GSM SEES A FISHY FUTURE

“Who are those guys?” That was the question Butch and Sundance were asking as they were being pursued by a posse led by an Indian tracker known as Lord Baltimore. That is also what a lot of us were asking when GSM Outdoors, embarked on their plan to create a "fishy" future for the hunting and outdoor conglomerate of brands.

Their first foray into fishing was the acquisition of Gary Yamamoto Custom Baits in October 2021. The Irving TX based GSM followed that with the purchase of another classic fishing brand, Bill Lewis Lures, in May 2022. Up to that point, GSM's family of brands was focused on technolgy-based products for passionate hunters and shooters. Today, GSM has continued to add fishing brands to the products that have contributed to achieving a reputation for innovation built over five generations- brands with a heritage of customer loyalty. The fishing brands they have acquired should be a great fit for the GSM business model..

It was CEO Eddie Castro who targeted Yamamoto Baits as the perfect entrée into the fishing market. GSM, which stands for Good Sportsman Marketing, was formed in 1999, to market innovative accessories for hunting, sport shooting, and other niche outdoor markets. GSM now owns several industry-leading brands including Stealth Cam, Walker’s, Muddy, Hawk, Big Game, Birchwood Casey, Cold Steel, SOG, TruGlo, SME, TekMat, GPS Bags, CrossFire, HME, Skull Hooker, Viking Solutions, Hunters Specialties, Western Rivers, Cyclops, Boss Buck, American Hunter, and NAP.

Since the Yamamoto plastics and Bill Lewis acquisitions, GSM has added Dobyns Rods, Big Bite Baits, Buckeye Lures, Cuda, Phenix Rods, Frog Factory and Steel Shad. GSM’s focus on new product development, quality control, and customer support has earned the brand family a reputation for delivering top quality outdoor gear backed by responsive customer service. The fishing brands added will contribute to and benefit from this tradition. Their sponorship of the Bassmaster Classic Outdoor Expo this past March in Tulsa is a clear example of their commitment to support their angling brands and the fishing industry in general

The Company is backed by Gridiron Capital, an equity sponsor focused on helping business founders, entrepreneurs, and management teams create value by building their companies into industry-leaders in the USA. With Gridiron’s support, has become a market leader as a developer, manufacturer, and marketer of a wide offering of outdoor sporting consumables, accessories, and gear, allowing them the resources to expand their culture of innovation and history of first-to-market product launches that has earned them the reputation of being brands of choice for sporting enthusiasts and outdoorsmen.

GSM supports and donates to organizations that promote outdoor access and wildlife, land, water and coastal conservation including Ducks Unlimited, National Wild Turkey Federation, Safari Club International, and Whitetails Unlimited. During 2020, GSM brands contributed over $1 million to the Pittman-Robertson Wildlife Restoration Fund which funds habitat and wildlife conservation and directs funds towards state wildlife restoration projects. GSM’s largest brand, Walker’s, has been a major driver of increased adoption of hearing protection in the sportsman and outdoor enthusiast industry. GSM maintains USDA certification for bio-based, biodegradable products differentiated from chemical-alternatives.