Produced by the American Sportfishing Association (ASA), the International Convention of Allied Sportfishing Trades (ICAST) is the world’s largest sportfishing trade show, where new fishing tackle is unveiled for tackle buyers and the international fishing media. Keep in mind that some of the latest, greatest fishing gear and accessories will be released towards the end of 2022 and into 2023, but in many instances some of the new gear and apparel is already available in local shops.
One of the highlights of the annual event – which ran from July 19-22 in Orlando, FL – is the New Product Showcase and awards. Or as ASA put it in their annual write-up after this year’s event, “The recreational fishing industry’s brightest stars gathered beneath the stage lights to see which products would carry home one of the coveted ICAST awards selected by credentialed buyers and media at the industry’s largest trade show.”
This year, more than 900 new products were entered in 30 categories voted on by industry peers, tackle buyers and members of the media as best of the best every year. This year’s winning product entries were officially announced at the Chairman’s Industry Awards Reception on Wednesday night, where ASA President Glenn Hughes presented the 30 winners with their awards.
“One of the winners told me he spent 365 days on this,” Hughes said, adding “Then, he told me that he is starting on next year’s tomorrow. That’s how much this means to some manufacturers.”
In addition to the 30 “Best of Category” winners, one winner is annually selected by voters to win the coveted ICAST Best of Show Award for the year’s top new product overall. In 2022, upstart product developer Brian McKinnon became the new king of ICAST after Pacbak, a self-designed portable cooler and vacuum sealer out-dueled more than 900 entries in the New Product Showcase and some of the biggest brands in fishing.
Best Soft and Hard Coolers(Best of Show)
P88-MK Combo | PacBak
Best Saltwater Reel
PENN Authority Spinning Reel | Pure Fishing, Inc.
Best Freshwater Reel
Shimano STELLA FK | Shimano
Best Saltwater Rod
Ugly Stik Carbon Innshore Rod | Pure Fishing, Inc.
Best Freshwater Rod
Legend Tournament Bass Rod | St. Croix Rod
Best Rod & Reel Combo
Shimano Spheros SW Combo | Shimano
Best Fly Fishing Rod
Banshee Fly | Bull Bay Tackle Company
Best Fly Reel & Fly Fishing Accessories
Hardy Fortuna Regent Saltwater Fly Reel | Pure Fishing, Inc.
Best Fishing Accessory
Frabill WITNESS Weigh Net | Pure Fishing, Inc.
Best Tackle Management
Plano EDGE Frog Box | Pure Fishing, Inc.
Best Terminal Tackle
DieZel Eye Jigheads | Z-Man Fishing Products
Best Custom Tackle and Components
RBS Pro G2 Power Wrapper | Mud Hole Custom Tackle
Best Fishing Line
SpiderWire DuraBraid Hi-Vis Yellow | Pure Fishing, Inc.
purefishing.com/pages/spiderwire
Best Saltwater Soft Lure
Kicker CrabZ | Z-Man Fishing Products
Best Saltwater Hard Lure
LIVETARGET Live Shrimp | LIVETARGET Lures
Best Freshwater Soft Lure
Berkley PowerBait PowerStinger | Pure Fishing, Inc.
berkley-fishing.com/collections/powerbait
Best Freshwater Hard Lure
Berkley Slobberknocker | Pure Fishing, Inc.
berkley-fishing.com/collections/hard-bait
Best Eyewear
Roca | Baijo Sunglasses
Best Footwear
AFTCO Ankle Deck Boot | AFTCO
Best Lifestyle Apparel for Women
Women’s Reaper Softshell | AFTCO
aftco.com/collections/womens-fishing-clothing
Best Lifestyle Apparel for Men
CocoBoardies Boardshorts | AFTCO
aftco.com/collections/fishing-clothing
Best Cold Weather Technical Apparel
Barricade Rain Suit Acid Camo Colorway | AFTCO
aftco.com/collections/outerwear-rain-gear
Best Warm Weather Technical Apparel
SolarFlex Guide Cooling Hoody | Simms Fishing Products
Best Electronics
MEGA Live Imaging TargetLock | Humminbird, Johnson Outdoors Marine Electronics
humminbird.com/learn/imaging/targetlock
Best Cutlery, Hand Pliers or Tools
BUBBA Saltwater Multi-Flex Fillet Knife | BUBBA
Best Boating Accessory
Frabill ReCharge, Deluxe Aerator | Pure Fishing, Inc.
Best Boats and Watercraft
BOTE Rackham Gatorshall + APEX Pedal Drive | BOTE
Best Ice Fishing
Garmin LiveScope Plus Ice Fishing Bundle LI | Garmin USA
Best Kids’ Tackle
Kid’s Tributary Wader | Simms Fishing Products
Best Novelties and Wellness
Garmin Quatix 7 Smartwatch – Sapphire Edition | Garmin USA
You’ll get to learn more about a lot of the new products unveiled at ICAST 2022 in our weekly New Product Spotlight videos posted every week at TheFisherman.com; be sure to sign up for our free email alerts from The Fisherman Magazine to grab an up close and personal look at the many new rods, reels, lures, lines, apparel and technical gear coming out of ICAST 2022.
