Meet your hosts

Nelson Ishiyama, the owner of Henry’s Fork Lodge, and Amelie Kappes, who has worked alongside Nelson for nearly 20 years, are the heart and soul of the lodge. Amelie is likely to answer the phone when you call to book your stay, and one or both of them is likely to be on-site during your visit to make sure you feel personally welcomed and that you’re guaranteed an unforgettable time.

Nelson

Nelson Ishiyama has been passionately pursuing everything fly fishing for over 60 years. When he laid eyes on the property along the legendary Henry’s Fork of the Snake River, he knew he had found his true calling. Nelson left his antitrust law practice and poured himself into the creation of a world-class fishing lodge that would do justice to its spectacular surroundings. For the past 30 years, the lodge has been a big part of Nelson’s work. In addition to working on other family businesses, he has served on numerous boards including the Henry’s Fork Foundation, California Academy of Sciences, Stanford’s Bill Lane Center for the American West, Stanford Law School Board of Visitors, and the Asian Pacific Fund.

Nelson’s favorite pastime continues to be fishing the Henry’s Fork (where he’s fished every year for over 50 years). When he’s not at the lodge or working in the family office in San Francisco, Nelson can be found fishing for trout, steelhead, salmon, and saltwater fish in destinations ranging from Alaska to Argentina, Russia to New Zealand. Even prior to founding the lodge, Nelson was into everything fly fishing: designing and tying flies, teaching fly casting to beginner anglers, editing and producing a leading book on fly casting, teaching aquatic entomology, collecting fly reels and bamboo fly rods, product testing fly rods and lines, and studying the history of fly fishing.

Nelson’s wife, Terrie, loves the outdoors and especially the Island Park area. She enjoys spending time at their home next door to the Lodge and exploring the greater Yellowstone area. Their daughter, Julia, grew up spending summers in Island Park, working on a cattle ranch and teaching children how to ride. She is now an attorney in Boulder, Colorado.

Nelson looks forward to welcoming you to the lodge and sharing stories.

Amelie

Amelie Kappes has been overseeing lodge operations since 2002, and it’s her amazing attention to detail that makes our guests feel so at home. Amelie met her husband Dan (a former fly fishing guide) at the lodge her first year working here. They and their two sons, Ben and James, take every opportunity they can to fish the Henry’s Fork and surrounding waters. Amelie’s favorite is Hebgen Lake for its large rainbows and browns, and the famous “gulpers.”

You’ll find Amelie at the lodge throughout the season; when she’s not here, she’s at her family’s cabin in the nearby Pinehaven cabin community, or at home in the San Francisco Bay Area, where she also works as administrator for the Ishiyama Foundation. A primary focus of the foundation is water health and conservation throughout the Western states. Amelie serves on the board of the Henry’s Fork Foundation and Cal Trout, two organizations devoted to healthy waters. 

Jamie Short

Jamie began his career at The Inn at Spanish Bay in Pebble Beach and went on to become the Innkeeper for The Post Ranch Inn, in Big Sur, California. From 2001-2005 he served as the General Manager of Henry’s Fork Lodge where he reveled in creating the best guest experiences and stalking fish in the pristine waters of the area. In recent years Jamie and his family have been on the move throughout the West and New Zealand while they enjoy photography, sailing and fishing. We are thrilled to welcome Jamie back as the General Manager of Henry's Fork Lodge in 2021!

Margaret Raffin

Nelson’s sister Margaret and her friend, interior designer Margaret Turnbull, designed the interiors of the lodge and continue to advise us on updates and additions to our furnishings and décor. They were recognized with an 11-page color spread in Interior Design magazine for their distinctive work on the lodge. Margaret is active on several boards, including the National Parks Conservation Association.

Patsy Ishiyama

Nelson’s other sister, Patsy, can sometimes be seen at the lodge engaging with and hosting our guests. She is active in conservation and has served on numerous national boards including Trout Unlimited, the National Fish & Wildlife Foundation, and the Resources Legacy Fund.

Parachute Callibaetis
hatches July to early September
tied by Nelson