Jen Bradshaw, owner of Buglife Fly Goods, grew up on the North Carolina coast, with her earliest memories of fishing being from the shore and night fishing for flounder. Her career as a traveling nurse eventually brought her to southwest Florida, where she spent all her free time fishing along the Gulf coast, with her favorite spot being in the Everglades. Years later, she settled in Boone, NC, where she discovered her love for mountains and river life. That love, combined with a gypsy spirit, led her to take contracts out west with her Black Lab, Tess. Always seeking new places to explore, Jen kept her eye out for contracts in locations that also satisfied her adventurous spirit, eventually landing in Missoula, MT.

What started as a love for saltwater fishing soon grew into a full-blown obsession with trout fishing on Montana’s iconic rivers.

While living in Missoula, Jen met John of Buglife Flyfishing. Originally from Seattle, John had spent the last 30 years traveling to Montana whenever he could, starting on the Bighorn during the '90s. His journey eventually led him to the Missouri River, where he fell in love with its legendary blue‑ribbon trout. From that moment, he knew Montana would someday be his home. It wasn’t long before he bought property on the “Mo” with plans to turn that dream into reality.

As Jen continued working as a travel nurse and, with John by her side, they looked for every opportunity to take assignments that would allow them to fish great rivers in their free time. Over three years, they explored some of the West’s top fisheries in Colorado, Wyoming, Washington, New Mexico, and—always—their favorite Montana.

At the start of COVID, they left Colorado and decided to settle on John’s property in Craig, Montana. After years of guiding on the Bitterroot, Blackfoot, Clark Fork, and Missouri rivers, John had the chance to guide in the Stillwater Valley. By the third summer—and with few fly shops in the area—the idea for Buglife Fly Goods started to develop, and on November 1st, 2025, it became a reality.