Growing up in Bartholomew County, Ben McCormick never saw himself as a patient person.
One sport changed his entire perspective of the world around him.
Through the ups and downs of McCormick’s youth, he and his father, John, always found a common escape to decompress. Even if it meant going on a boat at 5 a.m.
Ben got hooked on fishing at an early age, but had never seriously considered a career in the sport … until he moved out to Colorado to start fly fishing six years ago.
Story continues below gallery
In 2019, Ben, 31, purchased Cutthroat Anglers, a fly fishing shop in Silverthorne, Colorado. Taking over as owner and operator of the shop reignited his passion for fishing.
Most of the time, Ben is tied up in the day-to-day operations of running his fly fishing shop. But those duties ebb and flow like the rhythmic casting patterns of fly fishing, allowing Ben time to hit some local lakes and streams to haul in some cutthroat trout, the fish for which the shop he purchased is named.
One of Ben’s friends, J.R. Sweany, connected him with a group that were into fly fishing out in Colorado. Being an outdoors, mountainous person, Ben soon found that fly fishing was the perfect fit for him.
“Exploring the Colorado fisheries gives you a different perspective of nature out here,” Ben said. “It’s an escape. Most of it is out of cell service. Most of it, you’re alone, it’s silent. When you start fishing, you instantaneously forget about everything else, and for me, it’s super special.”
Ben was born in Cincinnati before his family moved to Hope when he was in kindergarten. He attended St. Bartholomew School through eighth grade and lived in Columbus as a teen before going to high school at Columbus East, where he graduated in 2007. He continued his education at DePauw University, where he obtained a bachelor’s degree in economics.
As a child Ben lived by Schaefer Lake, a local fishing spot in Hope, where his father got him interested in the sport.
Cutthroat Anglers has been in business for 20 years. Ben did not start the shop or rebrand the shop, but bought it as a standing business.
“I think it’s changed my perspective on life and given me appreciation for the simpler things,” McCormick said. “There’s no stress, no distractions, just an intimate experience with nature and a great way to explore.”
For more information about Ben McCormick’s fly fishing shop and fly fishing in general, visit fishcolorado.com
The McCormick file
Name: Ben McCormick
Age: 31
High School: Columbus East
College: DePauw University
Occupation: Owner of Cutthroat Anglers in Silverthorne, Colorado
Credit: Source link
