July 2007 American Sportfishing Association Member Update
Member Updates are e-mailed monthly to members of the American Sportfishing Association and our partners on issues of interest to the future of fishing. For more information, contact ASA Communications, 703.519.9691.
BELOW IS A LIST OF TOPICS IN THIS UPDATE. Please scroll down for the complete document. Previous ASA Member Updates are available in the ASA Newsroom.
Each month, ASA e-mails an update on its Government Affairs activities called Policy Watch. These documents can be found on ASA’s Web site.
2007 Sportfishing Summit
2007 Sportfishing Summit Registration
ICAST50 Highlights
ICAST Industry Breakfast
Sportfishing Legends Honored
New Product Showcase “Best of Show”
Thank You ICAST50 Sponsors!
Exhibiting at ICAST 2008
ASA/Eastern Fishing & Outdoor Exposition Update
June/July 2007 Issue of American Sportfishing Available on Web
Welcome New Members!
FishAmerica Foundation Updates
Future Fisherman Foundation Updates
Message from ASA President and CEO Mike Nussman
2007 Sportfishing Summit—Mark Your Calendar for October
This year, the Summit will focus on two key issues—industry data and fishing access. With the release of the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Services’ 2006 National Survey of Fishing, Hunting and Wildlife-Associated Recreation, the Summit provides a natural forum to examine the data. The national survey is conducted every five years and provides our industry with vital information about sportfishing. Access is a hot topic and none more so than in California. During the Summit, attendees will hear about the actions that ASA and its partners are taking to ensure the sportfishing industry and anglers have a voice in the state’s Marine Life Protection Act Initiative as well as other access issues facing anglers and our industry. Please save the date for the 2007 Sportfishing Summit scheduled for October 10–12, at Sanibel Harbour Resort & Spa in Florida. For more information, contact Mary Jane Williamson, x227, or Leslie Boatman, x222.
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2007 Sportfishing Summit Registration
Information regarding the annual meeting registration and hotel reservations will be available on ASA’s Web site beginning on August 6. For more information, contact Mary Jane Williamson, x227, or Leslie Boatman, x222.
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ICAST50 Highlights
From July 11-13, 2007, nearly 7,000 representatives of the sportfishing industry came together to celebrate 50 years of the International Convention of Allied Sportfishing Trades (ICAST). ICAST50 once again lived up to its reputation as the world’s largest showcase of fishing tackle and accessories all under one roof. With a sold-out show floor for the sixth consecutive year, ICAST50 featured 421 exhibitors filling 1,338 booths, a six percent increase over 2006. The show boasted nearly 2,000 buyers and 350 registered members of the media. ICAST50 covered 350,000 square feet of the Las Vegas Convention Center. For more information, please contact Kelly Camirand, x231, or Maria del Valle, x240.
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ICAST Industry Breakfast
This year, more than 500 people attended the Industry Breakfast & Retrospective Rendezvous. In honor of the 50th year of ICAST, ASA President and CEO Mike Nussman and ASA’s Chairman of the Board Randy Lemcke, vice president, Plano Molding Company, recognized 22 companies who exhibited at the 1958 American Fishing Tackle Manufacturers’ Fishing Tackle Trade Show at the Hotel Sherman in Chicago, Ill., and were still exhibiting in 2007. They are Bagley Fishing Products; Boone Bait Company; Cortland Line Company; Ed Cumings, Inc.; Frabill, Inc.; Harrison-Hoge Industries; L&S Bait Company; Mason Tackle Company; Penn Fishing Tackle Manufacturing Company; Plano Molding Company; PRADCO Fishing; Pure Fishing; REC Components; Roddy Manufacturing; Sampo, Inc.; Shakespeare Fishing Tackle; South Bend Sporting Goods; Water Gremlin Company; The Worth Company; Wright & McGill Company; Yakima Bait Company; and Zebco/WC Bradley.
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Sportfishing Legends Honored
Several legends of the sportfishing industry were recognized during the Industry Breakfast for their lifelong contributions to the industry and the sport. They are Berkley Bedell, Bill Cullerton, Sr., Norm Gauch, Bill Gautsche, Jack Gillen, John Keith, Sr., Dick Kotis, Sandy Levin, Jerry Rodstein and Ron Weber.
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New Product Showcase “Best of Show”
The New Product Showcase, the flagship feature of ICAST, occupied an expanded section of the show floor and included more than 600 new products from nearly 180 companies. The New Product Showcase once again brought together all of the latest in fishing gear and accessories for the upcoming year in one place to compete for the prestigious “Best of Show” honors. E21 Fishing took top honors with “Best of Show” for its Carrot Stix freshwater rod. The New Product Showcase category winners are Bert’s Custom Tackle/Tecla; Old Harbor Outfitters; Lowrance-Navico; Costa Del Mar Sunglasses; Pure Fishing, Inc.; Shimano American Corporation; MacDaddy’s Fishing Lures; Emmett Stacy Inventors & Investors; Outdoor Adventure Kids; Pflueger/Shakespeare Fishing Tackle; and Dee’s Diamond Flasher.
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Thank You ICAST50 Sponsors!
The American Sportfishing Association thanks all the sponsors for their generous support of ICAST50: Fishing Tackle Retailer, Crocodile Bay Lodge, Plano Molding Company, VERSUS, In-Fisherman, Keepin’ It Reel, the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration, Misaw Lake Lodge, BountyFishing, American Rod & Gun, Saltwater Sportsman, Alphatan International, Inc., Two Jacks Fishing Company, Pelagic, LLC, OceanGirl Custom Fishing Products, Infinite Innovation/Nite III's, Duncan McIntosh Company/FishRap, Albackore Sportfishing Gear, Slam Gear, Fishing Made Easy, The Habana Company and Live Eyewear.
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Exhibiting at ICAST 2008
More than half of 2007 exhibitors turned in their contract for 2008, reserving nearly 70 percent of next year's floor. Booth deposits are due September 7. Once a deposit is received, booths will be assigned to exhibitors in early October. Contracts will not be processed until a deposit is received. All 2007 exhibitors should have received exhibit space contracts and floor plans during the show. For more information, please contact Kelly Camirand, x231.
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ASA/Eastern Fishing & Outdoor Exposition Update
In July, staff from ASA/Eastern Fishing & Outdoor Exposition attended ICAST50 and took the opportunity to catch up with a number of current exhibitors and make contacts with potential new exhibitors. Planning for the 2008 show season is in full swing, and floor space is selling out quickly. For more information and to participate in the ASA/Eastern Fishing & Outdoor Exposition shows, please visit www.sportshows.com or call 603-431-4315.
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June/July 2007 Issue of American Sportfishing Available on Web
The June/July issue of American Sportfishing, ASA’s newsletter, is available in PDF format on ASA’s Web site along with issues dating back to Winter 2002. For more information or to obtain hard copies, please contact Leslie Boatman, x222.
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Welcome New Members!
ASA welcomes these new members or members who reinstated their membership in July: 20 Below Products, LLC, Pueblo, CO; AC Plug Swimbait Company, Henderson, NV; Alure Sales, Barrie, ON, Canada; American Bass Anglers, Athens, AL; BASF Corporation, Riverview, MI; Bee-Jay Bait Company, Inc., Waldron, MO; Black Dog Bait Company, Danville, CA; Bountyfishing, Montreal, QC, Canada; Bowles Wholesale, Woodlawn, TN; BTC Lures, Inc., Hockessin, DE; Buck's Bags, Inc., Boise, ID; Cotee Outdoor Products, Port Richey, FL; Duncan McIntosh Company/FishRap, Irvine, CA; Eagle Canyon/Woodlake, New York City, NY; FISHHER - Gear for Women, LLC, Omaha, NE; Fishin' Chix, LLC, Pensacola, FL; Gene Larew Tackle, Inc., Owasso, OK; Gillznfinz.com, LLC, Johns Island, SC; Glacier Glove, Reno, NV; Hawken Industries, Bainbridge Island, WA; IFDC (USA), Inc., Scottsdale, AZ; Infinite Innovations, Inc., Springfield, MO; In-Pact Poly Products, Inc., N. Kansas City, MO; Keep'n It Reel, Huntington Beach, CA; Koller-Craft, Newburgh, IN; KWIK DROP, LLC, Wentzville, MO; Meyerco, Dallas, TX; OceanGirl Custom Fishing Products, Brooklawn, NJ; POPNET NET Company, Raleigh, NC; Sagoma Technologies, A PTG, LLC Company, Biddeford, ME; Sherry Manufacturing Company, Inc., Lee, MA; Targus Fly & Feather, Inc., Mesa, AZ; The Fishing Locker, Lino Lakes, MN; The Gaines Company, Gaines, PA; Toyobo America, Inc, New York, NY; Triangle Manufacturing Company, Inc., Upper Saddle River, NJ; Waterloo Rod Company, Victoria, TX; and Watershed, LLC, Asheville, NC.
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FishAmerica Foundation Updates
To help FishAmerica keep our nation’s fish and waters healthy,
contact Executive Director Johanna
Laderman, x245 or Grants Manager Erica
George, x247. Donate
to FishAmerica online!
FishAmerica Foundation Receives Contribution from Johnson Outdoors
The FishAmerica Foundation is the 2007 recipient of a $5,000 conservation grant from Johnson Outdoors in honor of the Samuel C. Johnson Fishing Journalist of the Year award. The award was presented to Al Lindner, outdoor journalist and long-time TV host, during ICAST 2007, the sportfishing industry’s trade show held at the Las Vegas Convention Center, July 11-13. The FishAmerica Foundation will use the Johnson Outdoors donation for the FishAmerica Gulf Fund. FishAmerica established the FishAmerica Gulf Fund to help restore Gulf Coast sportfisheries and fishing access facilities devastated during the 2005 hurricane season. The Gulf Fund will provide grants to community-based sportfishing and conservation organizations to help restore sportfish populations, their habitats and fishing facilities.
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Future Fisherman Foundation Updates
For more information on Future Fisherman activities, contact Executive
Director Mike Bolinder,
x238, or National Program Coordinator Anne
Danielski, x254, or Program Coordinator Jessie Moore, x224.
Cause-related Marketing Partnerships Benefit the Future of Fishing
In support of its mission to teach young people to fish, the Future Fisherman Foundation received more than $8,000 in cause-related marketing contributions from members of the sportfishing industry which was donated during ICAST50. The Foundation thanks Plano Molding Company for donating a portion of sales of its 5000 series “Take Me Fishing™” tackle box; Pacific Bay International for donating a portion of its sales from the Rainforest II rod blank; and Nor’east Media for donating a portion of registration fees for the 2007 Nor’east Media Grand Slam Tournament Series. For more information on the Future Fisherman Foundation’s cause-related marketing program and to become a partner, please contact Mike Bolinder, x238.
Fish Florida Donates to Physh Ed
Fish Florida, an organization dedicated to “casting” awareness on Florida fisheries and aquatic habitats by supporting organizations that teach people, especially children, about fishing, freshwater and marine habitats and aquatic resource stewardship, donated $7,500 to the Future Fisherman Foundation during ICAST50. Fish Florida has agreed to cover half the cost of the Foundation’s Physh Ed grantees from Florida. Fish Florida hopes that their investment in local, long-term fishing education will serve as a model for other state and local organizations across the country. For more information, please contact please contact Mike Bolinder, x238.
Foundation Conducts Training Workshop for Physh Ed Grantees
The annual Physh Ed training workshop was conducted July 16-19, in Traverse City, Mich. Ninety-five physical education teachers from across the country attended and received training in spin casting, fly fishing, fly tying, paddling and conservation. All workshop trainees created lesson plans which will be available online at www.futurefisherman.org. Grantees will begin implementing fishing education when schools open in the fall and will continue to teach fishing, boating and conservation throughout the 2007-2008 school year. For information, contact Mike Bolinder, x238 or Anne Danielski, x254.
Foundation Welcomes New Program Coordinator
The Future Fisherman Foundation welcomes Jessie Moore as Program Coordinator. Moore is a former teacher in the Washington, D.C. public schools. He is also an accomplished tournament angler. As Program Coordinator, Jessie will work with Foundation staff on the Physh Ed National Fishing and Boating Grants Initiative, the Foundation’s partnership with the U.S. Department of Justice and Boys & Girls Clubs and other Foundation-sponsored programs. Jessie’s contact information is jmoore@asafishing.org, x224.
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Message from ASA President and CEO Mike Nussman
For ASA members and staff, summer is a busy time and this summer was no exception.
First, of course, was ICAST 2007, the 50th year for the sportfishing industry’s trade show. I want to thank all the members of the industry—ASA’s members, our Board of Directors, the Show Committee members, buyers, exhibitors, our show sponsors, our partners and the media—for their support and participation in the sixth consecutive sellout show. I also want to thank the ASA staff for the tremendous effort they made to ensure a successful show. In particular, I want to thank Burt Steinberg, Show Committee chairman and president of American Rod & Gun, for the invaluable assistance he provided in helping make this milestone year a success. Thank you, Burt!
In 1958, the Associated Fishing Tackle Manufacturers produced the association’s first Fishing Tackle Trade Show at the Hotel Sherman in Chicago, Ill. Of the 136 companies that exhibited at the first Associated Fishing Tackle Manufacturers Show, 22 of them, or that brand, are still exhibiting. We recognized these companies throughout the show because of their longstanding support and I congratulate them for their dedication to sportfishing. They are good ambassadors for all of us and they reflect what makes our industry special.
My congratulations also go to the winners of the New Product Showcase and to all the exhibitors who entered products this year. The New Product Showcase continues to grow in stature and reputation as THE showcase for the creativity and ingenuity in the sportfishing industry. The time and effort our members put into developing and producing new items to enhance the angling experience never ceases to amaze me. And I should note that these qualities are also seen in so many others in the industry, and in fact, they are a large part of our overall vitality and longevity.
Until relatively recently, of course, our industry, and our trade show, was mostly an American enterprise. But today, sportfishing is a global business. Manufacturers and buyers from other countries have an increasingly significant role in our industry’s evolution. Because of that, we’re glad to see the growth in international attendance at ICAST. It just goes to show that our commitment to fishing makes our industry so much more than a collection of businesses. It’s also a lively, creative, passion-driven, international community.
ICAST has always brought us together in more than just a literal way. It IS the industry’s gathering place to share information and experience.
Once again, I thank everyone for your participation in ICAST50. I look forward to seeing you next July in Las Vegas as we embark on the next 50 years.
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