Q and A with Mossy Oak Fishing

Mossy Oak has been an institution in the outdoor industry spanning over three decades. The performance camo company is closely associated with the turkey and whitetail woods, but have deep roots in fishing as well. 

Within the last ten years, Mossy Oak has expanded their patterns to fishing gear for anglers all over the country. Within this time the company also became an important partner with Fishbrain and one of the top pages within the app.

We caught up with Mossy Oak writer and editorial manager, Jessi Cole to talk about Mossy Oak’s relationship with conservation, any upcoming news and all things fishing.

FB: Mossy Oak is an institution as a hunting brand, what is the history of fishing within the company?

JC: We are really trying to expand as an outdoor lifestyle brand and it just made sense to move into the fishing space. There’s a statistic that says close to 80 percent of hunters fish. We were looking to expand to fit all of our  customers' needs and fishing just made sense.

FB: How long ago did Mossy Oak break into the fishing realm and how long have you been with Mossy Oak?

JC:Mossy Oak started producing fishing patterns around five years ago and I’ve been with the company since January

FB: Mossy Oak  is well known to support conservation movements with species like deer, turkeys, and their habitat. Are you involved in any conservation efforts and projects regarding fish and waters?

JC:Mossy Oak is headquartered in Mississippi and while bass fishing runs deep in our veins,  we also love fishing on the salt. Because of that we are involved with the bonefish and tarpon trust. We have been very involved with their programs tagging tarpon and spreading awareness on how to handle bonefish and tarpon as well to help conserve those species.

FB: Why does Mossy Oak take such an interest in these efforts?

JC:As outdoorsmen and women it's important for preserving our tradition, preserving the land, the environment and the integrity of the sport. So to do that we need to do our part to conserve the land, water and the species that inhabit them for our future generations. We need to do everything we can to ensure the longevity of the woods and the water.

FB: How has Fishbrain helped Mossy Oak connect with anglers all over?

JC:Fishbrain is something that we are really excited about. We are thrilled to better connect with anglers directly and interact with them through posting catches and also see what our followers are catching. It's really a great way to interact with anglers all over and establish a connection better.

FB: What sort of Fishing Does Mossy Oak cater to and what sort of anglers would find Mossy Oak fishing gear useful? 

JC:Whether it's throwing out a cricket or tying a fly we support all anglers of every type. From bass water, to saltwater, we like to make sure we are catering to every angler. We do a lot of tournament bass fishing because we are from the south and bass fishing will always be near and dear to our heart but we will always cater to all fishing.

FB: Who are some of the other partners Mossy Oak works with fishing?

JC:The Bonefish and Tarpon Trust, Thermacel, Abu Garcia and now Fishbrain are just a few of the leading names we work with.

FB: Does Mossy Oak fishing have anything coming down the pipe?

JC:Several new fishing patterns are coming down and they are really exciting. We are also always looking to expand to make more gear patterns and working to create a complete package for anglers be it UV protected shirt patterns, or Mossy Oak rod patterns from Abu Garcia.

FB: What’s your personal favorite species to fish for and what’s your go to type of fishing?

JC:I am a big fly fisherman so I love trout and that is my bread and butter. I was raised on bass with conventional tackle, but I love chasing rainbow trout and fly fishing can take you all over. I’ve chased redfish in Louisiana and smallies in Minnesota and of course large mouths. 

FB: Can you tell us about one of your best fishing memories? 

JC:My best fishing moments are fishing with my dad. We are really tight and he got me into the sport. We do several trips a year and they are always the most fun, sharing those moments with him. I got into fly fishing in Georgia on the Soque and we go back every year to catch giant trout. I was even recently featured in a Mossy Oak film about fly fishing on this river and how I got started.

FB: Where is your favorite place to fish?

JC:Fishing on the Soque with my dad is my all time favorite place to fish. It's a yearly tradition for us to go there together.

FB: What species is on your bucket list?

JC:Tarpon and bonefish in Key West and Salmon in Alaska. All on the fly of course.

FB: How is Mossy Oak inspiring the next generation of anglers?

JC:It's key for Mossy Oak to teach the next generation why we fish, how to fish and the magic of it. We work a lot of our editorials toward inspiring and teaching our followers how to enjoy fishing, or how to tie on a worm. Making fishing fun for kids is something we are keenly aware of. We also want to inspire the next generation to conserve the environment and be aware of where they fish and how important that is.

Make sure and check out the Mossy Oak Page on Fishbrain for some of the best salt and freshwater fishing content available. Also keep an eye open for Mossy Oak’s current fishing apparel and their new patterns and partners coming soon.