Schoolie 2023 Sponsors

Since 1980, Simms has been an industry leader in reimagining what’s possible in fishing. We use our hands to craft groundbreaking gear that’s built to fish harder and go farther. And as fishing has advanced, so too have we, making products that withstands the test of time. Fishing is fishing, but more importantly, gear that performs at the highest level allows all anglers to embrace the overall fishing experience and all the unique nuances that occur before and after the catch.

It’s true now, and it was true then: We’ll do anything to stay on the water longer. In 1983, a group of anglers created Costa Sunglasses to stand up to the harsh light, unforgiving salt and rough conditions of a day at sea. The gear they made was up to the task, and it’s been on the water ever since, inspiring all of us to See What’s Out There®. The more time we spend out on the water, the more inspired we are to protect it and its inhabitants. From our Kick Plastic® initiative to our Indifly Foundation, we devote considerable time and resources to conservation efforts that raise awareness, protect fisheries and enrich water-based communities

 

In 2006, we founded YETI Coolers with a simple mission: build the cooler we’d use every day if it existed. One that was built for the serious outdoor enthusiast rather than for the mass-discount retailers. One that could take the abuse we knew we’d put it through out in the field and on the water. One that simply wouldn’t break. We decided early on that product innovation would come from necessity and firsthand experience – not from market research and data analysis. Today, YETI products perform when it matters most - whether that be an excursion into the remote Alaskan wilderness, chasing redfish on the Gulf coast, or just getting together with friends in the backyard.

 

The Thomas & Thomas story, in many respects, is a direct reflection of nearly a half-century evolution in the fly-fishing industry, a tumultuous yet rewarding era of unprecedented social, cultural and technological change. An era that has seen a scientific and environmental renaissance, an awakening in the appreciation of handcrafted quality and unimaginable adoption of our sport.

Fly fishing humbles us. It leads anglers to believe we are equal parts super hero and insignificant organism. It allows us to value the progression of cutting-edge technologies while taking joy in worn wading boots, entry-level pickup trucks, river-temperature beers, and afternoons trying to chase skunk off the boat. We at Scientific Anglers believe in a facilitation of the two, an ability to provide consumers with the best products available while enabling them to enjoy the simple, and often best, aspects of our sport.

 
Fat Tire was born on a bike. When our co-founder pedaled his way through Europe, sampling beer along the way, the tires on his mountain bike garnered glances and comments that inspired the name of a craft beer icon. The flavor profiles he discovered on that ride sparked the recipe for a beer he would begin to brew in his Colorado basement that became New Belgium Brewing. When brewing that first batch, our founder rigged up a trash can and copper pipe to capture and reuse wasted heat to reduce energy. In the ‘90s, we pioneered wind power with our utility. In the 2000s, we installed onsite renewables, like solar and biogas capture. And that’s just the start. As climate change disrupts the very ingredients our beer is made of—water and crops—we will continue working to protect the health of our planet and ensure that beer, not to mention staples like rice and coffee, remains affordable and plentiful for all.

 

 

Cross Current Insurance Group is an insurance broker born out of the concept of helping businesses and professionals in the Fly Fishing industry while also giving back to the causes we all care about. As avid anglers ourselves, we understand the unique challenges you face both on the water and in your business. We also recognize that there wasn’t someone like us to help you navigate the waters of insurance.

Over five decades of insurance experience and almost as many fly fishing from Bozeman to Cape Cod helped us realize the industry was underserved. The risk management needs are very different for the businesses of the fly fishing industry than the other businesses of main street USA. Whether you are a guide or an outfitter, a lodge owner, or a manufacturer of rods and tackle, we have coverages for you.

When we founded Fish Hook Vineyards we had three basic goals. First, we wanted to make really good wine that shows the true fruit character of the grapes and the subtle mineral and other earthy qualities of the vineyard. Second, we thought it would be a good idea to make just a little bit of
money to support our bad habits (fishing) and have some fun doing it. And third, we wanted to do some good with some of the profits and tie it all in with our passion for fishing and conservation. Hence, Fish Hook Vineyards, High Hook Wines, the Striper on the label and our involvement with several environmental and charitable organizations.

The term “High Hook”, as near as we can tell, originated on Cuttyhunk Island. In 1864 a group of wealthy Manhattan business tycoons, unhappy with a flap over the rules and regulations in their Striped Bass fishing club in Sakonnet, RI, went looking for a suitable place to establish their own club. They found Cuttyhunk, wound up purchasing most of it, and formed the Cuttyhunk Fishing Association. Eventually, there would be a total of fifty members, among them some of the most powerful men in America. The member who caught the biggest Striper was referred to as the “High Hook”, and was given a diamond-studded pin in the shape of a fish hook. The term is still fairly widely used and, depending on what state you’re in, refers to the person who catches either the biggest fish or the most fish. It’s also used more generally as an indicator of excellence.  

 

Since 2016, Wingo Outdoors has made gear to showcase your wild passion, bring people together, and celebrate the communal aspect of the great outdoors. We believe that building community is the best way to protect the resource and all the critters within it. Whether it’s decor for the cabin, accessories for your four-legged trail champion, or eye-catching conversation starters for the river, we build the gear that forges bonds and makes memories. With our product assortment, we encourage you to suit up and celebrate the outdoors with us. Let’s all wear our wild side together!