I’m truly pleased to present today the first of a two part People of Fly Fishing interview with Jake McGlothlin (yep, that Jake who was a cofounder of Chi Wulff back in the day) representing Hatch Adventures, a new startup which will be of critical interest to fly fishers headed to Southwest Montana this next year; he’s been working on the project with a group of friends for months now and they’ve just recently opened the doors to the public.
In a nutshell, please tell us about Hatch Adventures and what it is exactly that you guys do?
Hatch Adventures is an adventure rental company based in the Livingston/Bozeman area. We are offering Jeep and Toyota Tacoma camper rentals as well as fishing raft rentals. Since we live in a very outdoorsy and adventurous place, these products fit perfectly with the active lifestyles of both locals and tourists.
We want Hatch Adventures to be more than just a rental company. Our team has the knowledge and a passion for this area that we want to share. The Greater Yellowstone area is a very special place and the information you receive going into it can make or break your trip. We want everyone to enjoy, respect and love this region as much as we do.
How about sharing a bit about the principals involved in Hatch?
As some readers might remember, I have been involved in the fly fishing industry for many years. Namely on the retail side of things, culminating in managing a local fly shop here in Bozeman. For the past two and a half years I have been working for a marketing and production agency here in town.
Stephan Morris grew up in Bozeman, and has been heavily involved in the outdoors since a very young age. Business runs in his blood, going back two generations of local business owners. An active hunter, angler, kayaker/river rat, and outdoorsman, he and his wife Alisa came up with the idea for Hatch while on an Alaskan camping and fishing trip last summer.
John Morris has been a local entrepreneur for over 30 years and brings his small business acumen to the team. An avid outdoorsman and craftsman, John brings a different lens to our vision and company.
All of us are very passionate about this area and the activities Hatch Adventures enables. We’d all rather spend our days outside hiking, camping, fishing and hunting than anything else.
People always seem to want to know this one – what is it that prompted you guys to start Hatch now?
There’s no time like the present! It was a mix of factors that led to us wanting to launch Hatch Adventures in 2018. No one else in the region is renting these campers and we saw a definite need and market niche for them. Any businessman knows the power in being first to market. We realized going into it that our “perfect” timeline would include a year of content creation and marketing before launch, but what in life ever works out perfectly?
Secondly, everyone working on the team is very passionate about the project, the area, and enabling others to enjoy it in a unique and engaging way. Hatch Adventures has us all excited to be spending long hours working on the weekends and into the night after our day jobs. That excitement keeps us going.
We have big plans for the future, and are very excited to be launching operations this year.
So tell us a bit more about the special features of the vehicles you rent?
Our Jeep Wranglers are outfitted with an Ursa Minor Vehicles camper top. The Ursa Minor replaces the stock hard top, and is only a few inches taller. Inside the pop up tent, you’ll find mesh screens to keep bugs out and increase airflow, lights, and a charging station. There is plenty of room for two sleepers.
Our friends over at Go Fast Campers in Bozeman are building the Tacoma campers. They are a new company and are just bringing their product to market. We are very excited to introduce them into our fleet. The GFC camper fits over the truck bed like a standard topper, which allows you to still utilize the truck bed. The team over there did an excellent walkthrough video of their first production unit, which you can find here.
One of the key features of both of these campers is the fact that they are very slim, only a few inches taller than a stock Jeep hard top or truck bed topper when traveling. You aren’t driving an awkward RV or towering camper. The drivability of the vehicles isn’t affected at all.
Camp is where you park it, you don’t need much room at all to use and enjoy these campers. Both the Ursa Minor and GFC are incredibly easy to use, quick to set up, and roomy enough for two people. You can park and have your tent popped up in under a minute.
Each camper rental will come with a cooler, camp stove and kitchen kit, and everything you need to enjoy the experience. Don’t want to bring your own camping gear? Let us know and we’ll get you covered.
These campers are made for adventuring. As I mentioned earlier, it isn’t a “luxury” rental. It’s perfect for those seeking a different experience that gives them more freedom to move and explore.
And what about the rafts and their fishing set-ups?
Our fishing raft rentals are NRS Outlaw rafts with the NRS fishing frame. Thigh braces and casting platforms are perfect for dedicated anglers and make for a very comfortable and safe day of fishing. Rafts are a wonderful option around here for year round fishing and floating. They’re easy to row, maneuverable, and flexible. You can just as easily take these out for a day of hardcore fishing as you could rig them up for a week long float.
With the Smith River just up the road, we are offering multi day packages at a discounted rate that are perfect for that trip, or any of the other multi day river trips around the state. Each rental comes with a dry bag, three oars, PFDs for everyone on board, and a lockable bear proof cooler large enough for multi day trips.
Getting out on the river as a novice on the oars can be stressful, but these rafts are very easy to manage and handle well on the water. Our team knows the local waters well and will help anyone find a float that fits their skill level and wants for the day.
The second part of the interview follows tomorrow.
