Stay posted for reviews from this year’s ICAST fishing trade show in Orlando!
Our nuggets from last year…
ICAST Celebrates Largest Show Ever
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New Fishing Products Plus Big Plans to Grow the Angler Base
Women Represent 47% of First-Time Anglers
Fla. Gov. Rick Scott visits ICAST.
Almost 13,000 fishing industry representatives visited the largest-ever ICAST (International Convention of Allied Sportfishing Trades) to see the latest and greatest of fishing equipment and technology. Joining the crowd at the Orange County Convention Center, Orlando, FL July 14-17 were fishing celebrities and government officials including Florida Governor Rick Scott.
At the Industry Breakfast, Mike Nussman, CEO of the American Sportfishing Association (ASA) vowed to grow the nation’s angler base from 46 to 60 million in the next five years through the R3 program of angler Recruitment, Retention and Reactivation. To kick-start their R3 campaign, the ASA partnered with Disney, the Recreational Boating & Fishing Foundation (RBFF, TakeMeFishing.org, VamosaPescar.org) and the Boy Scouts of America. Nussman advised the industry to simplify license purchases by utilizing Amazon.com and cited other campaigns such as an interactive map for fishing locations and the “Pitch It” campaign, launched by the Keep Florida Fishing Initiative.
The 2015 Special Report on Fishing released by the RBFF indicated 47 percent of first-time fishing participants are female, reinforcing the women’s side of the market on the industry’s radar.
In addition to the new fishing and boating gear, ICAST 2015 featured new fishing technology, technical clothing, sunglasses and kayaks. The staff of “Ladies, Let’s Go Fishing!” (LLGF) visited many exhibits to look for products suitable for the market of women, families and beginner anglers.
Betty Bauman, LLGF Founder, commented, “Based on input from our 8,000 fishing university graduates, women are seeking functionality and ease of use in fishing gear. Appearance ranks highly but is second in importance.” Bauman mentioned trends she noticed, such as woven fabrics versus knits in apparel plus a plethora of developments in camera technology and cell phone apps. “Ladies, Let’s Go Fishing!” conducts educational events for women and families to learn fishing and conservation through an immersion program encompassing a weekend of classroom presentations, hands-on skill practice, networking and options to go charter boat fishing. More information is on www.ladiesletsgofishing.com.
While the show was too immense to include every product, here are the notable products they found.
Aegis Life shirt – Life vest built into the shirt
AFTCO Manufacturing Co., Inc. – New Active Sports line, wide variety of apparel with Guy Harvey fish designs
Amphibia Eye Gear – Floating sunglasses
Aqua Vu – Underwater cameras linked to monitors for top deck viewing and to monitor what is under the boat up to 50″ below the surface
Arctic Distribution – Ice products that freeze at different temperatures to keep food frozen without the use of dry ice
Avet Reels – New conventional reel with dolphin graphics
Bay Rat Lures- New company with hard plastic lures with variety of lip sizes
Beyond Coastal – Waterproof sunscreen
Big Rock Sports, LLC- New lightweight graphite rod
Boomerang Tool Company – Snips that cut braided line with re-tractor, fresh and saltwater varieties. Easy to use and secure to your shirt, tackle box or boat.
Breathe Like a Fish – New moisture wicking shirts with side mesh in pink, blue and green cammo, plus short sleeve performance shirts
Bubba Blade – Serrated filet knife for large fish – grouper, yellowtail and more
Bucket Innovations – Buckets with art designs such as Don Ray
Chums – Non-greasy water-resistant sun screen
Clear Bags – Largest supplier of clear bags available to protect electronics and more
Cortland Line – Liquid Crystal Guide Taper fly lines good for saltwater fly fishing, variety of weights and colors.
Costa – New line of ladies eyewear to come in the fall, plus Kick Plastic campaign to use reusable bottles and prevent plastic trash on the seas and beaches.
Cush It by Luna Sea – New Leader Mate for conveniently wrapping leader and storing sinkers, attaches to rod
Cuda Fishing Tools – Colorful fish measuring decals
Dermatone – All day protection sunscreen from harmful UV rays for the entire family
Eagle Claw Fishing Tackle – New line of fishing accessories, fishing kits, Laser Tools including dehookers
Eposeidon Outdoor Adventures, Inc. – Best in Show for Kast King light weight rod rack. Affordable polymer line.
Fatsack Outdoors – Log your catch from your phone to post, offering tackle supplies, calendar, brag board and more
Fiiish – Soft plastic baits with metal head, replicates life-like bait swimming action
Fillet Claw – Holds fish in place to get a perfect fillet while keeping hands and fingers safe
FWC Florida Boat Ramp Finder – Find location of Florida boat ramps at www.myfwc.com/boatramps
Flying Fisherman – Light weight, durable Rhino lenses, logos with variable price range of sunglasses for consumers of all ages
Frogg Toggs – Waterproof apparel in new, bright colors, Chilly Sport neck and headband
Gary Yamamoto – New line of custom baits
Glacier Glove – New line of ladies fishing gloves
Go Puck – Portable power to charge your phone and camera at same time with 2 amp charging power
Hi-liner/Momoi – New Diamond Illusion Spectra Select Super Line Pink braid for spinning and casting
Hook & Tackle Outfitters – New microfiber ladies shorts and back vents in moisture wicking shirts
Huk – Huk Kryptek Icon Shirt with mesh underarm and side/back ventilation
Johnson Oudoors – Minn Kota Predator – Predator XL that can be used as motorized or non motorized. Motor lifts up, many features for kayak anglers. Foot controlled rudder for more hands-free operation
Johnson Outdoors – Minn Kota – Minn Kota’s Riptide Ulterra — the saltwater version of the company’s auto stow/deploy trolling motor
Johnson Outdoors – Talon – Compact 8-foot Talon shallow-water anchor. Low profile three-stage design at only 14 inches high shortens the Talon’s profile by 16 inches
Johnson Outdoors – Humminbird – Value Priced Helix 7 with side and down imaging, bigger, brighter, nearly glare-free screen, plus Onix large-screen series
LL Bean – Storage and travel case for spinning rods and 5 & 8 wt aqua fly rods for women. Tropic Wear Apparel with UV protection, shirts, shorts, Capri, skorts, zip off pants.
Mustad – New sublimation design shirts, new jig heads including Elite series with finer finish and UV eyes, new braided line, new tools, knives, trigger dehookers and dry bags
Mustang Survival, Inc. – New light weight auto deploy Elite 28K life vest with molle military-style system for fishing gear storage
Navionics, Inc.- Sonar Chart Live for personal maps on mobile phones/tablets with HD bathymetry map
Orca – Pink coolers that keep food cold for days
PELAGIC, Inc. – Polarized optics, new board shorts and fish print bikinis
Plano Synergy – A multitude of new soft sided tackle storage in different colors including pink, turquoise and gray bags
Popticals – Wrap around sunglasses that fold into palm size for for portability
Pure Fishing, Inc. – Reinventing Spider Wire braid with multi colored line. New Penn battle-oriented “Choose Your Weapon” named reels and combos such as Penn Clash to tackle anything from trout to tarpon. Penn conventional reels are now available in silver as well as gold color. Performance shirts for men and women with regional fish, uv vented fishing shirts, hats and visors, some in pink.
Rapala – New Storm Arashi inshore lures extra strong for saltwater, Storm Topwalker, lighted marker buoy, UV colors in lures, Williamson Lightweight Travel Rod Belt great for kayaks
Real X Gear – Electronic chargers, cooling towels, visors and more
Seaguar – Flippin tight weave braid
SMITH Optics – New women’s glasses and popular Chromapop lenses
Star Brite – Vinyl Guard and Screen Cleaner Protector to use on screen surfaces, sunglasses and more
Sunsect Inc. – Sunscreen with insect repellant
T Allen Rods – New line of top quality pink rods for women
Tackle Taco – Unique taco-shaped clear vinyl enclosure to keep lures from getting tangled when storing rods
Taylor Made – Fenders with color swirls and Hot Spot Fishing Marker Buoy
Under Armour, Inc. – Lightweight microfiber gray cammo shirts with zippered pockets
Wave spin – New Division 65 reel hold 300 yards of 50# braid, 10 disk drag, Wave Spin Technology for the big fish
Wiley X, Inc. – New line of impact resistant sunglasses
Yeti Coolers – New Rambling Low Ball stainless steel cup, 12,000 cubic inch Tundra 210 cooler
Look for these products on the shelves soon! Following are the ICAST Best of Show awards:
ICAST 2015 Overall Best of Show – Eddyline Kayaks
Product: eddyline C-135 YakAttack Edition
Best of Show – Freshwater Rod – G. Loomis, Inc.
Product: E6X Bass
Best of Show – Saltwater Rod – St. Croix Rods
Product: Avid Inshore
Best of Show – Fly Fishing Rod – St. Croix Rods
Product: Mojo Bass Fly
Best of Show – Freshwater Reel – Shimano American Corporation
Product: STRADIC C3000HG-K
Best of Show – Saltwater Reel – Pure Fishing, Inc.
Penn Reels now come in silver, too!
Product: PENN Clash
Best of Show – Fly Reel – Pure Fishing, Inc.
Product: New Pflueger Medalist Fly Reel
Best of Show – Hard Lure – Savage Gear
Product: Hard Shrimp
Best of Show – Soft Lure – Koppers Fishing
Product: LIVETARGET Hollow Body Sunfish
Best of Show – Lifestyle Apparel – Under Armour, Inc.
Product: UA Storm Covert Pant
Best of Show – Technical Apparel – Lifeshirt
Product: Aegis Lifeshirt
Best of Show – Boating Accessories – YETI Coolers
Product: YETI Hopper 20
Ready to go with Plano.
Best of Show – Boats – eddyline kayaks
Product: eddyline C-135 YakAttack Edition
Best of Show – Combo – Lew’s Fishing Tackle
Product: Mach 1 Combo
Best of Show – Electronics -Johnson Outdoors
Product: Humminbird HELIX 7 SI
Best of Show – Eyewear – Costa
Product: Rooster
Best of Show – Fishing Accessory – RinseKit
Product: RinseKit
Best of Show – FishSmart – Release Ruler
Product: Freshwater Release Rulers
Best of Show – Fly Fishing Accessory – Simms Fishing Products
Product: G3 Guide Stockingfoot
Best of Show – Footwear – Simms Fishing Products
Product: Current Shoes
Best of Show – Giftware – YOLOtek Product:PowerStick
Best of Show – Kids’ Tackle – Steinhauser, LLC
Product: Tangle-FREE Combo
Best of Show – Line – PowerPro
Product: Maxcuatro
Best of Show – Tackle Management – Eposeidon Outdoor Adventures, Inc.
Product: KastKing Rack ’em Up Rod Racks
Best of Show – Terminal Tackle – Eagle Claw Fishing Tackle
Product: Lazer Sharp Fillet Knife
ICAST 2016 will be held at the Orange County Convention Center, Orlando, Fla., July 12 – 15, 2016. For complete ICAST information, visit www.ICASTfishing.org . Please note ICAST is not a retail show – it is for the industry where manufacturers show and sell their products to retailers.
