"Fish Tales"

Another original Fish-Rite customer …

Back in 1976, when Fish-Rite was just starting in the custom boat business, Gary Barber was talking to a friend. This friend told Gary, “I can get you a boat & trailer from these guys I know. Do you want one?” Gary said yes, and 28 years later he still owns the second boat produced by Fish-Rite Boats. His boat still has all the original equipment, rides on the original trailer and sports the original custom paint (see pictures).
When asked why he has kept his boat for so many years, Gary responded,

“I own it, and it doesn’t wear out.” Gary, who lives on the Rogue River in Shady Cove, OR, said “I used this boat everyday, 4 times a day, for 17 years. I’ve caught lots of fish from this boat and, in addition to the many lakes and rivers it has navigated, its has been on the bay at Gold Beach, down Huggins Canyon, and even in the ocean.”

When asked about specific times when the boat stood out, Gary, who has been a Guide for over 30 years, was reluctant to brag on himself and his boat, however he did mention that the boat has taken a couple of trips on its own over the years, including one early in the morning on April 1st several years back, when it ended up about 4 miles down river by the time Gary caught it, without a scratch! (And that’s no April Fool’s joke!)

Gary still uses his Fish-Rite boat for Fall & Winter guide trips and to take his family out on the lake. When asked if he would ever sell it Gary said, with a smile, that while everything’s always for sale at the right price, this boat was going to be in the family for many more years to come.