There are some places that become part of who you are. For us, the Upper South Platte River and its surrounding watershed is one of them. We’ve fished these waters. We’ve explored these forests. We’ve also watched wildfire reshape Colorado landscapes and seen communities rally together to protect the places they love.
Over the years, Isoterics has grown around a simple belief that the places that give us so much deserve something in return.
This October, we’re incredibly proud to introduce one of the most meaningful collaborations we’ve ever created. A limited-edition hat collection from Isoterics Apparel and R.L. Winston Fly Rods benefitting the Upper South Platte Partnership.
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The Mission Behind the Hat
The Upper South Platte isn’t simply a fishing destination.The watershed encompasses nearly 1.2 million acres and supplies an estimated 80–90% of the drinking water used by the greater Denver/Aurora metro area. It’s home to communities including Bailey, Conifer, Deckers, Evergreen, Genesee, Woodland Park and others, while supporting recreation, wildlife habitat and renowned Gold Medal fishing waters.
Protecting something this complex can’t be accomplished by a single organization, and that’s where USPP comes in.
The Upper South Platte Partnership was formally organized in 2015 and today brings organizations and professionals together to work across boundaries toward healthier forests, resilient landscapes, fire-adapted communities and effective wildfire response.
And the work is tangible.
USPP reports that its 2023 Rocky Mountain Restoration Initiative accomplishments included 2,274 acres of forest treatments, 305 acres treated with prescribed fire by the U.S. Forest Service, 292 home inspections and 930 properties participating in chipping programs through four fire protection districts.
Those numbers represent something much larger. It’s people working together to make Colorado more resilient.
Turning Their Story Into Something You Can Wear
When we began designing this collection, we didn’t want to simply place three logos on a hat. We wanted the design to mean something.
Our BWO patch hat celebrates the Blue Winged Olive, a staple hatch on the South Platte. The design is intentionally clean and timeless, connecting the fly-fishing community with the organizations working to protect the landscape surrounding these waters.
Our Topo Trout patch hat goes deeper. Within the trout silhouette are topographic lines pulled from the Upper South Platte drainage, intertwining the fish, river and landscape into a single design. Because healthy fisheries don’t begin at the riverbank. They begin upstream with healthy forests, healthy watersheds, resilient communities, and the people willing to care for them.
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Why R.L.Winston Fly Rods?
At Isoterics Apparel, protecting the places we love is at the core of everything we do, and teaming up with R.L. Winston Rod Company was an easy call.
Based in Twin Bridges, Montana, and founded in 1929, Winston has spent nearly a century crafting some of the finest fly rods available for both freshwater and saltwater angling. Conservation is truly in Winston’s DNA—they’ve historically directed up to 10% of their rod and reel sales toward Trout Unlimited and wildlife preservation programs, and they’re now backing accessory sales as well. Teaming up on these limited-edition hats lets us join forces to support the Upper South Platte Partnership and keep our local waters thriving for generations to come.
Together, we’re able to bring this story beyond the organizations already working in forest health and watershed management and into the broader outdoor and flyfishing communities.
100% of Profits Go Back
This is the part we’re most proud of. Isoterics is donating 100% of the profits from this collection back to the Upper South Platte Partnership.
Coming October 2026
The limited-edition Isoterics × USPP × Winston collection launches this October. Quantities will be limited. When you wear one, we hope someone asks you about it. Tell them about the watershed. And tell them about the people working together to protect it.
Wear the watershed. Share the story. Support the work.
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Photo Credit: Jakob Burleson | https://www.jakobburlesonphotography.com/about
