Simms Fishing

SIMMS FISHING

Simms was founded in 1980 by John Simms, a Jackson, Wyoming fishing guide and outfitter. John Simms established the company to manufacture a higher quality of waders and wading equipment than was available at the time. In the mid-1980s, John Simms introduced high quality neoprene waders to the U.S. market.[1] Shortly after that, John Simms sold Simms Fishing Products to another Jackson sporting goods manufacturer, Life-Link International. Life-Link still operates out of Jackson and manufacturers eyewear accessories such as Croakies in Bozeman, Montana.

In 1992, a Los Angeles-based management consultant, K.C. Walsh moved his family to Bozeman to fly fish and start a new business.[1] In 1993, he acquired Simms Fishing Products from Life-Link and moved the business to Bozeman, Montana. Simms employs 115 people and consolidated its manufacturing facilities into a new single 62,000 square feet (5,800 m2) facility in October 2013.[1]