Gear

ICAST 2015 — A GoPro Gallery, The Sequel

Another peek at the world's largest fishing-tackle trade show, as seen through the wide-angle perspective of a GoPro Hero4

By Doug Olander

Updated: July 26, 2015

Welcome to the second of two ICAST 2015 GoPro galleries. Being a trade show, this world’s largest fishing-tackle show doesn’t open its doors to the general public. But I can share some sense of what I saw there in mid-July, walking aisles to gawk at hundreds of exhibitors’ booths (this was the largest show ever) in Orlando, here and in another gallery recently posted. The GoPro’s super-wide-angle lens offers an interesting perspective. This photo shows a colorful school of pike and peacock (bass) lures “suspended” on clear acrylic at the Westin booth, a tackle manufacturer based in Denmark.

INTERNATIONAL CROWD

Even though ICAST isn’t a public show, exhibitors, buyers and others come from all over and the floor can get crowded. Most major and many smaller manufacturers of tackle and various fishing-related products are represented.

FAST TAPER

Now that’s what I call a fast-taper action — as demonstrated by Okuma‘s John Bretza, surrounded by rods displaying some of the Korean manufacturer’s inventory

MYSTERIOUS MAN IN BLACK

An ominous black-clad angler, this mannequin stands watch over the booth of apparel maker Huk Performance Fishing.

SWIMMING UPSTREAM

These new Daiwa SP (Salt Pro) Minnows appear to be doing just that, when one looks down the length of a long display at the Daiwa booth.

BLAST OFF

Among the new designs displayed by **H2Outdoors **was this snazzy Water Blast Tuna t-shirt.

RACK O’ RODS

Don’t be fooled by the fish-eye effect; rest assured these new Berkley Air Rods are all arrow straight. The IM8 series is high-modulus IM8 graphite with titanium-coated guides.

“VISIONALITY”

That’s the term Raymarine has coined for the CHIRP Downvision technology that allows its Dragonfly 7 to show amazingly detailed 3D images like the one scrolling across this unit’s screen during a demo viewing.

LOOKING FOR VOTES

Some of the many new reels on display at the ICAST New Products Showcase, where representatives of the media vote for their favorite products in various categories. Winning products receive prestigious awards

STAND OUT IN A CROWD…

… with one of Mustad‘s new Ultrapoint technical fishing shirts, displayed at the company’s booth, along with new lines, accessories and, of course, hooks.

CACAPHONY OF COLOR

A display of freshwater lures seen from behind appear to be swimming away.

KAYAKS: GOING STRONG

Show visitors look over a Wilderness kayak. Not surprisingly, there were again this year, more kayak manufacturers on hand than ever.

POPPER POSSE

Striking AJ Killer poppers made by Hanta, a relatively new manufacturer in the United States.

HAPPY HUKERS

Late on the afternoon of the second day of ICAST, it’s happy hour in the Huk booth, as the suds flow, and the crowd approaches standing room only.

GOOD AS GOLD

California-based Qualia shows some of its conventional reels. In the center row: Qualia’s Advanz single-speed reels that range from about $200 to $326.

NOW YOU SEE ME; NOW YOU SEE ME BETTER

That’s because Stren‘s Sonic Braid glows at night, at least under a black light, as this demo in the Berkley booth makes absolutely clear.

FOULWEATHER GEAR NEVER LOOKED SO GOOD…

… as it does on SF‘s Pacific editor Jim Hendricks, who tries on a very thoughtfully designed jacket at the Grundens booth.

REEL ‘N ROLL

With an unprecedented .410-inch knot clearance, AFTCO‘s new Super Extra Heavy Duty Guides give the angler extra space around rollers, making it feasible to wind on swivels (e.g. 300-pound Spros) and crimped connections.

HYBRID SHRIMP

Based on a 3D scan of a real shrimp, Danish lure designer Mads Grosell created Savage Gear’s new Hybrid Shrimp featurees a hard ABS plastic body with soft, stretchy, durable PTE rubber legs. Let the shrimp fall slowly and give it a jerk; it will shoot up to the surface like the real thing.

FLIPPING OUT

At the **Seaguar **booth, young pro-staffer J.W. Goodson makes flipping look easy. Goodson was the 2014 B.A.S.S. South Carolina high school champion.

RODS GALORE

At the St. Croix booth — the manufacturer prides itself on its fishing-rod technology, including its Integrated Poly Curve construction for smoother action, increased strength and greater sensitivity, and Advanced Reinforcing Technology made of what St. Croix calls an exotic carbon fiber material that strengthens a rod blank by a factor of 10.

GET THE LEAD OUT…

… out of your tackle box, says Swivits, which offers an affordable alternative to lead sinking with a mix of hydraulic cement and crushed stone — and, unlike lead, this gets heavier when wet. Swivits intends to reduce the amount of lead left in our waters.

FREAKIN’ FAST

Quantum‘s Smoke Speed Freak (left) offers a high-speed retrieve plus 10 stainless beaerings and lightweight aluminum materials, plus a titanium bail wire. Fin-Nor‘s Lethal (right) also boasts aluminum materials, with six stainless bearings, for $100-400

WHOLE LOTTA LINE

With 5,000 yards of Hi-Seas Quattro Plus camouflage monofilament, this five-pound spool — at the American Fishing Wire/Hi-Seas booth — should last an angler (or many) quite a while.

PATRIOTIC SHORTS

Pelagic‘s new Americamo board short offers a patriotic theme, plus its proprietary Sharkskin technology, an ultra-lightweight quick-dry fabric. Retail price is $69.

SHINING EXAMPLES

A few examples of the 500-plus models of lures made by Taiwan-based Strike Pro sparkle beneath display lights.

REVO GETS SALTY

Abu Garcia‘s highly regarded Revo spinning reel goes saltwater in 2015, with this new Revo Inshore series, introduced at ICAST. Offering six stainless bearings, a Carbon Matrix drag system, C6 carbon rotor and more, the Inshores will run $200 to $220, available November 1.

FISHIN’ FLIPS FOR FISHIN’ TRIPS

Marshall Madruga’s KarmaZen sandals are designed to be both eco-friendly (utlizing recycled materials) and stylish. Their very light weight and thin design ensure comfort, while the simulated tire-tread bottom grips tenaciously.

HIGH-TECH HYSEK

Heavy-duty coolers seemed to be all the rage at this year’s ICAST. Hysek showed off a number of high-tech models.

SUPER JIG RODS

Only recently has U.S.-based Hanta started producing high-end rods for serious anglers, with both popping and jigging rods available. After extensive testing of rod blanks from several countries, Hanta determined the strongest blanks were made in Japan, which supplies the manufacturer now. The rods retail roughly in the $350 to $550 range.