Page 7 - ISI_162_JuneJuly

JUNE / JULY 2020 • IDAHO SENIOR INDEPENDENT ALL ABOUT IDAHO PAGE 7

“It was a pretty great fishery,“ said
Roope. “There were a lot of big fish and
provided good dry fly fishing. I started
making money with that.”
He wanted to be an Idaho outfitter, but
Idaho was highly regulated.
“It was like pulling teeth,” he said, but
eventually he got a permit for the St. Joe
River, then later Hayden Lake, the Chain
Lakes, and eventually the Coeur d’Alene
River itself.
“It’s continued to build some great
fisheries. It’s amazing. The Coeur d’Alene
is an absolutely dynamic diverse fishery,
and it’s just been getting better and better.”
Roope’s career continued to blossom
and spread throughout the world. He got to
know the folks from Loop, the fly rod com-
pany, and was their national sales manager
for a spell. He spent “a bunch of time in
Argentina with Loop.” He also spent time
in Russia, running a brown trout program.
“I got to go just about anywhere around Summers are very busy for Joe Roope, who has a small business on the Coeur d’Alene River, where he
if there was good fishing,” he said. “I’ve sells some gear and offers scenic and fishing trips. He also has guides working for him in Washington and
been really fortunate.” Montana. Photo by Jack McNeel.
He also acquired a fishing resort on
Christmas Island in the Pacific, guiding “Summers are busy, busy, busy in the But all this doesn’t keep Roope from
fishermen who would fly in from the states. Coeur d’Alene area” he commented. He and fishing. He said he and his good friend,
Life changed as his son, now 12, came his staff work the waters in the vicinity of Mark Few, the basketball coach at Gonzaga,
into his life. Roope had a shop on Highway Coeur d’Alene. He also has two guys who fish anywhere from 40 to 50 times a year
95 and another at the Coeur d’Alene Resort. work in Washington and also has some together.
That followed with a building on 4th street guides in Montana who have worked for Roope’s life has been unique, proving
in Coeur d’Alene. The town has changed him a number of years. that desire and self motivation can work
greatly in recent years, causing Roope to He also has a small business next to the wonders. ISI
concentrate more on guiding. Snake Pit on the Coeur d’Alene River, where
He spends winters tying flies. they sell some fishing gear as well as offer
scenic trips and fishing trips.

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