Made in Connecticut: Essex tackle company lands anglers’ biggest catches
In this week’s Made in Connecticut, News 12’s Rebecca Surran visits the Essex manufacturer whose fishing rod components are trusted by anglers around the world.
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When anglers head offshore in pursuit of giant tuna and marlin, they need equipment built to handle hundreds of pounds of force.
That’s where Winthrop Tackle comes in.
In this week’s Made in Connecticut, News 12’s Rebecca Surran visits the Essex manufacturer whose fishing rod components are trusted by anglers around the world.
The company designs and manufactures rod roller guides, tips, and butt ends from its 18,000-square-foot facility.
CEO Colby Coombs says the mission is simple.
"We are a manufacturing facility that designs, engineers, and delivers the best rod components the industry can offer," Coombs said.
The process begins with aerospace-grade aluminum, which is machined using advanced CNC equipment and undergoes extensive quality inspections. Officials say nearly every product is checked to ensure it can withstand the demands of offshore fishing.
The company was founded in 2002 by tool-and-die maker and avid fisherman Fred Malcarne. He set out to solve a problem with existing roller guides, which were not large enough to accommodate certain hardware used when targeting giant fish.
That solution helped launch a premium line of tackle now used on boats around the world. Winthrop products have also been used by captains featured on National Geographic’s "Wicked Tuna."
Today, company leaders say they continue to push innovation in hopes of shaping the future of sport fishing.
For Malcarne, the company’s success is still hard to believe.
"You walk down the dock and pretty much 90% of the boats have Winthrop on it," he said. "It’s kind of a dream come true."
