Simms on Simms
Simms Philosophy - Wherever you fish, you're going to find
fishing guides. And wherever you find fishing guides, you're going to
find Simms. Guides need gear that is functional, innovative and can
withstand whatever abuse they put it through. What does that mean for
someone who's not a professional guide? Anything that's designed to
meet the performance needs of guides is gear you can count on. Simms.
The choice of professional guides. And anyone else who lives to fish.
Simms is a fishing company. We have enjoyed success by staying true to
the original vision of our company by building the highest quality
products to keep our customers dry, comfortable and protected from the
elements in any fishing conditions. We work with the very best
materials suppliers in the world in our commitment to make high
performance, technical clothing and outerwear.
We’re the only wader manufacturer in the US, and one of three worldwide
that is licensed by W.L. Gore & Associates, Inc. to make GORE-TEX®
waders. We compete through innovation and quality. Our staff is largely
comprised of committed anglers who understand the importance of
quality, dependable fishing gear. They use our products all the time,
and contribute significantly to our continuous improvement efforts.
Simms History - Simms Fishing Products was started in 1980 by
John Simms, a well-known and respected fishing guide and outfitter in
Jackson, WY. A creative guy and talented artist, John wanted to enhance
the fishing experience by developing better waders and accessories.
Simms was the second company in the world to introduce neoprene waders
in the mid-eighties, which is when the company really started to take
shape. At that time, Simms was purchased by a division of Life-Link
International in Jackson, WY, and the brand continued to progress.
In 1993, K.C. Walsh, a passionate angler and entrepreneur, acquired
Simms and relocated the business to Bozeman, MT. Walsh had grown up in
a fly fishing family and developed a passion for angling at a young
age, mostly fishing the Eastern Sierra of California. It was his
life-long dream to live in Montana.
The same year that Walsh acquired the company, Simms introduced
breathable waders in a pioneering effort with W.L. Gore &
Associates (makers of GORE-TEX® fabric) that changed the face of
fishing waders and opened up new possibilities for the sport.
Although Simms has grown and evolved over the years, our vision remains
the same - to build the highest quality products to keep our customers
dry, comfortable and protected from the elements in any condition.
Simms Wading Boot Notes
"COLD FEET ARE FOR WEDDINGS”
“Dependable, well-made wading foot-wear is a necessity for anglers.
What you need on your feet is something that's comfortable to wear, can
take a lot of abuse, provides plenty of protection and offers superior
traction and stability. We have designed our wading boots, sneakers and
sandals to meet the demands of professional guides and anglers around
the globe.”
Why Simms?
"Why do professional guides choose Simms? Because we take pride in what we make, and products have been designed to go the distance. Our in-house design team has a combined 50 years of experience
in making durable technical outerwear. We work closely with top
material suppliers from around the globe, and continually test both our
new and old products in the lab and out in the field to make sure we
meet or exceed your expectations.
Nothing pleases us more than to see our products, like those on the
guides featured in out catalog and on our website, go the distance.”
“The thrill of discovering a pristine stream after a long hike into the backcountry,
the exhilarations of being on the flats on one of those incredibly
clear days, the rush of a crisp morning on a British Columbia river
when the steelies are running, these are the memories that keep us
tying through the dark winter months, and always find us plotting our
next angling season or weekend.
At Simms, we never forget that the goal of every committed angler is to
stay on the water as long and has often as possible-regardless of the
weather. That’s why we never stop looking for new ways to keep you dry and comfortable.
Whether you’re waist deep in a drizzling snow on the Missouri or
scouting the Keys in the sweltering heat of a June afternoon.
So for all those who will be out there earlier, longer and later, we’ve got just one thing to say: "Your Gear is Ready”
Simms on Conservation
“IF YOU COULD PASS JUST ONE THING DOWN TO YOUR KIDS, WHAT WOULD IT BE?”
“Fishing is dependent on clean water, healthy ecosystems and
just as important, people who care about conservation and resource
preservation. It is the responsibility of everyone who enjoys angling
to help protect and enhance our fresh and saltwater fisheries. After
all, what greater inheritance would we leave future generations?
Supporting local, regional, and national conservation organizations is
certainly an important role that angles can play in caring for our
fishing resources. However, one area of vital concern, and one that all
anglers can easily help do something about, is the spread of aquatic
invasive species. These “hitchhikers”, including New Zealand mud
snails, Didymo and whirling disease are having an enormous effect on
rivers across the United States and are directly linked to reduced
trout populations. Unfortunately, anglers are part of the problem,
given that invasive species are spread by “hitchhiking” on waders,
wading boots, drift boats, trailers and other gear.
Aquatic invasive species, such as mudsnails, are threatening our
resources. One of the primary ways aquatic nuisance species are spread
is by “hitching” a ride on our clothing, boats and items used in the
water.
We must all be diligent about proper cleaning and care of any equipment
or gear that enters the water, particularly boots and waders. Below are
some general procedures for preventing the transportation of aquatic
hitchhikers.
Before leaving any body of water, it is important to examine all
equipment, boats, trailers, clothing, boots, buckets, etc. and remove
all visible mud, plants, and fish/animals."
- Eliminate water from all equipment before transporting anywhere.
- Clean and dry anything that came in contact with the water.*
- Do not release or put plants, fish or animals into a body of water unless they came out of that body of water.
*While there are varying solutions for proper and safe cleaning of
equipment to kill aquatic hitchhikers, the following is recommended and
will not harm our waders: Use hot (< 40° C or 104° F) water to clean
your equipment or dip equipment into 100% vinegar (or soak your gear in
a 9 to 1 solution of water and bleach or 409) for 20 minutes.”
To join the fight against invasive aquatic species visit Clean Angling Pledge at http://www.cleanangling.org
For more information on limiting the spread of invasive aquatic species visit Protect Your Waters at http://www.protectyourwaters.net
