ICAST Previewing, Selling, and Acting

Fly fishing is no longer considered a separate activity. Today, fly fishing is viewed as just another way of catching fish- and that’s bringing in new angers. But the elegant simplicity of fly reels still catches the eye of consumers, buyers and media members. The massive reel on the left is a saltwater “teaser” reel. The 3-TAND next to it weighs only 3.5 ounces, but is capable of carrying 145 yards of 20 lb Dacron line-for under $200.

As the fishing industry is gathered in Orlando, Florida for their annual trade show, there’s plenty to look at at either end of the cost spectrum. If you’re getting started in fishing, there are plenty of products that will allow you to get your feet -and tackle- wet without soaking your bank account. If you’re one of those ultra-serious anglers, well, you can have anything from lures costing the same as a new entry-level fly rod to a $2,500 bamboo fly rod (the case costs extra).

If you’re looking to get into kayak or paddle board fishing, there are plenty of varietal choices there as well. It’s interesting to note that the kayak industry remains lively -in fact, during the New Products Preview on Tuesday evening, one fishing captain turned to me and remarked the kayak had become the equivalent of the “tuner car” for the fishing industry. “I think it’s awesome,” he told me, “we have these anglers that show up at our marina with kayaks that originally cost, what, two grand, and they’ll have double that – or more- in accessories. They have the equivalents of nearly everything I have on my deepwater charter boats.”

No kidding. At the new product showcase there were $5K dual-angler Hobies on display along with standup paddleboards for anglers featuring livewells, coolers and rod holders. But the surprise of the displays may have been from longtime canoe and kayak brand, Old Town. Their Predator XL model is now being offered with their Modular Console System- essentially a center pod that can be changed out to contain electronics, storage or -if you choose- a power unit by MinnKota. Yep, an adaptation of a MinnKota trolling motor that enables the Predator XL angler to fish with a console full of electronics -and a power unit that leaves hands free for angling.

Johnson Outdoors Watercraft’s Old Town Predator XL featured a customizable center console that holds dry storage, electronics and/or a MinnKota trolling motor.
It was a big hit with the media and buyers, especially with a price that ranged from $1,999 for the nicely-equipped base Predator XL to $2,699 for the Modular Console System with MinnKota power unit.

There’s a lot of attention paid to the products submitted for the “Best of” categories at this show – and winning one of those awards gives manufacturers a promotional angle to use the rest of this buying season -and going forward. Having spent a lot of time looking at the hundreds of products submitted in categories ranging from best fly rod to the best fishing gift – I was torn between the $4.99 quick fish identifier and the $2,500 life-sized skeletal fish replica- it’s safe to say there’s a lot of new product coming into the pipeline for anglers in the coming months.

If you’re looking for something to give your fishing a little oomph, you might want to consider Eagle Claw’s Anise and Garlic-scented snelled hooks. Yes, scented with “a long-lasting and proprietary blend of 100% natural oils”. If you’re looking for the newest in fish-finding technologies, there’s Garmin’s new GT30-TH and GT30-THP thru-hull scanning CHIRP transducers.

But there are other issues on the burners here as well, from the state of the Gulf of Mexico four years after the Deepwater Horizon disaster to seminars on “Swimming in Regulations” looking at the federal government’s latest round of over-reaching regulations concerning the country’s public waters and access to offshore fishing areas on the verge of being declared “protected areas” by the administration.

FishSmart (www.FishSmart.org) may also be sales-smart for manufacturers and retailers.

Not everything is all peaches and cream on that front, but the industry is working-proactively- to protect the interests of all recreational anglers.

Those efforts include the new FishSmart (www.FishSmart.org) program to recognize innovation and programs in the industry that assure the survival of caught fish. Catch-and-release programs are good, but the FishSmart program seeks to take what ASA calls a “science-based approach to approving the survival of fish.”

With more than half saltwater fish caught and nearly 84 percent of freshwater fish caught released, the program is looking to recognize gear that helps fish survive the experience. It looks like a good idea that’s also a solid business decision. According to an Australian study of a similar program there, retail sales of tackle and equipment recognized as improving released fish survival rates have seen sales jumps from 20-50 percent.

And as always, we’re watching on those fronts and, we’ll keep you posted.

ICAST Underway On July 14
from The Fishing Wire

The doors of the show floor of ICAST/IFTD officially open this morning and the largest combined annual trade shows of the global fishing industry will be underway. Underway means a three day walking trek around the cavernous Orange County Convention Center and not the outdoor industry’s preferred location: Las Vegas.

Personally, I prefer Orlando, but I’ve been told that all the industry studies say I am clearly the minority opinion. Last night, my voice had a little more influence. The buyers and credentialed media vote for the best of hundreds of new products across a variety of categories, and our preview of the new products being showcased is the first official event of the show. The previews of products in their on-the-water testing mode aren’t really part of the event. And unlike SHOT, where manufacturers have been forced out of their more intimate previews for a single Media Day at the Range, it is still possible to get an invitation to see gear without having to stand in line with several hundred others.

There have been other earlier fishing trips and secret previews for some members of the media, but the vast majority of the local and regional media will really getting their first looks at the gear here in Orlando.

And that’s one reason the flight into Orlando was filled with pro tour anglers. As spokespersons for their sponsors they’ll be in the show booths, wearing their tournament jerseys and best smiles as they repeat a nearly endless chain of answers to questions about the latest products. Yesterday, they were enjoying the chance to sit in silence at the airport without being recognized. Until they leave ICAST that’s not an option.

For some, the crowds seem more challenging than the toughest tournament. Others have no problem shifting between their private/public personalities because they’re not really different at the show or on the water. That, FYI, isn’t always a good thing. Some are just difficult all the time, but you know what you’re getting, so you come prepared.

As far as new products, the fishing industry, like most of the rest of the world, is heavily invested in technology. That’s seen in everything from navigation systems evolved from military aviation to fish finding sonar and mapping technologies that might have changed the face of the world had it been available to naval forces a few decades ago.

And there are less obvious, but equally amazing descendants of military development, too. Fabrics are lighter, stronger and able to keep anglers warmer or cooler and protected from the dangers of UV radiation as needed along with lines with no memory, slick finishes and can be cast further with more sensitivity than you would thing possible.

Perhaps the biggest change is that the technological advances are coming in years -and sometimes months- instead of decades. That contributes to an almost ephemeral attitude concerning gear. For some, it’s tough to get excited about the “latest” of anything, because it may be gone as quickly as the mayfly hatch on a Montana trout stream.

For the manufacturers, it’s a realization that it’s essential to choose advances carefully. Otherwise, there’s the risk of either instantly obsolescing popular models with technology with little, if any, real longevity

Revo Beast

Having seen some of the new gear, I have cast my votes for the various categories top picks. As an average angler, I’ve seen new things I believe will help me catch more fish- at prices that don’t require six figure incomes or tournament sponsors.

That’s good news for the growth of the sport. The industry isn’t just adding color combinations or cartoon figures to their gear and calling it children’s gear, they’re actually building gear that can make kids better anglers. Ditto the gear for ladies. And that’s recognition of the fact that everyone has to enjoy a sport to get families engaged.

Some of the new products have genuine promise. Other, like every other ICAST have subtle nuances that an average angler (like me) might not notice. Some, too, have only marketing changes or appear to be “solutions in search of problems”. Those one and go, but there’s plenty of new gear to get you excited about upping your came without breaking your budgets.

And there’s still the matter of guaranteeing access to public waters, reasonable fishing seasons and sustainable harvests and the problem of equitable allocations of resources to recreational fishing by the federal government. Those are industry-wide concerns and can’t be solved at a trade show, but must be addressed while we’re all together under a single very large roof.

But we’re going to try and capture the essence of the show as part of our promise to you: we’ll keep you posted.

–Jim Shepherd

ICAST Gets Rolling in Orlando

By Frank Sargeant, Editor
from The Fishing Wire

It’s the Greatest Show on Earth if you happen to be in the fishing industry

The annual ICAST/IFTD show is underway in Orlando, Florida, this week, drawing literally thousands of companies from across the globe to the marketplace in hopes of selling their products to the buyers and retailers who will then offer it to anglers.

Some of the products are a bit doubtful, to be sure-there are some that solve problems that for most anglers do not exist, others that cost so much relative to their function that they’re simply not marketable on a large scale.

But every year there are some big winners, and lots of small companies hoping to become big ones with one or two great products that will start to grow them towards being the next Berkley or Rapala or Shimano.

The event gets underway with the annual State of the Industry meeting, and this year the news was generally pretty good. According to American Sportfishing Association chief Mike Nussman, the show is now bigger than ever despite the competition from electronic media for the youth market. Nussman credits both the location of the show in Orlando, closer to the east coast tackle industry, and the combination of the ICAST show with the Fly Fishing Trade Show the last two years with the increase.

Gregg Wollner, Executive Vice President of Rapala and ASA board chairman, said in his presentation that 4.1 million new anglers fished for the first time last year, and 42 percent of them were women. He also said Hispanic anglers were on the increase, indicating two underserved markets that promise future growth to the industry.

Nussman said that some 40 million anglers have a $125 billion annual impact on the U.S. economy, spending not only on tackle and gear but also on boats, motors, tow vehicles, fuel, and motels and restaurant meals. But he said, to maintain industry success, everyone in the business will have to become conservation-minded in the future, as well as being open to seeking new markets through partnerships with those outside the industry-he pointed to an on-going ASA partnership with Disney World as an example.

Florida Governor Rick Scott, a business-friendly governor, also spoke briefly at the breakfast, pointing out that of the 100-million or so tourists that visit the Sunshine State, a great many of them fish Florida’s waters. Scott has been one of the Gulf Coast governors pushing for state management of red snapper in recent months due to the very controversial management decisions being made by NOAA.

We’ll take a closer look at many of the products introduced here in the days and weeks ahead, and some of them are truly mind-blowing, including an auto-deploy trolling motor from Minn Kota and a system from Lowrance that will let anglers control both the outboard and the trolling motor from the electronics, giving an electronic “third hand”.

General observations from my first day walkthrough are that kayaks, inflatables and paddle boards are becoming ever more popular, both because they’re inexpensive and because they’re versatile-as well as leaving no environmental footprint. There seems to be more ice-fishing gear than ever, electronics are getting bigger and more capable and more expensive-as well as smaller and cheaper in some cases–and there seem to be more companies taking advantage of pro anglers expertise, both in bass and walleye fishing-or maybe more pro anglers are getting sponsor-savvy. There are loads of new top-end reels, and also loads of very affordable entry level combos in all the genre’s, including fly casting.

In short, ICAST this year, like every year, is loaded with candy and ice cream for the angler-I can’t wait for tomorrow to sample some more.

Three Offbeat Tactic For Summer Walleyes

By Daniel Quade
from The Fishing Wire

Traditional summertime tactics catch plenty of big ‘eyes, or else they wouldn’t have become such strong traditions. Lindy Rigging, pulling spinners and suspending live bait account for countless catches. But sometimes, thinking outside the box is an even better way to put more, bigger walleyes in the box.

Just ask Jon Thelen. The longtime guide and sage of all things walleye often flips the tactical textbook upside down when conditions-or the fish themselves-dictate an unorthodox approach. As a result, he keeps his clients’ lines stretching while other anglers are struggling. Following are three of his top tricks for turning the tables on ever-elusive summertime ‘eyes.

No. 1 Lil’ Guy For Big Fish

Summer walleye

“A classic time for offbeat tactics is during the ‘in-between’ period of early summer, when walleyes bite both spinner rigs and crankbaits fairly well-but neither one like gangbusters,” Thelen said.

With water temperatures in the middle of the road, climbing through the high 50s into the 60s, and neither cranks nor blades are exactly on fire, it can simply result in slow fishing. In this situation, Thelen suggests turning to hybrid cranking. Rigs like Lindy’s Lil’ Guy are dynamite for blending the best of both presentations into one technique.

A relative newcomer on the walleye scene, the Lil’ Guy is basically a two-hook nightcrawler harness with a small, hard body in front of it.

“The body creates vibration and side-to-side movements, while the ‘crawler adds the motion of a minnow swimming along,” he explains. “Plus, you have scent and meat. And in this respect, the Lil’ Guy offers the attraction of a third technique-Lindy Rigging-to the mix as well.”

To further boost his odds of success, Thelen plays the hybrid rig card in areas many anglers overlook during the in-between phase of the post-spawn migration. Most folks leap-frog from shorelines that hold fish early in the season out to deep offshore structure, he says.

“In doing so, they blow right past prime breaklines in 15 to 23 feet of water. Walleyes don’t skip these spots, which means I often have the fish all to myself.”

Along with nightcrawlers, Thelen deploys other live bait. The rig comes with two hooks. To fish minnows or leeches, Thelen just clips off the rear hook. While the Lil’ Guy is built to run at speeds of .3 to 2.5 mph, Thelen keeps the pace between 1.3 and 1.8 mph.

“Faster than a spinner, slower than a crankbait,” he says.

At such speeds, a 1½-ounce bottom bouncer is perfect for keeping the rig in the strike zone. When the sinker’s occasionally ticking bottom and the line is at a 45-degree angle to the surface, you’re in business.

Be forewarned, strikes can be savage, so hang onto your rod. When an ‘eye attacks, an immediate response is in order. Don’t drop the rodtip or feed the fish line, just set and start reeling.

No. 2 Pitch To The Inflow

Crankbait for walley e

“Pitching jigs and crankbaits to inflowing water is another offbeat summer tactic,” Thelen says. “People key on it early in the year, then forget about it and focus on deeper areas farther from the shoreline, but inflows hold walleyes as long as there’s food around.”

Storm sewers, culverts and creeks are prime examples of potentially productive inflows. A constant supply of fresh water from nearby roadbeds, ditches and other sources often carries nutrients that attract baitfish. It can also bring in water that’s clearer than the main lake, especially when the lake has been roiled up by several days of strong winds.

Water temperature can also be a factor.

“Inflows carrying cool water from cold rains, springs or shaded sections of the tributary can be magnets for minnows and walleyes in the heat of summer.”

Before wetting a line, Thelen first identifies likely inflows on a detailed lake map. He approaches each with caution, keeping commotion to a minimum. Walleyes are spooky in shallow water, so ease in quietly.

“I always fish my way toward the mouth of the inflow, making my first casts before I can even reach the bank.”

Pet presentations include pitching light jigs tipped with live bait, and fancasting small crankbaits. A 3/16- to 1/8-ounce Lindy Jig tipped with a spottail shiner or soft-plastic trailer is deadly.

“There are a lot of different things you can do with it-bounce bottom, drag it, swim it just off bottom. Experiment to see what the fish are in the mood for at the moment.”

Small crankbaits like the size 3 Lindy River Rocker also excel around inflows. With both cranks and jigs, Thelen works 50 yards to either side of the inflow first, then the actual tributary.

“When they’re not feeding, walleyes often rest close to the inflow, but are still catchable.”

No. 3 Troll Shallow with Cranks

Walleye caught trolling

While crankbaits aren’t often considered early to mid-season options, Thelen works them into the mix well ahead of the crowd.

“Cranks catch cool-water walleyes in the shallows during low-light feeding periods and in 8 to 10 feet of water along the first break during the day,” he said.

Here, too, a small lures like the River Rocker work wonders. Thelen prefers natural patterns such as perch, shiner, metallic silver and metallic gold.

“Speeds of 1.5 to 2 mph are best until the water warms up in mid to late June,” he says.

Given the relatively shallow water, he either runs the bait behind a planer board or long-lines it well behind the boat, ensuring the fish aren’t spooked before getting a chance to appreciate-and engulf-his cool-water cranking tactics.

I received an email from my site last week that brought up a problem all fishermen have at some time. The person emailing me had broken a guide on his rod and wanted to know how to replace it. When a relatively minor problem happens to a favorite rod, you would like to get it fixed and start using it again.

Rod tips often get broken off and are fairly easy to replace. If the tip breaks near the end you can get a replacement tip, just be sure you buy a tip with a hole big enough to go over the rod where it broke.

To replace a tip, scrape or cut off any remaining thread used to wrap the old tip. Sand down the rod tip for an inch or so just enough to roughen it up, then use ferrule cement to glue the new tip on. Ferrule cement comes in a stick and you melt it, dab it on the rod and then slip the tip over the glue and end of the rod. Make sure it is lined up correctly before the glue hardens.

A line guide is more difficult to replace. Guides are either single or double footed. They are put on by wrapping thread around them then coating it with epoxy. If one came off it probably broke the threads or slipped out from under them if it is a single footed guide.

To replace them you need to cut off the old threads – they may look like tape on the rod, and some companies use a type of tape to put them on. If it is tape, remove it. Then you put the guide on the rod by wrapping thread around the guide foot and rod. Dental floss will work but a you should be able to find some rod thread.

Wrap the thread tightly working from the end of the foot to the guide. After the thread is wrapped, you can coat it with epoxy or even clear fingernail polish.