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This catalog is dedicated to
my favorite ladies
GAPEN’S
Family History
The tranquil solitudes
of pine clad hills,
enfold the little road that winds its way into that
hushed expectancy which fills the purple valleys
at the close of day.
Contributed by our good friend and poet
Walter S. Johnson
There are silent valleys of brooding pines,
and a little road that the fairies take,
on a summer’s eve when the full moon shines
‘cross quiet waters of a lonely lake.
Debbie Gapen
My daughter who has
gained the strength
to manage
The Gapen Co.
in our recent years.
‘Bobber’ Anne Orth
For so many years
of support and
strength as I
struggle through
my later years.
“I CAN NEVER THANK
YOU ENOUGH!”
THE GAPEN STORY . . . “OUR HISTORY”
It all began in the far northeastern region of Minnesota with the building of
Minnesota’s largest log structure, Hungry Jack Lodge in 1916. Jesse & Sue Gapen and
their two sons Don and Bob hand built a fishing resort like no other in Minnesota.
The Gunflint Trail on which this log resort and its 14 cabins rested were at this time
a paradise for lake trout, landlocked salmon (believed to be the modern day splake) and
northern pike.
Tourists from all over the country flocked north by whatever means available. Some
came by bus, others by ancient automobile. Famous names such as the Pillsburys,
Vanderbilts, and men from the nation’s top outdoor writers associations came to test
these famous waters.
It was Jesse Gapen who planted the first smallmouth bass in these northern lakes.
This species soon flourished and today the border waters from Ely to Grand Marias,
MN see modern anglers coming by the thousands to seek out this acrobatic species.
In 1936 Don Gapen moved north to Nipigon, Ontario, Canada, at the end of
Highway 61, where the road was gravel. Here the Gapens purchased Chalet Bungalow
Lodge, a 65 capacity American plan resort once owned by the Canadian Railway. At
Nipigon, famous for its world record brook trout, Don and his family spent their
summers and winters creating a resort for fishermen who flocked there to catch the
record size brook trout, lake trout, northern pike, whitefish, sturgeon and the
bountiful supply of walleye.
It was here that Don Gapen created the world famous Original “Muddler Fly” and
it was here that his son Dan Gapen began an outdoor career and education. Dan began
as a minnow/worm boy and then as a fishing guide at the age of 14. From the age of
six young Dan began tying flies and at the age of eight, began tying flies commercially
for his father’s tackle operation. Payment was a half-cent for each fly. It was during this
winter tackle operation the first ever weight-forward spinner lure was invented. It was
called the “Nepag”. From that lure came the Paul Bunyan 66, and the modern Lake
Erie weight-forward spinner.
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F i s h G a p e n ’ s