The tunes of the Grateful Dead are often heard on the water, whether it’s a drift boat, or a center console blasting offshore.

Simms Fishing Products and the Grateful Dead just announced a partnership and new line of gear that’s a confluence of fishing culture and the free-spirited ethos of counterculture music, embodied in the aptly named “Dead On The Water” collection. This limited-edition line marries the technical prowess of Simms’ renowned craftsmanship with the laidback ethos embraced by Deadheads the world over.

Ben Christensen, Head of Simms, says the collaboration as born from “feeling, not formulas.” The collection is an effort to capture the shared spirit of fishing and music — those immersive experiences that not only quiet the noise but focus our minds and free our spirits. It is this synergy that draws the parallels between casting a line and following the improvisational melodies of the Grateful Dead, whose music has long served as an inspiring backdrop to the angler’s journey.

At the heart of the Dead On The Water collection is the GD Guide Wader based on the G3 Guide platform, renowned for its durability and comfort. The waders are adorned with Grateful Dead-inspired details, making them not only functional but also a statement piece. Alongside this flagship product, the collection includes an array of gear that embodies the angling lifestyle. These include classic and technical headwear, cotton tees, and sun hoodies, each designed to keep both functionality and style at the forefront, whether you’re on the river or at a festival.

The collaboration is based on movement — both the physical movement of a river’s current and the metaphorical journey music can take us on. The Grateful Dead’s music, characterized by its improvisational style and emotional depth, mirrors the unpredictability and raw beauty of fishing. Just as no two performances by the Dead were ever the same, each cast and each day on the water offers a new and unique experience.