Catch The Excitement!
ICAST 2003 New Product Showcase Winners
Nearly 1,000 new sportfishing products made their marketplace debut at
ICAST 2003, July 9-11 at the Las Vegas Convention Center. More than 150
exhibiting companies entered lures, rods and reels, and other angling equipment
and accessories. New products competed in 11 categories, including a new
one for children’s tackle. Buyers judged products based on their
level of innovation, execution, workmanship, and practicality to select
Best of Show honors in each category.
Overall Best of Show & Best of Show: Reel Category
Shimano American Corporation
Calcutta TE 200DC reel
Shimano says its “digital control ‘smart’ electromagnetic
system features eight pre-programmed braking patterns based
on lure weights and casting ability to contribute to longer
casts and minimal backlashes.”
Best of Show: Rod Category
Airrus Rods (formerly Sirrus)
Spectra
Airrus says its Spectra rod has “advanced filament technology,”
offering “increased sensitivity, dampening and lower weight.”
Best of Show: Terminal Tackle Category
Lead Masters
Powder coated jig heads
Lead Masters says their powder coated jig heads are “super tough,”
and they come in a variety of colors, including “four-color designer heads.”
Best of Show: Line Category
Stren
Super Braid
Stren promotes this new line as “The Smooth, Round Superline That
Has It All.” Stren says Super Braid is “line that performs
beautifully, casts effortlessly, and maintains its roundness and extraordinary
strength longer.”
Best of Show: Hard Lure Category
Lucky Craft
Live Pointer 95SP
Lucky Craft says of their latest innovation: “a totally jointed
body gives the Live Pointer a uniquely realistic side-to-side swimming
motion that mimics true tail propulsion through the water.”
Best of Show: Soft Lure Category
Pure Fishing
Gulp!
Pure Fishing says its new 100 percent biodegradable Gulp!
baits have 400 times the scent dispersion of plastics.
Best of Show: Tackle Management Category
Plano Molding Company
CDS Utility Box
Plano’s CDS Utility Box is much heavier and more secure,
and includes “versi-slant” dividers, allowing
up to 25 percent more storage space for large-lipped crankbaits.
Best of Show: Kid’s Tackle Category
Zebco
SpongeBob Squarepants Fishing Combo
Zebco’s SpongeBob Squarepants Fishing Combo features
SpongeBob himself on a 5'6" two-piece medium action spincast
combo with a dual molded rubber handle. It also comes with
a “Plankton” casting
plug for practicing.
Best of Show: Boating Accessory/Electronic Category
Lowrance Electronics
X-104 Electronic Sounder
Lowrance promotes this new product as its “amazing new
10.4", 256 color, TFT sunlight viewable, 1kW sounder/chart recorder
with unique memory card versatility.”
Best of Show: Fishing Accessory Category
Pure Fishing
Digital Lip Grip Scale
Pure Fishing’s Digital Lip Grip Scale weights both standard
pounds/ounces and metric.
Best of Show: Clothing/Giftware Category
River’s Edge Products
Fly fishing toilet seat
For especially avid anglers, River’s Edge Products makes
accessories such as this clear acrylic toilet seat featuring a variety of flies.
