Tackle Trade World - March 2024

Sent to more than 

18,500 

tackle industry 

professionals 

in over 

120 countries 

every month 

march 2024 

THE 10X MORE DURABLE, CHEMICALLY SHARPENED PRECISION NEEDLEPOINT

Register Today! 

July 16-19 

Orlando, FL 

POWERED BY 

Orange County Convention Center 

ICASTfishing.org

COMMITTED TO INCREASING YOUR BUSINESS GLOBALLY 

www.tackletradeworld.com 

CUTTING EDGE 

Dr Slick owner lifts the lid 

on longevity. 

PAGE 18 

NORTHERN LIGHTS 

Why Scandinavia is a key 

tackle business territory. 

PAGE 28 

PERSONAL WATERCRAFT BUCK 

BOAT SALES DECLINE TREND 

Boat dealers and users look 

set to change tack from 

larger powered vessels 

to smaller personal watercraft 

as the industry sees a shift in 

buying patterns. 

As the number of powered 

boat sales in the USA continues 

to decline from its strong 

showing during the Covid-19 

pandemic, attention has turned 

to innovation and to smaller 

craft. 

The National Marine 

Manufacturers Association 

says new powerboat retail sales 

will likely be down slightly in 

2023, by approximately one to 

three per cent, to an estimated 

258,000 units. 

It also predicts that this year 

new recreational boat sales will 

be on a par with 2023 as the 

industry continues to navigate 

interest rates not to mention 

shifts in consumer confidence. 

As a result, manufacturers are 

said to be focused on continuing 

to deliver innovative new 

products and showcase emerging 

technologies at boat shows 

across the country, ranging 

from hydrogen-fuelled marine 

engines to boats powered fully 

by sustainable marine fuels. 

While most categories saw 

declines in 2023 – in some cases 

by up to a quarter – the personal 

watercraft segment has bucked 

the trend, with data suggesting 

sales in this segment are up by 

between a fifth and quarter (20 

to 25 per cent) 

These small craft, designed for 

use by one to three people and 

popular with anglers as they are 

well-priced and easy to transport 

to favoured fishing spots, are 

expected to make up between 

85,000 to 90,000 of the 258,000 

estimated new units sold at 

retail in 2023. 

• Continued on page 8 

S E N T T O M O R E T H A N 1 8 , 5 0 0 T A C K L E I N D U S T R Y 

PROFESSIONALS IN OVER 120 COUNTRIES EVERY MONTH

MARCH 

2024 

TackleTrade 


EDITORIAL 

Editor: 

John Hunter 

04 

+44 7990 542958 

john.hunter@dhpub.co.uk 

A journalist all his life and with 20-plus years 

of international business magazine experience, 

John was the founding editor of TTW and has 

now returned to the helm. He has helped 

many brands launch and grow over the years 

through B2B publications and via his own 

consultancy business. 

ADVERTISING 

North America: 

Bart Manganiello 

+1 914 722 7601 

bartalm@optonline.net 

For over 38 years, Bart has been working with 

trade magazines, 34 in the tackle industry. 

Since 2001, he has been TTW’s North American 

Director, providing the best communication 

programs to companies, helping them connect 

with current and prospective trade partners 

around the world. 

Rest Of The World: 

Guido Knegt 

+39 3475036436 

guido.knegt@dhpub.co.uk 

A born and bred Dutchman, he spent five 

years travelling the world as a scuba-diving 

instructor and English teacher before settling 

down in Sardinia. Guido previously worked for 

TTW between 2014 and 2017. 

China: Robert Li 

Li Ziwei 

+86 13451914155 

robert.li365@gmail.com 

Li Ziwei (Robert) has been working as news 

editor for over 20 years. He founded the most 

influential Chinese fishing forum in the Straits 

and successfully organised many industry 

events. His love for culture and tourism has led 

him to devote his entire life to the exchanges 

between China and southeast Asia. 

Magazine Manager 

Justin Fox 

+44 7813 327966 

justin.fox@dhpub.co.uk 

A hugely experienced communicator with 

more than 20 years at parent company DHP, 

Justin knows what it takes to grow brands 

and businesses across the tackle sector. 

Sub Editor: David Haynes 

Art Editor: Paul Evans 

Editorial Design: Brad Sharp 

DHP LTD 

Editorial, administration, subscriptions and 

accounts to: DHP Ltd, 1st Floor, Nene House, 

Sopwith Way, Daventry, NN11 8EA, UK 


THINK SMALL IN 

THE SHORT TERM 

We’ve all heard retailers 

bemoaning the amount of 

stock they currently hold but, 

rather than get concerned about lack of 

orders, it might be worth scaling down 

your offerings for the time being. 

That’s not necessarily in terms of the 

quantity but more the quality or, to be 

more precise, the size. 

There are several schools of thought 

that suggest that larger (and bigger-ticket) 

items are tougher to shift right now. 

Our story about the cooldown in 

recreational boat sales in the US is a 

case in point. Larger and powered boats 

certainly saw a marked decline, yet 

there appeared to be a strong leap in the 

purchase of personal watercraft. 

At the same time, our Doing Business 

With feature on Scandinavia pointed to 

the fact that expensive rods and reels were 

not selling through in the same way that 

cheaper or entry-level kit was. 

The reason is pretty clear – the 

economy globally is still not in great 

shape. 

High interest rates and rising inflation 

are making larger purchases more and 

more difficult. 

Whatever disposable income people 

have to spend on their pastimes or 

hobbies right now is minimal. 

But we also know that when things 

get tough, many seek sanctuary in their 

favourite sport. Getting out and enjoying 

the fresh air or being beside the water is 

cathartic to many. 

3,511 

6,466 

While we have certainly seen a drop 

in many countries in people fishing since 

the highs of the Covid-19 pandemic, we 

must remember that was a highly unusual 

situation and somewhat misleading in 

terms of the number of regular anglers. 

But there is plenty of anecdotal 

evidence to suggest that those who have 

maintained their interest are going just 

as much as ever. It’s just that they are not 

necessarily replacing their gear – special 

rods, reels, luggage, chairs and seatboxes 

or even boats – as often as they did before. 

But if you are selling consumables 

– bait, lures, line, weights and so on – 

there’s a good chance these will be the 

first areas in the tackle market to show an 

uptick in sales. 

It may not sound perfect but it’s 

something to hang on to as we seek 

to come out of the fog that has been 

surrounding our industry in the last year, 

caused by overstocking following the 

highest demand we have seen for many a 

year. 

That it cooled so quickly is rather 

surprising but we just need to hold our 

nerve, keep calm and carry on. 

If you are in the R&D business or pride 

yourself on innovation then now is the 

time to invest. Brighter days will come 

again and, when they do, the clamour for 

new gear will once again be strong. Make 

sure you are best placed to take advantage. 

John Hunter 

Editor

MARCH 

2024 

24 

16 

18 

28 

Contents 

32 

40 

03 NEWS 

Rapala VMC completes the purchase of 

13 Fishing, Daiwa moves into a new home 

and Catch Fly Fishing Partners adds 

brands. 

16 ON THE ROAD TO ICAST 

Two vehicles on two different coasts are 

bound for the same family reunion at 

ICAST 2024, the largest sportfishing trade 

event in the world. 

18 A SLICK APPROACH TO FLY FISHING 

TOOLS 

Founded by a surgeon, Dr Slick has been 

making high quality tools for the fly fishing 

trade for 35 years, as current owner Steve 

Fournier explains. 

24 SPOTLIGHT ON… RODS 

A good rod will allow you to cast and 

control your bait or fly as well as aid 

fighting your fish. How do you select the 

right ones to sell? 

26 SHOP WINDOW 

We offer a few suggestions for fishing rods 

that are shaping the way the industry is 

headed right now. 

28 DOING BUSINESS WITH... SCANDINAVIA 

With rivers, lakes and an extensive 

coastline, Scandinavia has a proud tradition 

of recreational fishing, not to mention 

some major tackle firms. 

32 WHY WYCHWOOD IS PROMISING EPIC 

LAUNCHES 

The UK-based brand will be at parent 

company Leeda’s iceTackle* trade event. 

What can you expect to see? It could be 

Epic! 

34 R&D PAYS OFF FOR OEM LINE FIRM 

While some firms scaled back during 

Covid-19, line expert FirstDart pushed 

forward, placing R&D firmly at the core of 

its future plans. 

40 IN PURSUIT OF QUALITY FOOTWEAR 

Simms’ Pursuit Shoe – new for 2024 – 

has been specifically designed to deliver 

anglers performance advantages in a 

variety of fishing scenarios. 

42 MAKING CONTACT 

Another selection of gear on the market 

that you might wish to consider adding to 

your inventory for the coming season. 

43 FLY FISHING FOCUS 

We highlight some of the latest fly fishing 

tackle that looks like it will sell well in the 

coming months. 

44 GONE FISHING – A NAME TO TRUST 

Johnny Onslow, of Kenyan fly tying firm 

Gone Fishing, explains why it is trusted 

worldwide to deliver the best fishing flies. 

46 WHY CONNECTIONS ARE KEY 

Look around you, there may be more than 

a few other businesses locally you can 

connect with to boost your customer base 

and turnover. 

06 www.tackletradeworld.com

PERSONAL WATERCRAFT BUCK 

BOAT SALES DECLINE TREND 

• Continued from page 3 

NMMA president Frank 

Hugelmeyer explained: “With 

jumps in interest rates and 

inflation in 2023, we saw more 

boating consumers being price 

sensitive and deciding to wait 

things out before buying their 

next boat and in the meantime, 

picking up a personal 

watercraft to enrich their time 

spent on the water. 

“The nearly one million 

people who purchased a boat 

for the first time during 

the height of the pandemic 

continued to spend record time 

on the water in 2023, helping 

drive an economic impact of 

$230 billion. 

“As we enter 2024, we expect 

Americans’ desire to be near 

water to continue as more 

people seek ways to prioritise 

health and wellness and 

enhance their quality of life, 

which has the industry focused 

on continued innovation and 

ensuring greater access to our 

public waters.” 

Recreational boating remains 

a significant driver to the US 

economy due to the estimated 

85 million Americans who hit 

the water each year, bringing 

their friends and family and 

spending on everything from 

food and marine accessories 

to marinas, storage, and 

insurance. 

It drives an economic impact 

of $230 billion, up 36 per cent 

from 2018, while supporting 

36,000 US businesses and 

812,000 American jobs, 

according to NMMA’s 2023 

Economic Impact Study on 

Recreational Boating. 

Winter is a traditionally 

strong selling season for 

the recreational boating 

industry with dozens of boat 

shows taking place around 

the country in January and 

February in major markets 

like New York, Miami and 

Chicago. 

They are a major driver 

of retail sales for the year 

ahead, with manufacturers and 

dealers debuting new product 

innovations and technologies. 

The recreational boating 

industry has a long track 

record of product innovation 

and self-regulation to support 

its boating consumers who 

spend their leisure time on US 

waterways. 

Recent global research found 

that, due to the unique 

on-water environment for 

recreational boating and the 

varied interests of boaters 

and the experiences they 

seek, there is no “one-sizefits 

all” approach to continue 

decarbonising recreational 

boating, with a variety of 

technological solutions 

considered. 

Rapala VMC completes 13 Fishing deal 

Rapala VMC Corporation has bought 

James Coble’s remaining 40 per cent 

shareholding of DQC International, the 

owner of the 13 Fishing rod and reel brand. 

Rapala VMC president and CEO Lars 

Ollberg explained: “We have now come full 

circle and Rapala will enter full-time into 

the US rod and reel market. Rapala has 

already set its highly qualified, nationwide 

sales force on ‘full alert’. 

“The time is right to start selling 

this innovative brand as the market 

slowly normalises following the Covid 

uncertainties. 

“13 Fishing already has a proven track 

record of building a dynamic brand and 

developing innovative products. In a 

relatively short time, it has successfully 

wedged itself into the world’s most 

competitive fishing tackle market. We thank 

James Coble for creating 13 Fishing with 

such passion and wish him all the success in 

reaching new horizons in his career.” 

The 13 Fishing brand and products 

are unique in that they offer a refreshing 

alternative to standard market staples. 

Within this diverse brand portfolio, 13 

Fishing offers freshwater and inshore rods 

and reels and is a market leader in the 

dedicated ice 

fishing market. 

Th e 

acquisition gives 

Rapala VMC 

the opportunity 

to consolidate 

13 Fishing into 

Rapala USA 

and continue 

to strengthen 

the company’s 

market position 

within the US 

market. 

Jim Coble and Lars Ollberg 

Rapala’s 

global 

manufacturing and purchasing strength, 

backed with a proven US distribution centre 

and supply chain, offers retailers world-class 

service it says they can count on. 

Rapala VMC Corporation has one of 

the largest sales and distribution networks 

covering every corner of the US market 

and the expertise and positive relationships 

fostered by the Rapala USA sales team will 

clearly place 13 Fishing in a strong market 

position. 

In a separate move, Rapala VMC 

Corporation has sold the group’s entire 

injection moulding business to a Finnish 

mould and injection-moulded parts 

manufacturer Muottituote Group Oy with 

an agreement signed in late December 

2023. 

With the transaction, Muottituote Group 

Oy acquires Rapala VMC’s subsidiary KL- 

Teho Oy’s real estate, located in Korpilahti, 

Finland, along with the injection moulding 

operations, equipment and personnel. 

www.rapalavmc.com 


Daiwa USA 

welcomes new year 

with a new home 

Global tackle giant Daiwa kicked 

off 2024 by opening the doors to 

new corporate headquarters and 

USA warehouse facilities. 

The move to a bigger facility in 

California doubles its space and 

capacity to ship product. 

Planning started in 2019 but 

the Covid-19 pandemic, supply 

chain delays, construction and 

warehouse materials shortages 

and changes in the working 

environment slowed it down. 

Daiwa USA president Carey 

Graves explained: “We wanted to 

make sure the new facility met our 

needs in these post-Covid times, 

so we did a pause with selecting 

the right location. 

“By discussing and 

collaborating with warehouse 

and office operations managers 

on what was needed to run our 

business more efficiently, the 

facility sets us up to grow Daiwa’s 

business and better serve our 

dealers and customers.” 

Warehouse operations manager 

Brian Nolte praised the 20 truck 

bays dedicated to both inbound 

and outbound shipping. 

“We’ll also be able to use the 

added bays as flex space for extra 

storage and stage product for 

value-added builds of combos. 

“The extra space and bays 

give us the in-house capability 

to efficiently add UPCs, hang 

tags, and dealer stickers, giving us 

unique benefits to offer dealers.” 

The additional space enabled 

Daiwa to add both a dedicated 

shipping office and after-service 

reel maintenance/repair centre. A 

complete revamp of its racking 

systems for pick-and-ship needs 

also provides more efficient 

operations. 

Carey continued: “While the 

warehouse needs were the main 

priority, the secondary focus was 

our office needs. 

“With changes in the business 

environment to accommodate 

both in- and out-of-office 

working, we’ve set up our 

corporate area with dedicated 

space for customer service, our 

accounting/financial operations, 

and our sales and marketing office 

needs. 

“While many of our office 

staff work a hybrid in-office/ 

out-of-office schedule, we have 

an excellent set-up in the new 

facility for the various teams 

to come together for in-person 

discussions and collaboration for 

our business.” 

He confirmed that Daiwa is 

keen to welcome manufacturer 

reps, dealers and distributors to 

the facility this year. 

“It shows our commitment to 

the Daiwa tackle business, which 

in turn shows our commitment to 

their businesses,” he concluded. 

daiwa.us 

UPSTART CATCHES MORE 

PARTNERS AS IT EXPANDS 

Tackle trade newcomer Catch Fly Fishing 

Partners is growing rapidly and has added two 

more brands to its expanding portfolio. 

The firm aims to offer quality fly fishing and 

fly tying equipment brands to selective fly shops 

around Europe and continues this approach with 

additional of Easy Shrimp Eyes and SMHAEN. 

Mads Pedersen of Catch Fly Fishing Partners 

said: “I’m proud to welcome both SMHAEN 

and Easy Shrimp Eyes to our portfolio. High 

quality is what we aim for and with these two 

brands we will not be disappointed. As a fly 

tyer, both brands have been in my own hands 

and they represent great, usable products in 

impeccable quality.” 

Steen Lykjær and Erik Petersen of Easy 

Shrimp Eyes explained: “In Easy Shrimp Eyes, 

we have invented Danish-produced quality 

products since 2012. We have revolutionised 

the world of fly tying and fly fishing with new 

thinking and more colourful options for fly tyers. 

“Our product range is actually made for 

ourselves, as fly fishers, but we share it with the 

Carey Graves, Daiwa 

world, to optimise everyone’s experience. We 

have our biggest project to date launching soon, 

and we are excited to show this to the fly fishing 

community. 

“To be a part of the product range in Catch 

Fly Fishing is absolutely amazing and makes us 

proud; they have the knowledge and the team to 

take us to the next level. Thanks guys!” 

Meanwhile, Stig M Hansen, CEO of 

SMHAEN, is looking forward to the partnership 

and is very optimistic. 

He said: “Our vision is clear – to provide 

quality fly tying tools. Tools designed with style 

and functions. Tools made for your passion. 

“Selling our products through an experienced 

team like Catch Fly Fishing is just a privilege. It 

is an honour to be in their product range.” 

Things are happening really fast at Catch Fly 

Fishing Partners and more announcements are 

expected soon. To find out more, contact Hanna 

or Mads. 

hv@catchff.com 

mp@catchff.com 

THE BEST 

FLY-TYING 

S T U F F 

FOR OVER 

75 YEARS 

EXPERIENCE 

OUR MANAGEMENT STAFF HAS 

HUNDREDS OF YEARS OF FLY 

FISHING, FLY-TYING AND WAPSI 

EXPERIENCE. 

QUALITY 

WE PIONEERED THE DYEING AND 

PROCESSING OF FURS, FEATHERS 

AND SYNTHETIC FLY TYING 

MATERIALS 

INNOVATION 

WAPSI HAS INTRODUCED 

DOZENS OF UNIQUE FLY 

TYING MATERIALS. 

27 CR 458 

Mountain Home, 

Arkansas 72653 

Phone: 001 (870) 425-9500 

Fax: 001 (870) 425-9599 

E-Mail: wapsi@wapsifly.com 

Website: www.wapsifly.com

Torayca M46X carbon 

fibre is better for blanks 

and the environment 

The latest carbon fibre material 

from Japanese manufacturing 

expert Toray – Torayca MX64 – 

is said to offer higher-strength, 

lower weight rods as well as 

being kinder to the environment. 

The new offering is around 

20 per cent stronger than others 

in the Torayca MX series while 

maintaining a high tensile 

modulus. So it reduces the 

weight of carbon fibre-reinforced 

plastic materials, lowering their 

environmental impact. 

Typically, there is a trade-off 

between the tensile modulus 

and strength of carbon fibre. 

Boosting the strength while 

maintaining the modulus of 

carbon fibres with a tensile 

modulus exceeding 350 

GPa presents technological 

challenges. 

However, the sporting and 

leisure goods market demands 

both qualities to maintain 

performance while using less 

carbon fibre to lower the weight 

of moulded parts. 

Toray developed M46X by 

pushing the structural control 

technology envelope. Nanolevel 

controls of the graphite 

crystallite structure inside 

fibres resulted in an ultra-fine, 

ultra-high orientation producing 

carbon fibre that is more than 

20 per cent stronger than 

conventional materials while 

maintaining its tensile modulus. 

The company will also 

deploy Torayca M46X prepreg, 

with the resin matrix utilising 

the proprietary NanoAlloy 

microstructure control 

technology. 

The new product will 

significantly enhance 

compressive strength 

to boost stiffness while 

retaining strength, 

reducing the weight 

of finished products and 

broadening design flexibility. 

Developing highperformance 

carbon fibres 

with a high tensile modulus 

exceeding 350 GPa began with 

Torayca M40 with graphitised 

yarn, followed by M40J in 

1984 and M46J in 1986 in 

response to robust demand for 

the high-modulus Torayca MJ 

carbon fibre series. 

The MX series was created 

by applying technologies to 

control graphite crystallite 

structures and orientations 

inside fibres. 

The first offering in this 

series was M40X, launched in 

2018, which quickly earned 

a solid reputation as a highperformance 

carbon fibre and 

prepreg (a resin-impregnated 

intermediate base material) 

matching market requirements. 

In line with its corporate 

philosophy of contributing to 

society by creating new value, 

Toray will continue developing 

new products that help 

transform the economy through 

the enhanced performance and 

processability of Torayca carbon 

fibre and prepreg. 

www.toray.com 

Retail boss move for 

sporting goods stores 

Sportsman’s Warehouse Holdings has named Craig McNair as chief 

retail officer to oversee store operations at its sites across the USA. 

He will be responsible for the customer experience, in-store 

programs, training and talent development as well as driving growth. 

Sportsman’s Warehouse president and CEO Paul Stone said: 

“Craig has significant experience working in retail operations 

to achieve organisational objectives, resulting in growth and 

profitability. 

“With his deep retail experience, he will be focused on building 

our in-store culture and programs, providing our customers with a 

differentiated experience and creating loyalty and trust.” 

Craig, who has worked for leading retailers including Academy 

Sports + Outdoors and Cabela’s, added: “As a lifelong store operator, 

I welcome the opportunity to bring our stores to life with the unique 

outdoor products we sell, while providing our customers best-inclass 

service. 

“It’s exciting to transition my career back to speciality outdoor 

retail as it directly aligns with my personal love of the outdoors.”

Carbon neutral boost for 

Yamaha with acquisition 

2023-24 

Over 1,400 New 

Line Items in our 

2023-2024 Catalog 

14,600+ Products 

Available for your 

Fly Tying Shops Walls! 

Microflex Soft 

Hackle Chenille 

Available in 5 sizes and 

31 Great Colors! 

In a bid to implement a 

multiple technology approach 

to achieve carbon neutrality, 

Yamaha Motor Co has acquired 

marine electric propulsion 

manufacturer Torqeedo. 

The stock purchase 

agreement with German parent 

company Deutz AG will also 

boost Yamaha’s position in the 

competitive electric propulsion 

market. 

Torqeedo offers a wide range 

of products including electric 

outboard and inboard motors 

through to batteries and other 

accessories. It also holds many 

patents related to electric 

motors, propellers and electric 

systems, as well as the R&D 

capabilities, mass-production 

equipment, and development 

resources for next-generation 

environmental technologies. 

Yamaha US Marine 

Business Unit president Ben 

Speciale explained: “Yamaha’s 

acquisition of Torqeedo 

supports the current mid-term 

plan and helps to accelerate 

the company’s efforts toward 

achieving carbon neutrality by 

2050. 

“That goal within the marine 

market can only be reached 

through an approach leveraging 

a variety of solutions, one of 

which is electric propulsion. 

“Through the relationship 

with Torqeedo, Yamaha will 

have the ability to fast-track 

the establishment of a small 

electric propulsion line-up, 

complementing the company’s 

efforts with hydrogen and 

sustainable fuels as additional 

means of reducing the carbon 

footprint on the water. 

“Furthermore, the pending 

acquisition supports Yamaha 

Marine’s CASE strategy, which 

helps Yamaha deliver highvalue, 

innovative products to 

customers while promoting 

marine conservation and 

sustainability.”

NEWS IN BRIEF 

Safety campaign 

launched 

The National Safe Boating Council 

(NSBC), a US-based catalyst for 

recreational boating safety, has 

launched an awareness initiative 

to encourage all boaters to always 

wear a life jacket for themselves 

and everyone that depends on 

them. 

Wear It For Them is part of the 

NSBC’s Safe Boating Campaign, and 

the messages are being broadcast 

via video, print and social media. 

KastKing’s new 

frontier 

With the tagline ‘Fueled 

by Innovation’, KastKing is 

transforming its brand and product 

line from an online provider of 

entry-level rods and reels to a 

high-tech, performance fishing 

brand accessible online or through 

traditional brick-and-mortar retail, 

in partnership with rep group 

Frontier Sales and Marketing, based 

in Katy, Texas, USA. 

Whitney opens 

comms 

The Outdoor Recreation Roundtable 

(ORR), the USA’s leading coalition 

of associated trade groups, has 

appointed Whitney Potter Schwartz 

as senior vice-president of 

communications and operations. 

Whitney brings a wealth of 

experience and expertise to ORR, 

having held significant roles in 

strategic communications and 

operations for the past decade. 

NEW YEAR, NEW LEADERSHIP 

FOR SURVIVAL FIRM 

Outdoor industry professional 

Kenny Ballard has been 

appointed Mustang Survival’s 

new president, taking over from 

Juanita Killen, who became 

interim president last year, 

leading the company through a 

challenging year of growth and 

evolution. 

Meanwhile, Lance 

Richardson, an expert in 

domestic manufacturing and 

efficiency, takes on the newly 

created role of vice-president of 

Kenny Ballard 

manufacturing and innovation 

for the Wing Group, Mustang 

Survival’s parent company. 

Kenny brings a wealth of experience from 

previous executive roles with renowned brands 

including Osprey, SwissGear, Wenger Outdoor, 

Kelty, and, most recently, his own successful 

consulting firm. 

Having once worked at Mad River Canoe, 

he returns to his roots by re-immersing himself 

in the water sports industry. 

Andrew Branagh, CEO of the Wing 

Group, said: “Kenny’s history of exceptional 

leadership across a diverse spectrum of outdoor 

businesses uniquely qualifies him as the ideal 

candidate for this pivotal role at Mustang 

Survival. Kenny has consistently worked across 

the retail sector and knows how to navigate 

the complexities of commercial and military 

operations.” 

Kenny added: “I’m ecstatic to be working 

with a brand that has a heritage of innovation, 

saving and protecting lives and enabling 

everyday marine adventures.” 

“Sailing, paddling and fishing: the Mustang 

brand DNA, product portfolio and, most 

importantly, the global team are built around 

these activities, and I am excited to align 

business with my passions.” 

Lance Richardson 

Based at the firm’s HQ in Vancouver, which 

includes the local manufacturing facility, he 

will oversee the newly moved and expanded 

Jacksonville Florida plant, operations in 

Spencer, Virginia and the overseas office in 

Salisbury, UK. 

Lance Richardson will have his desk next to 

Kenny’s. As an Arc’teryx and Herschel alumni, 

his supply chain and manufacturing expertise 

will fold seamlessly into the needs of the Wing 

Group. 

He said: “I am excited to join the Wing 

Group, which, across its brands, has an 

incredible history and future in making 

purpose-built safety products for people who 

need and use them. It’s an honour to join the 

team and work to enable, protect and save 

lives.” 

Andrew Branagh added: “We are 

starting the year strong by adding these two 

experienced professionals to the workforces 

of Mustang Survival and the Wing Group as 

we’re looking ahead to continue to serve our 

customers and consumers better with the best 

products available.” 

www.mustangsurvival.com 

SUPER CONTROL SC125 LINEWINDER 

BIG GAME HD140 LINEWINDER 

NOW OFFERING 

PAYMENT SOLUTIONS! 

Buy now, pay later with a flexible plan that fits your budget. 

No fees. No surprises. 

ORDER ONLINE 

www.trianglesport.com 

2-YR WARRANTY • FULL TECH SUPPORT • 110V & 220V • TELEPHONE +1 (201) 699-4228 • MADE IN THE U.S.A.

REGIONAL SALES 

MANAGER LURED TO 

RAPALA VMC 

Mike Baumgartner has joined Rapala VMC 

as its regional sales manager covering the 

western United States and select national 

accounts. 

He will work with the firm’s retail 

partners to market all brands sold in the US, 

including Rapala lures, knives, apparel and 

accessories, Storm, Blue Fox, Luhr-Jensen 

and Williamson lures, StrikeMaster ice 

fishing augers and apparel, VMC hooks 

and terminal tackle, Sufix fishing line and 

leaders, CrushCity soft baits and 13 Fishing 

rods and reels. 

Travis Tuma, vice-president of sales 

for Rapala VMC, explained: “Mike 

brings a deep, grassroots understanding 

of what customers want and expect from 

manufacturers. 

“Mike’s experience, knowledge and 

passion for his customers fits perfectly 

into the Rapala culture. And now with 

the addition of 13 Fishing and CrushCity, 

we’re looking forward to growing our strong 

portfolio of brands with Mike’s expertise.” 

Born and raised in Minnesota, Mike has 

been an avid angler and hunter his entire 

life, spending hours in pursuit of walleyes, 

muskies and bass but describes himself as a 

true multi-species angler who enjoys fishing 

year-round. 

During his time at university, where 

he graduated with bachelor’s degree in 

marketing, Mike worked at Scheels as a 

fishing and hunting sales associate, later 

joining Pure Fishing as a key account 

manager, where he stayed for 12 years. 

Mike said: “Growing up in Minnesota, 

Rapala is the most iconic brand around so, 

for me, it’s a true honour to be part of the 

Rapala family. I’ve been using Rapala lures 

since I was a kid, so this feels like coming 

full circle.” 

rapalavmc.com 

Sales reps unveiled 

for Scott Fly Rods 

The Scott Fly Rod Company has announced 

that Eric Kraimer and Daniel Roberts of Red 

Heron Sales will be representing the company 

in Texas, Arkansas, Louisiana and Oklahoma, 

USA. 

The Colorado-based manufacturer, which 

has been handcrafting rods since 1974, says the 

pair will bring a passion for customer service, 

integrity, fishing and fly tying, having earned 

the trust of speciality fly shops for over two 

decades. 

Scott president Jim Bartschi explained: 

“Eric was the first employee we hired when the 

company relocated to Telluride, Colorado, from 

California. 

“He can actually handcraft a Scott rod, from 

start to finish. Eric is not only an industry peer 

but a lifelong friend and fishing buddy. That 

we’ve come full circle to work together again 

feels perfect.” 

Red Heron also represents Simms, the 

Mayfly Group, Umpqua and Buff. 

info@redheronllc.com 

First foray into rod market 

for GSM Outdoors 

The acquisition of Phenix 

Rods marks shooting, knife 

and lure brand owner GSM 

Outdoors’ entry into the 

fishing rod market. 

Established in 1977, Texas, 

USA-based Phenix is a brand 

offering a wide range of 

custom-quality rods for both 

fresh- and saltwater anglers, 

using the most advanced rod 

building carbon technology. 

Crispin Powley, GSM 

senior vice president of 

fishing, explained: “We were 

only looking for something 

special to be our flagship 

brand when entering the rod 

category. 

“There was zero doubt 

or hesitation that Phenix 

was the one when the 

opportunity came about. 

This brand has a legacy 

and tradition that is second 

to none. It’s a unique and 

superior product that we can’t 

wait to put our resources 

behind.” 

Among the myriad 

of brands in the GSM 

Outdoors portfolio are 

shooting names like 

Birchwood Casey, knife 

makers SOG and Cold Steel 

while fishing brands include 

Yamamoto Baits and Bill 

Lewis Lures. 

GSM CEO Edward 

Castro added: “Our fishing 

team was adamant that 

Phenix was the perfect brand 

for GSM to lead the category 

with. The previous ownership 

has done a tremendous job 

and I feel certain that we can 

elevate Phenix even more 

through design, innovation, 

and our distribution 

channels.” 

www.gsmoutdoors.com

Wiley X named official eyewear 

for classic angling events 

Wiley X, a global leader 

in protective eyewear, has 

become the official eyewear 

sponsor for three prestigious 

angling events: the Sea 

Angling Classic, World Carp 

Classic, and World Predator 

Classic. 

This collaboration 

underscores Wiley X’s 

commitment to providing 

high-quality eyewear solutions 

tailored to the needs of 

anglers worldwide. 

Known for its dedication 

to protection and innovation, 

Wiley X’s eyewear range 

is said to offer anglers 

unparalleled clarity, durability, 

and vision enhancement, 

ensuring optimal performance 

in various fishing conditions. 

Jes Damgaard Lund, 

marketing manager at Wiley 

X, said: “We are thrilled to be 

the official eyewear partner for 

these awesome events! For us, 

protection is key and what we 

have built our brand around. 

“We are known for the 

extraordinary quality of 

our polarised lenses and 

our colour enhancing lens 

technology and, paired 

with our uncompromising, 

protective design, we know 

that we deliver one of the best 

options for any angler, who 

won’t compromise when it 

comes to their gear!” 

Events founder and 

managing director Ross 

Honey added: “The Sea 

Angling Classic, World 

Carp Classic and World 

Predator Classic are esteemed 

tournaments that attract top 

anglers from around the globe. 

“With Wiley X on board as 

the official eyewear partner, 

participants can expect 

top-notch eye protection 

and performance-enhancing 

optics, empowering them 

to focus solely on the 

competition.” 

Wiley X’s eyewear is 

renowned for its EN.166 

certified impact resistance, 

meeting stringent safety 

standards while delivering 

unmatched comfort and style. 

Its polarised lenses reduce 

glare and provide exceptional 

clarity, essential for anglers 

seeking an edge in various 

fishing environments. 

As part of this partnership, 

Wiley X will also engage with 

attendees through various 

activities, showcasing their 

latest eyewear innovations 

and providing insights on the 

importance of eye protection 

in angling. 

www.seaanglingclassic.com 

www.worldpredatorclassic.com 

www.worldcarpclassic.com 

www.wileyx.eu 

Freedom for American Baitworks Co 

As part of a strategic evolution, Michael 

and Nick Tamburro have sold their 

shares of Canadian business Freedom 

Tackle Corporation to American 

Baitworks Co (ABW). 

The decision is said to be a 

deliberate step towards embracing new 

opportunities and advancing into an 

exciting phase of growth and innovation 

for the Toronto-based business, as 

it seeks to fortify its position in the 

market and capitalise on emerging 

trends in the industry. 

Michael Tamburro, co-owner and 

co-founder of Freedom Tackle Corp, 

explained: “We are immensely grateful 

for the trust and support we’ve received 

throughout our journey building our 

fishing tackle brand. 

“This strategic move positions us to 

start a new chapter and give American 

Baitworks the foundation to grow and 

expand the Freedom brand. 

“We want to thank all of our retailers, 

customers, anglers, employees, friends 

and family who helped us take an idea, 

and build a brand that was proudly sold 

in retailers around the world,” added 

co-owner Nick Tamburro. 

The sale of shares opens doors 

to fresh collaborations, enhanced 

resources and opportunities to amplify 

Freedom Tackle’s impact on the fishing 

landscape. 

Freedom Tackle Corp, established by 

the brothers back in 2012, emphasised it 

remains committed to its core values of 

innovation and assures stakeholders of a 

seamless transition and will continue to 

deliver exceptional fishing tackle while 

fostering a culture of innovation and 

excellence. 

American Baitworks Co provides 

custom manufacturing of fishing 

lures and products for customer’s 

specifications, with brands including 

BaitFuel, NetBait, Halo Fishing, Snag 

Proof, Scum Frog and STH Bait Co. 


DAIWA TATULA ELITE BASS RODS 

YOU DON’T 

HAVE TO BE AN 

ELITE PRO TO 

FISH LIKE ONE 

TATULA ® ELITE RODS FEATURE 

Daiwa’s exclusive NANOPLUS Graphite 

Daiwa’s exclusive Custom Reel Seats 

FUJI ® Alconite Ring Guides 

Limited 5 Year Warranty 

For more info visit: Daiwa.us 

UNI SOFT WIRE EXTRA SMALL GAUGE # 36 0.006 INCH 

NEW 2024 

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 

Look to UNI 

for the best in 

spooled 

fly-tying 

materials! 

BLACK YELLOW SILVER OLIVE 

AXXEL-MINI FLASH TINSEL 

UNI-MOHAIR 

UNI-STRAP 

www.uniproducts.com 

FUCHSIA 

IRON GRAY 

CAMEL

FEATURE 

ICAST 

COMMUNITY AND 

CONNECTIONS CREATE 

ANNUAL ICAST MIGRATION 

Two vehicles on two different coasts are bound for the same family reunion at ICAST 2024, 

the largest sportfishing trade event in the world. 

Across America, a tale 

of two travellers is 

playing out. On the 

Atlantic coast, Bajío 

Sunglasses angler Jay Johnson 

is loading up a modified yellow 

school bus and a skiff, bound 

for shallow flats brimming with 

snook and bonefish of Florida. 

On the Pacific coast, PacBak 

founder Brian McKinnon 

is tethered to the wheel of a PacBak at ICAST 

Toyota Tundra pickup truck, 

cruising north between Los 

Angeles and San Francisco Bay with a 

camper top over his bed. 

Johnson, an in-house content creator 

and YouTube star, is on the hunt for tight 

lines and elegant product shots. 

McKinnon, an Alaskan angler with a 

burgeoning cooler company, is hunting 

for handshakes. Through the final days of 

winter and into spring, both bearded, lionhearted 

outdoorsmen will spend much of 

their time thousands of miles apart on the 

road. But in July, they will both convene 

at ICAST, the largest sportfishing trade 

show on the planet. 

Hosted annually by the American 

Sportfishing Association, ICAST brings 

together the entire business community of 

the sportfishing industry. Last year, 13,346 

attendees from all 50 states, 80 countries 

and six continents joined in on the fun. 

For people like Johnson and McKinnon, 

the pilgrimage to ICAST is becoming as 

much a part of life as the salmon runs of 

Alaska or the tarpon runs of Florida. 

REASONS TO BE CHEERFUL 

“I think with trade shows, what we 

have forgotten about and what has been 

undervalued is the reason they exist,” says 

Al Perkinson, the silver-haired founder of 

Bajío Sunglasses, who proudly welcomed 

Johnson’s school bus into his show booth 

at last year’s show. 

16 www.tackletradeworld.com 

“It’s not only to do business. In fact, 

that is probably one of the less important 

aspects of it. I think these shows exist 

so the community can come together, 

so people can tell stories, reconnect and 

build both friendships and business 

relationships.” 

A little more than a year ago, Brian 

McKinnon’s ICAST story became the 

stuff of legend when PacBak – an upstart 

cooler brand – booked a last-minute 

booth to showcase its first product 

prototypes to the industry. 

Then, in a field of more than 900 entries 

to the prestigious ICAST Best of Show 

Awards, McKinnon’s product was voted 

number one. The win transformed his 

business and his life overnight. Within 

months, investment, marketing dollars and 

warehouses full of production products 

arrived. 

“We were a full-blown startup,” 

McKinnon said. “At the time, we didn’t 

have a warehouse. We didn’t have 

anything. We had three prototype coolers 

and six prototype sealers. That’s it.” 

Today, it is selling PacBak products to 

more than 50 dealers from the Bering 

Sea to Biscayne Bay. “It all started with 

ICAST,” McKinnon said. “We had a little 

10x10 booth, the cheapest thing we could 

get; but from that point, it just went crazy. 

After winning ICAST, companies were 

coming at us from every angle.” 

Al Perkinson, Bajío 

“ICAST is doing great,” added 

Perkinson. “It still feels like people 

are having fun there, like the fishing 

community is there and represented.” 

Since 2021, Bajío has been expanding 

its own footprint at ICAST. Less than 

five years after Perkinson founded his 

own young company, he, too, feels its 

reputation has been cemented in part 

thanks to an award at fishing’s largest 

trade show. 

“It gets attention,” Perkinson says. “We 

were David taking on Goliath, and people 

noticed us. For our little ragtag band to 

beat the big boys was pretty fun. It really 

meant a lot.” 

This year, Al, Jay and Brian will 

again find themselves on the show 

floor. Although they will arrive from 

different corners of the country, they will 

rendezvous at an entire sea of friends, 

connections and community. 

ICAST 

www.ICASTFishing.org 

* ICAST 2024 is scheduled for July 

16th to 19th at Orlando, Florida’s 

Orange County Convention 

Center. Registration for exhibitors 

and attendees is already open at 

ICASTFishing.org .

New Products 2024 

drslick.com • 800-462-4474 

BLACK WIDOW 

This wicked cool looking series revolves around the time savings and ergonomics 

of a bent shaft instrument. The loops on the super sharp razor scissors are raised 

and exposed, allowing the user to simply put their fingers into the loops without 

having to slide them across the bench to get them in hand or worse, dropping 

them on the floor! For those who keep scissors in hand while tying, the bent shaft is more ergonomic than a 

straight shaft, and follows the contours of your hand. Less hand fatigue=more flies leaving the vise. The bent 

shaft on the versatile scissor clamps allows for a greater range of motion vs a traditional straight shank or 

curved jaw clamp. Perfect for 

excavating flies from 

a fish’s pie hole. 

SNH5BW 

SCISSOR CLAMPS 

SR4BW 

RAZOR 

SCISSORS 

Half Smooth & 

Half Crosshatch 

Jaw Structure 

SR37BW 

3.75” Arrow Scissor 

Adjustable Tension 

Serrated Blade 

SR4BW 

4” All Purpose Scissor 



SR45BW 

4.5” Hair Scissor 



SNH5BW 

5” Scissor Clamp 

Straight Blade 

SNH6BW 

6” Scissor Clamp 

Straight Blade 

CARBON FIBER JUMBO TYING TOOLS 

Rubber 

Tubing on 

One Jaw 

CYCLONE NIPPERS 

Cutting edge nippers for the new age tippet 

materials. Super sharp Tungsten Carbide blades 

are mounted on a lightweight 6061-T6 anodized 

aluminum frame and make short work of most, if not 

all, tippet material from braid up to 20lb coated wire. 

Available in straight or off set cutting face and 

both units come with replacement T.C. cutters, screws, 

hex key, and a steel retention ring. 

NATC 

Straight 

Cutting Face 

5.75” 7” 5” 3.75” 5” 4.5” 

BOD/CF-J 

Bodkin 

BT/CF-J 

Bobbin 

Threader 

WF/CF-J 

Whip 

Finisher 

RHP/CF-J 

Rotary 

Hackle Plier 

DH/CF-J 

Dubbing 

Hook 

DTW/CF-J 

Dubbing 

Twister 

You’ve got to see these! We have taken our 6 jumbo tying tools and mated them to 

stunning 10 mm O/D carbon fiber handles. Strong, lightweight, and beautiful! 

NATCO 

Offset 

Cutting Face

FEATURE 

A SLICK APPROACH TO 

FLY FISHING TOOLS 

Founded by a surgeon – who should know a thing or about precision instruments – for 35 

years, Dr Slick has been making high quality tools for the fly fishing industry. Current owner 

Steve Fournier explains how it has kept pace with ever-changing demands. 

TTW: HOW AND WHY DID DR SLICK 

START? 

STEVE FOURNIER: Dr Slick Co was 

founded in 1989 by a urologist, Dr Ken 

High. It was originally based in Dillon, 

Montana, but moved to our present facility 

in Belgrade, Montana in 2000. 

Dr High was very unhappy with the 

quality of the fly tying and streamside 

instruments he was using in his sport. 

Being a surgeon, he was used to very high 


quality, well-designed tools for specific tasks 

in the surgical suites, but there was nothing 

like this for fly tying and angling (I think we 

all remember those days!). 

Our first efforts were to basically take 

existing medical tools and modify them to 

the needed tasks (scissors for fly tying and 

clamps for streamside use). 

This met with reasonable success but it 

became clear, after much trial and error, that 

most of the items would need to be designed 

from the ground up for the needs of the tyer 

and angler. 

Since those initial efforts, each item has 

been designed from scratch. We can control 

the die/moulds, metal used, type of jaw 

structure, hardness, finish and more. 

The name Dr Slick comes from Dr High’s 

proclivity for soaking his fly lines in silicon 

before steelhead fishing – it made for some 

legendary casts! 

I joined Dr Slick in 1996 after four years

Dr Slick 

FEATURE 

Siding and tipping Synthetics Scissors 

a lot, so I see lots of needs based on my 

experiences. I’ll take that knowledge and 

work on improving one of our existing tools 

or invent a new item from scratch to fill the 

need. 

I also keep a notebook of every comment/ 

complaint I receive and use that to improve 

existing items or help in development of 

a new item. I call it the “you should” and 

“have you thought about” depository. If I see 

lots of common comments, then I’ll research 

the item further to determine marketability. 

Over the past 20-plus years I’ve designed 

close to 60 items and I’m always working 

on the next thing. Right now, we have 15 

items in the R&D pipeline. There are also 

constant improvements to existing products. 

We have a few patents for our efforts, too. 

Among my favourite items over the last 

25 years are our range of scissors – Razors, 

Tungsten Carbide, Bent Shaft, Micro-Tip, 

Twisted Loop, Black Widow and advanced 

30 degree curved blades on our curved 

scissor models. 

Then there’s our fly tying gear such as 

the Spigot Bobbin, Jumbo Carbon Fibre 

Handle tying tools, Hair Stackers, Extra 

Hand and Bead Tweezers. 

We have Release Clamps, Shot Clamps, 

Twisted Loop, Long Range, Crossfire, Hook 

Eye Cleaning Pins in shank design and 30 

degree curved jaws on the curved model of 

clamps. 

Our pliers range includes Bullet Head 

and the storm series (Typhoon and Squall), 

we have our Off Set Clipper, the Knot 

Tying Clipper and Cyclone Clippers and, of 

course, our Necklace. 

with fly rod firm Thomas & Thomas and a 

few stops at some retail fly shops. 

I have been involved in the fly fishing 

industry in manufacturing, sales, retail 

and distribution since 1988. I was hired as 

general manager/head of sales and chief 

widget maker in 1995. I have owned the 

company since 2009. 

I wear many hats here and have done so 

since 1997. I design all products, run the 

sales and marketing department, oversee all 

the reps, fill a few orders daily and work on 

800 scissors and face/polish 50 to 600 line 

clippers per week. 

A short day is 10 hours! And I enjoy 

every minute of it. I would much rather be 

testing clamps or making bobbins versus 

sitting at a desk. Like any good company, I 

am fortunate to have great people around 

me. 

WHAT ARE YOUR MOST INNOVATIVE 

OR BEST-SELLING PRODUCTS? 

We pride ourselves on innovating and 

creating new products to fill a need in the 

tying and angling world. I fish and tie 

Cyclone Nippers – Straight 


19

FEATURE 

Sharpening nippers 

THE COMPANY HAS BEEN GOING FOR 

35 YEARS. WHAT ARE THE SECRETS OF 

ITS SUCCESS? 

No secrets really but much of our success 

lies within our production. Most of the items 

are manufactured overseas and then they 

arrive at our shop as whole units or pieces. 

We can handle each item up to six times 

from arrival to departure. 

All units are tested to ensure they meet our 

requirements for the task. Each scissor has 

the blades and tips examined and cut tested 

to ensure sharpness. If there are problems, we 

can sharpen the blades and or refine the tips 

to get them even and sharp. 

Each clamp is opened and closed and 

put under a stress test to ensure smooth 

operation; if problems exist with the ratchets 

being too hard or loose, we fix that with 

hands or hammers! 

Each bobbin is threaded and tested. The 

list of what we do goes on and on but the 

point is tyers and anglers have come to expect 

this level of effort from us to achieve the final 

product. 

In the end, we are dedicated to the highest 

quality and the most consistent product we 

can deliver. It is one of the reasons we put our 

products in bags versus zip tied to cardboard 

for display. We want you to handle and feel 

the item. 

The company runs with five employees. 

Market growth has averaged double digits 

over the past 20 years. 

We are lucky to have a very dedicated 

following amongst the tying and angling 

community. I attribute that to our dedication 

to quality, consistency and innovation. 


Carbon Fibre 

Handle Whip 

Finisher 

Tyers like to know when their favourite 

scissor wears out after 10 years that the 

replacement will be just like their retired 

favourite. It’s the same for the angler, when a 

clamp is lost or retired, they want that same 

item they had and have it perform the same 

way. 

Plus I think most people are aware of the 

efforts we put into each product and they 

appreciate that aspect of Dr Slick. AND we 

are a fun bunch of people to be around. 

WHAT ARE THE BIGGEST CHALLENGES 

FACING YOU RIGHT NOW? 

Our biggest challenge day to day is 

maintaining the expected level of quality on 

the finished product (quality conttol). 

Most of our items are hand finished so we 

do not have the luxury of CNC or machined 

processes. We must constantly change our 

inspection and correction processes on 

items to adapt to the small inconsistencies/ 

variances. 

That being said, we have seen about 

everything, so we adopt the corrective 

measures and move on. After 30-plus years, 

we have lots of different techniques to mollify 

most issues on any item. 

Other issues that can cause headaches 

are sourcing raw stainless steel and brass, 

supply line distances while global politics and 

policies are always fun! 

HOW DO YOU SEE THE FLY TACKLE 

MARKET RIGHT NOW? 

I enjoy the industry. I think its size makes 

it easy to stay connected with the customers 

and shops. It is not a big fraternity, so we all 

kind of know each other. 

I’m optimistic that the innovation in the 

industry will carry the day and keep the 

sport fresh and exciting for new and existing 

participants. 

I’m not much of a pessimist, but I have 

been in this industry for a long time and 

I’m not a huge fan of the consolidation of 

the industry. I think that can cause a stifling 

effect on innovation and thus the industry. 

Plus, manufacturers selling direct to 

customers is a problem. We are proudly 

wholesale and will continue to rely on our 

domestic and international retailer network 

for our success. 

I’m excited to see more fly tying 

happening. It looked like that might be a 

dying art form a few years back but it looks 

like the new materials, social media and a 

whole batch of really good young tyers has 

turned that around. 

I think, on the angling side, saltwater 

fishing is definitely on the upswing as well as 

pursuit of non-traditional species like carp. 

DR SLICK 

www.drslick.com

A GROUNDBREAKING SERIES OF GUIDES AND TOPS, 

TONY ENGINEERING, PATENT PENDING! 

TONY HUANG 

PACBAY MINIMA - X offers an unparalleled level of durability, solving the problems commonly associated with inner rings 

popping out or getting crushed. Through extensive reform and innovation, PACBAY MINIMA - X is constructed using highstrength 

, one-piece stainless steel. Both the guides and tops utilize mirror polishing, multi-layer Hard Chrome plating, and 

Titanium plating processes, resulting in corrosion resistance, low friction, and high thermal conductivity. As a result , the friction 

force during long-distance casting or retrieving is significantly reduced. 

If you’ve ever experienced the nightmare of losing or breaking your inner ring while battling a tough fish, you’ll appreciate the superiority of PACBAY 

MINIMA - X. Currently, we offer sizes ranging from #05 to #20, with plans to expand up to #50. More sizes and models will be available soon. We believe 

these guides are ideal for lure anglers, particularly carp anglers who often face issues with the #50 stripper guide getting damaged during transportation. 

With PACBAY MINIMA - X, this problem has been entirely eliminated. 

In summary, PACBAY MINIMA - X guides and tops are renowned for their exceptional durability and ability to withstand heavy use and harsh conditions. 

This innovation in the fishing world, through the abandonment of ceramic and stainless-steel rings, allows fishermen to bid farewell to the nightmares of 

ring breakages, crushing, and detachment. 

Build Great Fishing Rods 

www.fishpacbay.com 

info@fishpacbay.com

SPOTLIGHT ON... 

roDS 

SPOTLIGHT ON 

RODS 

An essential tool for any angler, a good rod 

will allow you to cast and control your bait or 

fly as well as aid fighting your fish. Advances 

in technology have seen changes in materials 

in many markets while understanding the 

value or rod length or blank design are crucial 

to select the right one for the job. 

No matter what species you 

are fishing for, in whatever 

conditions and with whatever 

method, the fishing rod is far from 

being a simple device to throw your line 

and play your fish. 

Fishing with a rod and line has 

ancient origins. Early humans likely 

used simple tools like sticks, bone hooks 

and lines made from plant fibres to 

catch fish. 

Historical records suggest that 

the ancient Egyptians and Chinese 

were among the first to use more 

sophisticated fishing tools. In ancient 

Egypt, around 2000 BCE, depictions 

of fishing with rods can be found in 

various artefacts while there are records 

in ancient China of bamboo rods and 

silk lines being commonly used. 

In medieval Europe, fishing rods 

became more specialised. They were 

often made from wood and the design 

evolved to include features like guides 

to help control the line. 

By the 17th century, fishing rods 

had become longer, lighter and 

more flexible. This was partly due 

to advancements in materials and 

construction techniques. The use of 

reels also became more common during 

this period. 

The 19th century saw significant 

advancements in fishing rod technology. 

Materials such as steel and, later, 

bamboo, became popular choices for rod 

construction. With the improvements in 

fishing reels, anglers could cast longer 

distances with greater accuracy. 

The 20th century brought about 

further innovations in rod design, with 

fibreglass rods gaining popularity by 

the middle of the century, thanks to 

their durability and affordability. As the 

century progressed, graphite and carbon 

fibre materials were introduced, offering 

lighter weights and high-performance. 

With the advances in technology and 

materials, rods are now designed and 

developed to be specific to whatever 

niche you are into, whether that’s rod 

length, line or lure weight, ring or guide 

spacing, blank construction or the use 

of relevant materials. 



RODS 

Something for everyone 

Depending on the method or style of 

fishing, there are rods from around 2ft 

for ice fishing up to 12ft or 13ft for carp 

fishing, 14ft for European match fishing 

and even telescopic Bolognese rods up to 

23ft (7m) and that’s before we talk about 

fishing poles – which can go to more than 

16m in some cases. 

In general, though, you will likely 

come across a few main types – notably 

spinning rods of many lengths for bait 

and lure fishing, baitcasting rods for 

heavier lures, fly fishing rods, which are 

typically more flexible with their action 

helping impart power to the cast and ice 

fishing rods which, as mentioned, are 

generally much shorter. 

Longer rods will typically allow longer 

accurate casts and are designed for larger 

bodies of water while shorter rods offer 

better control in tight spaces or where you 

need to impart some movement to your 

lure. 

Action stations 

Another key part of any rod’s make-up is 

its action. This determines the power or 

sensitivity of a rod and sometimes aids in 

casting and playing fish. 

There are typically three main actions to 

look out for – fast, medium and slow. 

A fast action rod will bend mostly at 

the tip, offering sensitivity and quick 

hook-setting ability. These rods are a good 

starting point for beginners as they can 

deal with a reasonable range of tasks and 

requirements. 

Medium action rods are a decent allrounder, 

with a good bend in the middle 

section, offering a balance between 

power and flexibility. But these are often 

favoured by anglers targeting larger fish or 

to cast further. 

A rod with a slower action tends to bend 

through the entire rod length. This makes it 

more flexible and these are more suited to 

small fish and smaller lures with light lines. 

You’ll also come across power ratings 

on many rods and these are fairly selfexplanatory. 

Lighter power rods are perfect for light 

tackle, small lures and small fish, medium 

power will handle most situations for your 

general fishing while heavy power rods are 

designed for use on big carp, bass, pike 

or catfish. Rods for beachcasting and surf 

fishing go one step further than this to cope 

with the extremes demanded of them. 

Material decisions 

From cane and reed – beloved of purists – 

through to fibreglass and carbon fibre, rods 

have been made in many materials over the 

years, with other, sustainable, renewable 

and recyclable materials also now in 

evidence. 

Fibreglass has been around for a long 

time and many anglers still favour these 

rods for their strength and durability. Not 

to mention their keen price. 

Since the 1970s, though, graphite or 

carbon fibre rods have been a lighter and 

more popular alternative, blending various 

degrees of stiffness or modulus to light 

weight and sensitivity, for better casting, 

handling, bite detection and fish playing. 

When it comes to fixtures and fittings 

such as guides, their quality, quantity, 

weight and positioning can be almost as 

important as the blank. Rod manufacturers 

often use guides from the top brand names 

as key selling points. While the top rods 

will have the best guides, models lower 

down the range will still be furnished with 

those that are more than up to the job. 

Handle materials vary widely, from high 

grade cork on fly rods to part-EVA grips 

on coarse fishing rods, abbreviated Japanese 

shrink handles on carp rods and golf-club 

style wraps on spin and baitcasting rods. 

Of course, budget comes into play in 

many instances just as much as the actual 

fishing requirements. 

It’s certainly worth stocking one or 

two expensive flagship models for the 

discerning angler and for those whose 

aspirations are high, but, in reality, most 

sales will come from the middle ground 

products that offer a balance of quality and 

price, while you should never overlook the 

lower end of the market for beginners. 


25


RODS 

SCOTT FLY ROD 

SWING SERIES 

Made for fly casting to steelhead and salmon, Scott’s Swing 

rods feature progressive loading actions, fast recovery speed, 

directional stability and a light-in-hand feel from combining 

finely tuned new tapers with its multi-directional, multimodulus 

layups, ARC2 reinforcement, Carbon Link resin 

system and the very finest components. 

Breakthrough components include titanium tangle- 

free stripping guides with silicon nitride inserts that 

allow casts to shoot further and help prevent tangles 

in mono or braid running lines. Snake Brand 

universal snake guides grace the rest of the rod 

to round out the guide set. 

Scott also designed a fully milled 

aluminium reel seat with aggressive 

threads for operating with cold hands, 

type 3 hard coat, and specially milled 

reel foot pockets that securely hold 

current performance reels and 

most vintage reel feet. 

All-new front- and rear-grip 

designs turned from Flor 

grade cork ensure comfort, 

feel, and longevity. 

www.scottflyrod.com 

ZENAQ 

SINPAA RODS 

These offshore casting rods are 

unashamedly designed for anglers who 

want to test their limits. 

Specially developed for specific 

conditions, the SINPAA rod action 

breathes life into your lures and draws 

out their maximum potential, no 

matter the fish size, season or any other 

conditions affecting you. 

The SINPAA has evolved into a rod 

for specialists, inheriting the high-level 

performance of the FOKEETO Casting 

series, Zenaq’s original specialist rods 

which date back to the early days of 

offshore casting. 

This rod was specially designed for 

catching “the big one” and includes the 

firm’s patented Hexagon Grip. 

The 8ft 3in SINPAA 83 Hiramasa rod 

can handle lures from 65g to 130g with 

recommended reel sizes from SW10000 

to 14000HG. 

www.zenaq.com 

DAIWA 

TD EYE RODS 

Designed and built for walleye anglers, the TD EYE 

series is a 17-model line-up including spinning, casting, 

and trolling rods. 

Each rod is engineered with signature Daiwa 

technologies like High Volume Fiber (HVF) – for 

increased graphite density – and X45 Bias Graphite 

Construction technology to eliminate blank twist and 

ensure increased strength. 

Its MEGA TOP tip on the TD EYE 7ft 6in trolling 

model along with two spinning rods is designed for 

super sensitivity while there are FUJI Fazlite K-Guides 

on all 17 models. The spinning rods also boast highgrade 

cork handles. 

With both one- and two-piece rods in the series, 

there is bound to be something for every walleye 

fishing requirement. 

www.daiwa.us 


DBW... 

SCANDINAVIA 

D O I N G B U S I N E S S W I T H . . . 

SCANDINAVIA 

With rivers and lakes in abundance, not to mention an extensive coastline, 

Scandinavia has a proud tradition of recreational fishing, both as a top 

destination for the sport and as the innovator of key products via major brands. 

For the purposes of 

this article, we will 

consider Scandinavia as 

encompassing Denmark, 

Norway and Sweden, 

although there are schools 

of thought which will 

add in both Finland and 

Iceland – usually these are covered by the 

term ‘Nordic’ instead. 

The total area of these three nations 

is about 358,325 square miles, making it 

bigger than any other single European 

country, with more than 21 million 

inhabitants, although the population 

density of this region is very low, at less 

than 60 people per square mile. 

Undoubtedly, the largest country is 

Sweden, which is also the most populated, 

with more than 10 million inhabitants, 

while Norway and Denmark each have less 

than six million. 

There are multiple languages spoken 

throughout Scandinavia including 

Norwegian, Danish and Swedish, while 

Icelandic, Finnish and Sami languages are 

also in evidence. 

Scandinavia has always enjoyed a 

reputation for a good quality of life – 

indeed Denmark is ranked at number four 

and Norway at number nine in the world 

table of best countries to live in. 

While the 2023 World Happiness 

Report cites Denmark in second spot, with 

Sweden sixth and Norway seventh, based 

on factors including low income inequality, 

health care and education. 

NATURAL RESOURCES 

The early industrialisation of the Nordic 

countries was based on key natural 

resources. Norway and Sweden had large 

forests so timber, pulp and paper were 

crucial commodities – indeed Sweden is 

the home of furniture giant IKEA. 

It also has significant iron ore reserves, 

which brought wealth to the country even 

before modern industrialisation. Norway’s 

most important industries have been 

forestry, fishing and hydropower while, in 

later years, vast oil and gas deposits in the 


ECONOMY 

FOCUS 

DBW... 

SCANDINAVIA 

GDP 

Denmark: $420.87 billion 

Sweden: $597.1 billion 

Norway: $452.9 billion 

GDP Growth rate 

Denmark: 1.2% Sweden: 0.3% Norway: 1.0% 

FACT FILE 

Capitals: Denmark – Copenhagen; 

Sweden – Stockholm; Norway – Oslo 

POPULATIONS: 

Denmark – 5,935,619 (2023 estimate) 

Sweden – 10,540,886 (2023 estimate) 

Norway – 5,488,984 (2023 estimate) 

OFFICIAL LANGUAGES: 

Danish, Swedish, Norwegian 

CURRENCIES: 

Denmark – Danish krone DKK 

Sweden – Swedish krona SEK 

Norway – Norwegian krone NOK 

DENMARK: Top export partners: 

- Germany - Sweden - Netherlands - Norway - UK 

Top import partners: 

- Germany - Sweden - Netherlands - China - Norway 

SWEDEN: Top export partners: 

- Norway - Germany - USA - Finland - Denmark 


- Germany - Netherlands - Norway - Denmark - China 

NORWAY: Top export partners: 

- UK - Germany - Netherlands - France - Sweden 


- Germany - Sweden - China - USA - Denmark 

North Sea have enriched the country. 

Denmark’s arable land made agriculture 

important for its economy so the food 

industry here has been significant. Perhaps 

because of its lengthy coastline and 

relationship with the sea, Denmark is also 

the home of the world’s largest container 

shipping operator Maersk, while toy 

building brick manufacturer LEGO also 

originated here. 

FISHING STRENGTHS 

Each of the countries also has a rich 

heritage in the fishing tackle industry – 

from hook maker Mustad in Norway to 

reel brand Abu Garcia from Sweden, not 

to mention lure and tackle firm Westin and 

major tackle distributor Svendsen Sport in 

Denmark, among many others. 

Other great Scandinavian examples 

include Ahrex Hooks, Fladen Fishing, 

Guideline, Loop, Hansen, A Jensen and 

more, along with the European and Middle 

East headquarters for eyewear brand Wiley 

X in Denmark. 

And if you look at its near neighbours, 

one of the largest global tackle businesses, 

which is also a top name throughout 

Scandinavia, is Finland-based Rapala 

VMC Corporation. 

It’s perhaps not surprising, when you 

consider that the three nations also 

harbour plenty of anglers. 

Figures suggest that there are around 

450,000 Danish anglers served by about 

160 tackle shops, while the recreational 

fishing tackle market is worth more than 

$350m. 

In Sweden, there are said to be around 

1.2 million anglers at present – roughly 

860,000 men and the rest women. 

Although it appears from the data that this 

is about 300,000 less than the year before. 

There are an estimated 190 tackle shops 

with a total economic value of recreational 

fisheries to Sweden’s economy around 

$310m. 

In Norway those figures are an estimated 

1.45 million recreational anglers, 150 

tackle shops and an economic value of 

$215m. 


29

DBW... 

SCANDINAVIA 

C O U N T R Y C O M P A R I S O N 

SWEDEN 

The Swedish coastlines, rivers and around 

100,000 lakes boast excellent salmon and 

trout fishing, not to mention plenty of 

char, and grayling are plentiful while pike 

abound, with pike-perch in the southern 

regions. 

Fishing is one of the Swedish tourism 

sector’s most promising segments, 

especially for Europeans and Americans 

– both areas which have the potential to 

grow significantly in the coming years. 

The mighty Atlantic salmon and the 

Baltic salmon live in the fast-moving 

rivers, regularly reaching 6 to 8kg, while 

there are plentiful brown and rainbow 

trout, too. 

Fly fishing, especially using light tackle, 

spinning or trolling are especially popular. 

The long Swedish winter season offers 

great conditions for ice fishing for big 

pike and this is also the ideal time to 

target zander and perch by ice fishing. 

According to research provided to 

TTW by Rapala VMC, in 2022/23, 

around 1.2 million people 

enjoyed recreational 

fishing, with the total 

number of fishing days 

adding up to 12.2 million, 

with almost half of these 

(5.9 million) fishing from 

boats. 

The most popular areas 

are inland in Norrland, 

including Lake Storsjön, 

Götalan and Svealand. 

Spending for major 

purchases, such as boats 

or more expensive 

equipment, has decreased 

from the peak of 9.7 billion SEK to 3.8 

billion SEK, likely due to higher interest 

rates and the high inflation in society. 

This inflation and the rising interest 

rates mean expensive rods and reels are 

slower movers nowadays, with small 

purchases proving more likely. 

There are some key players in Sweden, 

including SöderSportfiske (South 

Sportfishing), with a wide range of tackle 

available under its own brands and many 

major names via its Fishline e-commerce 

platform in Sweden and now its Sportfish 

Tackle sites covering not just Scandinavia 

but Germany, The Netherlands, France 

and Finland. 

NORWAY 

The coastline of Norway is longer than the 

equator and its seas are brimming with 

record-sized cod, salmon and halibut – 

again, popular among tourists as well as 

locals. 

The whole coastline is dotted with villages 

where fishing is still an important part of 

the local lifestyle, catching sea trout, halibut, 

salmon, haddock, plaice, mackerel, monkfish, 

ling, staithe and more. 

Ice fishing is not so widespread in 

Norway since the coastline and fjords in 

Norway do not freeze up during the winter 

season. 

There are, however, still thousands of lakes 

located throughout mainland Norway that 

do completely freeze over in the winter, 

making them a prime spot for a spot of ice 

fishing. 

Around 80,000 anglers target Atlantic 

salmon and sea-run brown trout and char, 

spending around €125million on their sport. 

One of the biggest and oldest outdoor 

groups in Norway is the Norwegian 

Association of Hunters and Anglers, which 

was founded way back in 1871. 

As the only nationwide group of its kind 

there, it boasts more than 110,000 members 

and includes over 550 local and 18 country 

organisations. 

It employs 80 people across the 

country, with a mission to secure the same 

opportunities for future generations to have 

access to “the meaning of life”, access to 

nature and the opportunity to harvest from a 

sustainable natural resource. 


DBW... 

SCANDINAVIA 

DENMARK 

Denmark is renowned for its varied fishing 

waters; it has an extensive coastline for 

sea and deep sea fishing, as well as many 

freshwater rivers, streams and lakes. 

Fishing is possible year-round, from the 

long summer evenings to ice fishing in the 

winter. 

Although it’s the smallest country of the 

three, the fishing industry in Denmark is 

huge. 

Employing over 20,000 people, it’s 

the fifth-largest exporter of fish and fish 

products worldwide, which is great news for 

recreational anglers, too! 

Surrounded by water there’s no shortage 

of places to cast a line, while inland you’ll 

find plenty of rivers and lakes. 

From deep sea fishing in the Jutland 

peninsula for monster cod and lingcod, 

Atlantic mackerel, pollock and a variety of 

flatfish species to river fishing, the sport on 

offer in Jutland is pretty spectacular. 

Fishermen can try for Atlantic salmon 

fishing in the Skjern River, whether fly 

fishing or spinning, or if you prefer sea trout 

most of the rivers and streams in Western 

Jutland hold a big stock, as well as grayling. 

There are many freshwater lakes offering 

great fishing and at Skanderborg Lakes 

you’ll find some good-sized zander, while 

for monster pike and perch, head to 

Damhus Lake with your lure fishing kit. 

Denmark also has a history of coarse 

angling for bream and roach, particularly 

with UK anglers, and many big-money 

matches were held in its lakes, and many 

fishing holidays were taken here. 

That said, the demise of many ferry routes 

has reduced this somewhat today. 

The tackle retail market is largely 

dominated by independent retailers, 

with some of the biggest in the 

capital, Copenhagen, including Jagt & 

Fiskerimagasinet, which dates back to 1921 

and still has an old-fashioned or traditional 

feel, with its glass cases filled with reels, 

fishing rods stacked in their hundreds and a 

wall of lures and spinners. 

A little further out are larger and more 

modern-feeling stores, such as Sport 

Dres and Hvidovre Sport, offering large 

floorspaces, clean layouts and, of course, an 

online presence too. 

Many Danish anglers still prefer visiting 

a local store to browse and get advice and 

there is usually at least one within driving 

distance. 

Outside of Copenhagen, two other 

notable retailers are Go Fishing in Odense 

and Korsholm on the western coast near 

Jylland. 

Go-Fishing actually has two other 

stores located further north near the city of 

Aarhus, one of which is an outlet store. 

While tackle can seem quite expensive 

in Denmark, too, there are also plenty of 

supermarkets offering cheaper, entry-level 

alternatives. 

You’ll also struggle to find too many 

wholesalers as many shops deal direct with 

brands but the newly formed Catch Partners 

and the Fly Co both work in the fly fishing 

supply market. 


31

FEATURE 

WYCHWOOD LOOKS 

TO NEW HORIZONS 

WITH EPIC LAUNCHES 

With the iceTackle* 2024 trade show looming in the UK, it’s time to look at some of the key 

products coming from Leeda’s key carp brand, Wychwood. 

Anew year heralds new gear and 

long-standing UK-based carp 

brand Wychwood is setting 

itself up for a new chapter as it 

goes from strength to strength in its fifth 

decade in the carp market. 

The brand is reshaping how it presents 

its product tiers and, from this spring, 

there will be a number of additions to its 

product range, including totally new rods. 

Coinciding with iceTackle* 2024 – the 

trade-only event for parent company 

Leeda, being held in late March in the 

UK – there will be a series of flagship rods 

falling under the EPIC banner. 

Developed as a mixture of all-round 

versatility but with the power to hit big 

distances, there are three test curves to 

choose from – 3lb, 3.25lb and 3.5lb – all 

based around a Toray carbon blank that’s 

adorned with American Tackle guides. 

Two handle options will be available; a 

full Japanese shrink wrap and a slim cork 


mix, both featuring built-in snag rings to 

prevent rods being pulled in. 

“We’re starting with a modest selection 

of what would be classed as go-to lengths 

and test curves,” explained Pat MacInnes, 

marketing manager for Wychwood. 

“But we are looking at the potential for 

additional lengths and options for stalking 

that would broaden the appeal of the Epic 

range.”

Wychwood 

FEATURE 

The Wychwood team put an Epic rod through its 

paces at the Carp Den Bosch show. 

Look out for 

more Riot rods 

later in the year. 

I PREDICT A RIOT 

With that in mind, also in the pipeline 

(although destined to be a Q4 launch) 

is a new range of Riot rods. Riot is the 

brand’s entry-level sub-brand and has 

been in the Wychwood lexicon for years. 

But, as the brand evolves, the incoming 

rods will offer a wider range of options 

and bring in premium looks without the 

premium price tag. 

“As I’ve hinted at with Epic, Riot will 

go all-in with multiple options when it 

launches later in 2024,” Pat continued. 

“We’ll have traditional 12ft and 13ft 

carp rods, plus we’ll have shorter 9ft and 

10ft options, and we’ll also incorporate 

stalking models with more guides. We’ll 

also have some tele-butt rods for easy 

stowage.” 

MOVING FORWARD 

This update of rods is part of a wider 

brand restructure from Wychwood; the 

whole brand will be streamlined to offer 

three sub-brands – Riot, Extremis and 

Epic – which deal with key price levels 

and will feature all products, such as 

shelters, rods, reels, carp care and luggage. 

This new direction from the brand is 

part of the main message going out to 

consumers through 2024 and will be a 

major theme of the brand’s trade and 

consumer shows, the first of which was 

the popular Carp den Bosch event, held 

in Holland each January. 

For retailers who are interested in 

knowing more about working with 

Wychwood, they can contact www. 

leedab2b.co.uk for new account info, 

or head over to www.icetackle.co.uk to 

register for the March trade-only 

event in the UK. 

WYCHWOOD 

www.leedab2b.co.uk 

The Epic rods 

are new for 

2024. 


33

FEATURE 

FirstDart 

R&D PAYS 

OFF FOR OEM 

LINE FIRM 

FIRSTDART 

The Covid-19 pandemic caused many companies to rethink their strategy. Some scaled back, 

line expert FirstDart pushed forward, placing R&D firmly at the core of its future plans. Now 

it is looking ahead with confidence, ready to work with even more global partners… 

When the pandemic struck, 

FirstDart was going through 

the peak of its production 

season, until the multiple 

strict lockdowns at the time interrupted its 

usual plans and forced a strategic rethink. 

But rather than scale things down, it made 

R&D a cornerstone of its philosophy, futureproofing 

the business in the process. 

FirstDart has always worked on new 

product development but, in 2020, a multidisciplinary 

and multi-geographical R&D 

task force from its Singapore HQ and 

Chinese facilities was formed. Crucially, it 

was not limited just to the technical team but 

also included a material science specialist and 

members of the sales team. 

The new team was tasked to achieve 

resilience, capacity, capability, and compliance. 

KEY MILESTONES 

As a result of this approach, FirstDart 

developed a number of key areas, or 

milestones, for its business: 

• Building resilience through flexibility: 

Modifying its production processes and 

machines made changes easier and faster, 

enabling higher customisation levels with 

lower MOQs. One great example is the 

launch of its Hybrid Mono line at China 

Fish 2024. 

• Increasing capacity in key areas: 

Alongside additional machinery, this 

involved improving and optimising 

processes and conducting material 

studies to increase productivity. The 

most important capacity increment was 

in its fly line division. A year into the 

pandemic, a new production machine 

with higher automation and upgraded 

equipment for sample production were 

added. Weatherproof measures to enable 


production every day of the year were also 

implemented in 2022. 

• Developing capability through new 

technologies and materials: Arguably the 

most rewarding and customer-centric of 

all the tasks, FirstDart incorporated the 

needs and wants of the market into its 

product development wish list. 

The industry has seen little 

development in materials since nylon, 

UHMWPE and PVDF or fluorocarbon. 

FirstDart’s quest for new materials 

helped it develop a new line with fishing 

specific properties based on PET. 

Customers saw it first at China Fish. 

Meanwhile, biodegradable options are 

being prototyped. 

It also made significant quality 

improvements over the last three years in 

fly lines. FirstDart is not only a supplier 

of low-cost fly lines, but it is now making 

inroads into a more specialised level. 

• Ensuring compliance with customers’ 

requirements and with regulations: Every 

development has been done with the 

utmost emphasis on quality control and 

alignment with policies and regulations in 

the industry, country and worldwide, such 

as REACH and California Proposition 65. 

The intensive work and investment 

in R&D of the last three years are the 

building blocks of what is to come in 

2024 and, going forward, FirstDart sees 

a renewed approach and commitment to 

be a true OEM solution provider for all 

fishing line needs. 

A POSITIVE OUTLOOK 

This year FirstDart is showcasing 

tangible testimonies to its hard work, 

through new and improved products and 

technologies. 

Hybrid Mono is the result of an 

upgraded coating process giving the 

customer total flexibility to select the 

best monofilament for their needs and 

enhance it with a fluoropolymer coating. 

Its premium range of fly lines has been 

specially made for different applications 

thanks to customised coatings and inhouse 

core making. Meanwhile, PET 

materials offer high sensitivity, abrasion 

resistance and sinking characteristics 

along with biodegradable options. All of 

these developments are in the pipeline. 

FirstDart’s view is 2024 will be 

challenging but it remains optimistic. 

Customers’ trust in it continues, with 

orders and new products during the 

pandemic, while the increasing interest in 

developing solutions with the business is 

proof that the gamble is paying off. 

FIRSTDART 

www.firstdart.com

STOPPIONI s.n.c. Firenze Italy Prod. Effevuemme s.r.l. 

Tel.+39 0558739615 -Fax +39 0558739648 stonfo@stonfo.com 

MEMBER 

Art.569 

BAIT TRAY BOAT 

Bait station designed to meet the many needs of fisherman. Its structure, in durable plastic, is perfectly rounded and has 

no sharp edges. The compartment can hold various bait boxes or tools in a stable position. Other important features 

make this bait tray a well equipped working station necessary in every kind of boat. Dimension 39x28 cm. Supplied with 

adjustable stainless steel base, clamp and angle lock connector. 

s b lo cca-unlock 

www.stonfo.com 

FULL RANGE OF TERMINAL TACKLE AND ACCESSORIES 

It’s a 

family 

thing 

EST. 

1958 

F J Neil has been family owned and operated since the 

1950s… and is still going strong! Under the Dolphin brand 

we supply all types of terminal tackle and accessories, from 

traditional bamboo poles to the latest rigs and lures. 

• Competitive pricing 

• Large stock inventory – no order delays 

• Rapid turnaround • Export specialists 

• Able to source any special requirements 

FOR FULL TRADE DETAILS 

PLEASE CONTACT US AT CANEFISH@AOL.COM / +1 631-957-1073 

FJ NEIL COMPANY INC, 1064 ROUTE 109, PO BOX 617, LINDENHURST, NY 11757-0617 USA 

We are looking for experienced agents or distributors for the European market. If qualified, email Neil Miritello at nmfjn@aol.com

THE 15TH NANXUN FISH CULTURE FESTIVAL 

WAS HELD 

On January 5, the 15th Huzhou Nanxun Fish Culture 

Festival and Mulberry Fish Pond System Biodiversity 

Exhibition, participated by CRAA, kicked off at 

Huzhou Digang Fishing Village. The theme of this event 

is "The harmony of fish and mulberry, and all things 

are harmonious", which means that fish and mulberry 

are prosperous in the Year of the Dragon. It advocates 

the protection and sustainable use of biodiversity to the 

world, with the goal of respecting nature, complying 

with nature, and protecting nature, and jointly build 

humankind. An earth-friendly home that lives in 

harmony with nature. The event lasted for three days 

from January 5th to 7th, and received more than 100,000 

tourists. 

The event was rich in content, and included face-to-face 

meetings between Zhejiang Huzhou mulberry fish pond 

system experts and mulberry researchers, mulberry 

fish pond system parent-child study experience and 

cultural and creative product display, "Baiyin mulberry 

fish pond system", a globally important agricultural 

cultural heritage. ”Mulberry Fish Pond Biodiversity 

Stone Wind Seal Carving Art Installation Exhibition, 

“Bi Dao Dragon Palace” Year of the Dragon Blessing 

Calligraphy Activity, Folklore Performance, Diggang 

Fish Soup and Rice Tasting, Diggang Tongshan Art 

Museum Immersive Experience , Diggang Yusangji light 

show and other sub-activities. 

At the opening ceremony of the Fish Culture Festival, 

CRAA President Wei Baozhen participated in the gongbeating 

ceremony. The opening ceremony also held the 

"National Agricultural Industry Strong Town" awarding 

ceremony, the "Provincial Biodiversity Experience Site" 

awarding ceremony, and the "Diggang Tongshan Art 

Museum" unveiling ceremony. 

Sacrificing sacrifices to the fish god and praying for 

a good harvest of fish and mulberry trees is a living 

epitome of thousands of years of farming civilization. 

The annual Fish Culture Festival is a happy harvest 

celebration for the people in the Mulberry Fish Pond 

Core Reserve. After the opening ceremony, a ceremony 

of lighting fish fire and worshiping the fish god was held 

on site, to thank the fish god for blessing the local fishery 

industry with good weather and good harvest, and to 

pray for good weather, good fishery harvest, peaceful life 

and contentment for the country and the people in the 

coming year.

THAI FISHERMEN ARE SHOCKED TO SEE 

OARFISH, EARTHQUAKE RUMORS SPREAD 

On January 3, fishermen in Satun Province, Thailand, 

caught an oarfish in the shallow waters of the Andaman 

Sea. This fish was considered a harbinger of earthquakes, 

triggering panic among local people. Some people 

worry that this means that areas along the Andaman Sea 

may be hit by earthquakes or tsunamis. 

However, some local people believe that oarfish are 

messengers of earthquakes and that their appearance 

in shallow waters is an ominous sign. A citizen named 

Boomerange said: "I have never seen oarfish here, which 

is a very rare fish. I heard that if oarfish is found near 

Satun, it may mean that the Andaman There may be 

earthquakes or even tsunamis in coastal areas. I am very 

scared and I don’t want to experience another disaster like 2004.” 

Another citizen named Wannarrong Sa-ard also said that he had heard that oarfish, also known as earthquake fish, 

often appear on the water accompanied by earthquakes. He said: "I think there is chaos in the ocean, which may 

indicate the arrival of natural disasters. I hope the government can provide some early warning and protection 

measures to make us feel safe." 

According to relevant information on the fishery industry in Taiwan, China, at about 9:40 a.m. on November 6, 2020, 

an earthquake with a magnitude of 5.4 occurred in Taitung County, Taiwan. On the same day, a 490-centimeter-long 

fish weighing 45 kilograms swam into a fish farm in Yilan. Oarfish. 

Regarding these fears and doubts, Ton, a marine ecology lecturer at the Agricultural University of Thailand, gave 

a different explanation. Oarfish are rarely caught because people generally don't fish in deep water, he said. The 

discovery of these unusual fish was the result of the recent Indian Ocean Dipole phenomenon, which causes cold 

water to flow into the Andaman Sea. 

"It used to be sunfish, now it's oarfish," Ton said. "These fish may just follow the cold water groups and have no 

special meaning. Although there are unusual conditions in the ocean, understanding the cause of this phenomenon 

will help To avoid unnecessary panic. Oarfish are not a harbinger of earthquakes, nor will they cause tsunamis. We 

don’t need to worry too much, just stay vigilant and prepared.” 

Thorne also called on the public not to believe rumors but to trust science and expert opinions. He said: "Oarfish are a 

very beautiful and precious fish, and we should respect them, not be afraid of them. We should protect the ecological 

balance of the ocean, not destroy them."

NEWLY DISCOVERED FRESHWATER FISH IN 

TAIWAN, CHINA 

Yushan is the highest mountain in Taiwan, China, and 

an ecological treasure house. Here, there are many rare 

animals and plants, one of which is a freshwater fish that 

can only be seen in Yushan in the world, that is Yushan 

Hemimyzon. 

Yushan Hemimyzon is a small and slender fish, about 5 

centimeters in length, with many white dorsal spots on 

its body, like stars in the sky. The pattern and number of 

their dorsal fin rays are different from other rock-climbing 

loaches, and are a unique morphological feature. The 

"Hemimyzon" in their name comes from the fact that 

they like to shuttle between rocks in streams and use their 

sucker-shaped mouths to firmly adhere to the rocks to 

resist the erosion of the water. 

Yushan Hemimyzon is a very picky fish. They can only live in very clear, stable, low-temperature mountain streams, and 

are very sensitive to changes in water quality and quantity. They are mainly distributed in the waters of Nanzixian Creek 

and Linong Creek in the upper reaches of Gaoping Creek in Yushan Park. They are the most distinctive alpine fish species 

unique to Taiwan in the streams in the park at the southern foot of the main peak of Yushan. 

Yushan Hemimyzon is a newly discovered fish species that has not been officially named until recently. The Yushan Park 

Management Office entrusted the research team of Professor Chen Yixiong of the Institute of Marine Biology of Taiwan 

Ocean University to conduct a survey of fish and crustacean ecological resources in the streams of Yushan Park. discovered 

and described during planning. This is an important scientific achievement and an achievement of ecological conservation. 

It shows that the water system and forest ecological resources of Yushan Park are well preserved and have not been damaged 

or polluted by humans. 

Yushan Hemimyzon is not only a beautiful fish, but also an important ecological indicator. Their existence represents the 

stability and diversity of alpine stream ecosystems, and is also an important lifeline for maintaining the ecological stability 

of mammals or reptiles in the riverside zone. Their disappearance may mean deterioration of water quality or quantity, or 

invasion or competition from other organisms, posing threats and impacts to the entire ecosystem. 

Local organizations call on the public to cherish and protect Yushan Hemimyzon and the alpine stream environment they 

inhabit. Abide by the park's management regulations, do not throw away garbage at will, do not catch or feed wild animals 

without authorization, do not destroy or pollute water sources, and reduce interference and impact on the park's ecology. 

Only in this way can Yushan Hemimyzon, a unique alpine gem in Taiwan, continue to shine in the stream.

CHINESE FISHING TACKLE TRADERS VISIT 

YOKOHAMA FISHING TACKLE EXHIBITION 

China's fishing tackle exhibition will start in February, so in January, several of us from China's fishing tackle 

factories organized a group to visit the Yokohama Fishing Tackle Exhibition in Japan. This exhibition is 

sponsored by the Japan Fishing Products Industry Association and will be held on January 19th. The Pacifico 

Yokohama Exhibition Hall opened in Nishi Ward Port, Yokohama City, Kanagawa Prefecture, Japan. 

According to the organizer, there are 129 exhibitors from 7 different categories this time, which is the largest 

scale since the exhibition began. This also means the strong recovery of the Japanese fishing tackle market. 

There are many activities at the exhibition, including live boat fishing exchange performances, various award 

ceremonies for winning anglers, and activities specifically for female anglers. It seems to be a very successful 

fishing equipment exhibition.

FEATURE 

Simms 

SIMMS’ 

PURSUIT 

SHOE 

THE NEXT 

STEP IN 

UNMATCHED 

VERSATILITY 

Simms’ spring 2024 collection includes one standout item: the all-new Pursuit Shoe has 

been specifically designed to deliver anglers performance advantages in a variety of fishing 

scenarios. 

Bozeman, Montana-based Simms 

Fishing Products made its mark 

on the tackle trade in the early 

1990s with the introduction 

of the very first waterproof/breathable 

wader. 

Since then, its commitment to 

innovation and fishing focused, technical 

gear has only intensified. Over the years, 

footwear is another category Simms has 

not only trailblazed but also managed to 

leave a significant footprint in. 

From building a variety of virtually 

indestructible, award-winning wading 

boots, to performance driven on-deck 

footwear, to wet-wading footwear, to 

beautifully simplistic flip-flops – Simms 

has created footwear for all anglers and 

all ecosystems. 

In early January, Simms launched 

its long-awaited spring 2024 product 

collection. As consumers might expect, 

this line is chock full of innovation and 

performance driven gear but one standout 

comes in the all-new Pursuit Shoe, 

specifically designed to offer anglers 

unmatched versatility. 

DRIVEN BY PERFORMANCE 

The goal of the Pursuit Shoe was to 

build a piece of footwear that could 


deliver anglers performative 

advantages in a variety 

of fishing scenarios and 

ecosystems. 

With a lowprofile 

design and 

constructed from an 

ultra-breathable and 

quick-drying mesh upper, 

the Pursuit Shoe features a comfortable, 

stretch-neoprene collar to keep debris 

out. 

To bolster durability, the shoe comes 

equipped with TPU overlays in highabrasion 

areas and also includes a quickadjust, 

snag-free cord lacing system. 

For traction, the Simms product team 

sourced a super grippy micro-siped 

rubber outsole that offers slip-resistance 

on both wet and dry surfaces. 

The end result is a shoe that’s equally 

at home on the deck of any type of boat 

as it is grabbing on to the craggy bottom 

of a bonefish flat or the slippery rocks of 

a Western trout stream. 

Simms recognises the fact that anglers 

by and large don’t just fish for one species 

or in a singular environment. In saying 

that, versatility was a key objective in the 

initial design. 

The end goal of the Pursuit was to 

offer anglers a shoe that could pretty 

much do it all. It’s a very lightweight 

option that can cover off on the 

majority of situations anglers might find 

themselves in. It was designed to be 

worn either next to the skin or, for longer 

wading scenarios, with a thin liner sock 

for extra protection. 

Wading boots, flats booties (and 

sneakers), wet-wading shoes/sandals and 

burlier rubber boots will always have a 

place in the quiver of multi-environment, 

multi-season anglers but, for the lion’s 

share of the season, the Pursuit Shoe 

delivers comfort, performance and 

versatility for a multitude of angling 

situations. 

SIMMS 

www. simmsfishing.com

lineaeffe.it 

happIness 

is a FIshing day! 

ANGLER: Daniele “Maio” Maioriello 

@maio_nomura_angler_official 

FIND OUT WHAT’S NEW IN 

2024 ON WWW.LINEAEFFE.IT 

FISH IN PEACE! 

Lineaeffe S.p.a - Via Massumatico, 3689 - 40018 S. Pietro in Casale (BO) - ITALY - info@lineaeffe.it

MAKING 

CONTACT 

Making Contact 

1 

2 

3 

Want your products to 

be seen by thousands of 

potential buyers… FREE of 

charge? Then get in touch, 

we’d love to hear from you. 

JOHN HUNTER 

+44 7990 542958 

john.hunter@dhpub.co.uk 

Contact John directly for details of 

how to send your product and a 

short description to Tackle Trade 

World’s office. 

1 DAIWA 

D-BOX TACKLE SYSTEM 

Available in two sizes (3600 and 

3700) and six total configurations, 

these tackle boxes feature clear, 

weathertight lids with four robust, 

tight-snapping latches to keep 

everything in check. 

Internal tabs are cut clean for 

instant organising of each slot, 

with a total of 12 compartments in 

the 3600 size and 20 in the 3700 

size. Each is available in shallow, 

regular and deep models. And, 

doing its part for the environment, 

Daiwa’s D-BOX Tackle System 

boxes are made from 100 per cent 

recycled plastic. 

www.daiwa.us 

2 SEVIIN 

GS SERIES SPINNING REELS 

Designed from a totally blank 

canvas for the express purpose of 

giving anglers smooth, lightweight, 

rock-solid and reliably dependable 

performance for an attractive and 

competitive retail price. 

Available in five versatile sizes 

from 750 to 3000, the GS Series 

reels will appeal to a wide range 

of avid as well as more-casual 

anglers who appreciate elevated 

quality and performance. 

The GS incorporates a carbon 

body, side plates and rotor to 

maximise rigidity and minimise 

weight, while the external design 

boasts strong and lightweight 

aluminium handles and spools. 

seviinreels.com 

3 SIMMS 

DRIFTLESS WADE PANT 

Anglers have plenty of options 

for performance driven pants and 

shorts from apparel giant Simms, 

including the Driftless Wade Pant 

for spring 2024. 

Built with a durable Micro- 

Ripstop fabric, it provides four-way 

stretch for comfort and mobility 

in and out of the water. A button 

front closure with a zippered fly 

and stretch elastic waist provide a 

secure fit and two front mesh lined 

hand pockets and a single back 

right mesh lined pocket provide 

storage for small essentials. 

www.simmsfishing.com 


FEATURE 

FLY FISHING FOCUS 

Fly fishing has always enjoyed a strong reputation for innovation. TTW looks at a selection 

of products that are sure to catch the eye of consumers in the coming months. 

NAUTILUS 

GTS REEL 

Nautilus Reels has done it again with the launch of its newcomer, the GTS 

reel. 

This product is based on the brand’s class-leading GTX reel, but it 

has been scaled down in size. It will, without a doubt, be a top performer 

among reels. 

The GTS series will be available in 3.5in and 4in diameters, covering 

4-wt through to 8-wt options. 

All GTS reels are lightweight with large arbors and impeccable brakes, 

while the multiple innovative design features define these reels as the 

among the finest ever made. 

The reels are availalbe in Europe through the newly formed Catch 

Partners distribution company. 

www.catchffp.com 

ARCTICSILVER 

SWITCH-FLEX SYSTEM 

Another innovation from ArcticSilver is on its way. The Norwegian brand 

is not just pushing boundaries, it’s setting them. The upcoming Switch-Flex 

Handle, proudly backed by a pending patent, is poised to be a revolutionary 

addition to its arsenal. 

Paired with the existing patented Free-Flex System, ArcticSilver fly 

rods are cementing their place as trailblazers with not one but two patents 

shaping the future of the sport. This double innovation ensures that anglers 

experience unparalleled performance, versatility and a touch of Norwegian 

engineering excellence. 

The Switch-Flex handle looks set to be a game-changer in the fly fishing 

world, allowing you to switch fly rod blanks inside your handle in seconds. 

Enjoy unparalleled flexibility by transforming your rod from a nimble 

8ft 3-wt to a powerful 12ft 10-wt Switch Rod, using just one handle 

with multiple end parts. This system not only saves you money but also 

contributes to a greener environment. 

Travel light and compact with the Switch-Flex System, enhancing your 

fishing adventures and embrace the future of fly fishing with as adaptability 

meets excellence. 

www.arcticsilvershop.com 

VOSSELER 

PASSION ALUMINIUM FLY REEL 

German reel manufacturer Vosseler blends modern materials and 

classic design to deliver stylish quality fly reels, such as the Passion. 

The combination of classic design and state-of-the-art technology – the 

team works with modern CNC machines alongside SolidWorks for 

CAD (Computer-Aided Design) and Solid CAM (Computer-Aided 

Manufacturing) for machine programming – makes this an elegant fly reel 

variant. 

The different sizes can be used for everything from delicate grayling 

fishing to challenging salmon drills. 

Everything that Vosseler does is driven by passion; that’s what makes the 

difference, being hands on with every part from first design, construction 

and prototyping to series production. 

The Passion fly reel is also available as a carbon variant. 

www.vosseler.com 


43

FEATURE 

Gone Fishing 

WHY GONE FISHING 

IS A NAME TO TRUST 

Johnny Onslow, the managing director of Kenyan fly tying firm Gone Fishing Limited, 

explains why it is trusted worldwide to deliver the best fishing flies time after time. 

The Gone Fishing family 

Just over 20 years ago, I was mulling 

plans with a great friend with 

whom I had grown up here in 

Kenya. 

We had accompanied each other 

on many fishing expeditions from a 

young age, ranging from the wild forest 

trout streams of Kenya at high altitude, 

dodging the odd elephant and buffalo, to 

the deserts of Lake Turkana in the north 

of Kenya in search of 100lb-plus Nile 

perch and on to the coast looking for 

sailfish and marlin... all on fly (or at least 

most of the time!). 

I had just retired as the principal of a 

school in Nairobi and was casting about 

for ideas as I completed an MBA. Why 

not export fishing flies, my friend had 

suggested – a crazy idea in my mind, as 

my ability to tie flies is laughable even to 

this day. 

This casual comment and a series of 

coincidences led to the foundation of 

Gone Fishing, which now employs about 

100 people and exports flies all over the 

world. 

I am glad to say that every tyer has 


infinitely 

more skill 

at the bench 

than I do. 

My task is to 

ensure they 

receive the 

support and 

resources to tie flies so that our customers 

can confidently compare our flies with 

the best commercially tied flies from 

anywhere in the world and, perhaps just 

as importantly, get a sense of real value 

for money. 

FRIENDLY AND PROFESSIONAL 

The fact that Gone Fishing has 

developed a network of wonderfully 

loyal customers, some of whom order 

tens of thousands of dozens a year and 

some only about 100 dozen, but of 

their own bespoke and very demanding 

specifications, speaks for itself. 

The hallmark of doing business with 

Gone Fishing has always been one of 

open, friendly, and quick response. We 

have been complimented on: 

• Our ability to meet timelines. 

• The consistent high quality of our flies, 

order after order. 

• Straightforward approach to handling 

the occasional quality issues that do 

occur and are inevitable with a totally 

manual process. 

• Pleasant and quick communication. 

• Ability to supply top-up orders at short 

notice. 

Twenty years on, Gone Fishing is still 

developing and is always keen to help 

both those in wholesale and retail develop 

their sales and range of patterns. We 

would love to hear from you. 

GONE FISHING 

jeonslow@fishingfliesandlures.com 

flies@fishingfliesandlures.com

Classifieds 

SPLIT RING 

PLIERS 

CLASSIFIEDS 

UNIQUELY DIFFERENT (NEW-PATENTED) 

The EASIEST... The FASTEST... 

The BESTEST... 

for changing hooks or spinner blades 

visit www.TexasTackle.com for demo video 

WHOLESALE ONLY 

4 Sizes 

www.TexasTackle.com 

RIGS !!!! 

TO BOOK THIS SPACE CONTACT: 

NORTH AMERICA 

BART MANGANIELLO 

T: +1 914 722 7601 

E: bartalm@optonline.net 

REST of WORLD 

GUIDO KNEGT 

T: +39 347 503 6436 

E: guido.knegt@dhpub.co.uk 

COMING UP… 

MAY 2024 

Ad Copy: March 22nd, 2024 

Mailed: April 10th, 2024 

Special issue: Inshore Fishing / 

China Fish review 

Spotlight: Eyewear 

Doing Business With: Alaska USA 

JUNE 2024 

Ad Copy: April 19th, 2024 

Mailed: May 8th, 2024 

Special issue: Fishing Technology 

& EFTTEX preview 

Spotlight: Bait 

Doing Business With: Benelux 

JULY 2024 

Ad Copy: May 17th, 2024 

Mailed: June 5th, 2024 

Special issue: ICAST preview 

Spotlight: Tackle Storage 

Doing Business With: Pacific 

Northwest 

To submit news or editorial for 

any of these issues, contact: 

To advertise or discuss a marketing campaign in any of these editions, 

contact our business development team: 

EDITOR 

JOHN HUNTER 

T: + 44 (0)7990 542958 

E: john.hunter@dhpub.co.uk 

NORTH AMERICA 

BART MANGANIELLO 

T: +1 914 722 7601 

E: bartalm@optonline.net 

REST of WORLD 

GUIDO KNEGT 

T: +39 347 503 6436 

E: guido.knegt@dhpub.co.uk

FEATURE 

Marketing 

WHY CONNECTIONS ARE 

KEY FOR YOUR BUSINESS 

It can be tempting as a business owner to assume you are on your own but if you look 

around you, there may be more than a few other businesses locally you can connect with to 

boost your customer base and turnover. 

If you’re looking to market your fishing 

tackle business locally, establishing 

strong connections within the wider 

outdoor community can greatly 

enhance your visibility and customer base. 

First up, consider the nearby fisheries and 

angling clubs. Get to know them and offer 

to get involved. You could sponsor events or 

offer discounts to members. 

This not only gets your name out there 

but it establishes you as the first port of call 

or a vital reference for anglers who may not 

necessarily have used your services before. 

Either attend club meetings with your 

own little table or stand or create special 

events like talks or workshops for members. 

Your staff could maybe offer some fishing 

advice, rig clinics, gear maintenance classes 

or similar or perhaps stage an exclusive 

tackle demo or sale event. 

COMPLEMENTARY 

COLLABORATION 

Look around your area and identify 

businesses that have a synergy with yours 

but do not compete. 

If you only offer fishing tackle, can 

you work with a local general outdoor or 


camping store to cross-promote each other 

and your offerings? 

How about working with a nearby fish 

restaurant for special deals for both sets of 

customers or even a garage for repairs to 

vehicles – most anglers use one to get to 

their favourite water. 

You’ll reach a wider audience, increase 

your brand or business visibility and 

engender loyalty and interest. 

You should generally approach these 

businesses in person if possible so your 

offering is tailored to them and you can all 

discuss potential additional ideas. 

RELATABLE RELATIONSHIPS 

Focus on building genuine relationships 

with other business owners. This can lead to 

long-term collaborations and even a network 

of supportive local partners. 

Remember, though, that effective 

collaboration is built on mutual respect and 

a shared understanding of goals. Approach 

potential partners with a clear value 

proposition, highlighting the benefits of 

working together. Regular communication 

and follow-ups are key to maintaining 

successful partnerships. 

PERFECT PROMOTION 

Make sure that all of these partnerships are 

promoted via your social media, that of the 

brands or companies you work alongside or 

through the clubs themselves. 

It’s a great form of outreach and can 

really boost the loyalty factor or grow your 

customer base. 

You could create or develop joint 

promotions and use shout-outs, shared posts, 

or even joint giveaways on your social media 

platforms, boosting reach even further. 

Once established, you can even reach 

out to local media – newspapers, radio, 

community newsletters – to explain the 

partnerships or put out joint press releases. 

Local media, in particular, love to report 

on success stories, especially if they involve 

multiple businesses or groups. 

• John Hunter is the director of HunterMedia, 

a global PR, marketing and events consultancy 

with more than 25 years of tackle industry 

experience. 

Hunter Media 

john@hunter-media.co.uk 

www.huntermedia.co.uk

WE ARE LOOKING FOR EXCLUSIVE DISTRIBUTORS 

RIB POPER / 4g 

EFFICIENT Tested by expert fishermen 

EFFECTIVE Natural look 

ECOLOGICAL Made of Zinc alloy, lead (Pb) free 

ECONOMIC Extra low prices 

EUROPEAN Produced in Europe 

www.ribche-lures.com 

office@ribche-lures.com 

+381 63 77 33 222 

Novi Sad, Serbia 

SHRIMP / 9g 

FROG / 9g 

LIPS 

(FLY FISHING) 

SKULPIN HEADS

Super 

Heat Dissipation 

 

 

 

Super 

Low-Friction 

Super 

Hardness 

Super 

Lightness

Tackle Trade World - March 2024

You also want an ePaper? Increase the reach of your titles

Delete template?

Save as template?