BOTE wins “Best of Show” during the world’s largest sportfishing trade show
The world’s largest sportfishing trade show, the International Convention of Allied Sportfishing Trades, better known as ICAST, is now in full swing (July 11 – 14), at the Orange County Convention Center Orlando, Fla.
Produced by the American Sportfishing Association (ASA), the industry’s trade association, ICAST – in its 60th year as the industry’s trade show – is the annual destination for representatives from the global recreational fishing industry to see the latest innovations in tackle, gear, accessories and apparel.
This year is the second year that the National Marine Manufacturers Association is hosting a Marine Accessories Pavilion on the show floor. The American Fly Fishing Trade Association is, once again, co-locating its International Fly Tackle Dealer show with ICAST.
One of the most important features for ICAST exhibitors and attendees alike is the New Product Showcase. The New Product Showcase, sponsored by Fishing Tackle Retailer, embodies the sportfishing industry’s innovative and entrepreneurial spirit and rewards that ingenuity through the New Product Showcase awards competition.
This year, 1263 products, accessories and apparel were entered by 280 companies into 26 “Best of Category” awards in the New Product Showcase, all vying for the overall ICAST 2017 “Best of Show” award. This year, the Lure category was divided into hard and soft Freshwater and Saltwater lures.
Best of Show Awards BOTE’s Rover was voted by buyers and media as the best product in both the Boat Accessories category and the overall “Best of Show.”
“My congratulations go to all of the winners and everyone who participated in the New Product Showcase. The entrepreneurial spirit that exists within our member companies is what adds excitement to the fishing experience,” said ASA President and CEO Mike Nussman. “I also thank Fishing Tackle Retailer for their sponsorship of this important event.”
“This year we are living up to our reputation as the world’s largest sportfishing trade show,” said Trade Show Director Blake Swango. “We are just shy of 15,000 registered show attendees.”
Swango also noted, “This year we saw a number of new products being entered into the New Product Showcase which will certainly have an impact on the 2017 and 2018 markets. I also want to congratulate our New Product Showcase award winners and thank all our member companies who submitted products for judging. You’re all winners to me!”
The ICAST 2017 “Best of Show” awards, sponsored by Costa, were presented on Wednesday, July 12, during the Chairman’s Industry Awards Reception at the Orange County Convention Center.
2017 ICAST New Product Showcase Award Winners For product details, images and other information please contact the individual award winners’ contacts listed below.
ICAST 2017 Overall Best of Show – Bote Product: Rover Media Contact: Will Morgan [email protected]
Best of Category – Boating Accessories – Yeti Coolers Product: LoadOut Bucket Media Contact: Lauren Phillips [email protected]
Best of Category – Boats and Watercraft – Bote Product: Rover Media Contact: Will Morgan [email protected]
Best of Category – Eyewear – Costa Product: The Sunrise Mirror Lens Media Contact: Matt Aboussie [email protected]
Best of Category – Footwear – Huk Performance Fishing Product: Attack Media Contact: Chris Ellis [email protected]
Best of Category – Giftware – The Catch and Release Print Shop Product: Fish Prints – Actual Size Media Contact: Michael Emerson [email protected]
Best of Category – Lifestyle Apparel – Frogg Toggs Product: Prym1 Series Pilot II Jacket & Bibs Media Contact: Scott Brandon [email protected]
Best of Category – Technical Apparel – Frogg Toggs Product: Sierran Transition Wader Media Contact: Scott Brandon [email protected]
Best of Category – Electronics – Johnson Outdoors Marine Electronics, Inc. Product: SOLIX 15 CHIRP MEGA SI GPS Media Contact: Ryan Chuckel [email protected]
Best of Category – Fishing Accessory – YETI Coolers Product: Panga Duffel Media Contact: Lauren Phillips [email protected]
Best of Category – Fly Fishing Accessory – Simms Fishing Products Product: G3 Guide™ Stockingfoot Wader Media Contact: John Frazier [email protected]
Best of Category – Fishing Line – Pure Fishing Inc. Product: Berkley Fireline Ultra 8 Media Contact: Megan Friedman [email protected]
Best of Category – FishSmart – Eagle Claw Fishing Tackle Product: 2017 Flounder Sample Pack Media Contact: Nickie Kiefer [email protected]
Best of Category – Kids’ Tackle – 13 Fishing Product: Ambition Combo Media Contact: Jose Chavez [email protected]
Best of Category – Tackle Management – Daiwa Corporation Product: Tactical Backpack Media Contact: Curt Arakawa [email protected]
Best of Category – Terminal Tackle – Trapper Tackle Product: Trapper Round Bend Treble Media Contact: Vince Hurtado [email protected]
Best of Category – Freshwater Hard Lure – Okuma Fishing Tackle Corp. Product: Savage Gear 3D Topwater Bat Media Contact: Dave Brown [email protected]
Best of Category – Saltwater Hard Lure – Rapala Product: X-Rap Magnum 40 Media Contact: Bob Ringer [email protected]
Best of Category – Freshwater Soft Lure – Lunkerhunt LP Product: Prop Series Media Contact: Jesse Bleeman [email protected]
Best of Category – Saltwater Soft Lure – LIVETARGET Product: LIVETARGET Hollow Body Mullet Media Contact: Gary Abernethy [email protected]
Best of Category – Fly Reel – Pure Fishing, Inc. Product: Pflueger Supreme QRS Fly Reel Media Contact: Megan Friedman [email protected]
Best of Category – Freshwater Reel – Shimano American Corp. Product: Curado K Baitcasting Reels Media Contact: John Mazurkiewicz [email protected]
Best of Category – Saltwater Reel – Shimano American Corp. Product: Sustain Reels C4000/5000 Media Contact: John Mazurkiewicz [email protected]
Best of Category – Rod & Reel Combo – Lew’s Fishing Tackle Product: Mach Crush Speed Spool Combo Media Contact: Gary Dollahon [email protected]
Best of Category – Fly Fishing Rod – G. Loomis, Inc. Product: IMX-Pro Fly Rod Media Contact: John Mazurkiewicz [email protected]
Best of Category – Freshwater Rod – 13 Fishing Product: Fate Black Media Contact: Jose Chavez [email protected]
Best of Category – Saltwater Rod – St. Croix Rods Product: Legend Tournament Inshore Media Contact: Dena Vick [email protected]
First Runners-Up
First Runner-Up – Boating Accessories – Johnson Outdoors Marine Electronics, Inc. Product: Talon Shallow Water Anchor – 15 ft Media Contact: Ryan Chuckel [email protected]
First Runner-Up – Boats and Watercraft – Live Watersports Product: Live L4Expedition – Realtree Edition Media Contact: John Cleckner [email protected]
First Runner-Up – Eyewear – Maui Jim Sunglasses Product: Kanaio Coast Style #766 Media Contact: Stephanie Proos [email protected]
First Runner-Up – Footwear – Simms Fishing Products Product: Challenger Mid Boat Shoe – Waterproof Media Contact: John Frazier [email protected]
First Runner-Up – Giftware – L’il Sucker Products, Inc. Product: Insulator Media Contact: William Kelly [email protected]
First Runner-Up – Lifestyle Apparel – Simms Fishing Products Product: SolarFlex® Armor Shirt Media Contact: John Frazier [email protected]
First Runner-Up – Technical Apparel – Simms Fishing Products Product: Contender Insulated Jacket Media Contact: John Frazier [email protected]
First Runner-Up – Electronics – Lowrance-Navico Product: Lowrance HDS Carbon 16 Media Contact: Andrew Golden [email protected]
First Runner-Up – Fishing Accessory – Rapala Product: Mag Spring Pliers Media Contact: Bob Ringer [email protected]
First Runner-Up – Fly Fishing Accessory – Phoenix Inventors, LLC Product: The SimpliFLY Media Contact: Ken Lewis [email protected]
First Runner-Up – Fishing Line – Rapala Product: Sufix 832 – Coastal Camo Media Contact: Bob Ringer [email protected]
First Runner-Up – FishSmart – Adventure Products, Inc. Product: EGO Kryptek S2 Slider Landing Net – Medium Clear Rubber Media Contact: Grant Corbett [email protected]
First Runner-Up – Kids’ Tackle – Anything Possible Product: Steinhauser Tangle-FREE Pocket Combo Media Contact: Ralph Duda [email protected]
First Runner-Up – Tackle Management – Plano Synergy Product: KVD Signature Bag Media Contact: Angelica Vasquez [email protected]
First Runner-Up – Terminal Tackle – American Tackle Company Product: JIGSKINZ “ProSkinz Color Series” Media Contact: Darrin Heim [email protected]
First Runner-Up – Freshwater Hard Lure – Rapala Product: RipStop Media Contact: Bob Ringer [email protected]
First Runner-Up – Saltwater Hard Lure – Yo-Zuri America, Inc. Product: Hydro Minnow LC Media Contact: Ray Gardner [email protected]
First Runner-Up – Freshwater Soft Lure – LIVETARGET Product: BaitBall Spinner Rig Media Contact: Gary Abernethy [email protected]
First Runner-Up – Saltwater Soft Lure – Chasebaits Australia Product: Smash Crab JNR Media Contact: Clay Sherriff [email protected]
First Runner-Up – Fly Reel – Zebco Brands Product: Van Staal VFHD 8-10-12 Wt Media Contact: Alan McGuckin [email protected]
First Runner-Up – Freshwater Reel – 13 Fishing Product: Concept Z Media Contact: Jose Chavez [email protected]
First Runner-Up – Saltwater Reel – Pure Fishing Product: PENN International VI – 50VISW Media Contact: Megan Friedman [email protected]
First Runner-Up – Rod & Reel Combo – 13 Fishing Product: Fate Black and Origin FB Reel Media Contact: Jose Chavez [email protected]
First Runner-Up – Fly Fishing Rod – St. Croix Rods Product: Imperial USA Media Contact: Dena Vick [email protected]
First Runner-Up – Freshwater Rod – G. Loomis, Inc. Product: CONQUEST Bass Rods Media Contact: John Mazurkiewicz [email protected]
First Runner-Up – Saltwater Rod – Lew’s Fishing Tackle Product: Tournament Performance TP1 Inshore Media Contact: Gary Dollahon [email protected]
ICAST 2018 will be held at the Orange County Convention Center, Orlando, Fla., July 10 – 13, 2018. For complete ICAST information, visit ICASTfishing.org.
By: Mary Jane Williamson, Dir Communications
