| Sportfishing Industry Celebrates 50 Years of Innovation at ICAST |
American Sportfishing Association
July 20, 2007—ALEXANDRIA, VA— 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. ICAST
represents the cornerstone of the sportfishing industry, driving sportfishing companies’ product sales year round.
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,
produced by the American Sportfishing Association (ASA), covered 350,000 square feet of the Las Vegas Convention
Center .
“Our commitment to fishing makes our industry so much more than a collection of businesses. It’s also a lively, creative,
passion-driven community,” said ASA President and CEO Mike Nussman. “For much, much longer than 50 years, we’ve
all sustained one of America ’s favorite pastimes. Fifty years of our trade show is a great opportunity to celebrate our
industry’s impact on the lives of so many people.”
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. The products in the New Product Showcase
were entered into the “Best of Show” competition where buyers and members of the media judged each product based on
its level of innovation, execution, workmanship and practicality to select “Best of Show” honors in 17 categories, as well as
the overall “Best of Show” winner.
The E21 Carrot Stix, a freshwater rod, was voted by buyers and media as the most innovative product in the ICAST50
New Product Showcase in both the Freshwater Rod category and in the overall “Best of Show” category. Other winners in
the 2007 New Product Showcase “Best of Show” are Bert’s Custom Tackle/Tecia; Old Harbor Outfitters; Lowrance-
Navico; Costa Del Mar Sunglasses; Pure Fishing, Inc.; Shimano American Corporation; MacDaddy’s Fishing Lures;
Emmett Stacey Inventors & Investors; Outdoor Adventure Kids; Pfluegar/Shakespeare Fishing Tackle; and Dee’s Diamond
Flasher.
In honor of 50 years of the show, ASA 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.
Several legends of the sportfishing industry were also recognized during the show for their lifelong contributions. 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. “These men devoted their entire careers, even their entire lives, to sportfishing,” said
Nussman, “and it’s only fitting that we recognize them during this historic year.”
In 2008, ICAST will be held at the Las Vegas Convention Center , from July 16-18, 2008. ICAST 2009 will be held at the
Orange County Convention Center in Orlando , Florida , from July 15-17, 2009.
The American Sportfishing Association is the sportfishing industry’s trade association, uniting more than 650 members
of the sportfishing and boating industries with state fish and wildlife agencies, federal land and water management
agencies, conservation organizations, angler advocacy groups, and outdoor journalists. The American Sportfishing
Association safeguards and promotes the enduring social, economic, and conservation values of sportfishing.
July 20, 2007—ALEXANDRIA, VA— 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. ICAST
represents the cornerstone of the sportfishing industry, driving sportfishing companies’ product sales year round.
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,
produced by the American Sportfishing Association (ASA), covered 350,000 square feet of the Las Vegas Convention
Center .
“Our commitment to fishing makes our industry so much more than a collection of businesses. It’s also a lively, creative,
passion-driven community,” said ASA President and CEO Mike Nussman. “For much, much longer than 50 years, we’ve
all sustained one of America ’s favorite pastimes. Fifty years of our trade show is a great opportunity to celebrate our
industry’s impact on the lives of so many people.”
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. The products in the New Product Showcase
were entered into the “Best of Show” competition where buyers and members of the media judged each product based on
its level of innovation, execution, workmanship and practicality to select “Best of Show” honors in 17 categories, as well as
the overall “Best of Show” winner.
The E21 Carrot Stix, a freshwater rod, was voted by buyers and media as the most innovative product in the ICAST50
New Product Showcase in both the Freshwater Rod category and in the overall “Best of Show” category. Other winners in
the 2007 New Product Showcase “Best of Show” are Bert’s Custom Tackle/Tecia; Old Harbor Outfitters; Lowrance-
Navico; Costa Del Mar Sunglasses; Pure Fishing, Inc.; Shimano American Corporation; MacDaddy’s Fishing Lures;
Emmett Stacey Inventors & Investors; Outdoor Adventure Kids; Pfluegar/Shakespeare Fishing Tackle; and Dee’s Diamond
Flasher.
In honor of 50 years of the show, ASA 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.
Several legends of the sportfishing industry were also recognized during the show for their lifelong contributions. 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. “These men devoted their entire careers, even their entire lives, to sportfishing,” said
Nussman, “and it’s only fitting that we recognize them during this historic year.”
In 2008, ICAST will be held at the Las Vegas Convention Center , from July 16-18, 2008. ICAST 2009 will be held at the
Orange County Convention Center in Orlando , Florida , from July 15-17, 2009.
The American Sportfishing Association is the sportfishing industry’s trade association, uniting more than 650 members
of the sportfishing and boating industries with state fish and wildlife agencies, federal land and water management
agencies, conservation organizations, angler advocacy groups, and outdoor journalists. The American Sportfishing
Association safeguards and promotes the enduring social, economic, and conservation values of sportfishing.