Anyone going to ICAST this year?

 

If so why do you go? What do you do at ICAST?

 

Looking for new products? Networking? Filling the swag bag? Business?

 

I know for some they bring family and play golf and hit the theme parks as well. Some fish.

This year for me may be different - if I do still go. I made plans but not sure if they will work out. Since I am now retired there is no shop work to be done at ICAST for me. Others will be busy on that front for the shop.

My main plans for this year was to take my now 13 year old son to his first ICAST tradeshow and let him begin his own meet and greets and get to know people in the tackle and fishing and even boating industry and maybe even a few biologists as well. He is ecstatic to learn Boston Whaler's main manufacturing plant is close to home. That may be the first place he fills out his first employment application soon. He wants a Boston Whaler. It would be kind of cool if he got to actually build his first BW boat.

These days I go to talk to rod companies about rod making, and hope to see Gary Loomis one last time if he shows up any more. NFC has not been at ICAST for a couple of years now. I guess Aleks Maslov does not see any financial benefit from it and probably does not like the expenses of the show. He did it in a big way once. Huge booth. The works. And has not been back since. I bet that booth took a bite out of company finances.

I also go to talk to old friends, see the biologists and talk to them for a bit to find out details on new water projects I have not heard about yet- and fishing projects. I am learning about a relatively 'new' water science being used here in Florida referred to as ASR (Aquifer Storage and Recovery) projects. These projects are also used in conjunction with land surface natural plant water filter tanks which is what interests me because that is where the new fish will be. And many of these are not open to the public. Some are but usually in limited ways like no motor zones.

"The Headwaters, Farm 13, and Stick Marsh impoundments act as massive stormwater treatment areas (STAs) and reservoirs for the Upper St. Johns River Basin. Managed by the St. Johns River Water Management District, these interconnected, man-made marsh systems filter agricultural runoff, provide flood control, and serve as irrigation and water supplies."

In some cases, the ASR's are used along with and in conjunction with the STA's. Many bass fisherman are not aware that places like Headwaters, Stick Marsh, Farm 13, Fellsmere, and other places were all created by biologists and scientists. Once created, fishing explodes in them. So I like to keep up with all of Florida's water projects, where they are, stages of construction, and especially keeping an eye out for when those projects come on line so I can get in on it first- if possible.

I am presently following an aquifer water recovery project in north Florida area that I am waiting for the water to be turned on so we fishermen can get in on it. But since we are in a drought right now, even though the $100 million dollar project is now completed, built and tested, the water still is not flowing because the conditions here in Florida are not providing enough water presently. Kind of funny to hear biologists say "we need one good hurricane" to solve our current water deficiencies across the state. More than 3 feet of water behind right now. The rains simply have not come. And these ASR and STA projects require lots of surface water inflowing into them.

So ICAST for me is part fishing tackle and part fishing sciences. I may spend a lot more time with biologists this year than I have in the past. They have the best bass fishing information in the state of the Florida. They know where the big ones are because those biologists are growing them with the sciences.

The biologists created the Florida Trophy Catch program to track lunker catches across the state and compile that data into useful information us bass fishermen can access and use to our advantage.

And what is interesting here in Florida is to see that new lunker catches listed in the Trophy Catch Program are also coming directly out of the biologists' water projects across the state. Certain areas of Florida are more productive than others. But you gotta network with the biologists to be on top of that info.

https://license.gooutdoorsflorida.com/Angler/Home

Aquifer Storage and Recovery

I am going to have to tell my kid if we go to ICAST that for 1 I am NOT carrying his swag bag all over the show floor! And 2, don't view ICAST as a swag show. Its not about throwing out product to swarms of people walking by a booth. Nope. ICAST is an industry insider show, so it is one of the few that don't throw out a lot of swag.

What happens sometimes is the companies pay to ship product in to the show, but it costs them twice if they have to ship it back out. So quite often at shows like ICAST companies will bring limited amounts of product mostly for display, and only on the last day will some sales be allowed on the show floor. So we might be able to purchase some new products if allowed. I will have to check on this- again.

ICAST is one of the few shows that you do not find piles of product left behind on the show floor by companies. I worked in tradeshow business for more than 20 years. And I can tell you from experience that we got product after many shows. I'd walk in the backdoor the following day after a show closed and see piles of abandoned product left on the show floor. If it is in a booth, one has to ask about it. If the product was left in the aisle, it was fair game to take by any employees. We got piles of stuff over the years. Would be nice if GLoomis and NFC left behind piles of fishing rods! That will never happen!

In years past when I was working in the industry we'd show up at ICAST and various executives at various companies would bring their rods and reels to ICAST and have them right on the show floor in their booths, and someone from our shop would pick them up and take them to the shop to service them. And in turn whatever products those companies had were also made available to our shop as well. Tools are a big one. Scratch each others backs is how it goes. Lots of networking too.

I told my son to go to the ICAST website and make himself a list of all the companies he wanted to visit and to make his list in numerical order so he can systematically work his way through the show floor without jumping all around and going back and forth type of thing. Keep them in order and walk through it. And keep an eye out for famous bass pro's. One day walking the aisles I literally ran into Ish Monroe. Our paths crossed and both of us were not paying attention and ran right into each other. It happens.

I think my son will be concentrating on rods and reels and lures primarily, and if any boat companies are there I am sure he will be checking those out as well. I think he wants to come away from ICAST with a bag full of swag lures. I told him, you carry your own load pal! Don't expect dad to carry all that swag you load up! I'll probably wind up carrying it some anyways, but I gotta try and make him take some responsibility for it too and swear up and down I'm not carrying it- until I have to. He also wants to try out the casting tanks. It will be his first time getting to try some of those large saltwater fly rod setups. He will also be taking a good close look at making his own lures. He is already melting rubber and using molds so he might expand on that as well.

ICAST is Florida's Christmas time! Christmas in July! The only thing missing is Santa and his sleigh. But boats will do.

Any of you going to ICAST and what are you going there for?

I'll be there again. It will be my 19th year. I'm booked up in meetings for all 3 days with current and prospective partners. I may get a little time here and there to check out new products too, and have breakfast/dinner with industry friends I don't get to see often.

Swag? Nope. I've never had a bag of swag in all my years going. Sometimes companies will mail me something after the show, but not at the show. Maybe a sticker or mug or two, but not products. Many companies are showing new prototypes that aren't in production yet, so they don't have anything to give away. But I don't go there for handouts. I go for business (first), and to see new gear (2nd).

I'm not a fan of visiting Florida in July. I used to come to ICAST early and go fishing, but the heat and humidity are dang near oppressive in July, plus it's a long trip to travel there and back. I wish they would bring it back to Vegas.

And in case anyone is wondering if you can go to ICAST, the answer is "no" unless you're a credentialed member of the industry. It is not open to consumers. It's an industry trade show. And if you "sneak in", you'll be escorted out. Attendees are pretty quick to point out people who shouldn't be there.

Urchincast '26

I think it would be really interesting to go, but like Glenn said, it's an invite only event.