Umpqua Feather Merchants
Umpqua Feather Merchants enjoyed the dominant share of the market for fishing flies and related products. The Company’s products included hooks, tippet and leader material, hackle (feathers) and related accessories. The Company sold primarily to specialty fly fishing tackle shops and major mail order tackle suppliers such as L.L. Bean, Orvis, Cabela’s, and Kaufmann’s.
Endeavour established a relationship with the Company in 1993. In 1995, Endeavour invested in the Company to finance the purchase of the Metz Hackle Company. Metz was widely recognized as the world’s leading producer and marketer of high quality hackle used in fly tying.
Endeavour remained invested in the Company until 1998.