DOWN-EAST SPORTSCRAFT

The Peterson Family has been manufacturing our quality fishing tackle since 1946 in Lewiston, Maine. In the fall of 1946, Fritz Peterson designed and produced his first "Down-Easter" trolling rod holder. It was originally designed to offer fishermen a "third hand", while they rowed their canoe or rowboat. With the help of Raymond Clough, who marketed the product, the "Down-Easter" quickly caught on as the standard rod holder for serious fishermen. After serving in the Air Force during the Korean War, Fred Peterson joined his father manufacturing the rod holders. As the years passed, a number of different mounting systems were developed while the basic mechanism remained unchanged. In 1976, Mr. Clough retired and the Petersons continued producing and selling their rod holders. In 1993, Steve Peterson graduating from the University of Maine with a degree in Mechanical Engineering, took over for his grandfather, Fritz, who officially retired from the family business. In 1996, Down-East..

Also known as: Down-East Sportscraft, Inc.

Primary location: Lewiston United States