I know this will get locked or removed quick but I think a response to Glenn’s ICAST remarks are necessary. Members on here get chastised and locked down for less than that. That response is exactly why so many anglers are feeling this aura of elitism exuded by the Industry and its professionals. Since all us plebs are spending our hard earned money on your industry’s crap (and apparently just wanna give you more and more by going to icast as a consumer) maybe don’t bite the hands that feed you.

Oh and judging by the explanation what ICAST actually IS, I don’t think I was very far off in my understanding - and that’s coming from someone who “ain’t part of the community.”

It has nothing to do with elitism, it's a TRADE show and its sole purpose is for b2b networking and sales/leads (among other things). Lots of trades/industries have them and is not exclusive to the fishing industry. If your'e not in the trade then there is simply no purpose to be there.

I guess I don’t understand why some are up in arms that ICAST is closed to the public? As stated above, this isn’t just a fishing industry thing. I think it was explained perfectly what ICAST is about and what goes on there and in my opinion, it’s understandable why it’s closed to the public. On top of that, if most products at ICAST are yet to be released and are intended for the next year, how are you going to spend your hard earned money on a product that isn’t in production yet?

The Classic Expo is open to the public with some great deals. There are fishing expos all over the country with excellent deals. That isn’t enough? Hell, some companies release new products at the Classic Expo instead of ICAST. That isn’t enough?

Spending hard earned money and biting the hand that feeds you was also brought up. Each year we see more complaints about holiday deals (or lack there of) and how the percentage off isn’t what it used to be in previous years. Companies don’t have to run sales and we would still buy their products yet here we are complaining about how crappy the sales are.

What are we doing here folks?

Is it really that big of a deal that a trade show isn’t open to the public?

I think the general sentiment was that ICAST has been getting smaller - what are some ideas to address that. One suggestion was to open it up to the public. That suggestion had been made outside of this forum as well by others close to the industry. The response to that suggestion had a tone that wasn’t well received by a few, that’s all.

The public would affect the U2U (urchin 2 urchin) sales.

BTW just let me know when this stops being funny.

12 minutes ago, RichF said:

that’s all.

It sure seems like there was more than that in some of the posts. I guess if the people that are involved with ICAST aren’t concerned, then why should we?

This is just an assumption here, but if it were open to the public, it wouldn’t increase sales.

It sounds like there are a number of misconceptions about ICAST. So hopefully this clears the air:

Common Consumer Misconceptions About ICAST

ICAST is often portrayed online as a giant fishing show where every new product is tested, judged and released. In reality, it is primarily a business-to-business sportfishing trade show connecting manufacturers with retailers, distributors, media and other industry professionals.

Misconception	Factual response
1. “ICAST is open to any angler who buys a ticket.”	ICAST is not a public consumer show. Attendees must qualify under an approved industry badge category, such as retailer, wholesaler, manufacturer, media, guide or industry associate.
2. “ICAST is basically a huge fishing expo.”	Consumer expos are designed to sell products, entertain anglers and meet fans. ICAST is structured around product sourcing, retailer orders, distribution, media coverage, networking and industry business.
3. “You can buy all the new products at the show.”	Retail sales of exhibitors’ products are prohibited. Manufacturers may take wholesale orders inside their booths, but attendees generally cannot purchase rods, reels and lures to take home.
4. “Everything announced at ICAST is available immediately.”	ICAST is usually a product preview, not a retail launch. Many newly introduced products are represented by only a handful of samples, final prototypes or pre-production units. Full-scale production may not have started, there may be no saleable inventory, and the show is sometimes the first opportunity for a manufacturer’s own sales representatives, distributors and retail customers to see the finished product. Officially, ICAST is where retailers evaluate new product lines, meet with manufacturers and plan or place future orders. The people attending ICAST are not an elite group taking all the new products home before everyone else. When production inventory becomes available, the initial commercial shipments generally go to distributors and retailers so they can sell the products to consumers. A limited number of media members or sponsored professionals may receive evaluation samples, but those are not retail inventory. In most cases, consumers purchasing through retailers are the first people who can actually own the finished production versions.
5. “Every product displayed at ICAST is brand-new.”	Booths contain both existing product lines and upcoming products. For the official New Product Showcase, “new” primarily means the product was not sold in North American retail distribution before January 1 of that show year.
6. “Every new fishing product is entered in the New Product Showcase.”	Showcase participation is optional and restricted to registered exhibitors. Companies decide which eligible products to enter, and submission limits apply, so many legitimate new products never appear in the competition.
7. “Consumers choose the ICAST award winners.”	Consumers do not vote. New Product Showcase winners are selected by attendees holding qualified buyer or Media-Editorial credentials.
8. “Manufacturers vote for one another’s products.”	Exhibitors and their representatives are not permitted in the New Product Showcase during the initial voting period. Voting is reserved for credentialed buyers and editorial media.
9. “Best of Category means it was scientifically proven to be the best.”	The awards are determined by voting, not standardized laboratory testing, long-term durability testing or controlled fishing comparisons. A win means the product impressed eligible voters at the show—not that it is objectively superior for every angler.
10. “An award winner will automatically be the best value.”	Innovation, presentation, uniqueness and perceived market potential can influence voting. Price, durability, personal fishing style and long-term performance may lead consumers to prefer a different product.
11. “If a major company skips ICAST, something must be wrong.”	Exhibiting is a business and marketing decision involving membership, booth expense, staffing, travel and launch timing. Companies must also be active American Sportfishing Association members to exhibit, so absence does not automatically indicate financial trouble or a lack of new products.
12. “Every important fishing brand attends.”	ICAST is large, but it is not a complete representation of every manufacturer. Some companies launch products independently, attend other events, meet retailers privately or concentrate their budgets elsewhere.
13. “ICAST is mostly about bass fishing.”	Bass fishing receives considerable coverage, but ICAST represents the broader recreational-fishing industry, including freshwater, saltwater, fly fishing, ice fishing, boating, electronics, apparel, accessories and conservation interests.
14. “The professional anglers are there primarily to meet fans.”	Most pros are working. Their schedules frequently include sponsor appearances, product demonstrations, media interviews, retailer meetings and content production. Since the show is not public, it is not organized as a traditional fan meet-and-greet.
15. “Everything can be fully tested at ICAST.”	Some products can be handled, cast or demonstrated in designated areas such as casting ponds, lure tanks and On the Water events. That is useful for a first impression, but it is not equivalent to fishing the product repeatedly under real-world conditions.
16. “Seeing a product in an ICAST video means the reviewer endorses it.”	Show coverage is often reporting, not reviewing. A media outlet may demonstrate or discuss a product simply because it is new; genuine evaluation normally requires considerably more time on the water.
17. “Media outlets cover every important product.”	No outlet can realistically cover everything. For perspective, the 2025 show included roughly 600 exhibitors and 811 New Product Showcase entries, forcing media teams to prioritize products relevant to their audiences.
18. “The products receiving the most coverage must be the most innovative.”	Coverage is also affected by brand recognition, scheduled appointments, booth access, media relationships, presentation quality and how easily a product can be explained on camera. Visibility is not necessarily a measurement of quality.
19. “ICAST awards predict which products will become successful.”	An award can generate attention, but consumers, retailers and product performance ultimately determine long-term success. Some winners become category leaders; others face limited availability, strong competition or little consumer demand.
20. “ICAST exists mainly to create hype.”	Product publicity is part of the event, but its larger purpose is industry commerce: introducing manufacturers to buyers, establishing distribution, writing orders, forming partnerships and discussing business, conservation and fisheries policy.

 

ICAST should be viewed as an early look at what the fishing industry may be offering, not as a final verdict on what anglers should buy. Announcements and awards identify products worth watching, but meaningful consumer judgments should come later—after retail versions are available, specifications are confirmed and anglers have accumulated genuine on-the-water experience.

Hope that helps!

* Full disclosure: I used IA to help group my thoughts and create a legible Q/A format *

44 minutes ago, RichF said:

I think the general sentiment was that ICAST has been getting smaller

The big boom after 2020 was driven by the pandemic. A cooldown afterward is not unexpected #nothingburger

2025: Attendees 12,000 (-14.3%) | Exhibitors 600 (-5.5%) | New Products 811 (-26.3%)

2024: Attendees 14,000 (+5.3%) | Exhibitors 635 (+9.5%) | New Products ~1,100 (~0%)

2023: Attendees 13,300 (+33.0%) | Exhibitors 580 (+2.7%) | New Products 1,100+ (+22.2%)

2022: Attendees 10,000 (+11.1%) | Exhibitors 565 (+13.0%) | New Products 900+ (+12.5%)

2021: Attendees 9,000 | Exhibitors 500 | New Products 800+

2020 Cancelled; Covid

The ICAST coverage all over YouTube, podcasts, TW, etc. is plenty “public” enough for me. I’m a tackle nerd but if I can observe this much from a distance, I don’t see a reason to let the public in (physically). If anything, having the on-site coverage come through vetted professional sources makes it more credible and interesting.

I have attended and worked more trade shows, like ICAST, than I care to remember. Go once and hear the words... "Hello. Welcome to the (insert business name) booth. May I scan your badge?" And you may never go again. 😀

All jokes aside, ICAST is a show for companies to show off their new products and get vendors to purchase them for their business. This is nothing new for trade shows. ICAST just gives consumers an opportunity through social media and the internet to get a first hand look at what is available or is coming out for that year.

The first trade show I went to was when I worked as a retail manager/buyer 30+ years ago, https://www.magicfashionevents.com. Back then our company was buying clothing from vendors that would hit the shelves 2-3 years later. We were aware of the new trends before the magazines and especially the consumers and no-one was the wiser. I have since moved on to a different career path. Here is what I attended now, https://www.printingunited.com. Again, these snooze fests are not for the average consumer. There is no real elitism. Just business.

Been to a few myself, it's fun until lunch on the first day, by day two or three ugh...I actually think h*ll is a trade show, except every day is the third day of it.

17 hours ago, RichF said:

I know this will get locked or removed quick but I think a response to Glenn’s ICAST remarks are necessary. Members on here get chastised and locked down for less than that. That response is exactly why so many anglers are feeling this aura of elitism exuded by the Industry and its professionals. Since all us plebs are spending our hard earned money on your industry’s crap (and apparently just wanna give you more and more by going to icast as a consumer) maybe don’t bite the hands that feed you.

Oh and judging by the explanation what ICAST actually IS, I don’t think I was very far off in my understanding - and that’s coming from someone who “ain’t part of the community.”

As you can see your post wasn’t “locked or removed quick” as it seems like you expected/wanted it to be.

I don’t think I’ve ever “chastised” anyone for any reason.

However, I will not tolerate disrespect for any reason.

Thats it!

That’s the only reason I locked the previous thread.

Now you have another chance to join in.

Mike

1 hour ago, Mike L said:

As you can see your post wasn’t “locked or removed quick” as it seems like you expected/wanted it to be.

I don’t think I’ve ever “chastised” anyone for any reason.

However, I will not tolerate disrespect for any reason.

Thats it!

That’s the only reason I locked the previous thread.

Now you have another chance to join in.

Mike

My post wasn’t directed toward you. I’ve never seen you, in particular, do that - definitely others in the past though. Also, kind of a weird thing to say - I “wanted” to get the new thread locked. Off-putting for sure.

I agree about the disrespect. I saw some in that thread and felt the need to respond. I did here and now we got some good insight on the subject, including some stats (which is helpful).

So thanks for not locking and thanks to the gents that provided the info.

24 minutes ago, RichF said:

My post wasn’t directed toward you

Maybe a PM next time would be a better option?

My humble opinion on this, I do not think it would hurt anyone to give one day for the anglers who ultimately buy the gear to experience new tackle with some hands on contact. The organizers could charge a significant entry fee and make some money to make next years event bigger and better. I would much rather take the advice of some regular anglers than some marketing video or a pro trying to satisfy their sponsor. I have been to trade conventions and understand all of the good points presented here and can see both sides of this. I think one day would not make or break anything.

For us non industry folks I really do not understand the big to do with it. I get what it’s for. A super high percentage of stuff at I cast I would have no interest in anyway. Is it The Who’s who of the fishing world? Yeah, kind of. It’s contractual agreements that they have to be there to promote X Y and Z. I don’t really feel like anyone should feel left out because it’s not for the average person. It would just be an experience.

I want to address the click-bait videos proclaiming ICAST is dying. I do not believe the evidence supports saying that overall ICAST attendance collapsed in 2026. Officially, it was approximately the same size as 2024 and larger than the reported 2025 registration count.

However, I believe the observation is valid in a more important sense:

There may have been fewer active buyers, media representatives and industry decision-makers visibly circulating through the booths—even though the total badge count remained high.

Why?

The industry is sending smaller teams, scheduling more meetings, limiting travel, conducting more business privately and relying more heavily on digital product information. That produces a show that can technically report 14,000 attendees while feeling substantially quieter to someone who has attended for many years.

Specifically (transparency note: I used AI to help calculate some of the figures below):

1. The attendance number is not the number of buyers walking the aisles

The 14,000 figure includes exhibitors and their employees, media, professional anglers, manufacturers’ representatives, association personnel, guides, international visitors and other credentialed attendees—not simply retailers shopping the show.

Exhibitors receive four discounted badges for every 100 square feet of booth space, meaning thousands of the people counted may be working inside booths rather than creating aisle traffic.

That makes the real question:

How many qualified retail buyers attended, and how many days did they remain on the floor?

ICAST has not yet released a detailed 2026 breakdown by badge category, so we do not know whether buyer attendance increased, decreased or remained flat.

2. More business is happening away from the general show floor

ICAST has intentionally added more appointment-driven programming. The new Meet the Market event puts buyers and manufacturers into prearranged meetings before the exhibit floor opens. There are also retailer breakfasts, private meeting rooms, seminars, lounges, demonstrations and other events pulling people away from the aisles.

This may produce better-quality meetings while making the show appear less crowded.

In other words, the show is becoming less about thousands of people wandering around and more about smaller numbers of decision-makers arriving with scheduled appointments.

3. Retailers and manufacturers are controlling travel expenses

The fishing business has been operating in a difficult environment. Reported U.S. tackle sales declined approximately 8% from 2023 to 2024, while the estimated number of licensed anglers declined more than 8.5% between 2021 and 2023.

That affects ICAST directly. A retailer that previously sent six employees may now send two. A manufacturer may bring fewer sales representatives, sponsored anglers and marketing personnel. Smaller companies may skip the show entirely.

Therefore, the company may still be represented and counted—but with a much smaller contingent.

4. Tariff uncertainty is making the industry cautious

Fishing tackle companies continue to face uncertainty involving tariffs, imported components, manufacturing costs, pricing and future inventory. ASA was still issuing policy updates about potential fishing-tackle tariffs immediately before ICAST 2026.

When companies cannot confidently predict landed costs or retail pricing, they become more conservative about:

• Travel and entertainment expenses

• Booth staffing

• New-product commitments

• Retail orders

• Marketing expenditures

That uncertainty does not necessarily stop companies from attending, but it encourages them to send fewer people and conduct shorter, more targeted visits.

5. Much of the traditional media function has moved online

Years ago, attending ICAST was one of the only practical ways for retailers and media outlets to discover new products. Today, manufacturers send digital catalogs, host video meetings and announce products through YouTube, social media, email and retailer websites.

Major retailers now publish extensive ICAST coverage online almost immediately.

My inference is that this has particularly reduced the need for:

• Large media teams

• Regional writers

• Marginal content creators

• Retail employees who are not directly involved in purchasing

The people who remain are more likely to have specific meetings and less likely to spend three days roaming every aisle.

6. The floor is large enough to dilute the crowd

ICAST occupies roughly 200,000 square feet of exhibition space. Even 14,000 registered people do not appear simultaneously. They are spread across several days, the New Product Showcase, private meeting rooms, demonstrations, restaurants, seminars and off-site events.

A similar total attendance distributed across more activities can produce noticeably thinner aisle traffic.

7. Friday is no longer a meaningful measure of attendance

The 2026 exhibit floor closed at 3:00 p.m. Friday, with product pickup beginning at noon and exhibitor move-out beginning immediately after closing.

Many buyers and media members leave Thursday night or early Friday. Consequently, Friday can make the entire show appear poorly attended even when Wednesday and Thursday were reasonably productive. This is nothing new. It's been happening this way for decades.

This last point is important, because the videos and pictures produced as "evidence" of a declining ICAST were shot on the last day, after nearly everyone had left. The dead-giveaway is people walking around with orange buckets, which were only available on the last day. Those videos and pics are misleading and were created solely for clicks.

Bottom line:

The most revealing figures would not be total attendance. They would be unique retail-buying companies, buyer badges, media badges, average days attended and buyer-to-exhibitor ratio. Those numbers have not yet been publicly released.

So it's premature to proclaim ICAST is in trouble and, therefore, in dire need of inviting the public to the event. I would, however, welcome a change in venue to bring in new faces and companies to the event, which has been held at the same place for about 15 years.

@Bass Rutten clearly showed the numbers aren’t falling off like some claim. Sure there's ebb and flow but not enough to say the sky is falling and it’s the end of ICAST.

Security must be lax at ICAST This guy was seen snooping around every booth at the show.

2 hours ago, 12poundbass said:

Maybe a PM next time would be a better option?

Agreed - for all involved