Tackle Trade World - January 2024

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IGFA SELLS HQ TO AID FUTURE CONSERVATION EFFORTS The International Game Fish Association (IGFA), a leader in game fish conservation, has sold its headquarters buildings and land to bring in cash for its endowment and safeguard its work. The building and the south parcel of its Florida property has been sold to Bass Pro Shops and Cabela’s while the north parcel has gone to Baywood Hotels. This transformative triparty deal, valued at nearly $20 million, includes $15.5 million towards the IGFA’s endowment and an additional $4.4 million of 12½ years of prepaid rent, marking a pivotal moment in the organisation’s storied history dedicated to the conservation of game fish and the promotion of responsible, ethical angling practices. This sale comes as a result of a collaborative effort years in the making between the IGFA and Bass Pro Shops founder and IGFA Trustee Emeritus, Johnny Morris. Originally opened in 1999 thanks to a generous land donation made by Morris, the IGFA’s headquarters sits within Sportsman’s Park adjacent to Bass Pro Shops and notably featured the IGFA Fishing Hall of Fame. Thanks to its strong network of supporters, Key Scandinavian retailers complete merger Fjellsport and Skitt Fiske, experts in outdoor industry retailing, have joined forces, with the combined goal to offer the best products to enthusiastic customers in Norway. Operating under the Fjellsport AS name, the combined company will have 130 employees in Sandefjord with a turnover of approximately 1 billion NOK (€85 million). Fjellsport AS also has a sister company in Sweden – Outnorth AB. Skitt Fiske also has a 2,000sq m the IGFA paid off the building mortgage in 2008. Following dwindling attendance numbers and the loss of a $1 million tax credit from the state of Florida, the IGFA relocated its Fishing Hall of Fame in 2015 to Johnny Morris’ Wonders of Wildlife National Museum and Aquarium in Springfield, Missouri ahead of its 2017 grand opening. IGFA president Jason Schratwieser explained: “By transforming the bricks and mortar that once housed the IGFA Fishing Hall of Fame into an endowment, we are securing the continued growth of the IGFA’s mission-driven programs in perpetuity. “This is a monumental step not only for our members and representatives but for everyone who loves the sport of fishing.” By redirecting underutilised resources from its physical headquarters, the organisation said it has fortified its commitment to a future where game fish conservation transcends geographical boundaries. This move marks a shift towards an era of global expansion for the IGFA, emphasising wide-reaching programs that will make the organisation’s resources and initiatives accessible to a broader international audience. The bolstered endowment ensures not only the continuation but the vigorous expansion of the IGFA’s work in safeguarding game fish and their habitats, promoting ethical angling, and fostering a new generation of conservationists, physical store located in Sandefjord, which offers a fantastic selection within fishing, hunting and general outdoor activities. The companies says the ambition behind this merger is to both maintain and to further develop the brands’ unique identity and expert role within the industry. The three Norwegian online stores Skittfiske.no, Skittjakt.no, and Fjellsport. no will operate as they do today but now irrespective of their location. Bass Pro Shops founder Johnny Morris added: “Conservation and inspiring young anglers to be the next generation of outdoor stewards are vital to the future of our beloved sport and the habitats that sustain it. We’re incredibly proud to further our commitment to the IGFA and its noble mission.” As part of the agreement, the IGFA will continue to occupy its current executive offices and the E.K. Harry Library of Fishes rent-free for the next 12½ years, ensuring its enduring presence in South Florida, a location with rich angling history and deep ties to the IGFA’s origins. www.igfa.org with increased expertise and resources under the same roof, as they strive for further development in several areas. The physical store located in Sandefjord will continue to operate under the Skitt Fiske/Skitt Jakt logo. In the short term, the merger will include very few changes for suppliers. The IT solutions and logistics operations will continue to be separate, but officebased employees will be co-located and certain functions will be shared. 12 www.tackletradeworld.com
ST. CROIX FLY WILL CHASE MORE SALES St. Croix Fly has appointed Chase Pritchett as sales representative in the southeast US states of Alabama, Georgia, Florida, South Carolina, North Carolina and Tennessee. Based in Chattanooga, Tennessee, Chase brings 16 years of fly fishing industry experience Focused on conservation and driven by its communitybased ethos, Costa Sunglasses has announced the Marlin Fly Project, the first recorded billfish research mission solely using fly tackle. In partnership with the locals of San Carlos, Mexico, The Billfish Foundation (TBF) and International Game Fish Association (IGFA), the project team deployed 15 satellite tags in two days to better understand and protect this understudied billfish species. The project, which took place in southwestern Baja, Mexico, stands as the ultimate culmination of community and conservation. Led by Costa, it brought together some of its professional anglers and fishing guides, leading billfish scientists, conservation organisations and community partners to pursue this mission in tandem with local captains, guides and the community. Costa’s brand director Jed Larkin said: “The epic fishing tales coming out of Magdalena Bay alone to the growing St. Croix Fly sales team. This includes guiding, retail sales and distribution management in both fresh and saltwater markets in the southeast region. He explained: “I operate in an exceptionally diverse region with high-quality warm-water, Costa Sunglasses pioneers first billfish research tagging mission attracted us to the region in 2021, but what we found there was an authentic community, rich with culture, built alongside an untamed ecosystem. “That trip sparked a trailblazing idea – what if we brought our global community of scientists, partners and pros together with the local community of San Carlos to research and protect this special resource? And that’s how Marlin Fly was born. Rooted in both community and conservation, this project is everything we stand for as a brand.” Costa has spent the past four decades carrying out its ‘higher calling’ to protect the waters we love, connect those who come to life on the water, and to conserve the life within. The Marlin Fly Project is an extension of that commitment. In addition to the historymaking field-science study, the project served the local community through a number of other initiatives. www. costasunglasses.com cold-water and saltwater angling opportunities. I’m really looking forward to putting my creativity and resources to work to drive awareness and expansion for the re-emerging St. Croix Fly brand throughout my territory. “While St. Croix has been in the fly space for decades, its new team and exciting new products are squarely challenging the status quo. Few other fly rod brands can claim the heritage that St. Croix owns. Combine that with their technological, design and manufacturing capabilities and you’ve got something incredible brewing for the fly fishing community. I’m proud to be a part of it.” Director of sales, Zack Dalton, added: “The southeast region is home to diverse fisheries, exceptional angling opportunities and an incredible dealer base. Finding the best talent – and UNI SOFT WIRE EXTRA SMALL GAUGE # 36 0.006 INCH BLACK AXXEL-MINI FLASH TINSEL FUCHSIA YELLOW IRON GRAY Chase Pritchett dealers – to represent the brand is an important part of keeping our promise to anglers to offer them the ‘Best Rods on Earth’. “Chase brings a level of passion and authenticity that matches that of our brand and our anglers. We’re stoked to have him on board and have the highest confidence in his abilities to represent St. Croix Fly and the new products we’re so excited about and proud of to the passionate fly anglers of the southeast.” www.stcroixrods.com/collections / fl y UNI PRODUCTS J.G. Cote Inc. 1004 Principale Ste-Melanie, QC. Canada JOK 3AO Tel: 450-889-8054 Toll-Free: 1-877-889-8054 Fax: 450-889-5887 Email: info@uniproducts.com SILVER UNI-MOHAIR CAMEL NEW <strong>2024</strong> OLIVE UNI-STRAP Look to UNI for the best in spooled fly-tying materials! www.uniproducts.com
Page 1 and 2: SENT TO MORE THAN 18,500 TACKLE IND
Page 3 and 4: COMMITTED TO INCREASING YOUR BUSINE
Page 6 and 7: JANUARY 2024 24 16 20 10 Contents 0
Page 8 and 9: RECORD $394 BILLION SPENT ON FISHIN
Page 10 and 11: ROD BUILDING BRANDS SET FIRM FOUNDA
Page 14: BOAT MOTOR BRAND WELCOMES PRODUCT D
Page 17 and 18: lineaeffe.it happIness is a FIshing
Page 19 and 20: China Fish FEATURE AT A GLANCE •
Page 21 and 22: The Fly Company FEATURE with the in
Page 23 and 24: FoundationOutdoorGroup.com STOPPION
Page 25 and 26: SPOTLIGHT ON... BOAT ACCESSORIES EV
Page 28 and 29: DBW... taiwan TAIWAN d o i n G B u
Page 30 and 31: DBW... taiwan advancements, innovat
Page 32 and 33: MAKING CONTACT Making Contact 1 2 W
Page 34 and 35: Analysis of China’s Fishing Tackl
Page 36 and 37: CROSS-BORDER INNOVATION OF CHINESE
Page 38 and 39: FEATURE THE NEXT EVOLUTION OF G4 HA
Page 40: Classifieds SPLIT RING PLIERS CLASS
Page 43: Dealer e l r inquiries r e welcome

Tackle Trade World - January 2024

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