Spring Creek Prams

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.

10/28/2020

Ok, thought I would update all of you and give fair warning for the upcoming Spring so, here ya go. If you are thinking about a pram for the Spring......."Order it now, have me build it between now and the Spring, come pick it up and then you'll have it in the Spring." Ok, there you go. So, when you order it in January and don't get it until June don't blame me. No, I don't stock "your"custom built boat I build them each to the layout of a specific customers wants. After doing this for almost 27 years this is the one constant battle. So, if you want a pram, order it now so I can spread out all the boats I build to a manageable workload. Thanks.

09/05/2020

Every once in a while you get an email that just makes you and also makes the long days a little more worth it. This is one of those emails. Thanks Ron!

"Jim,

I hope this email finds you safe, healthy and happy with your back fully recovered. I imagine you have been very busy, and the fires as well as boat building. I bought a Stillwater Classic from you in June 2019. I wanted to let you know I have over 100 days on it now and absolutely love it. I am not super gentle with it and it is holding up nicely so far. It is as advertised and all it should be and more. As a side note, I haven't tipped it, swamped it or fallen out of it yet so that's a good thing. All the best to you. Thanks.

Ron, Summerland B.C."

08/27/2020

This is the final stock of Stillwater Solutions fly tying materials I have and probably in the country, I don't know. It has been somewhat picked over but lots left as well. Retail is well over $1,100 and that is 4 year ago pricing. I have a complete inventory but I am not able to download it here. So, feel free to send a PM and I will get you the Excel file. No, I will not sell pieces so don't ask. I need the wall space. Thanks. First come, first served.
$500

08/12/2020

SOLD (took about 2 hours, I'm just slow to post it)
Ok, the constant question is "do you have any stock prams around for sale?" AND the answer is always "no." Well, if you want a Stillwater Classic in Olive Green with Ivory and Hunter Green Splash web, handles, Pocket Puller center mounted bow, Scotty Anchor Lock in one stern corner and a Scotty Fly Rod Holder in the other (they're interchangable) it is available right now to pick up. $1,707 I wouldn't wait too long to pull the trigger as fire season is upon us and I have been out on a few smaller fires but there is one that will take me away waiting in the wings.