Smith Creek Rod Clip wins Best Accessory at IFTD

From Smith Creek:

New Zealand based fly fishing company Smith Creek® is this year’s winner of the International Fly Fishing Dealers new product showcase award. Smith Creek’s innovative new wearable fishing rod holder, the Rod Clip, won “Best of Show – Accessory”.

The IFTD annual conference was held in Reno Nevada in August and is the world’s largest exhibition of fly fishing products.

Smith Creek’s Rod Clip and their new Trash Fish waste fishing line holder were launched at this year’s show and exhibited alongside Smith Creek’s flagship product, the Net Holster.

Smith Creek president and designer Wayne Smith said “This is huge for us as a small company based in New Zealand, working hard to break into international markets and particularly the United States. We truly want to express our appreciation to everyone who voted for us. We tried to make sure everyone knew that this wasn’t just another gadget, but a practical and quality tool made for fishermen by fishermen. This endorsement by the fly fishing industry validates our efforts and hopefully will help build consumer confidence in our brand that will spill over to our other products”.

“The decision to exhibit for the first time came from our desire to meet and shake the hands of our reps, fill in a few gaps where we still needed representation, and hopefully cement deals with international distributors outside of New Zealand and the United States. All of this was accomplished and more. The response to our products was overwhelming and the help and kindness given by attendees and other exhibitors to someone relatively new to the business side of our industry was incredible and I am truly grateful. To win a ‘Best of Show’ award in our category the first time out was, and still is, simply mind blowing.”

The Rod Clip holds a fishing rod so an angler’s hands are free to tie on a fly, change a lure, bait a hook or show off a fish they’ve just landed. It holds the rod securely out of the way so it can’t be accidentally knocked free. It also helps keep grit or mud out of a reel.

Rod Clips are good for all types of fishing and work with most sizes of rods, the exception being large, heavy outfits like big game and surf casting rods. Serious bass, salmon/steelhead, spin and saltwater anglers will love them as well.

Mastering the use of the Rod Clip is an easy single-handed operation that becomes second nature on the first day. They are compact, lightweight, and anglers won’t know they are wearing one until they need it.

They’re built Smith Creek tough from anodized marine grade aluminum and the custom made zingers that have been tested to over 50,000 pull cycles without failing

Rod Clip advantages, at a glance:  

•    Holds your rod securely out of the way.

Leaves your hands free.

•    Easy in – Easy out – Easy to Use

Rod can’t accidentally be knocked free.

•    Compact and lightweight.

You don’t know it’s there until you need it.

•    Rugged Smith Creek quality.

Anodized marine grade aluminum and Stainless steel fasteners.

•    Highest Spec Zinger.

Custom made for Smith Creek and tested over 50,000 pulls without failing.

•    Patented No. 584343 with additional worldwide patents pending.

All Smith Creek products are crafted from the finest materials, anodized marine grade aluminum, non-corrosive fasteners and UV resistant materials (even the thread in their wading belts and Net Holster straps).

Smith Creek founder and head designer Wayne Smith, is originally from California. He sailed a yacht to New Zealand twenty years ago and decided to stay and fly fish. Wayne is now a Kiwi / American hybrid and has been fly fishing for fifty years.

More information and videos of all Smith Creekproducts can be found at: www.smithcreek.co