With a family heritage dating all the way back to 1806, it’s safe to say that New York’s famed Salmon River has been an integral part of the Barclay family’s life for over two centuries. After spending years growing up on the Salmon River, Douglas owner, David Barclay, set out with a two-part mission. The first part was straightforward–he wanted to start a company with deep roots seated on the banks of the Salmon River that focuses on manufacturing tackle that’s built with quality and performance. The second part of David’s mission was to supply the local community with long-lasting jobs while furthering the conservation efforts on the Salmon River and its tributaries, ensuring that this world-class fishery remained just that well into the future.
In the year 2014, David put his plan into action and started Douglas Outdoors. With a foundation of listening to angler’s gripes and praises about rods on the Salmon River for years–and facing the same dilemmas and success himself–coupled with David’s close work alongside leaders in rod design and engineering, it wasn’t long before Douglas began to make quite a splash in the industry. Winning several awards with their Sky G Series of Rods, David Barclay quickly exceeded his original mission of “manufacturing tackle that’s built with quality and performance,” and as Douglas continued to grow as a brand, David was able to check off the other half of his mission by continually employing those who have called central upstate New York home.
With solid success just a few short years into Douglas’ lifespan, David was able to continue pushing the envelope in rod design, but not without maintaining his original pledge to ensure proper conservation of the Salmon River and employ those around him. This statement from Douglas perfectly exemplifies their commitment to exceptionally building top-notch rods: “We bring our commitment to quality and excellence into every rod we design – from our high-end rods to entry-level. Each is designed to be the best rod in-class – backed by our incredible warranty,” and another seemingly simple statement showcases his commitment to conservation: “Conservation and excellence are the foundation upon which Douglas Outdoors was built.”
So where does Douglas Outdoors stand eight years after its inception? Well, exactly where it began in Phoenix, New York with the same professional integrity, top-tier customer service, and team of hardworking employees hailing from the surrounding area.