ND fishing lodge. Profit or bust?

[zoops]

It would definitely change the outdoor experience for a person. As a guide I talked to in MN once said "it's not like I fish for fun on my days off anymore."

 

[Lycanthrope]

We dont want any more 'COMMERCIALIZATION' of our outdoor opportunities. IMO anyone who brings this up again should be banned from this site....

 

[Bfishn]

Part of the reason I love Sak is because its not lined with resorts and cabins attracting all the out of state riff-raff. It also makes it feel more remote and adventurous. I think it would be damn near impossible to start something from scratch on Sak. I've been going to Indian Hills my entire life and it has taken them a loooong time to get it to what it is today.

 

[Kenneth]

We dont want any more 'COMMERCIALIZATION' of our outdoor opportunities. IMO anyone who brings this up again should be banned from this site....

you guys have a gold mine for outdoor activities. Woodland is about the only place I see promoted out of north Dakota. Hell we even have commercials and billboards in my neck of the woods for Woodland resort.

 

[Zogman]

Where is your neck Kenneth???

 

[guywhofishes]

What's the frequency Kenneth?

 

[Kenneth]

What's the frequency Kenneth?

of ads? I dunno I suppose I see 1 or 2 a week on the tv, especially in the summer months. There's a couple billboards on interstate.

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Where is your neck Kenneth???

on my shoulders, slightly below my head

 

[ccarver80]

best bet would wait till someone sells a resort... then your infrastructure is already set up... I believe one just went up for sale on FT.Peck..... don't know how much or what was all included.... but if there selling... might be because they couldn't make money at it... or could just be an old couple that wants to retire.... good luck!

 

[H82bogey]

If you want to hate fishing and not enjoy your time on the water I say go for it! Lots of other reasons listed for the financials, but I did this very thing, except in the golf industry. I was a pro, was at the course every morning by 6am and worked I can't tell you how many 80-100 hour weeks. Everyone asked how much golf I played since I worked/managed a course. I told them none, yeah, that's right none! The last place I wanted to be on my day off was a golf course, and if I did have a few hours during the day, it wasn't spent playing 9 holes. I wanted out of there and to get away. My advise is to weigh your passion for fishing and your true intentions of wanting to own a resort. If you truly love to fish, stay away. If you are ok with hating fishing and making money, then I say invest away.

I also, used to know the owners of Indian Hills, and while they did love it, I know they put in more hours during the summer season than most people do working 40 hrs a week for a year. Just something to keep in mind.

 

[guywhofishes]

of ads? I dunno I suppose I see 1 or 2 a week on the tv, especially in the summer months. There's a couple billboards on interstate.

svn would be disappointed in you "Kenneth"

a true Kenneth would have known that subtle joke and have heard it 1,000 times

 

[svnmag]

Can't wait for this one...

 

[Fish whisperer]

Game warden, dispute mediator, septic system pumper outer, dock/boat lift installer/remover/repairer, cook, chef, bartender, accountant, bait shop owner/sales/stocker, boat rigger/mechanic, proficient in trailer hub/tire and trailer-light trouble-shooting and repair, fish gut grinding station de-cloggifier, maid, all while being upbeat, polite, and giving free advice to people going out to fish a lake you haven't been on in 6Mo.

I think you absolutely nailed it...no way in the world I would ever do it. The risk(& workload) isn't worth the reward.

 

[svnmag]

Agreed. If you didn't love it you'd lose it. I've known some fellows who would be happy as a pig in shi'ite with all this work and puttering.

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I wish to Heaven I was still around them. Guys like this make days too short especially when you're a kid.

Not all guys. My great grandmother was one of these folks.

 

[guywhofishes]

Amen svn.

 

[Account Deleted]

I practiced waterfowl guiding for three days once. It was exhausting. Zombie mode by third day.

 

[svnmag]

Amen svn.

Thanks! Not all guys; my great grandmother was one of these folks.

 

[Sum1]

If I was to loose a fortune persueing my dream of making a living fishing I would go the pro tourney fishing route(wouldn't be walleye fishing either). I would go crazy running a resort or even guideing. I don't have that kind of patience. At least tourney fishing a guy could go fishing for days on end by his lonesome and try to earn some money and if you don't you have no one but yourself to blame. I would love every minute of it.

 

[deleted___account]

If you build it, they will come. Let's say it was on the big lake, close to 83. Where would you shoot for? I'd be all over it like flies on %#%. If there were a few extra months of summer, it would help a lot. Winters might be quite long starting out I think.

 

[westwolfone]

My 2 Cents. No experience with resorts, but have done the books for other businesses.

2 ways to go.

Over the top luxury type place, millions in capital required to get started. Hire someone to manage it for you.
Can be profitable over time. Your customers don't really care what it costs so charge huge rates.

The other option, as others posted, is to turn a profit by keeping expenses low. Probably how most have to do it.

 

[johnr]

Game warden, dispute mediator, septic system pumper outer, dock/boat lift installer/remover/repairer, cook, chef, bartender, accountant, bait shop owner/sales/stocker, boat rigger/mechanic, proficient in trailer hub/tire and trailer-light trouble-shooting and repair, fish gut grinding station de-cloggifier, maid, all while being upbeat, polite, and giving free advice to people going out to fish a lake you haven't been on in 6Mo.

Exactly