Our First Trip to ICAST 2017

Our First Trip to ICAST 2017

July 13, 2017 Orlando, FL - It was a surreal moment walking into the Convention Center in Sunny Orlando Florida to attend the International Convention of Allied Sportfishing Trades show, better known as ICAST. We were among many other media, exhibitors and manufacturers that gathered in Orlando to attend this worldwide conference. This year ICAST hosted about 500 exhibitors and had about 15,000 people registered for the show, including  people from over 70 countries.

On the Water Demonstrations

On Tuesday, we attended the On the Water event which allowed media and buyers the opportunity to test out new products.  This was held at the Orange County Convention Center North Campus.  There were many booths exhibiting their new items. During the demonstrations we had the opportunity to test out the Ultraskiff 360, the first and only patented portable round boat.  As you can see from the video below, it is very durable and has the ability to withhold rocking without tipping over. BOTE was also featuring their new Rover at ICAST, a paddleboard and microskiff in one.  This uniquely engineered product ended up winning Best of Show in the New Product Showcase.  You can read more about the specs for this amazing product here.  Throughout the event we also stopped and talked with Trapper Tackle who were debutting their Trapper Round Bend Treble hook and American Tackle demonstrating their JIGSKINZ “ProSkinz Color Series”.

New Product Showcase 

Capitol Outdoors was able to attend the New Product Showcase, where companies were debuting their new products.  There were so many different lures, reels, fishing poles, accessory items, electronics and apparel for us to look at.  When we were looking over all the items the depth of how big this industry is sunk in.   Our knowledge of the fishing industry has just grazed the surface.  It was interesting looking at all the various products and learning from the top companies in this industry.  There were products for saltwater fishing, freshwater fishing, deep sea fishing, bass fishing, commercial fishing; you name it and it was there. New Product Showcase winners were announced at the Chairman's Industry Award Reception on Wednesday night.   Below is the ICAST Press Release regarding the New Product Showcase Winners.

Best Tackle Management - DAIWA

Best Terminal Tackle- Trapper Tackle

2017 ICAST New Product Showcase Award Winners

For product details, images and other information please contact the individual award winners’ contacts listed below.

Click here to view the Best of Category Winners.

ICAST 2017 Overall Best of Show – Bote
Product: Rover

Best of Category – Boating Accessories – Yeti Coolers
Product: LoadOut Bucket

Best of Category – Boats and Watercraft – Bote
Product: Rover

Best of Category – Eyewear – Costa
Product: The Sunrise Mirror Lens

Best of Category – Footwear – Huk Performance Fishing
Product: Attack

Best of Category – Giftware – The Catch and Release Print Shop
Product: Fish Prints – Actual Size

Best of Category – Lifestyle Apparel – Frogg Toggs
Product: Prym1 Series Pilot II Jacket & Bibs

Best of Category – Technical Apparel – Frogg Toggs
Product: Sierran Transition Wader

Best of Category – Electronics – Johnson Outdoors Marine Electronics, Inc.
Product: SOLIX 15 CHIRP MEGA SI GPS

Best of Category – Fishing Accessory – YETI Coolers
Product: Panga Duffel

Best of Category – Fly Fishing Accessory – Simms Fishing Products
Product: G3 Guide™ Stockingfoot Wader

Best of Category – Fishing Line – Pure Fishing Inc.
Product: Berkley Fireline Ultra 8

Best of Category – FishSmart – Eagle Claw Fishing Tackle
Product: 2017 Flounder Sample Pack

Best of Category – Kids’ Tackle – 13 Fishing
Product: Ambition Combo

Best of Category – Tackle Management – Daiwa Corporation
Product: Tactical Backpack

Best of Category – Terminal Tackle – Trapper Tackle
Product: Trapper Round Bend Treble

Best of Category – Freshwater Hard Lure – Okuma Fishing Tackle Corp.
Product: Savage Gear 3D Topwater Bat

Best of Category – Saltwater Hard Lure – Rapala
Product: X-Rap Magnum 40

Best of Category – Freshwater Soft Lure – Lunkerhunt LP
Product: Prop Series

Best of Category – Saltwater Soft Lure – LIVETARGET
Product: LIVETARGET Hollow Body Mullet

Best of Category – Fly Reel – Pure Fishing, Inc.
Product: Pflueger Supreme QRS Fly Reel

Best of Category – Freshwater Reel – Shimano American Corp.
Product: Curado K Baitcasting Reel

Best of Category – Saltwater Reel – Shimano American Corp.
Product: Sustain Reels C4000/5000

Best of Category – Rod & Reel Combo – Lew’s Fishing Tackle
Product: Mach Crush Speed Spool Combo

Best of Category – Fly Fishing Rod – G. Loomis, Inc.
Product: IMX-Pro Fly Rod

Best of Category – Freshwater Rod – 13 Fishing
Product: Fate Black

Best of Category – Saltwater Rod – St. Croix Rods
Product: Legend Tournament Inshore

Exhibition
The showroom floor was overwhelming to say the least, exciting but overwhelming. The best way to describe our initial feeling was that we felt like plankton in this huge ocean.  Every row we walked up there were bigger fish and as we continued throughout the show the fish just got bigger and bigger. It may sound funny, but that is how we felt.  It was humbling, educational and exhilarating. Attending the show motivated us to dive deeper and deeper into the fishing industry to learn all we can about these products, companies and different types of fishing.

Meeting New People and Reconnecting with Old Friends
The great thing about this show is that you are able to meet new friends and reconnect with old ones.   We stopped by the American Tackle Company Booth and talked with our good friend Jim Crowley from HookandHuntTV.com where he was debuting his new rod the Jimmy Stix.

And thanks to Rob Danielson from Angler Assets for suggesting we stop by a rod booth. We met some great people at the Spiralite Custom Rod Booth, where they were featuring their new Spiralite rods.  While learning about this unique eye set-up, we were able to talk with Elite-Series Pro Brock Mosley who is sponsored by Angler Assets and Spiralite Rods among many others.

Brock Mosley

Growing up, fishing was always my go to activity. Spending time watching the professionals on TV and learning as much as I could was something that was truly enjoyed.  It was a surreal moment to be among some of the legends and up-in-comers in a sport that I have been watching since I was a young kid. The great thing is that you are able to talk in depth with some of the people that you have been following in the fishing industry.  One of those is Nicole Jacobs.  She is an FLW angler, leader in women's fishing and a role model for young women everywhere.  Nicole believes in Catching Memories, by getting kids involved in fishing and has a line of rods and reel combos at a Walmart near you.

See you Next Year
 ICAST 2018 will again be held at the Orange County Convention Center in Orlando, Florida from July 10 – 13, 2018.  You better believe that we will be attending again.  We are going into next year with a better sense of what we are up against and again will bring you the best coverage possible.