WADE-FISHING THE COASTAL WATERS of Texas and beyond would not be what it is today without Paul Perrin.

You might know him as the commanding presence selling Walk-N-Wade leg guards for stingray protection at sport shows in the 1980s and 90s, exclaiming, “You’re crazy if you don’t wear these!” Or touting some other frank endorsement.

Paul Perrin had a presence as big as Texas and although retired from the show circuit since 1998 due to a stroke, his legacy has only gained strength through time.

It carries on through his inventions and innovations that make Wade-fishing safe and more comfortable than it was when he founded Fish-N-Hunt Inc. with his wife Pat in 1984.

His inventing spirit soared after witnessing a friend get hit by a stingray on a beach in Mexico.

Perrin years ago told the story to outdoor writer Jerry Labella for his story, “Stingrays: A Wade-fisherman’s Nightmare”.

“After playing medic on a Mexican beach, I realized I was too old to go through the same thing he did,” Perrin recounted.

What ensued was experimentation with a variety of materials eventually settling on the kind used in bulletproof vests. And of course, eventually there was testing with a live stingray, which fortunately for Perrin proved successful.

“Dad definitely wasn’t afraid to experiment and that translated to the quality products we see today. He was always tinkering with something and refining things so it was functional and worked for the fishermen who were slugging it out wading day in and day out,” said his son Phil Perrin.

Phil said his father was not afraid to use fear as a selling tactic and often put photos of real life stingray strikes at his booth.

“He would tell people they were nuts not to protect themselves and had no fear in selling.”

Mark Jennings remembers meeting Perrin at a sports show in Houston when he first started wade-fishing and at first being taken aback by the descriptions of a stingray strike.

“I didn’t know if I should get into this Wade-fishing thing or not but after talking with Mr. Perrin I realized there was a way to protect myself. I never wade without one of his wading belts and always have stingray protection. I owe that to a chance meeting many years ago,” Jennings said.

“The gear holds up. I recently went to the new store and upgraded some of my equipment and was impressed with all the company has to offer now.”

That kind of testimony is greatly appreciated but common for the Perrins and the new owners of Fish-N-Hunt.

“Dad never met a stranger out there and was very good with people and really cared about helping protect them and make their fishing more comfortable. That was very important to him,” Phil Perrin said.

And so was fishing with his family and friends.

“We never lacked for an opportunity to enjoy the great outdoors and remember lots of good times on the water fishing for speckled trout and redfish.”

Besides taking his family and clients fishing, Paul Perrin made sure that those without the same opportunities his family had were able to enjoy these pursuits as well.

Bart Reece’s family bought insurance from Perrin and that relationship translated to one of mentoring in the great outdoors.

“My father had polio when he was a young man and could not take me hunting and fishing but Paul Perrin took the time to make sure I had opportunities to fish and that had a really big impact on me and it still does,” Reece said.

“It really says something about a man to take a young person under their wing like that and help them out.”

Letting go of Fish-N-Hunt was not an easy task for the Perrin’s not necessarily because of nostalgia or finances but because of their concern Paul’s inventions would continue to be made with quality.

“I have made much bigger deals with many other companies that took a whole lot less time to do. The Perrins wanted to be sure everything was going to be done just right and that is part of what makes doing business with them such a pleasure,” said Mac Delaup of Fish-N-Hunt.

Fish-N-Hunt continues with a commitment to its customers to provide exceptional fishing and hunting products, made of high quality materials for durability and use only proven innovative designs for functionality, comfort, and protection.

Operated by friends who have a passion for the great outdoors, Perrin’s tradition of developing and producing unique, functional and long lasting gear lives on through the company’s products being sold all along the Gulf Coast and in a new retail location at 5829 Sam Houston Parkway in Houston.

Besides the wading belts, nets, shooting blind bags, shotgun shell carriers and other unique amenities, they also make custom rods and carry Flatstalker Boats, American Rodsmiths Rods, Brown Lures, a variety of sporting art along with Got Tail and CCA licensed apparel.

“This is a great place with lots of great gear for anyone with a love for coastal fishing,” said renowned coastal artist Sam Caldwell who attended a special event there last August to celebrate Perrin’s life.

“You know people will benefit from Paul Perrin’s innovations for many, many years. Every time someone steps into their waders to wade-fish, they will be using something he invented or that one of his inventions inspired. Whether the anglers know it or not he has made their fishing easier and safer and that is quite a legacy to pass on.”

Paul Perrin may have started out to simply solve a problem he saw but instead he has fundamentally changed Wade-fishing forever. His works are still benefiting the many people he came into contact with, and so many more through dogged determination, an entrepreneurial spirit, and a giving heart.

See an extended video tribute to Paul and Pat Perrin at www.fishgame.com/video