Over the last two years of COVID-19 lockdowns, outdoor activities saw an unprecedented spike in interest, as previously niche recreational pursuits hit the mainstream. Since the pandemic began, a new generation has taken interest in everything from birdwatching to golf and long-distance hiking. Fishing, too, saw a new surge in growth, offering as it did an opportunity for outdoor socializing: according to one report, in the U.K. alone the number of annual rod licence applications surged by more than 120,000 in 2020. It follows, then, that a host of technical brands rooted in the world of fishing also saw a new wave of increased demand since the pandemic. The British…