Eight Weeks In: Fatherhood and Fly Shop Life

Everyone told me life would change. Of course, I knew that would be true. But no words, no advice, no stories could have fully prepared me for the way it actually feels. On July 9th, 2025, in Astoria, Oregon, my son Walker Avrey Phillips was born. It was the most magical day of my life one I’ll never forget. The moment I held him, everything shifted.

The joy of being a dad is unlike anything else, but the hardship is real too. Most of what I read beforehand I couldn't connect to, so I figured I’d share my own experience. Sleepless nights blur together. My arms and legs ache from bouncing, squatting, and rocking him to sleep. The financial cost of raising a child is no joke either. Thankfully, like everything else these days, there’s a buy-now-pay-later plan. But all of it, every bit of exhaustion and worry is outweighed by the love and responsibility that comes with this. 

For the first several weeks, Spawn Fly Fish naturally took a back seat, as it should. And honestly, I’m glad it did. Those first moments with Walker were irreplaceable, and I wouldn’t trade them for anything. I don’t get parental leave; I’m a business owner. You get out what you put in. Thankfully, Spawn is owned by three of us Pete, Luke and I, and without them, who knows how things would have looked.

Now that I’m easing back into the shop, Spawn feels different to me. It’s not just a business anymore. It’s not just a place to share flies, materials, and stories with anglers. It feels like something I’ll pass down. A piece of me, of us, that will one day belong to Walker too.

What always surprises me most is how much of a community surrounds this shop—and by extension, now surrounds my son. He doesn’t know it yet, but he already has a whole group of people rooting for him, caring about him, and in some ways, teaching him through the love they show Spawn Fly Fish. That’s beyond special. Hardly anyone even asks about fishing when they come in. They all want to know about Walker. He’s already spent hours here, staring at the walls of feathers and materials. He probably can’t even see them clearly yet, but it doesn’t matter. He’s part of it already.

Eight weeks in, I know I’ve barely scratched the surface of fatherhood. But one thing is already set in stone: my most important objective is to inspire and teach the next generation. With the passing of so many greats in this industry, someone needs to carry the torch. Before becoming a dad, I sometimes wondered if I was too old, too out of touch to be cool and inspire. I no longer play soccer for a living, and I don’t spend every second fishing. But now I see that I’ve been given the greatest opportunity of all.

There will be countless lessons ahead teaching my son how to love the rivers we fish, how to tie a fly, and how to cast a rod. Showing him that a grip-and-grin is great, but the story behind the fish and place is even better. And telling him, with a straight face, that the fish he just caught is in-fact the biggest one I’ve ever seen in my life...

My opportunity to leave a mark on this sport and this industry just changed forever. I will learn how to inspire Walker, and at the same time, I hope to inspire the next generation of anglers, stewards, and shop owners. It’s more than just a business. It’s a legacy. It’s a community. It’s something I hope my son will grow up proud of.

For now, I’ll keep juggling sleepless nights, running a shop, and watching my son grow. And maybe someday, Walker will look back and realize he was raised not just by his parents, but by a whole community that lived and breathed fly fishing.

Walker with the Legend Todd Moen - Catch Magazine

Walker with the legend and Spawn Owner Pete Rosenau