S6, Ep 26: Scott Wilday of Lid Rig

Intro: Hey folks, it's Marvin Cash, the host of the Articulate Fly. Intro: On this episode, I'm joined by Scott Wilday of LidRig. Intro: Scott shares his LidRig story, a deep affinity for Coors Light, Intro: and some cool new products. Intro: I think you're really going to enjoy this one. But before we get to the interview, Intro: just a couple of housekeeping items. Intro: If you like the podcast, please tell a friend, and please subscribe and leave

Intro: us a rating review in the podcatcher of your choice. It really helps us out. Intro: And don't forget to check out our Patreon community. It's a great way to support Intro: the show and our partners. Intro: We have everything from discounts on tying materials and guide trips to small group classes. Intro: And a quick public service announcement. If you'll be in East Tennessee this Intro: weekend on March 9th, I want to give you a heads up about the Tailwater Roundup.

Intro: It's a cleanup event on the South Holston and the Watauga from from 8 a.m. to 3 p.m. Intro: If you want to help on the South Holston, meet at the Bluff City Boat Ramp. Intro: And if you want to help on the Watauga, meet at the Ingalls and Elizabethton. Intro: There will be an after-cleanup celebration at the Watauga River Lodge. Intro: If you have any questions, reach out to at Flying Soho on Instagram.

Intro: And now, a shout-out to this episode's sponsor. This episode's brought to you Intro: by our friends at Artisan Angler. Intro: If you're looking for a better way to organize your flies, tippet, Intro: and tools, you should check out the Flytrap at artisananglerllc.com. Intro: I've dropped a link in the show notes. They sell direct through Amazon, Intro: so you get prime shipping and free returns.

Intro: It doesn't get any easier than that. Make your time on the water more productive Intro: and check out the Flytrap today. Intro: Now, on to our interview. Marvin: Well, Scott, welcome to the Articulate Fly. Scott: Hey, thanks for having me, Marvin. Marvin: Yeah, I've been looking forward to it, and I appreciate your flexibility on Marvin: the reschedule. I think you understand Marvin: sometimes they're just kid logistic issues you have to deal with.

Scott: Hey, anything for you, Marvin, you know? Marvin: I appreciate that. So we have a tradition on the Articulate Fly.

Marvin: We like to ask all of our guests to share their earliest fishing memory.

Scott: Earliest fishing memory well uh Scott: you know son i i mean i grew up on a Scott: lake out here i live in denver uh littleton Scott: but um so i grew up fishing for Scott: bass pike catfish that kind of thing um and Scott: i'm the oldest i've got two brothers so we Scott: were out there every just about every Scott: day in the summer and uh there was Scott: this bass we called it we called it the one-eyed bass Scott: and i'm pretty sure i we've

Scott: caught between me and my brother we probably caught this thing at Scott: least 100 times every summer and uh Scott: it just lived under this bridge and uh Scott: yeah it just had the one eye and and that's Scott: just how we spent our summers so and you Scott: know that was coming from an early age and didn't really Scott: get into fly fishing until later in life um i've probably been heavy until probably

Scott: six or seven years now so um but yes i'll i'll do it all i'm an equal opportunity Scott: uh angler so been fishing is is okay in my book yeah. Marvin: Well there you go so what was the impetus for you to come to the dark side of fly fishing. Scott: Yeah. So, you know, man, where to start? Scott: You know, my background, I guess, is, you know, sales and I started a health care tech company and, Scott: you know, it's just a grind and health care tech is not very fun.

Scott: I'll put it that way and and it's Scott: software so it's it's not a tangible physical Scott: product but um you know learned a lot after you know selling that it was just Scott: thinking you know what do I want to do next what can I be passionate about and Scott: um that was about the time my uh my brother had been and just dragging me along, sly fishing. Scott: I actually hated sly fishing starting out. Scott: And I just didn't get it. Mainly because I stunk at it.

Scott: So, you know, getting stuck and tangled and it just, yeah, it didn't resonate with me. Scott: But I equate it to golf, right? It just takes one good fish, Scott: one good golf shot, then you're a golfer. Scott: It's your life, right? So it was a shame. Same for me, one big brown trout. Scott: And uh the rest is history.

Marvin: Yeah well i would say i never had the golf shot so i never never got, Marvin: don't save yourself save some money yeah so uh my my junior clubs are in the Marvin: garage and i probably haven't touched a golf club in 35 years so yeah. Scott: Good for you yeah. Marvin: Yeah so so you you got serious curious about fly fishing six or so years ago? Marvin: Are there some kind of fly fishing mentors that kind of stick out in your mind? Marvin: And, you know, if so, what did they teach you?

Scott: Yeah, so mainly my brother, who he's the true angler in the family, I would say. Scott: He had the most passion for it, and he just kind of got one of those contagious Scott: personalities and rubbed off on me. Scott: But, you know, through him, I learned pretty much everything I needed to know Scott: and the basics, you know, as far as knots and depths and that kind of thing. Scott: And then, you know, littering, it's been a whirlwind, but fun.

Scott: But I've been traveling all over the place, fishing, you know, Scott: down in Belize and Mexico, Louisiana, up north. Scott: So a little bit of everything. And so it's an interesting question, Scott: but everywhere fish is different. Everybody fish is different. Scott: And I think that's kind of reflected in what I'm trying to do with LidRig and the products. Scott: So it's a long answer for simple questions. I apologize.

Marvin: No, no, no, it's all good. And I mean, talking about LidRig, Marvin: I mean, tell us a little bit about, you know, the story behind kind of the genesis of the company. Scott: You want the real one? Yeah, I'll take the real one and the fake one. Marvin: You can do it all. Scott: Well, speaking of golf, we were at my youngest brother's bachelor party. Scott: We did it up in the mountains. It was like a weekend deal. Scott: It was a little gift. He got us golf ball markers.

Scott: It's a magnetic clip you wear on your hat. It was customized and all that. Scott: Um next day we went fishing and as Scott: i mentioned i'm horrible at fishing so i was Scott: stuck in the tree couldn't reach my brand new expensive nippers uh as i'm dangling Scott: out of the tree so i ended up using my golf ball marker to uh get my fly back Scott: so then you throw six cores lights in there and uh, Scott: And I've got a company with multiple products.

Marvin: So it was a drunk fishing, climbing experience, is what you're saying. Scott: Yeah. Yeah. I owe a lot to Coors Light, I think. Marvin: Oh, well, yeah. I was going to say you owe a lot to some IPA, Marvin: but we'll just stick with the Coors Light. Scott: I'm not a big IPA guy. Don't judge Scott: me. But, you know, and if I'm being honest, I'm more of a scotch guy. Marvin: Yeah, I was going to say. Yeah, my recollection was you were drinking bourbon in Edison. Scott: It was a good memory.

Marvin: Yeah. Scott: I'm sure I was totally coherent, right? Marvin: 100%. Yeah, good. And so you've got kind of the bachelor party genesis, Marvin: but, you know, how much did your kind of prior professional non-fishing life Marvin: kind of feed into the LIDREG idea? Yeah. Scott: Oh man. So yeah, I've always kind of had the inventor's bug, I guess you could say. Scott: So I should, I remember back to like third grade invention convention, Scott: uh, creating these things, swarps, I call them.

Scott: It's like sweats that turn into shorts. Scott: Um, you know, I made these, these gloves for surfers being in Colorado makes sense. Right. Scott: But it was like webbing in between your fingers.

Scott: Fingers as a glove so you could paddle better and Scott: you know later on in life I just Scott: kind of carried on to the healthcare tech Scott: side I've been involved with startup companies and then Scott: broke off did my own and um just Scott: kind of making the process better between and Scott: the communication better between physicians and patients Scott: to so it's kind of 3D body parts that Docs Scott: could interact with and explain what the heck's going on and uh so yeah i i

Scott: just it's in my blood i guess to uh kind of see a problem and try to come up Scott: with a solution but one thing to have an idea a whole nother beast to uh, Scott: make it a reality and and bring it bring it to market so yeah. Marvin: 100 and so but you know why did Did you not just go start another tech company Marvin: after you sold the last one? Scott: Yeah, so tech is, I think I wanted to take a stab at something tangible, Scott: like a physical product.

Scott: So in the tech game, that gets lost, right? Scott: So you're selling, in the healthcare tech situation, I was selling to hospital Scott: systems. And, you know, it was a long sales cycle. Scott: Once you sell it, you got to come in and implement it. Scott: You know, there was just a lot more to it. Scott: And I don't know, Scott: I think just on a personal level, it was, you know, what can I, Scott: and at the time I was going through some pretty heavy stuff on a personal level as well.

Scott: So, you know, I think I wanted the cell grind itself. Scott: I was kind of over that and I'm just looking for something I could really enjoy Scott: doing and be passionate about. Scott: So, yeah, fly fishing fit the bill.

Marvin: Yeah, there you go. And so, you know, your magnetic nippers are your flagship Marvin: product. you know, what opportunity did you see kind of in Nippers and kind Marvin: of what was the problem that kind of your entrepreneur and vendor eyes saw that needed to be solved? Scott: So I probably have a unique take on fly fishing, just being newer to the sport, Scott: if you want to call it a sport. Scott: But, you know, I just didn't understand why guys were carrying so much gear.

Scott: And that really stuck out to me. and Scott: then uh you know as i progressed and nippers Scott: kind of grow with your fishing game it seems Scott: like right you start out with the the fingernail clippers Scott: and and you know shoot i've Scott: seen some lid rig knockoffs being sold Scott: for for like 200 to 400 Scott: bucks so um that that Scott: was jaw-dropping to me um that people Scott: would spend that amount of money on such a Scott: small simple tool so when i

Scott: kind of dug in on it from a Scott: business perspective you know there Scott: was only a handful of players and and um Scott: yeah i just felt like i could Scott: i could make a play and went out Scott: and made some prototypes to uh to experiment with Scott: so and i think i had what was Scott: it 50 prototypes made and the Scott: first two shops i walked into bottom all so at at that point i kind of figured

Scott: uh i might be on to something here and and those were horrible i mean they were Scott: they had springs and ball bearings and uh i mean I mean, Scott: they were ugly and I mean, it was pretty rough. Scott: But the fact that I could sell my prototypes told me what I needed to know. Scott: And, um, you know, from, from that version to what it is today is, Scott: is basically a whole new product and in a good way.

Marvin: Yeah. And I guess you got a little bit of a design refresh relatively recently, right? Yeah. Scott: Yeah. Um, so lid rigs probably three years, maybe three and a half years now, uh, I've been at it. Scott: So it's grown relatively quickly. Um, and that's just how I tend to work is, Scott: is quick, but, uh, with intention. Scott: So the lid rig itself, um, you know, out now is version 2.0.

Scott: Uh, in reality, It's probably like version 27, you know, with all the modifications that I made. Scott: And I'm pretty pumped. I just signed off on the LidRig 3.0 design, Scott: which I think is going to be the end-all be-all as far as nippers go. Scott: I'm pretty excited about it. Marvin: Yeah, the one ring to rule them all? Scott: Yeah, hopefully. That's the idea. Yeah.

Marvin: So, you know, for folks that haven't had a chance to kind of put their hands Marvin: on a set or to see you at a show or see them in a shop, you know, Marvin: let folks know kind of what makes your nipper design unique. Scott: Sure. So the most prominent feature is the fact that it's got opposing magnets Scott: on either side of the nipper. nipper. So there's no springs in the middle.

Scott: So it's the magnets, the reverse polarity that that keeps them open and provides that spring action. Scott: And took that and just kind of built on it, created it.

Scott: So starting out, my initial thought was just to have the nippers Scott: on the hat so created a clip that Scott: goes on the the brim or bill of your hat or lid Scott: i should say and um yeah it's Scott: kind of the golf ball marker version uh Scott: for fly fishing so easy access but now uh we've added in like a bottle opener Scott: a hook sharpener eyelet poker you can't actually wear the lanyard or wear the Scott: nippers on a lanyard if you if you want um so it's just kind of a,

Scott: a good all-access tool so depending on how you fish and where you are and they'll Scott: uh get the job done for you yeah. Marvin: It's neat i mean i uh i like the sharpener and everybody needs a bottle opener right. Scott: That's you know that's what i'm saying although although. Marvin: My recollection is Coors Light bottles or twist tops, so you wouldn't need the Marvin: bottle opener, but I know for the IPAs, you would. Scott: No glass on the rivers, right?

Marvin: Yeah, exactly. So, you know, you were talking about kind of a little bit earlier Marvin: about kind of the challenges of the startup. Marvin: You know, what were some of the biggest challenges and surprises as you were Marvin: working to bring the nippers to market? Scott: Yeah, the biggest surprise was the fact that people liked the idea. Scott: You know, and everybody's got an opinion. Scott: So, you know, there's a few people that said this is the dumbest idea I've ever

Scott: heard. No fly fisherman's going to buy this. Scott: And to me, I'm the wrong guy to say that to.

Scott: So challenge accepted. but yeah challenges Scott: now that it's more established so Scott: I guess out of the gate I was Scott: thinking I could license the product which I've done Scott: and the companies Scott: I worked with they started getting emails from folks Scott: saying hey screw you guys you're stealing Blitter Egg's idea Scott: and you know Scott: it's like no we're all in the same team here but to.

Scott: Me that indicated that i might be Scott: i might have a brand um that Scott: i can build on with uh obviously people Scott: wild enough to go out of their way and send emails Scott: like that so um you know Scott: then i met with another large company and because Scott: i was just one product we couldn't really do Scott: much so you know Scott: coming out with uh product Scott: number two was it's kind Scott: of a flyer to be honest and and today that's

Scott: it's one of the most successful products that Scott: i've launched um and it's it's simple Scott: but effective and um but Scott: getting getting out into the market it Scott: um you know i'm pretty heavy on the Scott: social media space but getting Scott: into shops and whatnot um it's harder Scott: than than you would think so you Scott: know and a lot of that's because guys are out fishing and guiding and you know

Scott: you gotta and i was new to the retail game so figuring out you know sales cycles Scott: and and all that so um yeah but now i've got shoot i don't know probably.

Scott: 20 or so different products all with the magnetic vein and that's a hurdle in itself because, Scott: you know anything coming in revenue-wise is going to new products new innovations Scott: and so it's just trying to it's a delicate balancing act you know as far as Scott: scaling bringing bringing new stuff out and uh trying to grow so.

Marvin: Yeah interesting and does anything kind of stand out in your mind in terms of Marvin: like the differences with lid rig and like your your healthcare tech startup.

Scott: Yeah well actually what stood out to me i was listening to some of your um last podcast, Scott: would be uh waiter guys i don't know if we should drop names or not but yeah the grunman's guys, Scott: there you go um and and i Scott: thought that was pretty interesting their their approach to getting into shops Scott: and whatnot i mean there's direct competition right where there's a there's Scott: what two other main players so that a fly shop could sell so yeah they're.

Scott: They're directly competing so from a literate standpoint um i just do it a little Scott: different i guess right like i don't have i i can walk in and and they can sell Scott: my products pretty much without any issues, right? Scott: And even if they do sell some other companies or similar products, Scott: you know, side-by-side, they'll end up going with GlidRig.

Scott: So I just thought that was pretty interesting. Their approach is kind of slow Scott: rolling to get into shops where I'm more of a shotgun approach, I guess.

Scott: And, you know, I can walk in and walk out with a check to Scott: a fly shop so um yeah it's and a lot of it i'm i'm learning as i go too so then Scott: shoot now i've got distributors overseas and we're in my japan canada europe Scott: um just signed south africa, Scott: so you know just trying to to keep up at this point yeah.

Marvin: It's interesting though i mean it's It's been a while since I've like really Marvin: kind of drilled into kind of the nipper space, but I would think you kind of Marvin: sit at a really nice kind of price point and feature benefit point to kind of Marvin: the spectrum of nippers that are in the market, right? Scott: Yeah, on purpose too, because there are, and that's another big hurdle I've come up against, Scott: you know, by and large, the space is friendly and everybody enjoys.

Scott: It's long and seems trustworthy, but I've had some larger companies come in Scott: and knock off some stuff. Scott: I've only been at it three and a half years, so people are watching what I'm Scott: doing, which I guess is a good thing. Scott: Uh, is something you, you gotta be cognizant of and, you know, Scott: you can spend a bunch of money on a patent and all this. Scott: And, uh, you know, I've had interesting legal conversations.

Scott: I'll put it that way, but, um, yeah, I digress. Scott: I, sorry, I got sidetracked. What was the, the question? Marvin: Really the price points. I mean, and I think the patent thing is an interesting Marvin: thing too. I mean, because it's like, you know, it's a patent plus the money to go sue somebody.

Marvin: So it's kind of a different game. But, you know, my recollection is, Marvin: you know, I would say, I don't know, the, let's just say the air quote high Marvin: end of the nipper market is like 200 plus, right?

Marvin: Yeah. And then I don't really think of, you know, and then I, Marvin: you know, you're at 75 and then, you know, everything else to me is, Marvin: you know, and I'm not trying to offend anybody who's got some stellar or nipper Marvin: that I haven't seen because I don't purport to see them all. Marvin: But, you know, the rest of it's sort of that kind of utilitarian stuff that's, Marvin: you know, with zingers, right?

Marvin: And at a different price point. So, yeah, it's an interesting thing about being kind of copied. Marvin: Like, I mean, you know, back to kind of talking about the Grundon's guys, Marvin: like, you notice how this year now everybody's got to, like, Marvin: tweak their suspension system on their waders? Scott: Yeah, yeah. Marvin: Right? Scott: Exactly.

Marvin: It's the exact same thing. And, you know, you know this, right, Marvin: from being in the tech company background and making stuff, you know, Marvin: not everything is patentable. Marvin: So that's an interesting thing, too. And, you know, the only way you win is Marvin: you got to outrun people and also be nicer, right? Scott: Yeah, exactly. Or you can try and outpay them. Scott: But, you know, as a startup, that's hard to do when you're going up against the big guys.

Marvin: Yeah. Yeah. Scott: But yeah, I mean, but that's to me, and part of where the idea came from, Scott: I guess, is, you know, I watched a guy in a river with expensive nippers that doled out on him, right? Scott: So they were pretty much useless as he's standing in the middle of the river in May. Yeah.

Scott: Air quotes have replacement blades but they're Scott: going to charge you for them so that didn't make sense to me Scott: um at all so you Scott: know and so they get you twice and you Scott: know it just wasn't doing my job so um you Scott: know 75 bucks i i Scott: get is it's not the cheapest but um Scott: you know the lid rig is is Scott: a multi-tool and it does Scott: a lot so um you know Scott: that helps and it does not have replacement blades so

Scott: you can just sharpen them and uh kind of Scott: like a knife right with with the uh the clip Scott: itself so you know long lasting Scott: it's not the prettiest but it's a Scott: tool it's made to be used it doesn't have have the pretty Scott: trout patterns on it or anything like that but Scott: uh and i think that resonates with with Scott: people so and i i Scott: don't know from an outsider's perspective still consider Scott: myself kind of an outsider but um you

Scott: know it seems like the industry is changing a little Scott: bit too um you know getting Scott: it's getting younger right and and more accessible Scott: so um people have.

Scott: Different tastes different needs and and like i said earlier everybody fish Scott: is different so i want to make tools that uh work for how you fish and and that's Scott: the fun part for me i you know i just make stuff and guys like you tell me how they use it. Scott: So, and usually post about it on Instagram, which is fun. Marvin: Yeah. And my use case is, you know, unless you lose your hat, Marvin: you're not going to lose your nippers.

Marvin: Cause I mean, I would, I would be seriously crying if I had lost a pair of $200 nippers in the river. Scott: Yeah. Well, and actually, cause, uh, so I was down in, uh, fishing at the X Scott: flats and there was a doctor down there fishing as well. Scott: Uh, so, you know, gave him the lid rig to use. And that was, Scott: it was just kind of a negative Nancy maybe. Scott: And, uh, he's like, well, you know, what if I lose my hat?

Scott: And I'm like, well, that'd be impressive. So, of course, he ends up losing his Scott: hat, sinks to the bottom, but they were able to get his hat back. Scott: So they stuck the metal rod down to get his hat back via the lid rig and magnetic connection. Scott: So, you know, there's two ways to look at it, I guess. Marvin: Yeah, well, it's also easier to find your hat on the bottom of a river than Marvin: it is to find a pair of nippers. Scott: Yeah, that's true.

Marvin: So, you know, do you, you know, at this point, Scott, have you kind of, Marvin: you know, you've got multiple products and we'll talk about the rest of them Marvin: in a minute, but do you kind of have an overarching design philosophy at LidRig? Scott: Yes well so i guess the i like magnets and that's kind of been.

Scott: Um my mo so to Scott: speak with any new product that i'm Scott: coming out with but um more so Scott: um use cases so you Scott: know i've got a i've built a pretty substantial i'd say Scott: over 100 professional anglers Scott: that i'm in contact with anglers and tires Scott: i'm in contact with almost daily Scott: and uh you know Scott: i i'm i'm good at knowing what i don't know and uh listening to what people

Scott: need and and and want and if i can solve that problem with magnets i'll do it Scott: and so like i live on a lake down here in Denver. Scott: So, you know, I've got all my bass stuff that I'm fishing with. Scott: I just got back from the X Flats fishing down there with the salt flies. Scott: And then I'll be up in the mountains, you know, fishing for trout. Scott: So to me, it's just, I can have 20 different fly boxes or I can have one that's Scott: interchangeable magnetically.

Scott: And so, you know, less is more. Scott: I guess in a nutshell and, and I accomplished that with magnets. Marvin: Yeah. Which is, uh, as we've joked is awesome. If you don't have a pacemaker. Scott: Yeah, exactly. Marvin: So you, you want to kind of walk, uh, our listeners through, Marvin: you know, some of the other products that are in the lid rig universe. Scott: Sure. Um, Scott: I think the most interesting one, or funny, I'll say, but you remember the slap bracelets?

Scott: I think I showed it to you at the show, the toy show. Scott: Picture that, but it's like a magnetic watch. Scott: So I made it originally to slap around a boat frame, but now I've seen guys using it.

Scott: They'll stick it to the side of their car and all your rides up Scott: for you i saw a guy he lost a streamer Scott: uh tied on the mag band Scott: threw it out got a streamer back so you know it's just a lot of different cool Scott: creative ways um that that that's used and a lot of the tires seem to like it Scott: they'll They'll wrap it around their, basically their vice. Scott: And then, shoot, what else?

Scott: Just came out with the Stash Tray. So, which is a magnetic plate, hat clip. Scott: It'll also have a linear detachment. Scott: Just launched those a couple weeks ago. Seem to be pretty popular. Scott: Another one's called the Flywheel. It's just a heavy-duty magnet, 56-pound. Scott: Pull force, literally it'll hold a shotgun if you need it to, Scott: but you can put that on your waders, your straps, it'll hold forceps, flies,

Scott: actually works with some of our other products as well. So, yeah. Scott: Everything kind of works together in the Wittrig universe. Scott: I won't make something if it can't be used with something else, if that makes sense. Marvin: Yeah, got it. How big is the stash box? I assume it fits on the brim of your hat, right? Scott: Yeah, it's pretty small. Think of it as it's similar in size to the existing clip.

Scott: A little bit bigger and uh with the magnets inside of it so your i mean the magnets on the existing, Scott: lid rig are super strong but uh yeah with this mag tray um i mean you could Scott: take a branch to the face and and that literate's not going anywhere so um and Scott: if you're not using it for For, to hold your wood rig, Scott: I typically use it to hold real small flies if I'm trout fishing.

Scott: So it'll hold, shoot up, you know, 10, 15, probably even 20, Scott: you know, smaller flies. Marvin: Yeah. All kinds of good stuff for like Cheeseman and 11 mile, Marvin: right? All midges and stuff like that. Scott: There you go. Yeah. Marvin: Look at you. Scott: Oh yeah.

Marvin: So I also saw, I think it was on Instagram that I guess you, Marvin: you know, you mentioned this a little bit earlier, But I guess the modular Flybox Marvin: is a relatively new release for you, too, because I saw the video on your Instagram page. Scott: Yeah. So I'm super pumped on them. Scott: And it's just a new concept. So how do I describe it? Scott: So instead of a foam, typical foam insert, I have these magnetic rubber pads, Scott: stronger than anything else on the market.

Scott: That's a guarantee. um and then so you can actually just throw your flies right Scott: in there and they'll stick, Scott: which is what i'll do or we also Scott: have these um foam insert with Scott: a metal bottom that stick to it so you can just swap them Scott: in and out of uh out of boxes so and then we also have what's called a mag dad Scott: so it's just that same magnetic rubber material but you can stick that you know

Scott: to the the side of your boat um if your time flies basically your vice wherever you need it dashboard.

Scott: And uh yeah so you can just pull pull Scott: that set out put it right next to you where you Scott: actually need it so you're not digging through 20 different boxes trying to Scott: to find the next fly so just a little more efficient and like i said you can Scott: everything works together so you can also wear Wear those inserts, Scott: you know, on the flywheel or the mag band if you need to. Scott: So it's, it's cool. I'm, I'm excited for it.

Scott: And, uh, yeah, a lot of the shops have been picking them up. Scott: So I'm thinking you'll, uh, start to see them in the market a little bit more here. Marvin: Yeah. And is the box, I mean, I know the one on the Instagram feed was relatively Marvin: large. Does the box come in multiple sizes? Yeah.

Scott: Yes we have a small medium and large um type box so like the streamer streamer size box down to, Scott: uh you know as a smaller day day Scott: box so we and then we have not quite the streamer size box but it's a little Scott: bit thinner we call it the mag book and i freaking love these things i mean Scott: And they're waterproof, Scott: indestructible, super versatile. Scott: And that's been my go-to is the MagBook.

Scott: So it's got the see-through top, thick plastic, and the magnetic concept as well. Marvin: Got it. Yeah. So it's kind of like a magnetic Oompa box, right? Scott: Yeah. There you go.

Marvin: Yeah. Yeah. So that's super cool. Cool. And so, you know, as you kind of look Marvin: in your perpetual motion entrepreneur startup eye, you know, Marvin: what's your vision for LidRig in the next five years?

Scott: So you know who knows at this rate i'm going day by day but you know i think um, Scott: i've got the the product suite kind of where where it needs to be um so now Scott: it's more expansion mode so getting into more shock uh different parts of the world and yeah, Scott: kind of stabilizing on the business side and kind of take it from there.

Scott: You know, I've been approached by a few people about acquisition and stuff like that. So yeah, Scott: You know, who knows, but it's cool to see the, the started as one product and, Scott: and I feel like now it's a company, you know, a brand. Scott: So it's just cool to see that grow. And so I think, I think I can make it larger Scott: and, and, uh, yeah, who knows five years is a long time for a startup. Marvin: Up so yeah i could scale it back to three if that helps there you go i mean.

Scott: I'll talk to anybody put it that way but right now i'm having fun growing.

Marvin: Yeah i mean it's interesting because you can clearly see the community because Marvin: you know if you go uh to your website into your store i mean you have you can Marvin: tell there's a lot of community because you have an unusually, Marvin: large number of kind of apparel type things right hats shirts and that doesn't Marvin: happen you know There are two choices, and I know you wouldn't make one of them, Marvin: which is to make a lot of shit and not sell it.

Marvin: Or you have an active community that wants to wear your hats and hoodies and Marvin: stuff and let people spread the word for you. Scott: Yeah, that's what littering is. And I think that's what I'm most proud of, Scott: actually, is the community surrounding it.

Scott: So it's kind of by the people for the people. and and Scott: like i said i'm i'm not joking when i'm when Scott: i say i'm not a i'm not an ex-guide and Scott: i'm horrible at fishing so um you know Scott: i but i i learn from people right i Scott: don't tie flies but i appreciate the heck out of it Scott: so um but the the community Scott: is just phenomenal so you know Scott: and going one of these like fly fishing shows it's amazing Scott: guys will come up and you know

Scott: professional tires they'll just post up start tying flies and Scott: you know i've got people coming into Scott: the booth just to hang out and they'll people will Scott: walk up wearing a lid rig and they'll sell to people staying in there and i Scott: just kind of sit back and you know drink a beer so it's uh and luckily it's Scott: It's kind of one of those products where once you use it or touch it and feel Scott: it, it kind of solves itself.

Scott: So, and you can tell by my rambling, that's exactly what I need. Marvin: Yeah, but I mean, it's cool, right? I mean, particularly like you're lucky because Marvin: I think that, you know, where you are in the Denver area is probably like the Marvin: highest concentration of fishiness in the country, right? Marvin: Right, for Trout, you know, in terms of shops and, you know, Marvin: resource and guides and people.

Marvin: But, you know, to be able to, for example, like, I mean, you were mobbed in Marvin: Edison. I walked past your table a bunch, right? Marvin: That's got to be super cool, right? Yeah. Scott: Yeah, it's humbling, for sure. Scott: You know, and you're right. I mean, Denver or Colorado is kind of Mecca, I guess you could say. Scott: But again, it's me being green to the industry. Scott: And, you know, shoot, I've walked into some pretty big shops.

Scott: Just like Fly Fish Food is a good example. I walked in there with an earlier Scott: version of the Lidrig, you know, not knowing who Cheetor was and all that and Scott: how big they were and influential. Scott: But, you know, they brought in Lidrig, right? Scott: And they're willing to help and kind of provide feedback and help me grow. Scott: And so just, yeah, it's humbling, man. Scott: And I've made some tremendous friends through this process.

Scott: And, uh, now it's cool to see other people connect. Scott: Like I wasn't down in the, the Texas show, but there was a bunch of, Scott: uh, you know, people wearing the lid rig and pictures and shirts and whatnot. Scott: And, uh, you know, I'm sitting at home with my six-year-old looking to myself Scott: like, Hey, that's pretty cool.

Scott: I wish I was there, but, um, yeah, just getting it out there, Scott: you know, making stuff people, people like and, and, uh, hopefully I can keep the train rolling here. Marvin: I mean, I think, you know, we, we have a very, very special community in fly Marvin: fishing in terms of, you know, openness and generosity.

Marvin: And, um, you know, I always, you know, say that I think the, Marvin: you know, fly anglers are some of the most generous people you'll ever meet. Scott: I would very much agree with that. Yeah. Scott: Until, from a company perspective, I'm much more cautious now versus, Scott: you know, when I was getting up and off the ground. Scott: But, you know, I know people are paying attention now just by products that they'll come out with. Scott: And but, you know, that's life. It's competition.

Scott: It's a capitalist country. So competition is good. Scott: And, you know, in very few communities outside of fly fishing could a single Scott: dad with an idea, you know, get it literate to where it is today. Scott: And if the only reason I, it is where it is, is based on that community and people helping out. Scott: So it's, I'm very thankful for the whole experience.

Marvin: It's very, very neat. Pete, before I let you go this evening, Marvin: is there anything else you'd like to share with our listeners? Scott: No, just keep an eye out for 3.0. Pretty, pretty pumped on it. Scott: Probably in the next couple of months here. Scott: So, and I should, you know, speaking of community, give us a follow on Instagram. Scott: It's just me. I just repost everybody else's cool fishing trips and whatnot. Marvin: Not so but it's a fun follow and.

Scott: Uh and and you'll learn how to uh pick up a new couple new tricks on how to use lead rig gear. Marvin: Yeah there you go and so you know you if you want to let folks know like the Marvin: best place obviously you're on instagram that's your your social media flavor Marvin: of ice cream but you want to let folks know website uh instagram handle and Marvin: all that kind of good stuff. Scott: Yeah just lead rig leadrig.com pretty pretty simple.

Marvin: That is pretty simple uh well listen Listen, Scott, I appreciate you spending Marvin: some time with me this evening. Scott: Yeah, thank you, Marvin. We'll have to get out and fish, eh? Marvin: Yeah, absolutely. I'll be in your neck of the woods this summer for sure. Scott: All right. Bring that lid, Rick. Marvin: I'll do it. Take care. Scott: Cheers. Intro: Well, folks, I hope you enjoyed that as much as we enjoyed bringing it to you.

Intro: Again, if you like the podcast, please tell a friend and please subscribe and Intro: leave us a rating and review in the podcatcher of your choice. Intro: And don't forget to check out the fly trap from our friends at Artisan Angler. Intro: Tight lines, everybody.