Rating:

5.0 (2 votes)

During the summer most kids get into the lemonade business, but 13-year old Jacob Bernhardt has taken a different approach to summertime entrepreneurship, and he knows what it takes to "lure" in customers.

Jacob has been making and selling his own trout flies at the Great Falls Farmer's Market for the last few years; he started out making about 10 different varieties and now has more than 20.

He has had to learn everything about running his own business, from purchasing supplies to scouting out the competition to pricing his merchandise right. An avid fly fisher himself, he's able to recommend the flies for the right conditions, and now, what started out a simple hobby has grown into a successful summer business.

Jacob said, "Someone we know gave me a little kit, I started like that and kind of taught myself. And then we thought maybe I should try this and it just sort of took off from there."

His mother Kathleen noted, "He's had to learn how to relate to the customers, visit with the customers; he's kind of shy so he doesn't like to talk to people all that much, so he's had to learn to do that, and visit with them and ask them what they're interested in and where they're fishing and whatnot. So it's really helped his communication skills a lot."

Customers say they come back to Jacob's stand because they like to help support young entrepreneurs and local businesses.

Jacob says he makes about $50 every week and is putting the money toward college and saving up for a fish-finder for ice fishing.