Contemplative Casting
by Aaron Kampfe
A fisherman’s journey launches from the land. The water beckons the angler with mystery. From the safety of the shore, he views the body of water—be it a river, lake, or ocean—and before venturing out, accepts the unknowns that the quest may offer.
A wise fisherman carefully considers what he can control—his gear, his companions, and the planning and general preparation for the excursion. A wiser fisherman also accepts what he cannot control—the weather, the unpredictability of where the fish may be, and what luck is in store for him for that day.
Fly fishing in Montana is a revered art. Like any kind of art, techniques, methods, preferences, and styles vary but what is shared is the water and sacred appreciation of the pursuit. The classic Montana novel A River Runs Through It explores the religion-like rituals associated with fly fishing in the Rocky Mountains. For the Maclean family, the river serves as a type of retreat, where fishing is contemplative, and casting is meditative.
Twenty years ago, the waters and surrounding mountains of Montana’s Paradise Valley beckoned Jody Marler, a Chicago-area builder. At his core, Jody is a carpenter who has a passion for fishing. Or perhaps, at his core, Jody is a fisherman who has a passion for carpentry. Jody came to Montana because he saw an opportunity for his passions to co-exist, where work, play, and spirit are one.
Unknown Waters
Familiar Ground
Any launch is a leap of faith.
When Jody Marler committed to set up camp in the Paradise Valley, he had to trust his instincts, abilities, and vision. He was aware that transitioning from a larger-scale, urban, construction company to rural custom home building would require flexible thinking, an open mind, and patience. His wife Sandi was the first to instigate the move and was 100% behind it. She also had to make a leap of faith. Her career as a media executive in Chicago was being swapped for a slower pace of life in Montana. In 2011, Fishcamp Custom was set afloat, and Jody started casting.
The first project Jody undertook was his own home on a piece of land near Pray. One of his first realizations was that an out-of-state architect was not the right fit. In a search for an alternative architect, he ran across Carita Adams. She had trained under the celebrated Montana architect Jonathan Foote and, earlier in her career, worked with such esteemed architects, designers, and creatives such as Candace Miller, Paul Bertelli, Kirk Michels, Larry Pearson, and Audrey Hall. Her practice is based in Livingston and she shares a similar background to Jody. She is also from Chicago, has a family cabin in northern Wisconsin near Jody’s cabin in the upper peninsula of Michigan, and has a Midwestern candor. They immediately hit it off and their first project together was Jody and Sandi’s own home.
Today, the unknown waters of Montana have become familiar ground for Jody. With over a dozen completed projects, Fishcamp’s portfolio has garnered attention. His homes have won awards and received recognition from regional architecture and design publications like Western Home Journal as well as national magazines.
“Building a custom home can be a multi-year endeavor. Who you work with is important. Before I accept a project, I really need to know the client well. I feel fortunate in that usually my relationships with clients quickly move from ‘business’ to ‘friendship.”
–Jody Marler, Fishcamp Custom
Gregarious and personable, Jody has found his place in his new Montana community. Successful construction projects begin with solid relationships among the clients, crew, suppliers, and subcontractors. Jody says, “Building a custom home can be a multi-year endeavor. Who you work with is important. Before I accept a project, I really need to know the client well. I feel fortunate in that usually my relationships with clients quickly move from ‘business’ to ‘friendship.’”
In addition to his construction company, Fishcamp Custom, Jody Marler has launched a separate endeavor, Fishcamp Creative. A media production company focused on outdoor pursuits like fishing, hunting, and backcountry exploration, the agency works with outdoor retailers and equipment manufacturers to create dramatic photography and videography. Working with such brands as AFTCO, Simms, The Original Muck Boot Company, Jiffy Ice Drills, Thorne Bros., Lund Boats, Pakmule, Big Timber Construction Fasteners, and Wells Lamont, Fishcamp Creative produces content that is used in print, television, and social media platforms including Instagram and YouTube.
Whether it’s construction arts or the visual arts of photography and film, Jody is a creative who embraces the mystery of the unexplored and ventures into unknown waters. At the end of the journey, he has faith that he, his clients, and his crews will be grounded.
Feeling Grounded in Camp
Any well-conceived Montana home design begins with the landscape. The land dictates the site planning, viewsheds, and location of structures. Questions are asked: “What brought you to Montana? What is your passion? Do you fish, hunt, hike, canoe, or horseback ride? What brought you to Fishcamp? What is your ideal view? Where does the snow accumulate on the property? Where does the water drain? Where does the sun rise and set? From what direction does the wind generally blow?”
As the dialogue progresses, the vision starts to take shape and details start to be hammered out. Conversations often result in fun details that can be planned for the home and Jody, the architect, and the homeowner gush with excitement. While ultimately, the land and the dwelling that sits on it should make its occupants feel grounded—safe, secure, comfortable—it should also bring both the homeowner and builder joy.
“We make a good team. I design the home for form and function. Jody and his team elevate the design.”
–Carita Adams, Architect
After completing Jody’s personal home, Fishcamp continued to partner with architect Carita Adams on other projects. Carita says, “We make a good team. I design the home for form and function. Jody and his team elevate the design. For each room in the home, he takes the plans and thinks through them carefully and enhances them. Additionally, for all of the materials selections, interiors, and finish details, Jody and his team do the design and build. He has the capacity to create one-of-a kind pieces either on the jobsite or in their shop and integrate them into the home.”
While Carita did the core architectural plans for this 4,500-square-foot, 4-bedroom, 5½-bath home, Jody found ways to augment and refine the final design. One of his suggestions was an open stairwell next to floor-to-ceiling windows. His team built a wall with reclaimed cut-logs. He repurposed log ends that might otherwise have been scrap and used them as a decorative floor-to-ceiling backdrop, framing the views of Paradise Valley.
The layout of the home is oriented with the master bedroom, junior master bedroom, great room, and dining room all taking in the direct views to Emigrant Peak. Additionally, the upper-level man cave has a custom wet bar and stunning views of the Absaroka range, community pond, and the town of Emigrant.
Before venturing out to fish, hunt, float, or hike trails, gear must be assembled, and plans need to be made. The journey begins from camp and Jody knows how camps need to function. The mud room is often the nexus of any excursion. When designing and building them, questions arise, including, “Where are the boots stowed and the jackets hung? Where is the dog food stored? How do you conveniently stash the rods and tackle? How does the mud room allow you to transition from the capricious weather of Montana to a feeling of being grounded in the indoors?”
The journey begins from camp and Jody knows how camps need to function. The mud room is often the nexus of any excursion.
The Inspiration to Launch
In Livingston, Jody met a Paradise Valley property owner through mutual fly fishing friends, and they hit it off right away. The future client was originally from California and working with Robert Gregory, a San Francisco architect, and interior designer Donald Ohlen. The result of this collaboration was a one-of-a-kind, contemporary home that blended elements of California design with Montana practicality.
Inside the home, the mountain view dominates the great room, which serves as an open-plan dining and living space. A full sweep of windows frames the view from every area. With this huge expanse of windows and high ceilings, Fishcamp and Robert Gregory were vigilant in sustaining a human dimension within what could be an otherwise overwhelmingly large space. To achieve this, Jody’s team constructed a low, steel-trimmed wall, which houses the fireplace and shelving, in tile that mimics the look of poured concrete. “The fireplace wall helps anchor the sitting area and provides a comfortable scale without blocking any of the view,” Jody explains. Another key to the design and build was finding appropriate wall space for the owner’s collection of modern art. As Jody recalls, “Once the walls were up, the client taped out each piece to make sure the space and lighting was right. And our team got a bonus lesson in art while we worked.”
“For the custom homes we build, we need craftspeople with a passion for the process. From the framing to the finish work, our guys have the patience to slow down and look at the big picture.”
–Jody Marler, Fishcamp Custom
The main residence elicits an airy ease, making the art and the mountain views the true standouts. Jody explains that this contemporary simplicity is often deceptive. “You look at this home and think ‘simple and clean’ but that’s a lot harder to make right than a home with many layers of design,” he says. “There are no hiding imperfections in these spaces, so there can be no mistakes in building it.”
Like fishing on the river, building custom homes requires charting a course, managing the many moving parts, adaptability, and the seamless coordination of materials and crew. Jody shares, “The crew is really key. Hiring quality carpenters is a challenge for any builder, but for the custom homes we build, we need craftspeople with a passion for the process. From the framing to the finish work, our guys have the patience to slow down and look at the big picture. This house has a contemporary look, so it doesn’t share the traditional features of your standard home. This required thoughtfulness and creativity from every member of the crew. They took pride in creating something unique and different.”
Upgrading the Gear
At certain points during a sportsman’s career, the state-of-the art gear that has served him well for years will need to be repaired or, maybe, retired. New state-of-the art gear has been developed. Is it time to upgrade?
When upgrading gear—anything from a pair of boots to a boat to a pick-up truck to a storage barn—the question becomes, “Do I simply repair it or throw the whole thing out and start anew?” These questions are never easy as we sometimes get sentimental and attached to things—be it waders that evoke years of memories of fly fishing along the banks, a drift boat with peeling paint that gives it character, or that camper that sheltered you in countless rain and snowstorms.
The homeowners of a 1990s house that overlooks the Yellowstone River in the Paradise Valley approached Jody and the Fishcamp team about a remodel. The house was dated, and the family had been trying to sell it without any luck finding a buyer. The structure and interiors were generic, like any house in a ‘90s suburb. The family felt no emotional connection to the residence but did feel a spiritual connection to its location—on the banks of the Yellowstone River in the shadows of the Absaroka-Beartooth Mountains.
“We had to make some brave choices and Fishcamp was up for the task. We took the roof off the center of the house and gutted the inside. Then re-configured and re-assembled the structure so the interiors could be completely re-envisioned.”
–Carita Adams, Architect
At first, the discussions of the remodel were about the cosmetic features and doing just enough updating to make it feel more livable and more attractive to a buyer. After some meetings with Jody and Carita Adams, the homeowner became inspired, and their vision expanded. With the guidance of Jody and Carita, they had fresh thoughts about how the home might function for their family.
Ultimately, they planned a full remodel with major structural and interior design changes and updates. Carita reflects on the final plans, “We had to make some brave choices and Fishcamp was up for the task. We took the roof off the center of the house and gutted the inside. Then re-configured and re-assembled the structure so the interiors could be completely re-envisioned.”
With an updated home that felt authentic to its surroundings and comfortable for its inhabitants, the family re-committed to the house, couldn’t imagine ever selling it, and had a renewed experience with their Montana property. The dwelling was transformed from a less-appreciated vacation home to a legacy camp, where the family would be for generations to come.
The Fly Shop of Home Building
As part of a fisherman’s preparation, he often stops at the local fly shop. More than a store where essential items are bought, a fly shop is a point of information exchange. Questions pop up: “What hatches are coming off? Where on the river are there hazards? What are good float entry and exit points?” A patron not only outfits himself for the journey but also gleans information from those who know the routes well. Just like in business, seeking out professionals offers the angler the tools and knowledge for a successful trip.
A year ago, Fishcamp opened a showroom on Highway 89, a mile south of the I-90 interchange in Livingston. The location functions as a design center and features samples of Fishcamp’s signature styles. As one wanders through the building, each turn reveals something novel, intriguing, ornate, or enchanting.
As Norman Maclean writes in A River Runs Through It: “Eventually, all things merge into one, and a river runs through it.” For Jody, the river represents the confluence of passions, where art, work, creativity, spirituality, and human relationships merge into one.
In June of 2021, Danyelle Golden was hired at Fishcamp as a point person who could collaborate with the clients, architects, and guys on the jobsite. She says, “Prior to Fishcamp, I was doing interior design for a Bozeman-based firm with much of the work in the Yellowstone Club. The transition to Fishcamp has allowed me to work with more rustic and down-to-earth elements in the interiors… and more emotionally invested people. Our clients are building homes that they spend most of the year in, not just vacations. The style has more of a Montana feel, a real authenticity and regional vernacular. The showroom offers the opportunity to experience it and be inspired.”
Among the showroom features are cabinetry made from reclaimed red painted lumber with earth-toned finishes; artwork by Montana painters, sculptors, and photographers; light fixtures that float between the ceiling and the floor; and steel framed doorways that provide both structural support and delineations between rooms. Throughout are nods to Montana’s flora and fauna. A visitor slows down as the spaces are explored and features are revealed through closer inspection. The must-see destination within the building is the restroom with its ceiling adorned with bark on cedar cut-log ends, handmade turquoise tile, concrete sink, and art piece with a colorful, cartoonish gunslinging cowboy.
The imagination is sparked, and one thinks about one’s own home—be that an upgrade of a room or a full custom build. Like a fly shop clerk, the Fishcamp team is there with advice and insight. They will kindly guide you through the showroom and maybe back into the cabinet shop, where you can observe the craftspeople at work.
After a fishing or hunting trip wraps up, Jody reflects on the journey by assembling the images that document the adventure. He reflects on the process—what was envisioned and planned, how was it executed, what went right, and how they adapted when things went wrong. But as a creative, his quest is never over. He continually seeks out the next adventure—an element of design to add to the next home or outdoor excursion to film. Like a wiser fisherman, he plans for what he can but accepts the unknown, letting the waters write the story.
As Norman Maclean writes in A River Runs Through It: “Eventually, all things merge into one, and a river runs through it.” For Jody, the river represents the confluence of passions, where art, work, creativity, spirituality, and human relationships merge into one. At his best moments, Jody is on the water, immersed in the experience, and contemplating as he casts.
