Simms Fishing Products scores big at IFTD
Waders, outerwear nab awards at annual International Fly Tackle Dealer Show in New Orleans
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BOZEMAN, Montana – Simms Fishing Products solidified its position as the top manufacturer of outerwear for serious anglers, winning three awards – including the prestigious “Best of Show” – at the International Fly Tackle Dealer (IFTD) show held last week in New Orleans.
Simms was the show’s big winner in the New Product Showcase sponsored by Angling Trade Magazine and MidCurrent. The newly designed Freestone Stockingfoot Waders captured the “Best Wading Gear” award while the ProDry™ GORE-TEX® suit took home the award for “Best Outerwear.”
The ProDry™ GORE-TEX® suit also won “Best in Show” in the new product showcase, picked from some 250 new products on display at IFTD, the annual trade show of the American Fly Fishing Tackle Association.
“All of us at Simms are extremely honored to win these awards,” said Simms president K.C. Walsh. “I appreciate the retailers and media members who voted and took notice of our commitment to making top-notch, high-quality products.”
The biggest winner at a show dedicated to fly fishing, Simms’ new ProDry™ GORE-TEX® Jacket, Bib and Pants have been designed with input from tournament anglers and professional fishing guides. Prototypes were used this year at the BASSMASTER Classic. Made with GORE-TEX® Pro Shell fabric technology, Simms ProDry™ suits are equipped with a number of ingenuous features: A clear watch window so anglers can keep track of time without pulling off their jackets; kill switch lanyard D-rings on either side; packable hoods large enough to go over hats and caps of all sizes and pockets equipped to handle sandwiches, fly boxes or electronics. The jacket retails for $499.95, the bibs $399.95 and the pants $299.95.
The ProDry™ suit turned heads at last month’s ICAST trade show in Las Vegas, too, lauded by members of the media as well as retailers.
“To win ‘Best of Show’ at IFTD with the ProDry™ suit certainly speaks volumes about the versatility of the product,” said Walsh. “It’s been designed to hold up to the rigors of any fishing environment where rain gear is a necessity. We know this suit will meet the needs of a variety of fishermen – from bass anglers fishing in tournaments, fly fisherman casting to tailing redfish off the coast of Louisiana, walleye anglers trolling the big waters, offshore anglers casting light tackle or Alaskan fishing guides swinging big flies to salmon from their boats. I’m confident our retailers will see a demand for such a multi-purpose piece of raingear.”
Simms’ Freestone waders are completely redesigned for 2012. Constructed with 4-layer Toray® QuadraLam™ breathable fabrics, these stylish waders feature articulated knees for added mobility and external chest pocket make for added functionality. With a price tag of $229.95, the Freestones represent a “value” wader designed with the same forethought and expert engineering of Simms’ high-end waders.
Both the Freestone waders and the ProDry™ suit will be available to consumers in January 2012.
About Simms Fishing Products:Established in 1980, Simms Fishing Products is the recognized leader in guide-quality fishing waders, outerwear, footwear and apparel. Their full line of gear is available at specialty and large format retailers nationwide. For more information on Simms, please visit www.simmsfishing.com. For additional media information, please contact Matt Crawford at Pale Morning Media, matt_crawford@madriver.com, 802.583.6069.
