Mac's first monster on a fly!
Ok, so this isn't one of our prams. Pretty cool though huh?
The picture to the left is of our daughter, Mackenzie and her dad (me) at a small lake in B.C. with the picture being taken by Brian Chan. As you can see it helps to have an experienced "guide" on the trip.
As everyone else in the world we have had some challenges and a life-altering event over the past couple of years which have affected both our business as well as our personal lives. Moving forward I make a commitment to you that I will try to keep up on changes and additions to the most informative site on the Internet regarding prams. There are some new and very exciting additions that will show up as we move forward with these updates. So, stay tuned!
Ok, here's the pram picture for you.
COMPANY HISTORY
Spring Creek Prams is a family-owned business based in Tonasket, Washington the heart of the Okanogan Highlands. We are the largest manufacturer of custom built, hand-laid fly fishing prams in the world. Our website is our way of not only telling you more about our prams and accessories, but sharing some of the simple pleasures we realize from fly fishing from a well-built, well-designed pram.
To our way of thinking, there’s a lot more to fly fishing then just catching (and releasing) fish. Like the satisfaction of covering a rise with a long, accurate cast. Or the feel of the oars in your hands as you glide effortlessly over the perfectly still surface of a misty lake. It’s all part and parcel of fly fishing from a pram. Our hope is that you will enjoy the experience of fly fishing from your Spring Creek pram just as much as we enjoy designing and building one for you.
Jim & Shauneen (in memoriam) Wheeler
The Guts
Welcome to the most informative website on the design, construction and use of a pram, the most stable small boat platform on the planet. We continue to add more fish loving color selections, Carbon Fiber for additional stiffness and weight savings in our Stillwater Classic and many more things you don't see. We have also added a small fly shop to the front of our new 2400sf manufacturing facility here in the sunny Okanogan Highlands just East of Tonasket. Those of you who have fished Ell Lake (many more than we thought) we have a view of the lake which gives you an idea of where we are. We carry the entire line of Stillwater Solutions fly tying materials and know how to use it. There is not a more well thought out line of stillwater tying materials on the planet. We also have hand crafted stillwater rods and all of our accessories for those of you building a pram or just upgrading whatever boat you have.
The best opportunity to see the quality and workmanship I put into each and every pram we produce is to see one in person but we understand that may not be possible. No big mega business producing big numbers of boats. Just one guy (I have another person to help lay-up the hulls) producing the absolute best prams available at the best price. It's all about value isn't it? The other way would be to take a leisurely drive to our shop about 18 miles East of Tonasket.
Why a Pram?
Tired of the time it takes to get into your waders, fins float tube, to the water, etc.? We can reduce that time to less than 5 minutes. With the skyrocketing cost of pontoon boats a pram makes sense. Pontoon boats don't take the five minutes the manufacturers say they do to set up. If you are going to transport a pontoon boat on the top of your car, in the back of a truck, on top of a car or our favorite, on a trailer (don't laugh, we saw a minivan with a trailer set up to transport two fully inflated pontoon boats) why wouldn't you go with a pram......just a pram.....no waders, no fins, no pump and no set up? So, you were looking for another reason to ditch your float tube or pontoon boat this just might be it!
Unmatched Stability
Versatility
Portability
Why a Spring Creek Pram?
Unsurpassed Quality
Known worldwide as the leader in pram design and construction
Long Term Value
Materials and workmanship far exceed all other builders.
We believe in value over profits
Design and Product Testing
As most other manufacturers we too have product testers and owners that include fisheries biologists, authors and fly shop owners who have been chosen because of their ability to give us feedback to better our prams not to increase their profits.
WHY A PRAM (expanded version)?
Simple. STABILITY.
There has never been a more stable boat design as a hard chine pram. EVER! And now, with today's technology we are able to reduce the weight as well as increase the durability. Not to mention that as soon as you fish from a pram your float tube or pontoon boat will be spending much more time in the garage. With the proven fact that you're going to buy one sooner or later anyway (see below) why not bypass the additional steps and expense? Why buy a float tube and find out that it's cold, your range is very limited, they're very difficult to anchor effectively and it is very slow when you have to get to shore to unload that morning cup of coffee. And most of your time is spent dragging a leech. Oh boy, that's fun! Not. Or pontoon boats, where you are still in wet/cold waders and which are supposedly very portable but you always see them tied to roof racks. Hmmm? Don't get me wrong both the float tube and pontoon boats have their place. We just don't feel class I & II rivers and stillwaters are that place. Float tubes are great for packing into those high mountain lakes. Pontoon boats are great for class IV & V rivers. But the stability, comfort, range and quality of our prams are unequaled in ANY other form of watercraft.
Spring Creek Prams allows you many more features not found anywhere else. When you call to just ask questions or when you call to order your pram, you will probably talk to Jim Wheeler, owner and builder of our prams . He also designs and builds each and every pram which allows you to get your questions answered the first time from someone who knows. Your phone calls really will be returned as soon as possible by someone who is able to make the decision and have your answer. Based in Washington State Spring Creek ships prams worldwide with a network of common carriers.
If you're looking for a "cheap boat" we're probably not what you are looking for. But, if you are looking for the best "value" in a hand laid, hand finished custom built fly fishing and/or hunting pram, made in the USA we unquestionably are. We spent and continue to spend countless hours researching what happens to a fly line in a boat, what it hangs up on and how to design interiors so you don't catch your fly line on anything but fish! And boy does that cut into our fishing time! It's what we do.
As mentioned above our prams are not built in another country and are not built by a machine. Each pram is handcrafted, one at a time. This ensures the utmost in quality, strength and consistency of weight. It also allows us to make modifications to custom fit your pram to your size and style of fishing. All our fiberglass prams have U.S. Coast Guard flotation. Other manufacturers skimp on that part and still claim that you can use their pram in remote mountain lakes. Hmmm, let’s see. It fills with water you sink, right? How much did your fly rod cost?
You inevitably took a great deal of time and research to pick your fly fishing gear based on many factors including cost and value received. When you take the time to research your watercraft the decision is simple, a Spring Creek Pram. That must be why prominent fly fishers like Brian Chan, Skip Morris, Gordon Honey and Philip Rowley all have purchased a Spring Creek Pram. I told you the answer was simple.
WHY A PRAM PART III?
Thinking of stepping up from your float tube or pontoon boat or down from your drift boat and trailer into a pram? Great idea! Fly anglers have been using prams successfully on lakes and rivers for over 300 years, so you’ll be joining a grand and stable tradition when you step into your Spring Creek pram. And with today’s advances in pram-building materials and technology, there are even more reasons to leave your float tube at home. Other reasons for buying a pram include;
- You stay warm and dry in a pram which greatly extends the amount of time you are actually fishing. Isn't that why you go fishing in the first place?
- You can be fishing in less than five minutes (no waders, fins, pumps or embarrassing falls at the boat ramp)
- In a pram you to fish from a higher vantage point without being so high that you spook the fish within casting range. So, you can see fish rise, determine the type of rise spot and cast to cruising fish
- A flat bottom, hard chine pram is the most stable hull design anywhere, including pontoon boats
In a Spring Creek pram, you’ll navigate farther and fish longer with less effort. When you add it all up, the cost of a custom-made Spring Creek pram is comparable to a mass-manufactured pram or pontoon boat with accessories. How can you afford not to step up to and into a Spring Creek pram? Order yours today. Please give us a call. We really are very passionate about what we do and truly enjoy building each and every pram. A tremendous amount of heart and passion goes into every pram that leaves our facility. We hope you enjoy our site and we welcome any questions, comments or suggestions you may have. Thanks again for stopping by. We hope to be hearing from you soon.
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NOTE: Please stop by often or bookmark our site as we truly believe in updating information on a regular basis as well as adding additional products and updating current ones. Also, be sure to use your refresh button as changes may not be reflected until you do. Thanks again.
Jim, Shauneen (in memoriam) & Mackenzie Wheeler, owners
Telephone: Toll free (800) 840-PRAM (7726) Address: 35 Sourdough Creek Road, Tonasket, WA 98855 E-mail: info@springcreekprams.com Webmaster: webmaster@springcreekprams.com