via Charlotte Business Journal

Go fish. And take NASCAR with you.

That’s the plan for Fetha Styx and the Charlotte-based licensing division of NASCAR. Late this year, Fetha Styx’s line of NASCAR fishing rods will debut, selling for $150 to $250 each for adult models and $99 for children. Forty-five retailers have agreed to sell the rods, with national stores such as Bass Pro Shops included, according to NASCAR.

A 2,400-square-foot distribution hub here will serve the primary Southeastern market, though the rods will be sold nationwide.

Fetha Styx, based in Seattle, tapped Chuck Morrison, former owner of a NASCAR souvenir company, as a consultant on the launch of the fishing rods. Morrison lives in Columbia, S.C., but spent many years in Charlotte working in sports marketing and promotion.

To start, five drivers will be featured in the fishing line: Jeff Gordon, Dale Earnhardt Jr., Mark Martin, Jimmie Johnson and Danica Patrick. The drivers’ car numbers and signatures are featured on the rods. All of the drivers except Patrick are part of Hendrick Motorsports, home of the most popular race teams in the sport. Patrick drives for Earnhardt Jr.’s Nationwide Series team, which includes Rick Hendrick as a co-owner.

Next month, the rods will debut in Las Vegas as part of the fishing industry’s annual trade show. Tie-in promotions at BASS tournaments throughout the Southeast begin this fall.

Next year, Morrison, who has extensive experience in NASCAR collectibles and merchandise, hopes to organize a fishing demonstration with some drivers and fans at the Daytona International Speedway’s 29-acre lake on the track’s infield as part of the season-opening Daytona 500 race weeks.

NASCAR touts a strong connection between racing and fishing.

“It’s a natural fit,” says Paul Sparrow, NASCAR director of business development. The price and quality of the fishing rods reflect NASCAR’s belief that authenticity is crucial. “We didn’t want to just slap a logo on something,” he says.

NASCAR fans are twice as likely to fish as non-NASCAR fans, according to a study by research firm Experian Simmons.

Fishing and NASCAR share more than the same audience. They both want more young fans, too.

“Our industry needs to get more kids involved, and NASCAR as a sport needs more kids — it’s a double-whammy,” says Paul Marcoux, managing director of Boyce Jones Investments, the parent of Fetha-Styx.

Taking advantage of NASCAR fans’ fondness for fishing, camping and the outdoors provides mutual benefits, industry experts say.

Last year, NASCAR and a resort company negotiated a deal to put the stock-car sanctioning body’s name on campgrounds across the country. At Bass Pro Shops, NASCAR-themed sections reinforce the strong bond between race fans and the outdoors.

Sparrow, the NASCAR executive, points to a charity campaign tied to the new line of fishing rods as another hook. For every adult fishing rod sold, $10 goes to the driver’s favorite charity. For the youth line, each one sold includes a $3 donation to the NASCAR Foundation.

If the fishing rods sell well, accessories won’t be far behind. Talks have already begun on companion tackle boxes, cases and other items bearing driver names and logos.

Jason and Rod, Winners of 2010 Rod Meseberg Spring Walleye Classic

Official Press Release:

Two anglers, two custom made Fetha Styx rods, 12 fish caught!

Redmond, Wash. (June 2, 2010) — Fetha Styx, a Redmond, Wash.-based manufacturer of high performance fishing rods, congratulates anglers Rod Hewitt and Jason Bauer for winning this year’s Rod Meseberg Spring Walleye Classic tournament in the Potholes Reservoir. The event was sponsored by the MarDon Resort in Othello, Wash.

The teammates placed first among 79 competitors, netting 12 fish weighing in at 39.44 pounds over the two days of competition, while battling wind gusts of up to 45 mph. All fish were caught using custom Fetha Styx True Hero Series rods, which honor the work of firefighters and police officers.

Hewitt, a firefighter with Monroe Fire Department, purchased his customized “True Hero” rod from Fetha Styx last year and said, “This is just what I wanted and is the best rod I’ve ever fished with.”

No stranger to competitive fishing, Rod has fished in over 35 Walleye tournaments over the past eight years. This most recent win marks the second time he’s come out ahead with his True Hero rod, having placed 3rd at the Washington State Walleye Championship last July. His experiences were so positive, in fact, that he placed a True Hero rod into his teammate Jason’s hands.

“The rod was so incredible that I ordered another one for Jason. I’ve developed my dream pole and now Jason also feels the difference,” said Hewitt.

What makes the Fetha Styx True Hero rods shine is their sensitivity. Like many fish, the walleye is known for light biting. “With this rod, I can sense even the slightest bites,” said Hewitt, “Despite the tournament’s high wind conditions, the rod’s sensitivity helped Jason and me pull through.”

Not only has his Fetha Styx rod helped him win big, Hewitt is proud knowing that a portion of the proceeds from every rod sold in the True Hero line goes to support the work done by the National Fallen Firefighters Foundation or National Law Enforcement Officers Memorial Fund (depending on the rod purchased). Every rod from every series the company sells—from True Hero to the recently launched series that contributes to the Coastal Conservation Association (CCA)—supports an aligned non-profit organization.

“This just speaks to the quality of the company,” says Rod, “I feel good about what I’m fishing with—for the bites and for the social benefits.”

Jason and Rod shown here with Dan Conrath (middle, Ranger Boat Sponsor).

ABOUT FETHA STYX

Based in Redmond, Wash., Fetha Styx offers a rod for every type of fishing—from salt to fresh water. Every rod the company sells undergoes a rigorous two-tier quality control testing process to ensure product reliability and consistency. Because the people behind Fetha Styx are as passionate about fishing as their customers, they work hard to continually refine their current designs and upcoming rod series to create rods that are a pleasure to fish.

Fetha Styx is a rod company with a social conscience, allowing customers to cast out good intentions and reel in change. Proceeds from every rod sold contribute to environmental and social solutions.

Please visit fethastyx.com for more information.

Information on the organizations mentioned in this release is also available. (NFFF: firehero.org, NLEOMF: nleomf.com, Coastal Conservation Association: ccapnw.org)

Fetha Styx has announced an expansion of its partnership with the Pacific Northwest Chapter of the Coastal Conservation Association. Fetha Styx is a Redmond, Wash.-based manufacturer of high-performance fishing rods with a social conscience.

Under the new agreement, Fetha Styx will manufacture and sell a line of rods featuring the CCA brand with models for salmon, trout, and “big game” fish such as sturgeon. A portion of the proceeds from each rod sold will go to support the work of the CCA-PNW. This line of rods will only be available via retailers located in Washington and Oregon—the areas in which the CCA-PNW operates.

Since 1984, the national chapter of CCA has worked to advise and educate the public on marine resource conservation and stewardship issues. The PNW chapter, which works to raise awareness of marine and fisheries sustainability in the Northwest, has had a significant impact raising millions of dollars and improving the region’s fish populations while helping Northwest fisheries implement alternative harvesting methods. CCA-PNW includes 25 local chapters.

This partnership aligns with Fetha Styx’s corporate initiative to make a difference with every rod they sell. Each of the company’s rod series is affiliated with a charity—anglers can take pride in knowing the proceeds from each purchase contribute to environmental and social solutions. In addition to the CCA-PNW series, Fetha Styx offers True Hero, which supports the families of fallen firefighters and police officers.

Earlier this year, Fetha Styx began their partnership with CCA-PNW by joining with North Fork Composites to create a select number of limited edition rods, which are available exclusively for members through CCA-PNW auctions.

For more information on CCA-PNW, please visit ccapnw.org. A full listing of rods available from Fetha Styx can be found at fethastyx.com.

Amongst the fabulous trips and gear the Kitsap CCA has on hand to auction are Fetha Styx steelhead and salmon rods, so get your tickets and try to win one of those Fetha Styx rods in the auction while supporting the noble causes of the Coastal Conservation Association.

An excerpt from Brad:

I spend at least 200 days a year on the water and have for years, between fishing the Wenatchee and Methow rivers along with the Upper Columbia river for salmon and steelhead as well as fishing the Icicle river avidly for springers. I spend a lot of time making all my own gear — tying top quality custom jigs as well as steelhead plastics, also I am finding out that steelhead like a lot more plastics than just the pink worm, so I’m always trying to stay one step ahead of the fish. I also spend lots of time on the water with my kids and others kids and try to involve myself in getting underprivileged kids into the sport that normally wouldn’t have the chance to.

Feel free to check out my website at fishwenatchee.com or my facebook.

Brad runs Bobber Down Guide Service and fishwenatchee.com. Stay tuned for further updates and fishing reports from Brad!

Funds raised through four auctions to go to Lakewood Police Independent Guild

Late last month, Western Washington was forever shaken by the deaths of four Lakewood police officers.

Earlier this year, Fetha Styx, a fishing rod manufacturer, introduced their True Hero series—custom fishing rods with proceeds benefiting the families of fallen police and firefighters. The Fetha Styx-hosted eBay auctions will be for a gift certificate good for any True Hero fishing rod. There will be four auctions in total each lasting five days. All money raised will go to the Lakewood Police Independent Guild, a non-profit, volunteer organization that supports officers and their families.

“There aren’t words to describe the shock of these senseless deaths. Our hearts go out to their families and, hopefully, the swell of community support eases some of their grief,” said Bill Boyce, CEO of Fetha Styx.

“This tragedy highlights how officers put themselves in harm’s way every day for the betterment of the community. We need to support the families of these slain officers now, but also remember to thank the officers across the country who put their lives on the line to protect us all.”

The True Hero police rod series features trim in cobalt blue and any of the rods can be personalized to include a name, badge number, or precinct inscribed into the blank. Each rod in the series typically sells for up to $300.

To access the eBay auctions, please click HERE.. A link for the most current auction will also be available on www.fethastyx.com.

For more information about the Lakewood Police Independent Guild, please visit www.lpig.us.

Photo from OregonLive.com

We just received the results from the first auction and we raised $204.50, with ALL proceeds going to the families.  Lets see if we can top that with the next auction!

In case you didn’t already know, saltwater fly fishing here in South Florida is a contact sport! And our latest film, SLAM, will let you feel it about as much as you’d feel a whack in the face! Filmed in our back yards here in Key West, the Everglades, and the Bahamas during the 2009 season, SLAM focuses on all the major species we target: tarpon, bonefish, permit, redfish, and snook. This film portrays the most important aspects of saltwater fly fishing. Beginning with what it looks like when you first see them coming in, to the adrenaline rush you feel when you hook up, to the heartbreak of watching them get away, and finally, the joy of releasing them to swim free. There’s no waxing poetic about the meaning of it all, we’ll let you figure that out for yourself — we just bring the goods and showcase the coolest fish in the world. We don’t have a big budget, or even a helicopter, just an incredible natural resource and a passion for what we do. For all of you out there that get it, and want more, WorldANGLING gives you SLAM!

Showing at the Drake Magazine video awards, 8:00PM September 10, 2009 at Cervantes Ballroom, 2637 Welton St. Denver, CO. Admission is free, and so is the beer. If you can’t make it to Denver, check out worldangling.com at 22:00 EST for the web release.

worldangling.com/blog

Redmond Wash. (June 2009)– In recognition of the everyday heroes who answer our calls for help and protect us from harm, Fetha Styx is proud to announce the release of our “True Hero” series of fishing rods. Fetha Styx will donate $10 from the sale of every rod, in the “True Hero” series, to the National Fallen Firefighters Foundation or the National Law Enforcement Officers Memorial Fund.

“Our inspiration behind the True Hero series is to not only provide a rod that is a blast to fish, but also to honor the firefighters and law enforcement officers we all depend on for our safety and peace of mind,” said Bill Boyce, CEO of Fetha Styx.

The “True Hero” line includes eleven special-edition models, each featuring a sleek design constructed of custom, high-quality components with trim in fire engine red or police cobalt blue. All models—which include rods designed for trout, bass, salmon, steelhead, sturgeon, general saltwater and travel—are counter balanced to eliminate fatigue and increase sensitivity.

Each rod will be emblazoned with custom artwork and logos that recognize these professionals. In addition, these rods can be personalized to include a name, badge number, firehouse, or precinct inscribed onto the blank.

The suggested retail price of “True Hero” rods range from $225 to $300 USD, however Fetha Styx is offering the rods in this series to current and retired firefighters and law enforcement officers at a significantly discounted rate. To qualify for the True Hero price, proof of past or current employment, such as a union card, is required.

The “True Hero” series will be officially launched at the 2009 World Police and Fire Games in Vancouver, BC, Canada this August.  From July 15-17, a sneak peek of the line will be available to attendees of the International Convention of Allied Sportfishing Trades, better known as ICAST.

Due to the tremendous interest in this series, Fetha Styx is now taking pre-orders for the “True Hero” series. For more information or to pre-order please contact Fetha Styx at truehero@fethastyx.com or 877-356-9545.

Want to learn more? You can find us online at www.fethastyx.com. We also invite you to follow us on Twitter (http://twitter.com/FethaStyx) and friend us on Facebook.

EDITOR’S NOTE: To request a “True Hero” or any other Fetha Styx rod for review, please contact Ginger Vaughan via email (ginger@quinnbrein.com) or at 206-842-8922.