Fishing

4/9/2025 |  LA28 Flag Football Push Pits Goodell and Players Against NFL Owners (Front Office Sports) The arrival of flag football in the upcoming 2028 Summer Olympics in Los Angeles has created a rare divide in the National Football League: Commissioner Roger Goodell and the league office united with the NFL Players Association in likely opposition with team owners over the issue of player participation. 
For nearly two years, NFL leaders have been openly enthused about the prospect of active players being part of the talent pool for Olympic teams, both to help promote youth participation and advance the league’s expanding global ambitions. As several individual stars, such as Dolphins receiver Tyreek Hill, have been similarly bullish about competing in Los Angeles, the union has also been publicly supportive of the concept. 

4/3/2025 |  Simms Fishing Launches Resale Program for Pre-Owned Gear (SGB UPDATE) Simms Fishing has jumped on board the resale trend. The company said it looks to make waves in the angling community with the launch of Simms Recast, a dedicated resale program.
Launching first as a peer-to-peer (P2P) marketplace, Simms Recast allows anglers to buy and sell pre-owned Simms gear directly with one another, extending the life of Simms’ fishing apparel and gear while making the brand more accessible to a broader consumer base.

3/5/2025 |  EXEC: Rapala VMC Getting Big Hits with CrushCity Lures as Soft Baits Dominate (SGB UPDATE) Rapala VMC President and CEO Lars Ollberg said the fishing company strategically strengthened its business in a challenging year, focusing on brand value, customer relationships, and market positioning in North America and Europe.

“Despite initial commercial headwinds, we stabilized operations and created a robust foundation for future growth,” he shared. “Our targeted efforts successfully improved overall business performance.”

2/11/2025 |  Bass Pro Shops to Open Outpost in Arkansas (SGB UPDATE) Bass Pro Shops announced plans to open a new Outpost store in Fort Smith, AK, its third in the state. The 70,000-square-foot location will be in central Fort Smith, with an expected opening in early 2026.

2/5/2025 |  2026 Bassmaster Classic Headed to Knoxville (SportsTravel) Knoxville, Tennessee, will host the 2026 Bass Pro Shops Bassmaster Classic presented by Under Armour from March 13–15, the city’s third time hosting the “Super Bowl of Fishing.”
Knoxville hosted the Bassmaster Classic in 2019 and 2023, which generated an estimated economic impact of more than $35.5 million for the community. The 2023 event was awarded Best Professional Event for the 2023 SportsTravel Awards.