The world’s largest sportfishing trade show, the International Convention of Allied Sportfishing Trades, better known as ICAST, is being held July 15 – 18, at the Orange County Convention Center Orlando, Fla. Produced by the American Sportfishing Association (ASA), the industry’s trade association, ICAST – in its 57th year as the industry’s trade show – is the annual destination for the global recreational fishing industry. More than 11,000 thousand members from the global sportfishing industry, including nearly 1,000 media outlets, are in Orlando to see the latest innovations in tackle, gear, accessories and apparel.
The single most important feature 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 “Best of Show” new product awards competition.
This year, more than 700 tackle products and accessories were entered by 253 companies into 24 “Best of Show” categories in the New Product Showcase, all vying for the overall ICAST 2014 “Best of Show” award.
Making up a special section of ICAST’s 500,000-gross-square-foot show floor, the New Product Showcase provides special visibility for the industry’s latest innovations in gear, apparel and accessories.
Best of Show Awards
This year the Predator XL kayak by Johnson Outdoors Watercraft, was voted by buyers and media as the best product in both the boat category and the overall “Best of Show.”
This year’s New Product Showcase winner’s also included first-time ICAST exhibitor Helter Skeletons, Ltd.
“I congratulate all of the winners and everyone who participated in the New Product Showcase. Every year it’s amazing to see all the creativity and ingenuity our member companies use to add curiosity, excitement and discovery to the adventure of fishing,” said ASA President and CEO Mike Nussman. “I also thank Fishing Tackle Retailer for their sponsorship of this important event.”
The ICAST 2014 “Best of Show” awards, sponsored by Rapala, were presented on Wednesday, July 16, during the Chairman’s Industry Awards Reception at the Orange County Convention Center.
2014 ICAST New Product Showcase Award Winners
For product details, images and other information please contact the individual award winners’ contacts listed below.
ICAST 2014 Overall Best of Show – Johnson Outdoors Watercraft
Product – Predator XL
Media Contact: Jim Edlund jim@traditionsmedia.com
Booth: 1019
Best of Show – Freshwater Rod – Duckett Fishing
Product – Micro Magic Pro
Media Contact: Sean Schuyler sean@duckettfishing.com
Booth: 2625
Best of Show – Saltwater Rod – Shimano American Corporation
Product – Terez Stand Up
Media Contact: John Mazurkiewicz jpmazurk@ameritech.net
Booth: 1077
Best of Show – Fly Fishing Rod – G. Loomis, Inc.
Product PRO4x Short Stix
Media Contact: John Mazurkiewicz jpmazurk@ameritech.net
Booth: 1277
Best of Show – Freshwater Reel – Pure Fishing, Inc.
Product- Abu-Revo Beast
Media Contact: Ron Giudice ron@blueheroncomm.com
Booth: 1977
Best of Show – Saltwater Reel – Pure Fishing, Inc.
Product – PENN Battle II Spinning
Media Contact: Ron Giudice ron@blueheroncomm.com
Booth: 1977
Best of Show – Fly Fishing Reel – 3TAND, LLC
Product – TF-70 Sealed Fly Reel
Media Contact: Ron Poehailos ron@3tand.com
Booth: 1020
Best of Show – Hard Lure – SPRO Corporation
Product – BBZ-1 Rat
Media Contact: Syd Rives syd@spro.com
Booth: 2157
Best of Show – Soft Lure – Okuma Fishing Tackle Corporation
Product – Savage Gear 3D PVC Crab
Media Contact: Brandon Cotton brandon.cotton@okumfishing.com
Booth: 1100
Best of Show – Lifestyle Apparel – Pelagic, Inc.
Product – 4TEK Fish Finder Boardshort
Media Contact: Colin Sarfeh colin@pelagicgear.com
Booth: 1710
Best of Show – Technical Apparel – STORMR
Product – Fusion Bib
Media Contact: Nick Lassor nick@stormrusa.com
Booth: 2231
Best of Show – Boating Accessory – Johnson Outdoors
Product – Minn Kota Ulterra Trolling Motor
Media Contact: Jim Edlund jim@traditionsmedia.com
Booth: 1041
Best of Show – Boats – Johnson Outdoors Watercraft
Product – Predator XL
Media Contact: Jim Edlund jim@traditionsmedia.com
Booth: 1019
Best of Show – Combo – Lew’s Fishing Tackle
Product – American Hero Baitcast Combo
Media Contact: Gary Dollahon gary@dollahonpr.com
Booth: 1132
Best of Show – Electronics – Johnson Outdoors
Product – Humminbird ONIX 8SI
Media Contact: Jim Edlund jim@traditionsmedia.com
Booth: 1041
Best of Show – Eyewear – Costa
Product – Hamlin – 580P Mirror Lenses
Media Contact: Liza Jones liza@fullcirclepr.com
Booth: 1257
Best of Show – Fishing Accessory – Lit-Industries, LLC
Product – Lit Coolers
Media Contact: Lucas Hyes lhyes@litcoolers.com
Booth: 1605
Best of Show – FishSmart Tackle – Cuda Fishing Tools
Product – Cuda Grip & Scale
Media Contact: Geri Adler gadler@acmeunited.com
Booth: 2585
Best of Show – Fly Fishing Accessory – Plastica Panaro SRL
Product – M2300 – Fly Caddy
Media Contact: Lucio Sirotti lsirotti@plasticapanaro.it
Booth: 2336
Best of Show – Footwear – Columbia Sportswear
Product – Megavent PFG
Media Contact: Krysti Tonkin ktonkin@columbia.com
Booth: 1437
Best of Show – Giftware – Helter Skeletons, Ltd.
Product – Authentic Skeletal Articulation
Media Contact: Frick Ault sales@helterskeletons.com
Booth: 2510
Best of Show – Kids’ Tackle – ZEBCO Brands
Product – ZEBCO Splash Combos
Media Contact: Ron Giudice ron@blueheroncomm.com
Booth: 1477
Best of Show – Line – Pure Fishing, Inc
Product – Berkley IronSilk
Media Contact: Ron Giudice ron@blueheroncomm.com
Booth: 1977
Best of Show – Tackle Management – ENGEL U.S.A.
Product – UC30-RH
Media Contact: Rick Hauser rchauser@gmail.com
Booth: 1828
Best of Show Terminal Tackle – Eagle Claw Fishing Tackle
Product – TroKar TK619
Media Contact: Nickie Kiefer nkiefer@eagleclaw.com
Booth: 3285
ICAST 2015 will be held at the Orange County Convention Center, Orlando, Fla., July 14 – 17, 2015.
For complete ICAST information, visit ICASTfishing.org
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The American Sportfishing Association (ASA) is the sportfishing industry’s trade association committed to representing the interests of the entire sportfishing community. We give the industry a unified voice, speaking out on behalf of sportfishing and boating industries, state and federal natural resource agencies, conservation organizations, angler advocacy groups and outdoor journalists when emerging laws and policies could significantly affect sportfishing business or sportfishing itself. ASA invests in long-term ventures to ensure the industry will remain strong and prosperous, as well as safeguard and promote the enduring social, economic and conservation values of sportfishing in America. ASA also gives America’s 60 million anglers a voice in policy decisions that affect their ability to sustainably fish on our nation’s waterways through KeepAmericaFishing™, our angler advocacy campaign. America’s anglers generate over $48 billion in retail sales with a $115 billion impact on the nation’s economy creating employment for more than 828,000 people.
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