Born from its founder’s childhood fascination with a mysterious fly rod and a homemade Pocket Fly Fisherman, Wild Water Fly Fishing makes affordable, ready-to-fish fly-fishing kits and gear. The New York company has sold more than 200,000 kits since 2006, selecting and testing each component with beginners and family fishing traditions in mind. It also provides beginner guides and U.S.-based customer support to help new anglers get on the water.
Rise Fishing CoFounded by passionate fly fishers, Rise Fishing Co. makes premium fly-fishing equipment for anglers ranging from mountain-stream trout fishers to saltwater-flat specialists. Its U.S.-handcrafted Streamwalker rods use proprietary nano resin, while the company develops and tests its gear with guides, competitive anglers, and conservation advocates in demanding real-world conditions. Rise also offers guided fishing experiences and directs a portion of each sale toward fisheries conservation, habitat restoration, and clean-water initiatives.SAG HARBOR, NY
JP Ross Fly Rods & Co. OutdoorsSince 1997, Jordan P. Ross has shaped JP Ross Fly Rods & Co. as a New York maker rooted in the Adirondacks and in the idea that fishing tools should help people get outside. The company is known for handmade rods developed through design, prototyping and time on the water, with customers treated as part of an angling community rather than simply as buyers. Its conservation outlook also extends beyond the workshop: Ross founded Trout Power, a citizen-science effort focused on Adirondack brook trout, and the company donates 1% of revenue to New York conservation groups.WHITESBORO, NY
Royal Wulff Fly FishingRoyal Wulff Fly Fishing makes fly-fishing lines and related tackle, with its product range organized around freshwater, saltwater, and Spey casting. The Livingston Manor company also carries distinctive casting-training tools from the Wulff school, including the Fly-O practice caster and Wristlok. Its line upcycling program gives worn-out fly lines another use and encourages anglers to keep them out of the trash.LIVINGSTON MANOR, NY
Semper Fly RodsLaunched in 2016 by a Marine Corps veteran, Semper Fly Rods builds made-to-order freshwater and saltwater fly rods shaped by years of charter boating and commercial fishing in the North Atlantic. The Ohio company grew from repairing gear battered by saltwater into designing rods for anglers who fish hard, with custom builds and replacement sections supporting that same practical approach. It donates 10% of rod sales to Semper Fi & America’s Fund and backs its rods with a no-fault limited lifetime warranty.WADSWORTH, OH