Spring Creek Prams

04/17/2026

Now that everyone is settling into my decision to slow down and enjoy life (that's a lie. All I'm getting is complaints that I can't build their boat right now) I have an opportunity for some lucky, compassionate, philanthropic individual.
The back story:
My Daughter Mac, back in 2010 came up with a Senior Project to build a boat and explain the process. She went one step further to build a boat, in a one off color (red, that will explained in a minute). Her reasoning about the red color was that it represented the Leukemia and Lymphoma Society (LLS) logo, the color of blood. We built a Stillwater Classic pram and then she called the LLS letting them know of her plan of donating the boat to them so they could raise money for the LSS as her mom was taken from her by T-cell Lymphoma when Mac was 15. The marketing team got back to her telling her that they felt that a boat was too much of a liability (REALLY?!). So, her heart was more than a little bit broke. Moving forward she went into wildland fire fighting, working her way up in a mans world. That was 14 years ago. Her last time home she saw the boat and had an idea based on her 13 year career that she has fought hard to move through. She is now the Assistant Fire Management Officer with DNR in North Central Washington.

The plan:
Her idea is selling the boat with the proceeds going to the Wildland Fire Fighters Foundation (WFF), a 501c3 non profit. The WFF helps fire fighters and their families when a wildland fire fighter gets hurt or killed. I have donated to this organization personally in the past and they do good work. The boat itself will come with an anchor system bow and stern and it's color, red is a one off, never to be built again. It will not be auctioned but will be offered here in a first come, first to get it offer. The price is $3,500 (just over what a Stillwater Classic is currently going for now) with the money going to the Wildland Fire Fighters Foundation. If you are interested in a one of a kind Stillwater Classic send me an email directly. This will be a first come, first one gets it deal supporting a worthy organization. My email address is [email protected]

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03/24/2026

Well, it's that time of year again. How time flies. I just looked and this little boat builders page has over 500 followers. I'm quite confident pretty much all other business pages have way more than that , but I am pretty impressed. It was fun to look through and see how many of those followers were customers or people I've talked with and recognized their name or face.
Now, the yearly update. Last year was eventful to be sure. Doctors and hospitals. I think I've been to more doctor visits this past year than I have in my entire previous 69 years. Three surgeries and a couple "procedures" in a year was not something I would have ever though would happen. And, recovery is slower than I anticipated. Now that the year has passed I am focusing on one year at a time, getting back to a life moving forward and looking for a better 2026.

That also includes building little boats. Last year I landed on 6 boats a year as a quota. That worked pretty well for me and I kept that for this year. Those 6 spots were filled in less than a week. Calls have come in and continue to grow. I didn't think of the "what happens when you get to 6 and it's December the year before and the calls keep coming?" I had to figure that out. Every 6 boats a build and commit to is another year I have committed to for those who have placed an "interest" in me building a boat for them. What I decided on was to tell folks that they could call me in September and I'll let them know the status of the following year. If I decide to keep going, I'll take another 6 boats to do. I'm thinking that I will have next years 6 in a couple days. In 32 years I have never stiffed anyone and have always keep my side of the transaction. That won't change. What I did discover was that I would rather someone to take over/buy the business to keep a legacy of some sort going rather than just walk away. I have a feeling those with one of my little boats, after reading last years post are taking a little more care of their little boat. I so appreciate the friendships that have come out of all of you taking a chance on a little boat builder over the past 32 years.

So, the business is for sale. Anyone interested or if you know someone interested please reach out to me [email protected] and we can talk. I wouldn't be selling the business if I didn't feel there was a historical value and a contribution to the industry. I keep up on as many of you as I can and live fly fishing through your adventures and trips.

I thank you all for your support, friendships and conversations over the years. Until next year, I hope to see some of you on the water.

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03/31/2025

I think I'm a bit late on this but the content would be the same regardless of the timing. So, here goes. This years "where we are now" post.

As we navigate life, our paths take many different turns and in your late 60's decisions need to be made and "do what brings you joy" should be screaming every waking moment in your mind. At least that's what's happening in my mind. With that said I'll let you know where I am and where I'm going, or not going. Last years post is pretty much the same as this year with a couple twists. Last year I said I was scaling back how many boats I will build to an unknown number. That number of boats seem to have found a home around 5-7. I had a few boats in the hopper and moving forward that 5-7 number will be pretty solid. As I said last year, doing more fishing, camping, skiing, boating, traveling, relaxing or whatever I want to do is now far more important to me. I've gotten many of you to your special fishing trip, vacations, time off and have forgotten about mine. I have and have had a couple of health issues that always make one think as we get older. Like the saying goes “you can have a million problems until it's a health problem, then you only have one problem." It's true. Complications from a failed hernia repair last April were just repaired and a myriad of other things were found have kept me under a knife and pretty grounded both mentally and physically since then. I am just now starting back to building a little.

After last years post I had a few people who were concerned about the business and what would happen to it if I quit building. Well, I'll answer that with the comment, I don't know but I won't be giving the business away just to keep it going. It's not a million dollar business but, after 31 years there IS a value. There will be a time where I will leave it completely but I don't know when that might be.

Now, with that said I would like to thank the following people who have stuck with me. Father David Kutner, Michael Moore, Steve Gobin, Blair Christensen, Mark Chiechi and Rob Raphael. All of whom have been patient since last year some time. In the 31 years I've been around I have never stiffed anyone and I will never do that. But, as I work my way towards building your boat I just ask for a little more patience on your part. I had a guy contact me and wanted to pay me double so he could get ahead of all of you and get his boat by May of this year. I'm not building him a boat.

So, I'm not looking for an "atta boy", "you deserve it", it's about time" or "good luck", etc. All I ask is to just remember how much you like your pram and smile when you're enjoying time on the water. Because we all know fishing is, or should be about far more than the fishing. I hope you all are enjoying life. I'm getting there, but it takes a plan that I have been ignoring. Who knows maybe I'll see some of you on the water at some point. Take care.

Jim

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05/02/2024

So, most of you who have inquired about trailers for a 10'' Hopper II know I am not an advocate for pretty much any trailer and their weight against a lightweight pram make a bumpy road encounter usually a win for the trailer.

So, I just saw a Yakima trailer for sale in Winthrop, WA at less than half it's value. If you are interested in the best trailer to trail a Hopper II BUY THIS.

It's located in the Winthrop Exchange page and you would need to join to see it but it would be worth it.

I am hoping the seller will post the link here as she was contacted. If you have problems getting there contact me and I'll what I can.

Jim

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02/05/2024

Well, the yearly update. This one is a bit different than years past. And I'm not looking for an "atta boy" or "sorry to hear it" or any comment really. Just trying to move forward. I’ve been working on this for a couple years and it’s now time to “throw it against the wall.” This is the 30th Anniversary of Spring Creek Prams. Wow, 30 years. I don’t really believe it when I think about it. A little history is important to the understanding of this story and some of you already know. I lost my business partner and wife to Lymphoma almost 16 years ago. But even before that I/we started losing a lot more than that. Also, in those 30 years my back has taken a beating and I now am looking at a 5 level fusion. So, after building thousands of prams I look back all the fishing trips, family vacations travel I/we missed out on over those 30 years making sure everyone else’s vacation or fishing trip with their new pram made it on time. That ends this year. That comes with some pretty major changes.

First, to set the record straight, I WILL still be building prams. I AM NOT going out of business. I am confident my competition will try to play on that. So, you’re hearing it directly from me. I’m not going anywhere. I’m just taking my life back, which I’ve let slide away over the past 30 years. This probably isn’t the finalized version of this and it will have to be a fluid document for a while but it will have some guidelines from the start.
1) I will be building a limited and specific number of prams a year.
2) There will be no due date on your prams completion. If you’re trying to have it by a certain date that is no longer my concern. I’ve never, not built a boat I have had on order for 30 years so I think your odds of getting your pram are pretty good.
3) My vacations and time off will be my top priority and if your pram fits in that time frame I am not going to change my plans for it.
4) Cash is King and is my preferred method of payment. With cash we both retain 100% of its value. So support your local independent businessman by paying with cash and keep cash…..and the small business alive.

This may all sound a bit harsh to some, yet I can’t say that I’m sorry because the people who think that way don’t know me very well and simply just don’t understand the reality of owning a small business and trying to keep it going for 30 years. It all comes at a price. Well, the price just went up.

Jim

03/01/2023

Just received an email from someone who asked if there was a recent price increase. Well, the answer is yes. The reasoning is that I took a 36% increase in resin costs about a month ago and now a 20-25% increase in pretty much everything else. That coupled with no price increases in the past 2 years didn't leave me much to work with. Those increases far and away out shadow the profit in building small custom boats. So, I would apologize for the increases but I am not the one who needs to be apologizing.

09/01/2022

Ok, this gets filed under the "it's nice to be noticed" category I guess?

Received an email this morning from a customer who has a boat on order stating that he was sorry to see that I was "permanently closed." Well, yes it is fire season and as most know that's where I make my income for the year, and I'll start building when I'm back and it cools off a bit. But, just to put the record straight, Spring Creek Prams is not permanently closed. I do find it flattering though to see the competition continue to try to find a way to steer customers away from buying a pram from me. This isn't the first time. Kinda shows that the competition is worried about me after almost 30 years of doing this. So, to the competition? You just keep trying to oust this "dumb, old boat builder" and I'll just keep laughing at your attempts.

06/28/2022

SOLD Well, thanks to the 4 who called asking about this one. As I let you know, these don't last long and this one is now on it's way to a new owner. And for the four? You could order one? But you'll have to wait.

As all of you know it very rarely happens. With that said I have a pram available immediately from a cancellation due to health reasons. What I have is the following;

8' Stillwater Classic - Olive Green
Web - Ivory and Hunter Green
Pocket Puller - center mounted bow
Scotty Anchor Lock - stern
Additional Scotty base in opposite corner of the stern
$1893.50 includes WA state sales tax

The good news? You don't have to wait
First Come, First Served

Spring Creek Prams
509-846-0599
(I don't have cell service at the shop so enjoy the voicemail message. I will call you back when I get back in cell range)

Jim

11/23/2021

Well, after almost 4 years of holding the prices I just can't any longer. Being just hit with a 32% increase in resin costs with I am sure more in the near future I can't see another alternative. I'll be looking to my suppliers to see what the predictions are and go from there.

04/03/2021

Ok, I thought I would put something out there as it's that season again. Honesty season. For those of you who think that your custom built pram is just sitting in my shop waiting for you you're wrong. I have said for so may years now each pram is built to your specs so you get what you want. On a good day it takes me 2-3 weeks to build one and this time of year EVERYONE wants to order there pram and have it in that time frame. Ok, here's the SURPRISE. So does everyone else. I will once again say the same thing I've been saying for 27 years now. If you know you want a Spring Creek Pram order it. I'll build it in order it comes in, you come pick it up and you have your pram, built just for you. If you try to guess my schedule, good luck. I gave up trying to do that about 25 years ago.