Fishing

9/12/2024 |  Snow Peak Acquires Majority Stake in Swift Fly Fishing Co. (SGB UPDATE) Snow Peak recently acquired a majority share in Swift Fly Fishing and announced that the business is now a subsidiary.
Founded in 1958, Snow Peak is a Japanese camping and hiking equipment manufacturer offering experiences that bring the “outdoors into everyday life.”
“We are thrilled to bring Swift Fly Fishing and the Epic Fly Rod brand into the Snow Peak family,”  said Tohru Yamai, Snow Peak CEO and chairman of the Board. “I’ve been fly fishing my entire life, and Epic products are the best gear I’ve ever seen. This union beautifully blends our passion for camping with Swift’s artistry in fly fishing, further extending our mission to connect humans with nature’s rhythms. We look forward to the possibilities that lie ahead as we deepen our investment in the fly fishing market.”

9/4/2024 |  AAFES to Offer Outdoor Gear from Bass Pro Shops on Exchange Website (SGB UPDATE) Bass Pro Shops Founder Johnny Morris and the Army and Air Force Exchange Services Director/CEO Tom Shull recently signed an agreement for the Department of Defense’s largest retailer to bring a selection of Bass Pro fishing, hunting, and camping gear as well as apparel to the military’s ShopMyExchange.com, where members can shop the merchandise tax-free by the end of the year.

8/26/2024 |  Bass Pro Shops to Open Outdoor World location in Lansing, MI (SGB UPDATE) Bass Pro Shops reported that its newest store will be its sixth in Michigan. The 85,000-square-foot Outdoor World retail shop will be in the Delta Crossing development and is expected to open in early 2026.
“It’s an honor to have the opportunity to serve the sportsmen and women in the Lansing area. We are excited to provide a broad selection of high-quality products at remarkable low club prices and to support customers with genuine friendly, expert service,” said angler, conservationist and Bass Pro Shops Founder Johnny Morris.

8/22/2024 |  Decatur to Host 2025 College Fishing National Championship (SportsTravel) Major League Fishing, in conjunction with Decatur Morgan County Tourism, announced that the 2025 Abu Garcia College Fishing National Championship will take place on Wheeler Lake in Decatur, Alabama, April 9–11.
The 16th annual College Fishing National Championship will mark the second time the three-day tournament has been held on Wheeler Lake and will showcase the nation’s top collegiate bass anglers. The teams will compete for a top prize of $43,500, including a new Phoenix 518 Pro boat and $10,000 in cash. The winning team will also advance to the 2025 Toyota Series Championship to compete as pros for a shot at winning as much as $235,000.

7/24/2024 |  EXEC: Rapala VMC Gets Back to Growth in First Half as Retail Market Improves (SGB UPDATE)

Rapala VMC described the operating environment in the first half of 2024 as “reasonable” as inflation started to ease and retail activity improved from the prior year. This led to a solid improvement in sales despite the termination of some third-party product distribution deals.