Yeti Coolers

Redfish Can’t Jump

We wanted to shed a little light on an amazing film project that is very near to our heart.  Redfish Can’t Jump is an action packed 45-minute movie/documentary on the North Carolina Redfish. Filmed in high definition, packed with interviews and fishing footage up and down the Cape Fear Coast, the movie highlights the incredible inshore fishery that North Carolina has to offer. 

In addition to being a beautifully shot film, Redfish Can’t Jump showcases fly angling as well as conservation efforts aimed towards the North Carolina shallow water estuarine resources while exposing the misuse of commercial, non-selective, destructive fishing gear. Gill nets in North Carolina harvest redfish quantities well over their established quotas and indiscriminately kill hundreds of endangered sea turtles annually, while commercial fishermen are not held responsible for entangled or dead turtles in their nets.  The film aims to protect North Carolina’s state fish by declaration of gamefish status, thereby prohibiting the commercial harvest or sale of red drum/redfish.

Captain Seth Vernon and the rest of the crew behind the project have also done an amazing job of garnering support in the greater fishing community, including features in Fishing Florida Radio and in This Is Fly (a YETI Coolers favorite).  The long-awaited world premiere in Wilmington, NC was an overwhelming success (check out pictures here), followed soon thereafter by another great showing in Charlotte.

Even if you don’t live or fish in North Carolina, this is a conservation issue that affects all coastal fisherman.  So, check out their website, make a donation, buy some RFCJ gear, and join their facebook page.  No, Wesley Snipes and Woody Harralson will NOT be making cameos here, but YOU can help make a difference.  Thanks to Team RFCJ for making such a great effort and ensuring that there will be plenty of great fishing in the years to come.

Outfitter Spotlight: Northwest Rafting Company (Hood River, OR)

The Pacific Northwest is blessed with lots of great things, among them beautiful scenery, amazing rivers, and fine breweries.  We, like many of you, enjoy all of those things.  The good people at Northwest Rafting Company (NWRC) have figured out a great way to bring all those things together.   

Zachary Collier and the rest of the NWRC team lead multi-day float trips down Oregon’s Rogue River.  Federal designation as a Wild and Scenic River has protected the Rogue since 1968 and created a sanctuary for wildlife including river otters, mink, bald eagles, osprey and herons. NWRC takes their trips in style and makes sure that everyone has an incredible trip. Whether serving gourmet campfire meals like Dutch Oven Lasagna and sipping on their famous River Mojitos, you are in good hands with Zach and the NWRC team.  

They are long-time fans of YETI Coolers as well. Not only do they use their YETI’s to keep food and ice cold for the 4-day trips, but they have also custom-fitted a Tundra to serve as a Jockey Box to serve cold beer on their trips.  Zach told us that they usually serve beer from local brewers Double Mountain and Sierra Nevada and noted, “Our jockey box is always a crowd favorite.”

“Choose a career doing something you love, not money” Zach said was the best advice he ever received.  Even though rafting has taken him to far away places like Nepal and Chile, seems like Zach and the NWRC are doing just fine on the rivers of Oregon.  For more information on booking a trip with NWRC call (541) 450-9855 or visit their website at www.nwrafting.com.

Have You Ever Been Experienced?

With the excitement of the holiday season behind us, we march determined into the New Year. Aside from a fresh start on the calendar, this time of year often finds us wishing for more time outside.  For the most part, hunting seasons are winding down and the fishing activity is somewhat constricted.  Let’s face it: cold weather and short days can generate a little cabin fever in anybody.

So take a little departure over to the Saltwater Experience. Tom Rowland and Rich Tudor operate this top-notch guide service out of Hawks Cay Resort marina on Duck Key, FL.  As guides, they offer amazing trips to the waters around Islamordada, the Florida Keys, and beyond. Whether you are looking for bonefish, redfish, permit or tarpon, whether you like fly fishing or conventional tackle, Saltwater Experience has you covered.  And they have the track record and repeat customers to prove it.

In addition to their guide service, Tom and Rich also host the Saltwater Experience TV show, which airs on the Versus, Sun Sports and Pursuit Channel networks.  The show always delivers great fishing action from the south Florida fisheries. In a recent episode entitled “Downtown Bonefishing”, YETI Coolers gets double exposure.  First, their YETI Tundra is seen in the boat throughout the episode and is even used as a casting platform (one of our favorite features, too!). Then, at about 17:30 they discuss the importance of having a high quality cooler that performs to their standards and give YETI Coolers a glowing review.  Watch here:

Thanks to Rich, Tom and their entire team for bringing us this great footage. Watching their show will certainly help you shake the winter doldrums and start thinking about getting back on the water.

Outfitter Spotlight: PRO Outfitters (Helena, MT)

It is no secret that Montana is considered by many outdoorsmen to be Shangri-La.  Amazing trout fishing on endless rivers, streams and spring creeks. Incredible wing shooting and big game hunting.  And some of the most spectacular scenery you will find anywhere on the planet.  At the center of it all is PRO Outfitters.

Based out of Helena, Montana, PRO Outfitters specializes in guided flyfishing and upland bird hunting trips.  Owner Brandon Boedecker, his wife Katie, and their incredible team of guides, gourmet chefs, and staff run a first class operation.  They have also earned the distinguished classification of being an Orvis Endorsed Outfitter and Lodge.

Their motto, “Fish. Hunt. Connect.” describes what they do best. From day trips searching for monster trout on the Missouri River, to multi-day float trips on the remote Smith River, to upland bird hunts for Sharp-tailed Grouse, Hungarian Partridge and Ring-necked Pheasant, the PRO team delivers amazing experiences and friendships.

(Photo credit:  Simon Perkins, Charley Perkins and Trygg Larsson Danforth)

Recently we had the chance to catch up with Brandon for a little Q&A .

YC:  What activities do you use your YETI Cooler for?

BB:  We use them on our extended trip on the Smith River where we need ice to last for five days.  We now are using them for everything in our business from birds to beer.

YC:  What is your favorite thing about your YETI Cooler?

BB:  I like the insulation and how long ice lasts, as well as the durability.

YC:  What is the best / funniest / favorite story involving your YETI Cooler?

BB:  I coined the phrase “it’s not just cold, it’s YETI cold”  and Charley Perkins stole it.

YC:  Other than that fantastic phrase, what is your favorite quote?

BB:  Uh, well… it’s not really suitable for your blog.

YC:  Ha!  Fair enough.  But how about something we can work with?

BB:  “Amateurs teach amateurs to be amateurs.”  Said by many but perfected by the great Johnny Kowalski.

YC:  What does 2010 hold for you?

BB:  A full season of big browns and wild birds.

YC:  Where do you see yourself in 10 years?

BB:  Floating the Smith and following dogs.

YC:  So, essentially what you are doing right now?

BB:  Yep!  (laughs)

If you are looking for an amazing fishing or hunting experience, PRO Outfitters can deliver. You can reach the PRO team at (800) 858-3497 or pro@prooutfitters.com.

This just in: Sources report a Yeti on the loose!

We work hard to make the best coolers available and get them to you with great customer service.  We love hearing the praises from you: our customers, dealers, and friends. We especially love seeing pictures of your YETI coolers in action on our Facebook page and your blogs and websites.

Over the past few months, YETI Coolers has also been the recipient of some great press. Back in September, we were featured in This Is Fly magazine as the special drawing of the month.

This Is Fly has a powerful, energetic and very hip voice in the world of fly fishing, fueled by spectacular graphic design.  Reader Jesse Dance was the lucky winner of a 35 quart Tundra and newly added member of the Yeti Nation.

Also in September, local outdoors writer Mike Leggett of the Austin American-Statesman wrote a great piece about Yeti Coolers that spotlights the durability and spirit of our coolers.

He starts the story with an existential bang, “Somewhere in another plane of existence Ernest Hemingway has short-lined a 1,000-pound marlin and is reaching into a cooler for an icy-cold beverage. The marlin is swimming free again, and the cooler is probably a Yeti.” It is a glowing review that also highlights how hunters and fishermen alike utilize our coolers.

(Photo:  Mike Leggett, Austin American-Statesman)

What’s more, the 25 quart Roadie was then featured on uncrate.com!  Uncrate bills itself as “a web magazine for guys who love stuff… the best gadgets, clothes, cars, DVDs and more.”

It is essentially the ultimate guide for the coolest, best stuff available.  ”Our 25-quart Yeti Roadie cooler has been the perfect size, and has gotten a ton of use (and abuse) this summer. One word: hardcore.”  It doesn’t get much better than that!

Just this month, YETI Coolers was also spotlighted in the “Cool Issue” of Austin Monthly Magazine. Of course we love being considered cool… as well as super durable and effective.

The piece, found of page 42, focuses on not only the quality of the coolers, but that the company is also based in Austin (well, at least right outside of Austin).  What a great combination!

We are very grateful for the coverage and appreciate all the great folks that made this happen.  So, please read these articles, check out their publications, and keep spreading the word about Yeti Coolers!

North American Hunting Club Seal of Approval

“Congratulations! The Yeti Tundra – 65 Quart Tan has received the North American Hunting Club Member Tested & Recommended Seal of Approval.”  J.J. Reich, Senior Field Test Coordinator 

The North American Hunting Club’s Seal of Approval Logo is recognized by thousands of North American Hunting Club members as a symbol of field tested, member recommended, top quality products. 

The NAHC Field Test program put YETI Coolers into the hands of qualified NAHC members, with an expectation that these avid hunters will provide ‘real world’ test data.   The report is published in the ‘Recommended by Members’ section of the November 2009 issue of the North American Hunter magazine.

Below are several member testimonials along with the test results:

“I would highly recommend the Yeti coolers to anyone interested in a cooler that will stand the test of time. The durable design and numerous add-ons make the Yeti one versatile tool in the field or boat!”  Matthew Breuer – Bemidji, MN

“This is the Ferrari of coolers.  As a Mechanical Engineer I can appreciate the well thought out design of the Yeti cooler.” Scott Haseman – Sweet Home, OR

“Built to last, keeps contents cool longer than the standard cooler which is very important on a long weekend.” Randy Howard – Anchorage, AK

“This is an incredible product! I fish in Kodiak Alaska, and more often than not, baggage and equipment get bumped from flight. My last trip had a two day delay before arriving in Anchorage, and yet everything was still cold and fresh! I cannot recommend this cooler highly enough” Robert B Petersen – Anchorage, AK

 “Yeti couldn’t have done a better job building and designing a cooler if they spent another year at it.”  Dennis Thomas – Poulsbo, WA

Brewing Up Something Sweet with Sweet Leaf Tea

Here at Yeti Coolers, we pride ourselves on making the finest coolers available.  We also love all the activities that involve using great coolers…from fishing, kayaking and hunting, to tailgating, concerts, birthday parties, and BBQ’s.  And what do we like to put in the world’s finest coolers?  Tasty beverages, especially those made with the same love and care as our coolers.

Enter the good folks at Sweet Leaf Tea. They make the some of the finest teas and drinks known to man, all from natural and organic ingredients.  They have also received some great press recently, including gracing the cover of Inc. Magazine.

We worked with Sweet Leaf Tea to produce some custom logo coolers for their marketing team to utilize for special events and in-store promotions.  The coolers look fantastic with the SLT logo.

 
Look at those beautiful coolers.

So far, the SLT coolers have made it to Lollapalooza in Chicago and Austin City Limits Festival right here in our own backyard.  You can even spot them on Sweet Leaf’s blog “The Sip”. 

Sweet Leaf van loading up their coolers at Yeti HQ.

Keep an eye out for a chance to win one of these coolers at an in-store promotion near you.  Drink more Sweet Leaf Tea!

YETI Coolers at ICAST

YETI at ICAST

Hatch Fly Reels

On a recent trip to San Diego, we paid a visit to our good friends at Hatch Outdoors.  Hatch makes some of the highest quality, most innovative and down right coolest fly reels available. Founder and CEO John Torok set out to make a premium reel that delivers in both performance and design.  From the ultralight 3+ to the tarpon-seething 12+, Hatch makes a reel for all needs.

As their website states: “Hatch was created for the hardcore and recreational angler alike. It’s dedicated to pioneers and pirates. It’s a brand whose sole focus is on providing the most stylish, high performance fly-fishing reels on the market today. And I think that’s just what we’ve done.”   

A batch of Hatch reels waiting to be anodized.

Andrew Dickinson gave us the grand tour of the Hatch HQ, including the manufacturing floor. Step by step, they transform solid blocks of aluminum into an incredible piece of fishing equipment.From the millworks floor, the final product is then assembled by hand and shipped out to your local fly shop.  

Hatch 12+ in the assembly room overlooking the factory floor.

As with Yeti Coolers, the best part of making a great product is actually putting it to use.  Coolers and reels typically go hand-in-hand with fun times, and here Andrew displays the fruits of his labors:

Andrew Dickinson shows off the bounty of fishing with Hatch reels. 

Yeti Coolers salutes the team at Hatch Outdoors for all their work in making a world-class product and company.  Thanks for hosting us, we hope to reciprocate sometime soon.

Cold Beer Here!

Earlier this month, we hosted some very cool visitors at Yeti Coolers World Headquarters. Matt Vincent, his wife Taylor, and Arlo Grammatica from Ska Brewing Company (Durango, CO) were in town for a marketing tour and paid us a visit between events. Ska makes some of the best beers around, so you can only imagine how happy we were to welcome them.

Roy lead Team Yeti in giving them the grand tour, walking them through all the benefits and advantages that make Yetis the finest premium coolers available. Blue even demonstrated a custom logo application, blow torch and all, which steered the conversation to their need to keep all that great beer cold, especially during events and beer festivals. No question the Tundra Series can help out there. In both durability and ice retention, the value of Yeti Coolers is evident and unsurpassed.

Caption: Roy showsMatt Vincent of SKA Brewing the finer points of the Yeti Coolers.

Good times were had by all. We got to sample some great beer, trade hats, and make some new friends. Thanks to Matt, Taylor and Arlo for a fun afternoon. All in all, it was a great day in the Yeti Nation.

Caption: Matt and Arlo check out the Tundra series with Roy.

Ice ‘Em Swimming

This is brought to you by Bryan Caswell from Reef Restaurant in Houston. Click here to visit their site.

The first hour after a fish is harvested is by far the most crucial time in its stored life. Proper procedure and care immediately after a fish is harvested can add three to six full days of shelf-life (depending on the varietal). As a fish cook and a fisherman, my processing etiquette on the boat can be flat-out obsessive but, if you follow these steps, you can enjoy your fresh-caught fish for well over a week and skip the sacrilege of sending them to the freezer.

1. DON’T PULL THEM GREEN

Horsing a fish will usually result in two things: one, he will break off, causing that heartbreaking, hollow numbness that instantly washes over your body after your line goes flaccid, leaving you with either excuses or rage; or two, he will tear up both the boat and his muscle fibers once inside the boat. Those torn muscle fibers result in blown blood vessels and soft or mushy protein. Take your time, enjoy, wear him out, there are no points for speed.

2. SWIFT AND INSTANT

Now is the time when speed and points come into play. If the fish is big enough to gaff, get him in the boat, pop him once, hard, right behind the eyes (gaff placement is key) — be swift and kind — then get him covered in ice, completely. If he is not gaff-size, then just put him straight into the ice. There are certain species that benefit greatly from bleeding; most of these fall into the large, faster-moving Pelagic-type fish, especially tuna which have the ability to control there own body temperature. During feeding frenzies their internal body temperature can rise to 85-90 degrees; bleeding greatly improves your ability to quickly lower their internal temperature (wahoo, sharks and large jacks do not share this ability but can still benefit from this technique).

3. ICE MANAGEMENT

You can never bring enough ice. You need to cover those babies like they’re wrapped in a wool blanket in the wintertime. I always start the day with one of my coolers filled with clean ice and the others half full. If time or space is an issue, check out those new Yeti’s – it’s a new breed of cooler whose insulation is far superior to any others. I use them both on the boat and in the kitchen. Saltwater slurries, which can reach temperatures well below freezing, are also an option for a quick chill.

4. DRAINAGE

Always roll with the cooler plug open. Standing water is your biggest enemy when it comes to proliferation of bacteria. Nothing could be worse than your fish sitting in water.

5. TIME ON ICE

Depending on the size of the fish, they need at least 3-6 hours on ice. Fish that have not had the opportunity to complete the cooling process and reach – and complete – full rigor will greatly affect ease of processing on the cleaning table and reduce your yield percentage. In many cases, with the muscle fibers still active, the meat of the filet will seize up, shrink and become extremely tough and spongy when cooked.

6. BACK AT THE DOCK

Here is where you have to make a very important decision: (1) Do you clean the fish at that dock table on top of the water-swollen, green plywood table-top in the hot, bright, afternoon sun? Or (2) Can you take them home to a controlled, clean, sanitized environment? If the answer is (2) then you first need to gut the fish and wash out the stomach cavity before heading home. If you do have to clean them at the dock, make sure you bring a large plastic cutting board and at least one large stainless sheet pan from a restaurant supply store. Also don’t be afraid to bring your own sanitizing solution (1 cap of bleach per gallon of water). As you separate the first filet from the bone, place it skin side down on the sheet pan; then place the second one flesh to flesh. After you complete the fish in this way, sanitize the board and then begin to take the skin off of each filet. The skin and scales are like a protective coating keeping bacteria from the flesh and, in turn, harbor most of these undesirables. Do whatever you can to keep the two from touching.

7. ICE ‘EM SWIMMING

Stack the fish head to tail like they are swimming in the ice. Do this one layer after another. Fish that have been cared for using the tips above and then iced correctly can last up to 1 ½ weeks and sometimes longer.

YETI Tundra cooler Receives Honorable Mention for Field & Streams Best of the Best.

Field & Stream magazine honors YETI Coolers.

Each year Field and Stream magazine takes the best of the new year’s hunting and fishing products and puts them through the torture test to determine “The Best of the Best.” These products rise above the others in innovative design, quality, and functionality. And of course, they have to live up to the demands of real outdoorsman who, in this case, are the picky, hard hunting and fishing, almost fanatical editors and staff at Field and Stream magazine. Well, the results are in and the winners of this extraordinarily grueling competition are detailed in the March 2009 issue.

For us in the industry, it is apparent that simply being in the test is an achievement on it’s own, because not everyone gets past the first review. But, in the end, Field and Stream took a close look at almost 500 entries divided into 11 categories. In the end, the Yeti Tundra got an honorable mention in the Fishing Accessories category. According to the Test Team at Field and Stream:

“Having spent a lifetime using cheap coolers with hinges and fasteners the inevitably break, I’m glad to see that the Yeti is built like the proverbial brick outhouse. There are 2 full inches of insulation inside the rotomolded body and lid. Hinges are recessed to avoid knocks, and the lid has a massive, freezer-type seal.”

Yeti Coolers Deemed Grizzly Bear Proof

The Interagency Grizzly Bear Committee (IGBC), a board overseen by the U.S. Forest Service, has tested the Yeti Tundra 250 qt cooler and approved it as a Grizzly-proof container. This means the entire line of Yeti Tundra Coolers (35, 45, 65, 85, 105, 120, 155 and now 250 qt.) have been deemed Grizzly-proof!“We’re proud to be the first cooler to survive the IGBC tests,” says Ryan Seiders, owner of Yeti Coolers,” and proud that our entire Tundra line has passed the tests.” The IGBC testing simulates bear attacks and then subjects products to an hour encounter with two adult Grizzly bears. The ultimate goal is to eliminate accidental bear feeding. Once a bear is fed, it will come back to a campsite, typically necessitating that the bear be destroyed. So, not only will a Yeti Cooler protect your food, it will protect the bears, as well.

Yeti’s Grizzly-proof durability is the result of polyethylene, one-piece, rotational-molded construction, which is the same material and process used to make whitewater kayaks. The lids are also one-piece, molded and attached to the cooler body with a metal rod through a full-length hinge. The cooler can be securely closed through integrated padlock ports on both front corners. Padlocks are required for the cooler to be bear-proof.

Yeti Tundra coolers are also known by outdoor experts as the best insulated coolers available, with commercial-grade, polyurethane foam insulation that’s four to six times thicker than other coolers.

Yeti Coolers – New 105qt Tundra

The new 105 quart Yeti Tundra is a bit different from other Tundra models in that it has a deeper, taller design as opposed to the more traditional, longer design. Because the 105 quart Tundra is deeper, you can pile more ice on its contents to keep them colder longer than in a long cooler. The deep cooler also has a smaller “footprint,” so it takes up less valuable deck space. It is ideal for under leaning posts or in front of center consoles and it fits better in the back of an SUV for those extended weekend camping or hunting trips.

The new Yeti Tundra 105 quart cooler measures 30 1/4″L x 18 7/8″ W and 19 1/2″H. It’s available in white or tan and carries a MAP of $399.99. For more detailed information on the 105qt. visit www.yeticoolers.com. For your pricing or any other information please give us a call at 512.394.9384.

The Jockey Box

This is brought to you by Zach at Riverhardware.com

This summer was my first experience with a jockey box. A friend brought one (and 4 pony kegs) on a Rogue trip and I couldn’t help but wonder “where has this thing been all my life?”

A jockey box is a cooler that transforms warm beer into cold beer. The beer enters the cooler, flows through 50-120 feet of stainless steel tube submberged in ice water, and flows out cold. Carbon Dioxide (CO2) pressurizes the whole system so beer flows at the exact moment you pull the faucet.

After this famous trip, I was talking with my friend Ken (an expert on beer) about the jockey box and he sent me the parts. Here’s the list:

1. Faucet (2) – To regulate the beer flow
2. Facuet Shank Assembly (2) – To attach the faucet to the box
3. Ice Box Shank Assembly (2) – To attach the beer from the keg to the box
4. Stainless Steel Cooling Coil (Right Hand)
5. Stainless Steel Cooling Coil (Left Hand)
6. Keg Coupler (2) – To tap the keg
7. Beer Hose (2) – This gets the beer from the tap to the box
8. Aluminum CO2 Cylinder
9. CO2 Regulator
10. Blue Vinyl Gas Hose – To go from CO2 tank to the coupler
11. Stepless Clamps (6) – for Gas Hose
12. Gas Hose T – To split the CO2 to go from one tank to 2 couplers
13. Faucet and Hex Nut Wrench – You’ll need this to tighten the faucet

We found that the ice water didn’t last long enough for a multi-day river trip like the Rogue. So I bought the best cooler in the world: Yeti Tundra 65 cooler. If you use an expensive cooler like this one, get ready for some nerve-wracking drilling. Your tasks:

1. Place the coils inside the cooler and measure where to drill your holes as accurately as possible. Drill the holes.
2. Cut PVC pipe to fit in these holes. You’ll want the PVC pipe holes because you’ll need to tighten down the shanks and you won’t want to collapse the sides of the cooler.
3. Use silicon to hold the PVC pipe in place and to fill the space between the cooler and the pipe.
4. Place the shanks in the PVC and tighten.

Once you’re cooler is ready and you’ve put all the parts together, you’re ready to test. Fill up your CO2 tank, get some kegs, and throw a party. And don’t forget to invite me. Some important things I learned the hard way:

• The CO2 needs to be between 30-35 psi
• The coils need to be covered with ice water (not just ice) or the beer will come out foamy
• You need to clean the whole system afterwards or it will get moldy