Over the past nine years, his renown has grown. To accommodate the increasing demand for his service and to avoid disappointing the avid anglers on his customer list, the river man is applying knowledge he gleaned from his grandfather, a naval architect, toward the rebuilding of a second antique river vessel. The newly reconstructed long boat will be launched in time for the summer fishing season. Bill's unique Jordan River boats have capacity for two anglers, making for personal fly fishing experiences. Excursions delve into the thick of the Mackinaw State Forest where the landscape surrounding the river ranges from dank swamp to open meadow.
Anglers often spot wildlife, deer, bear and wild turkey.
The first river to be protected under the Michigan Natural Rivers Act, the crystal clear Jordan winds through the unspoiled and picturesque Jordan Valley. Primarily spring fed, the river flows across central Charlevoix and Antrim counties for 24 miles, from just west of Elmira to north of Mancelona. The nine-mile stretch of the Jordan, meandering between the Green River in Antrim County to the Charlevoix County line, is a designated Blue Ribbon Trout Stream. Serious fishing action on the Jordan kicks off in April when steelhead begin their spring spawning run. By late May, the trout season is well under way.