Sport fishing’s hottest new products garner top honors during ICAST

Two FLW Outdoors sponsors net awards

Two FLW Outdoors sponsors took home Best of Show honors during the American Sportfishing Association’s International Convention of Allied Sportfishing Trades, held July 9-11 at the Las Vegas Convention Center. Pure Fishing, the world’s largest fishing-tackle company, reeled in two Best of Show awards, and Plano Molding Company, the No. 1 tackle box brand in the world, earned one.

Fishing products competed in 11 categories this year, including a new category for children’s tackle. More than 150 companies entered lures, rods and reels, and other angler equipment and accessories into the New Product Showcase, the flagship feature of ICAST and a driving force for product sales in the coming year. Buyers judged products based on their levels of innovation, execution, workmanship, and practicality to select Best of Show honors in each category.

Making up a special section of ICAST’s 209,000-square-foot show floor, the New Product Showcase gives the industry’s latest innovations special visibility during the show, with more than 5,000 representatives of the sport-fishing community attending.

Shimano American Corporation’s Calcutta TE 200DC reel took overall Best of Show honors, having competed with nearly 1,000 other fishing products making their marketplace debut. The Calcutta reel also won top honors in the reel category.

Best of Show
Winners are listed by category, company and product.

Soft Lure – Pure Fishing, Gulp!

Fishing Accessory – Pure Fishing, Digital Lip Grip Scale

Tackle Management – Plano Molding Company, CDS Utility Box

Rod – Sirrus Rods, Spectra

Reel – Shimano American Corportation, Calcutta TE 200DC

Terminal Tackle – Lead Masters, Powder Coated Jig Heads

Line – Stren, Super Braid

Hard Lure – Lucky Craft, Live Pointer 95SP

Kid’s Tackle – Zebco, SpongeBob SquarePants Fishing Combo

Boating Accessory, Electronic – Lowrance Electronics, X-104 Electronic Sounder

Clothing, Giftware – River’s Edge Products, Fly Fishing Toilet Seat

The American Sportfishing Association is the leading recreational fishing trade association, uniting more than 500 members of the fishing and boating industries, state fish and wildlife agencies, federal land and water management agencies, conservation organizations, angler advocacy groups, and outdoor journalists. The ASA initiates and supports efforts to advance fisheries conservation, fishing opportunities and a profitable sport-fishing industry.