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Wolf Moon Trout Nets are hand crafted in the US by Bill and Donna Kallner. The Kallners spent more than 20 years as outdoor retailers and educators, operating a kayak and canoe school and store called Whitewater Specialty on the Wolf River in northeastern Wisconsin. The Kallners still paddle for pleasure, but now they put their creative energy into designing and manufacturing products for other retailers to sell -- Wolf Moon Trout Nets.
Bill Kallner, an avid fisherman whose late father and grandfather were equally passionate, carries on the net tradition started by his friend and fishing buddy, Neil Sanvidge. Neil designed several of our traditional teardrop shape nets and inspired Bill to start designing his own models. Bill isn't picky about what he eats or where he hangs his wet waders, but he's very picky about the wood he chooses for bending nets. Wood that doesn't make the cut for nets is used in other projects, for example, as seats and tabletops in the Northwoods Furniture we sell, which you can see here. But the wood that promises long lengths of straight grain is milled into strips, soaked and steam bent. Once a bent bow is dry, Bill custom fits the handle. Then he shapes and sands each net and applies multiple coats of marine spar varnish, with more sanding between coats. Finally, he sews on the net sacks.
Donna Kallner, Wolf Moon's marketing manager, never dreamed of becoming a fisherman but when she moved to Wisconsin she was informed at the border of the state residency requirements: Learn to polka, eat cheese, and fish. Donna is also a fiber artist, teacher and writer who specializes in contemporary applications for ancient techniques. You can see more of Donna's work at www.donnakallner.com. Donna shares her excitement and energy in workshops across the country. Her work is exhibited nationally, and is included in Fiberarts Design Book 7.
So when the phone rings at Wolf Moon, chances are we're basking in the fragrance of mellowed Siberian iris leaves and willow withies, or the rich scent of clean sawdust. That is, unless we've gone fishing.
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