This year’s ICAST Show drew over 40K retailers and media to the Orlando Convention Center where over 1,000 exhibitors showed everything from fishing tackle to apparel, kayaks to boats. The American Sportfishing Association holds the show that helps to set buying and selling trends for the coming year.
At each show organizers choose Best In Show products. This year there were 41 categories to recognize. Here are the winners in the most relevant categories you might be seeing at a shop near you in the coming months.
Best In Show went to the new Penn Fathom Electric, a saltwater reel intended to help anglers reel in fish from deep wrecks with a motor and digital depth counter.
Best In Show Freshwater Rod went to Shakespeare’s new Ugly Stik GX2 spinning rod. This rod is in stores already and has changed many anglers’ minds about using an Ugly Stik. Known for its renowned Clear Tip design and Ugly Tech construction, the GX2 now features Ugly Tuff guides with a proprietary guide coating to improve performance, an extra durable rubberized diamond EVA handle for better grip and improved durability, and new reel seat designed for better hand feel and increased sensitivity. All of these features are now packed under a 10-year warranty.
Best In Show Saltwater Rod went to Dominion Rods’ E-Rod Jigging & Bottom rod with integrated power supply. This type of rod is intended to be used with an electric reel and offers LifePO4 batteries for use with micro electric reels.
Best In Show Rod/Reel Combo goes to St. Croix’s GXR Bass Systems. There are eight technique-specific precision-matched models (four casting and four spinning), GXR Bass Systems combine SCII carbon fiber blanks, stainless-steel hybrid guide trains, premium-grade split-grip cork handles in proven configurations, and smooth and powerful SEVIIN casting and spinning reels.
The Shimano Vanford FA spinning reel took Best In Show for Freshwater Reel.
Z-Man’s Shadtron LT (line through) Swimbait won Best In Show for Soft Lure.
Something called the PrawnstarZ, also from Z-Man won Best In Show for Saltwater Soft Lures.
The Berkley Krej won Best In Show for Freshwater Hard Lures while Okuma’s FishLab BBZ Hard Mullet Swimbait won for Best In Show for Saltwater Hard Lure.
On the apparel side Simms Fishing Product earned Best In Show for the company’s new Cold Weather Technical Apparel for Men. The Arrmorloft Zip Hood from AFTCO won the same for the women’s category.
The Costal Layer Hood from AFTCO won Best In Show Lifestyle Apparel For Men category.
Like shoes? Check out the Under Armour UA Charged Shoreman Deck Boot which won Best In Show for Footwear.
A new small boat/kayak from Wilderness Systems (owned now by Pelican International) called the Tactical Pro 128 won Best In Show for Boats & Watercraft. With pre-ran power wires, ample optimized storage, and a motor mounting plate, seamlessly add the bow mount motor of your choice and elevate every aspect of your fishing game.
Sufix Resolve Ultra Thin from Rapala won Best In Show Fishing Line.
Best In Show for Motorized Boat Accessories went to Power Pole’s Dual Blades Power by ONE Pump. The NEW Dual Blades powered by ONE Pump package offers enhanced hydraulics for smooth, simultaneous anchor deployment and retraction. ONE pump is nearly 15db quieter and stealthy as a shadow, leaving fish blissfully unaware of your presence. Our space-saving design with ONE pump provides a cleaner bilge area, freeing up space for other equipment and accessories.
