I was fortunate to attend the event live in 2015 and 2016. This year I decided not to attend in person and experienced ICAST from a different perspective. Social media has grown massively and the coverage is incredible online, although being at home and observing isn't nearly as much fun as being there in person. You never know who you will run into in the aisles or at the fishing industry related seminars offered. Meeting and seeing fishing show hosts I've idolized since I was young, shows I still watch, and talking fishing with them is one of the neatest things I have enjoyed. But seeing the social feeds and in-depth media coverage has kept me up to date on the pulse of the industry. Familiar faces and top pros explain what went into the creation and innovation of products they have tested and tweaked over the past year (or years in some cases). They share the passion and hard work that goes into products that help us all enjoy our time on the water and catch more fish.
A three hour gala prior to the show opening - the New Product Showcase sorted into 24 categories - is open to all buyers and media. There are category awards for best of show. Manufacturers have all the new products in categories from Fresh Water; Salt Water & Fly Fishing; Rods; Reels; Hard and Soft Lures; Lifestyle Apparel; Technical Apparel; Footwear; Boats; Boating Accessories; Rod & Reel combo; Electric product; Eyewear; Fishing Accessories; Fly Fishing Accessory; Fishsmart; Giftware; Kids Tackle; Fishing Line; Tackle Management; and Terminal Tackle.
Every year limits are pushed, and innovations bring forth all the cool new products we see on store shelves in the coming year. A category win is not only a big achievement for a company at the show, it will drive bookings from dealers and customer demand for the product.
I can’t wait to get my hands on some of the new product I've seen from this year’s show:
13 Fishing has a new Concept Z bait caster that they say is the smoothest, furthest casting reel they have made yet and it features polymer CZB bearings.
In the Freshwater Rod Category, their new Fate Black series took down top honors with top end tapers and designs at a budget price.
Northland Tackle has a new Butterfly Spinner Blade that looks great for pulling behind a bouncer at slow speeds, and a new Gloshot jigging spoon that you push a mini glow stick into that lights up for hours will be hot under the ice.
Humminbird’s new Solix 15” sonars look incredible with their touch screens and fully customizable displays that equal having 4 seven inch units packed into one unit with MEGA imaging.
MinnKota released a new design for their Tallon anchor lineup that will hold a boat in 15 feet of water.
Last year’s winner of the terminal tackle category, Trapper Tackle, followed it up with a bang revealing their new Round Bend Treble that won Best Terminal Tackle for 2017. It features an innovative hook design that keeps bait and fish securely hooked at all times.
AquaVu has a new HD10i viewing system featuring HD video with incredible picture quality. The perch are going to have a tough time hiding from me this winter and the video I will take of them will be crystal clear up on a big screen TV.
The first major event to kick off ICAST is the ICAST Cup. It features professional anglers teamed up with a media member and an industry professional fishing a one day bass tournament on Lake Toho run by FLW Outdoors. It has the same feel of a FLW Tour event. Last year, my friends and actors Quinton Aaron and Josh Emerson attended ICAST with me and fished the ICAST Cup. Quinton fished with renowned Florida pro angler Tom Mann Jr and placed 5th in his first ever bass tournament. The FLW also has live coverage during the show and interviewed Josh and Quinton about the FLW Cup, fishing, current projects and Quinton’s anti-bullying foundation and the school speaking tour he does. We have a fishing project collaboration currently in the works for 2018.
If the fishing industry is your passion, you want to attend this show in some capacity in your lifetime. It’s hard to comprehend how a large a show it actually is until you spend the entire three days walking the show floor and still barely get to see it all! It truly is a Fisherman’s Christmas in July.