The ICAST 2013 Best of Show went to JL Marine Systems, Inc. for their introduction of the new Power-Pole Micro; designed for skiffs, kayaks, paddleboarders, and more of the like.
Re-cap from ICAST Communications Director Mary Jane Williamson.
Photos by Florida Sportsman Web Manager Christopher Collins.
The world’s largest sportfishing trade show, the International Convention of Allied Sportfishing Trades, better known as ICAST, was held July 9 – 12, at the Las Vegas Convention Center in Las Vegas, Nev.
Produced by the American Sportfishing Association (ASA), the industry’s trade association, ICAST – in its 56th year as the industry’s trade show – is the catalyst that drives the global recreational fishing industry year-round. More than 9,000 thousand industry representatives from the global sportfishing industry are in Las Vegas 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 embodies the sportfishing industry’s innovative and entrepreneurial spirit and rewards that ingenuity through the “Best of Show” new product awards competition.
This year, the New Product Showcase, the tradeshow’s flagship event, was as competitive as ever. Sponsored by Fishing Tackle Retailer, nearly 200 companies entered more than 700 tackle products, accessories and apprel into the New Product Showcase.
Making up a special section of ICAST’s 400,000-square-foot show floor, the New Product Showcase provides special visibility for the industry’s latest innovations in gear, apparel and accessories.
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Best Boat: Old Town Predator 13
Old Town Canoe introduces the all-new Predator family it's line-up of fishing kayaks. The Predator will bring you closer to the water and the action with highly customized features that are engineered to meet the needs of avid anglers and weekend warriors, alike. Retail $1,299. For more information visitwww.oldtowncanoe.com.
Best Electronics: Humminbird 360 Imaging Bow Mount
Humminbird’s Bow 360 is like underwater radar right where you need it – on the front of the boat. This unit provides a 360-degree view up to 150 feet out from the boat, giving anglers real time detailed images of structure, contour changes, and most importantly – fish!www.humminbird.com.
Best Eyewear: Costa Del Mar Tuna Alley
Costa Del Mar's Tuna Alley polarized sunglasses offer a large, wrap-around fit to protect from outside glare. Features include front frame vents to alleviate fogging, as well as a non-slip interior lining. For more information visit www.costadelmar.com.
Best Line: PowerPro Zero Impact
A new innovation from PowerPro, Zero Impact braided fishing line incorporates “black termination zones” that are tapered to achieve maximum knot strength. By simply tying your knot correctly on one of these tapered areas, the knot strength is typically 100 percent to the straight-line strength.www.powerpro.com.
Best Tackle Management: Plano 3700 Guide Series
This new tackle bag from Plano looks perfect for the tough saltwater environment. It features a molded impact-resistant waterproof base, six ProLatch stowaway boxes, dual-compartment side pockets, a quick access StowAway box secured with elastic ties on the top of the box, and much more. Retail $79.www.planomolding.com.
Best Apparel: Shimano Dryfender Insulated Raingear
The Shimano Dryfender/Breathable Raingear now has insulation to keep you warm. It's lightweight (perfect for layering) and is designed to keep the elements out. Retail $249 for the jacket and $219 the matching bib. www.shimano.com.
Best Saltwater Rod: St. Croix Legend Extreme Inshore
All new from St. Croix, this inshore rod features their Propriety Resin System, IPC tooling technology, and more. Most notably this rod features their new Xtreme-Skin handle to provide outstanding comfort, casting efficiency, and increased sensitivity. Designed and handcrafted in the U.S.A. Retail $380-390. www.stcroix.com.
Best Combo: 13 Fishing Whiteout
The all-new Whiteout from 13 Fishing features new Evolve Solo components, a slim seat design, a solid carbon blank, 6 ball bearings, a fat bail design, and instant anti-reverse. $59.99. www.13fishing.com.
Best Fly Rod: G.Loomis PRO4x
The G.Loomis PRO4x is an excellent light-duty rod for fishing smaller waters. It will handle 350-grain Skagit with floating or sinking tips. It measures out at 10'6" to help you cover a lot of water. A great skinny water switch rod. Retail $480. www.gloomis.com.
Best Saltwater Reel: Shimano Stella SW
The new Stella SW features X-Rigid bail, X-Rigid rotar, and X-Rigid handle, improving the rigidity of the reel overall. X-Ship was also added to increase gear durability. Also, the SW is available in 30000 size, in addition to the 5000-20000 models. Retail $1059.99 to 1419.99. www.shimano.com.
Best Freshwater Reel: Shimano Chronarch Ci4+
This compact and lightweight baitcasting reel from Shimano features the lightweight concepts from the original Ci4 line of reels, with added fishing performance. Improvements include the addition of the all new SVS Infinity Braking System and Shimano's trademark X-Ship, which increases gear durability and increases RPMs during freespool. Retail $269.99. www.shimano.com.
Best Fly Reel: Beam Outdoors Elite 21
The Elite 21freshwater fly reel from Beam Outdoors features 5 stainless steel ball bearings, a 2.1:1 gear ratio, machined aluminum body and spool, and more. Retail $169. www.beamoutdoors.com.
Best Hard Lure: Live Target Baitball
Live Target is known for producing some of the most lifelike lures on the market today, their new BaitBall series is no exception. The unique design spotlights one of natures most amazing underwater survival events: the schooling formation of baitfish being ambushed by a predator. Incorporated into four lure designs (squarebill, crankbait, jerkbait, popper) is multiple baitfish that resemble a small bait ball. We’ll let the picture do the talking. Retail $14.99.www.livetargetlures.com.
Best Soft Lure: Lunkerhunt Lunker Frog
The Lunker Frog from Lunkerhunt features swimming legs that extend on retrieve and react on the pause, a super soft hollow body, a high quality hook, and a weedless design with beautiful finish that is available in 10 colors. Retail $7.99. www.lunkerhunt.com.
Best of Show Overall: Power-Pole Micro
Power-Pole has gone micro. The all-new Micro Anchor is aimed at small craft captains only! Micro-skiffs, kayaks, paddleboarders, you name it. Once you find the fish, a simple push of a button locks down your craft in only five seconds flat. Retail $595.www.power-pole.com.
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ICAST 2013: Best of Show
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Best of Show
This year the JL Marine Systems’ Power-Pole Micro Anchor was voted by buyers and media as the best product in both the Boating Accessory category and the overall “Best of Show.”
“The quality and ingenuity of the new products that are unveiled at the New Product Showcase continue to amaze me,” said Mike Nussman, ASA’s president and CEO. “I congratulate all of the winners and everyone who participated in the New Product Showcase, from the companies who worked hard to develop these innovations to the buyers and media who served as judges. I also thank Fishing Tackle Retailer for their sponsorship of this important event.”
The ICAST 2013 “Best of Show” awards were presented on Wednesday, July 10, during the Chairman’s Industry Awards Reception, sponsored by Rapala, at the Las Vegas Convention Center. As a special treat, National Baseball Hall of Fame member Johnny Bench, this year’s State of the Industry Breakfast keynote speaker, presented the awards.
New Product Showcase Best of Show Winners
ICAST 2013 Overall Best of Show – JL Marine Systems, Inc.
Product – Power-Pole Micro Anchor
Media Contact: Rober Shamblin robert@power-pole.com
Best of Show – Apparel – Shimano American Corportion
Product – Dryfender Insulated Raingear
Media Contact: John Mazurkiewicz jpmazurk@ameritech.net
Best of Show – Boating Accessory – JL Marine Systems, Inc.
Product – Power-Pole Mirco Anchor
Media Contact: Rober Shamblin robert@power-pole.com
Best of Show – Boats – Johnson Outdoors Watercraft, Inc.
Product – Predator 13
Media Contact: Mike May mike.may@backbonemedia.net
Best of Show – Combo – 13 Fishing
Product – White Out
Media Contact: Matt Baldwin matt@13fishing.com
Best of Show – Electronics – Johnson Outdoors
Product – Humminbird Bow Mount 360 Imaging
Media Contact: Jim Edlund jim@traditionsmedia.com
Best of Show – Eyewear – Costa
Product – Tuna Alley
Media Contact: Liza Jones liza@fullcirclepr.com
Best of Show – Fishing Accessory – American Tackle Company
Product – Tidal Wave-Micro Wave System
Media Contact: Scott Gimberst scott@americantackle.us
Best of Show – Fishsmart Tackle – Foreverlast, Inc.
Product – G2 Floating Wading Net
Media Contact: Amy Gerke amy@foreverlast.com
Best of Show – Fly Fishing Accessory – Columbia Sportswear
Product – Henry’s Fork V Vest
Media Contact: Andrea Pallavicini apallavicini@columbia.com
Best of Show – Fly Fishing Reel – Beam Outdoors
Product – Elite 21 Reel
Media Contact: Eric Wolfe eric@beamoutdoors.com
Best of Show – Fly Fishing Rod – G. Loomis, Inc.
Product – PRO4x
Media Contact: John Mazurkiewicz jpmazurk@ameritech.net
Best of Show – Freshwater Reel – Shimano American Corporation
Product – CHRONARCH C14+
Media Contact: John Mazurkiewicz jpmazurk@ameritech.net
Best of Show – Freshwater Rod – G. Loomis, Inc.
Product – NRX Umbrella Rig
Media Contact: John Mazurkiewicz jpmazurk@ameritech.net
Best of Show – Giftware – Rapala
Product – Original Floating Bottle Opener
Media Contact: Kelly Brockpahler kbrockpahler@rapalausa.com
Best of Show – Kids’ Tackle – Pure Fishing, Inc.
Product – Shakespeare Ugly Stik GX2 Youth Combo
Media Contact: Ron Guidice ron@blueheroncomm.com
Best of Show – Line – PowerPro
Product – PowerPro Zero-Impact
Media Contact: John Mazurkiewicz jpmazurk@ameritech.net
Best of Show – Hard Lure – Koppers Fishing & Tackle Corporation
Product – LIVETARGET Baitball
Media Contact: Tom Chopin tom@koppersfishing.com
Best of Show – Soft Lure – Lunkerhunt
Product – Lunker Frog
Media Contact: David MacDonald david@lunkerhunt.com
Best of Show – Saltwater Reel – Shimano American Corporation
Product – Stella SW 30000
Media Contact: John Mazurkiewicz jpmazurk@ameritech.net
Best of Show – Saltwater Rod – St. Croix Rods
Product – Legend Xtreme Inshore
Media Contact: Noel Vick noel@traditionsmedia.com
Best of Show – Tackle Management – Plano Molding Company
Product – 3700 Guide Series Tackle Bag
Media Contact: Noel Vick noel@traditionsmedia.com
Best of Show – Terminal Tackle – Mustad
Product – Grip-Pin Swim
Media Contact: Steve Tagami steve@mustad-americas.com
ICAST 2014 will be held at the Orange County Convention Center, Orlando, Fla., July 15 – 18, 2014.
For complete ICAST information, visit ICASTfishing.org.