ICAST BEST OF SHOW

[theangler]

[center][font "Times New Roman"][size 3]ICAST BEST OF SHOW COMPETION SHINES LIMELIGHT[/size][/font][/center] [center][font "Times New Roman"][size 3]ON LONGSTANDING AND NEW COMPANIES ALIKE[/size][/font][/center]
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[font "Times New Roman"][size 3] Shimano American Corporation won the Overall Best of Show Award, and Best of Show for the reel category, in the ICAST 2004 New Product Showcase awards competition for its Chronarch B Series Reel. The company also took top honors for the new Bagio Fishing Traveler Case in the Tackle Management category. [/size][/font]
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[font "Times New Roman"][size 3] This year’s New Product Showcase winners also included four first-time ICAST exhibitors—Bikini Lures, Fishworks, Hawg Pockets, and Target Fisherman. Two companies—Airrus Rods and Shimano—won Best of Show awards in the rod and reel categories respectively for the third year in a row.[/size][/font]
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[font "Times New Roman"][size 3] Nearly 200 companies entered angler equipment and accessories into the New Product Showcase, sponsored by Fishing Tackle Retailer magazine this year. The showcase is the flagship feature of the International Convention of Allied Sportfishing Trades, or ICAST, the sportfishing industry’s premier trade event produced by the American Sportfishing Association. The 47th annual show was held at the Las Vegas Convention Center, July 14-16. Selling out in February, the show ultimately hosted nearly 400 exhibitors—more than 60 additional exhibitors over last year—and floor space that was 15 percent larger than last year. [/size][/font]
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[font "Times New Roman"][size 3] “The New Product Showcase is the best part of ICAST,” said Mike Nussman, President and CEO of the American Sportfishing Association. “Every year it’s amazing to see all the creativity and ingenuity our member companies have used to add curiosity, excitement, and discovery to the adventure of fishing.”[/size][/font]
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[font "Times New Roman"][size 3] Making up a special section of ICAST’s 250,000-square-foot show floor, the New Product Showcase gives the industry’s latest innovations special visibility during the show, with nearly 6,500 representatives of the sportfishing community attending. [/size][/font]
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[font "Times New Roman"][size 3] Buyers and media judged several hundred products based on their level of innovation, execution, workmanship, and practicality to select Best of Show honors in 11 categories, as well as the Overall Best of Show winner. [/size][/font]
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[font "Times New Roman"][size 3]Category Company Product[/size][/font]
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[font "Times New Roman"][size 3]Overall Best of Show Shimano American Corp. Chronarch B Series Reel[/size][/font]
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[font "Times New Roman"][size 3]Rod Airrus Rods Tradition Series[/size][/font]
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[font "Times New Roman"][size 3]Reel Shimano American Corp. Chronarch B Series Reel[/size][/font]
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[font "Times New Roman"][size 3]Terminal Tackle VMC David Fritts Scorpion Treble Hooks[/size][/font]
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[font "Times New Roman"][size 3]Line Pure Fishing Vanish Transition[/size][/font]
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[font "Times New Roman"][size 3]Hard Lure Bikini Lures Solaris Fatshad[/size][/font]
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[font "Times New Roman"][size 3]Soft Lure Pace Products LA Slider[/size][/font]
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[font "Times New Roman"][size 3]Tackle Management Shimano American Corp. Bagio Fishing Traveler Case[/size][/font]
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[font "Times New Roman"][size 3]Kid’s Tackle Target Fisherman Target Fisherman[/size][/font]
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[font "Times New Roman"][size 3]Boating Accessory/ American Rod & Gun Bassmaster LMS 480 Electronic Sonar and i Finder Combo[/size][/font]
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[font "Times New Roman"][size 3]Fishing Accessory Hawg Pockets Hawg Pockets lure guard[/size][/font]
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[font "Times New Roman"][size 3]Clothing/Giftware Fishworks Clipperton Walk Shorts[/size][/font]
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[font "Times New Roman"][size 3] For the next three years, ICAST will be held at the Las Vegas Convention Center, with the dates coinciding with the National Marine Manufacturers Association’s Marine After-Market and Accessories Trade Show (MAATS). ICAST is scheduled for July 20-22, 2005; July 19-21, 2006; and July 18-20, 2007.[/size][/font]
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[DrownedDesertRat]

Mike, thanks for the report. There's a couple things that are in the list that I want to check out, like those scorpion treble hooks.
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[BottleCapLureGuy]

Hey thanks for the tip. I may be at the next ICAST show. I missed the last one.
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