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Hooked on rods: 17-year-old Montanan catches custom rod-building bug, starts business. Shields River Rods

December 9, 2007 /

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Bear Paw Development Corporation is a private non-profit organization created for the purpose of administering programs to help improve regional economic conditions in Hill, Blaine, Liberty, Chouteau and Phillips Counties and the Fort Belknap and Rocky Boy's Indian Reservations.

At the age of 17, Sam Cornthwaite says he’s dedicated his life to building fly rods.

"I enjoy it so much that it’s not work," he says.

The young entrepreneur has taken over most of the space in his family’s rural home to build custom fly rods that customers order via his Web site, http://www.shieldsriverrods.com.
Shields River Rods, so named in honor of the river near Cornthwaite’s home, took root about four years ago when he sold his first rod through a 4-H competition. The next one was sold on consignment through George Anderson’s Yellowstone Angler, a Livingston fly shop where he works part time. Sensing an opportunity, he started his own custom rod-building business. So far, he’s sold about 100 rods ranging in price from $290 to $475.

By BRETT FRENCH of the Billings Gazette

Full Story: http://missoulian.com/articles/2007/12/09/business/biz09.txt