) was when my parents decided they needed a brochure. Other than the one picture of my cousin Danny, that is me in every fish picture.  Didn't anybody else in the family fish?  And, how about those rates?   How could you not want to spend your vacation at Holtan's Resort?

Well, that's it for for Part 1 of this story. If this really grabbed your attention stay tuned.  Part 2 of the Holtan's Resort saga will be concluded next week.  See you then.