Terms of Service

Agreement to Terms

By booking a guided trip with Blue River Outfitters ("Company," "we," "us," or "our"), you ("Client," "Guest," or "you") agree to be bound by these Terms of Service. Please read them carefully before submitting a deposit or confirming a reservation. If you do not agree to these terms, please do not book a trip with us.

Booking Policy

A reservation is confirmed upon receipt of a non-refundable deposit of 30% of the total trip cost, except where otherwise stated in your booking confirmation. The deposit amount will be applied toward the total trip price.

The remaining balance is due no later than 60 days prior to the first day of your guided trip. For international expeditions, different payment timelines may apply as outlined in your individual booking confirmation — typically 90–120 days prior to departure.

Reservations are not final until the Company has issued a written booking confirmation and received the required deposit. Verbal commitments and email inquiries do not constitute a confirmed reservation.

Cancellation & Refund Policy

Client Cancellations — Day Trips

• Cancellation 14 or more days before the trip: full refund minus a $50 processing fee.
• Cancellation 7–13 days before the trip: 50% refund or full credit toward a future trip.
• Cancellation fewer than 7 days before the trip: no refund. Rescheduling at our discretion and subject to availability.

Client Cancellations — Multi-Day and International Trips

• Deposits are non-refundable for all multi-day and international bookings.
• Cancellation 90 or more days before departure: deposit forfeited; balance payment refunded in full.
• Cancellation 60–89 days before departure: 50% of total trip cost forfeited.
• Cancellation fewer than 60 days before departure: 100% of total trip cost forfeited.

We strongly recommend travel insurance for all multi-day and international bookings. Many travel insurance policies cover cancellation for covered reasons including illness, injury, and documented emergencies. We are happy to provide documentation for insurance claims.

Company Cancellations

If the Company cancels a trip for reasons within our control, you will receive a full refund of all amounts paid, or the option to rebook on alternative dates. If the Company cancels due to circumstances beyond our control (force majeure — see below), we will provide a full credit toward a future trip of equal or lesser value.

Liability & Assumption of Risk

Fly fishing and outdoor recreation involve inherent risks, including but not limited to: uneven and slippery terrain, fast-moving water, extreme weather conditions, falling, drowning, equipment failure, animal encounters, and physical exertion. By booking a trip with Blue River Outfitters, you acknowledge these risks and assume full responsibility for your own safety and the safety of minors under your care.

Blue River Outfitters, its guides, employees, and agents shall not be liable for any injury, illness, death, property damage, or other loss arising from participation in any guided activity, except where directly caused by our gross negligence or willful misconduct.

All guests are required to sign a Liability Release and Assumption of Risk agreement before their first guided day on the water. Minors must have a parent or legal guardian sign on their behalf.

We strongly recommend that all guests carry adequate personal health and accident insurance. Blue River Outfitters does not provide health or accident insurance coverage for guests.

Trip Modifications

Blue River Outfitters reserves the right to modify trip itineraries, fishing locations, accommodations, and schedules when necessary for reasons of safety, weather, river conditions, or force majeure events. We will always make good-faith efforts to provide an equivalent or superior experience when modifications are necessary.

If river conditions make the originally planned water unfishable, we will substitute equally good alternative water at no additional cost. We do not offer refunds for modifications made due to conditions beyond our control.

Catch and Release Requirement

All fishing conducted with Blue River Outfitters is strictly catch-and-release. This is non-negotiable and a condition of your booking. Guests who intentionally kill fish or refuse to comply with our catch-and-release requirement may be removed from the water without refund.

Photo & Media Release

We may photograph or film guided trips for use in marketing materials, our website, and social media. We will request consent before using identifiable photographs of guests. If you prefer not to appear in any marketing materials, please notify us in writing before your trip begins.

If you provide us with photographs you have taken during a Blue River Outfitters trip and grant us permission to use them, you warrant that you have the right to grant such permission and that the images do not infringe any third-party rights.

Force Majeure

Blue River Outfitters shall not be liable for failure to perform any obligation under these Terms where such failure results from circumstances beyond our reasonable control, including but not limited to: natural disasters, floods, fires, acts of God, government actions, pandemic or public health emergency, war, terrorism, or other events outside our reasonable control.

Governing Law

These Terms of Service shall be governed by and construed in accordance with the laws of the State of Wisconsin, United States of America. Any disputes arising under these terms shall be subject to the exclusive jurisdiction of the courts of Vernon County, Wisconsin, and each party consents to the personal jurisdiction of such courts.

Contact

Questions about these terms should be directed to: