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Sportfishing’s Hottest New Products Compete
Top honors at premier trade show.
by Janet Tennyson

Shimano American Corporation’s latest update to their "Stella" reels series and newly designed hard lure cases are among fishing gear’s top 10 innovations, competing with nearly 1,000 other items making their debut in ICAST 2002’s New Product Showcase, a renowned feature of the sportfishing industry’s largest annual trade show. Overall "Best of Show" honors were awarded to Johnson Outdoors for its Minn Kota Co-Pilot, an accessory that allows a trolling motor to be steered remotely with a small cordless sending unit.

Lures, rods and reels, and other angler equipment and accessories competed for "Best of Show" votes from industry buyers attending the American Sportfishing Association’s International Convention of Allied Sportfishing Trades, or ICAST, during a preview reception hosted by the Association and eAngler.com on July 16 at the Las Vegas Convention Center. Products were judged on their level of innovation, execution, workmanship, and practicality. The preview also was open to exhibitors and members of the outdoor media. All entries will remain on the show floor throughout ICAST, which officially opens July 17 and runs through July 19.

This year’s New Product Showcase was improved over previous years with stricter guidelines on what constitutes a new product and allowing Best of Show honors to be bestowed by industry buyers. Since 1995, the New Product Showcase has been the main highlight of each ICAST show, which this year features 329 exhibitors from the sportfishing industry. More than half of this year’s exhibitors entered products in the New Product Showcase.

"The New Product Showcase reception was a huge draw this year, and it was a great way to kickoff ICAST," said Mike Nussman, President and CEO of the American Sportfishing Association. "The creativity that goes into these products shows the passion for fishing that keeps the industry strong and gives anglers more fun ways to enjoy the outdoors."

ICAST 2002 New Product Showcase Winners Overall Best of Show: Johnson Outdoors’ Minn Kota Co-Pilot
Category	Company	Product
Rod	Sirrus Rods	Co-Matrix
Reel	Shimano American Corp.	Stella FA
Rod/Reel Combo	American Rod & Gun	Tourney Series
Terminal Tackle	Gamakatsu U.S.A., Inc.	G-Stinger
Lure	Pace Products, Inc.	Suspending Charlie
Tackle Management	Shimano American Corp.	Hard lure case
Boating Accessory and Wonder Winder, Inc.	Fishhunter II	Electronic
Fishing Accessory	Xplores, Inc.	Pliers
Clothing and Giftware	Luhr-Jensen & Sons, Inc.	Legendary Blade
Line	Pure Fishing, Inc.	Iron Silk

ICAST 2002 is uniting nearly 5,000 sportfishing industry partners for the 45th year in the life of the nation’s largest sportfishing trade expo. The sportfishing industry represents a $108 billion annual impact on our nation’s economy and supplies America’s 50 million anglers with the means to enjoy one of the most popular outdoor traditions.

The American Sportfishing Association is the recreational fishing trade association, with 450 members representing the fishing and boating industry, state and federal natural resource agencies, angler advocacy groups, and outdoor journalists. The American Sportfishing Association initiates and supports efforts to advance healthy fisheries, fishing opportunities, and a profitable sportfishing industry.

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