ICAST Shows New Products for Women

Companies are paying attention to what women want in fishing gear. Help them out – tell them what you want!

By Betty Bauman, Ladies Let’s Go Fishing

from The Fishing Wire

The staff of “Ladies, Let’s Go Fishing!” (LLGF) News Casts scoped this year’s ICAST trade show in Las Vegas to seek new products designed to make fishing easier for women. Held July 9-12, the 56th International Convention of Allied Sportfishing Trades (ICAST), produced by the American Sportfishing Association (ASA), showcased new innovations in fishing gear, accessories and apparel. The latest data on fishing was announced at the show.

New statistics on the numbers of women in fishing indicated women hold the lead, according to the 2013 Special Report on Fishing and Boating, produced by the Recreational Boating & Fishing Foundation and the Outdoor Foundation. Here are some of the facts presented:

Fishing TV stars were there! Jimmy Houston with Jenn and Betty.

Females now represent the highest share of those entering fishing, with 41 percent of new fishing participants female, 34 percent male. Let’s go, ladies!

Women still remain the minority of the overall existing 47 million Americans participating in freshwater and saltwater fishing, with 34.4 percent female, 65.6 percent male.

There are 12 million participants in saltwater fishing, or 4.2 percent of the American population ages 6 and up.

31.7 percent of saltwater fishing participants live in the South Atlantic region.

44 percent of saltwater fishing participants are ages 45 and older.

6.6 percent of women in America own boats. 8.4 percent of men in America own boats. There are 21.2 million boat owners in America.

What colors do women want in tackle? Tell us what colors you like! Or, how much does color matter? Post your answer on Facebook!

In addition to the typical female pink colors, we’re seeing alternative tackle colors such as teal, white and purple. Beyond the color choices were many innovations designed to make the fishing experience more comfortable for women and beginners, including more lighter-weight kayaks, canoes and paddleboards.

With more than 10,000 representatives and media from the global fishing industry in attendance, the show had plenty to offer.

While there were too many innovations to mention, below are some of the new products the staff was able to view. It was impossible to get to all of them – with some so busy writing orders – we did our best to cover the show for you!

New stuff that will be available to you soon…Here’s what we saw

American Tackle – Microwave guides to give baitcasting action to spinning rods
Avet Reels – Reels of many colors and easy to use reel gear settings
Beam Outdoors – Lighted rods to see while night fishing
Beam Outdoors – Elastic eyewear holder that has a clip to attach to back of the hat
Cocoons/Live Eyewear – Turns prescription glasses into polarized sunglasses with a frame that fits over glasses. Also a clip on with expandable frame
Columbia – Great selection of moisture wicking clothing. Omni-Freeze Zero sweat-activated cooling technology
Cortland Line Co. – New Master Braid line, ultra thin, twist free, in many sizes and colors
Costa Del Mar – New women’s line to come, won best of show with their Tuna Alley selections
Creek Company – Inflatable paddleboard, light weight, designed for fishing
Eagle Claw – Even more ultra sharp Lazer TroKar saltwater hooks
Ear Visors – Protects ears from the sun and make your sunglasses float
Engel Coolers – Coolers to keep food cold for days, plus a new paddleboard for fishing
Flambeau – Tackle boxes in many colors with translucent containers, some with waterproof compartments and soft sided tackle boxes
Flex Spex – Magnetized reading lenses that disconnect at the front to put on top of a hat
Flying Fisherman – Multi-piece rods in a case, great for travel
Frabill – Nets that fold and collapse into a tube, new crankbait net with mesh that won’t tangle treble hooks plus a cooler conversion to baitwell kit
Gary Yamamato – Huge introduction of hard plastic lures, great for inshore fishing
Hobie – More features on a sailing kayak equipped for fishing
Hook & Tackle/Sportailor – New Crosswinds technical shirts with side angled vents
Humminbird – Bow 360 fish finder to see 360 degrees
Jackson Kayaks – Kayaks with cool gear for fishing
Gary Yamamoto introduced new hard plastic baits.
Gary Yamamoto Hard Baits
Johnson Outdoors Predator – Old Town Predator kayak with so many fishing features, it won Best of Show!
Johnson Outdoors Talon – Minn Kota Talon shallow water anchors in new colors and with 10 and 12 foot lengths with new features
L.L. Bean – Clothing with UV protection, lightweight, some with mosquito repellant
Lick-em Lures – New soft plastic bait that resembles a spoon
LifeProof – Containers to keep your phones and valuables waterproof
Logic Lures – Soft plastic shrimp that come in pairs so it looks like two are jumping after each other
Maxima – New Maxima braid
Mustad – Many kinds of hooks and new polarized sunglasses in the $20 range
Native Outfitters – Stylish moisture wicking clothing
NuCanoe – Frontier canoes with many options for fishing
Onos – Sunglasses with readers and a new line of womens glasses
ORCA Coolers – Coolers with built-in LED lighting, keeps food cold for days
Plano – New Guide Series tackle boxes in multiple sizes with removable day pack on top. Also waterproof storage
Power-Pole – Micro Anchor for kayaks and canoes that won Overall Best of Show
Pure Fishing – New Pflueger freshwater rods in white with teal reels and rod accents, more new items in their multiple product lines
Pure Fishing – Ugly Stik with purple acents
Rapala/Williamson Lures – New high end fillet knives and cutters, Speed Pro bait that trolls straight at 15 knots for wahoo and toothy fish
RigRap – Organize leader and tackle with mini plastic compartments so they don’t tangle
Rod Keeper – Universal rod holder that floats and can be clamped onto rails at the pier
Seaguar – Threadlock 16 strand hollow braid for incredible strength – run fluorocarbon leader inside line for seamless thread from flouro to braid, 50 to 200 lb. 4 colors. Plus new, slim and ultra strong braid
Shimano – Stradic CI4+ improved inshore spinning reel. Stella spinning reel. They won six Best of Show awards.
Smith Optics – New ChromaPop color optimizing lens technology, recognizing true color faster regardless of lens color. Also affordable quality Suncloud line
St. Croix – New Legend Xtreme inshore rods, white with skin handle
Star brite – Useful assortment of liquids and accessories to clean boats and most anything, many environmentally friendly
Star Rods – Nice spinning combos, great quality, affordable price
StreamWorks – New lighted pliers and hat lights
Strike Pro – New Tail Gunner inshore lures
Sunday Afternoons – Madrone Technical caps with ventilation and removable neck protection
T. Allen Rods – Light weight rods, some with MicroWave guides to give baitcaster action to a spinning rod
WaveSpin Reels – Reels that prevent braid wind knots
Wiley X Sunglasses – Sunglasses designed for high impact to protect eyes from getting hit by hooks, sinkers and more

To view a selection of videos taken, visit this Youtube link for the billfishbetty channel. Other video highlights are on www.icastfishing.org.

Best of Show awards below were presented by National Baseball Hall of Fame member Johnny Bench. These products will be available soon at retailers.

ICAST 2013 Overall Best of Show – JL Marine Systems, Inc.
Product – Power-Pole Micro Anchor www.power-pole.com

Best of Show – Apparel – Shimano American Corporation
Product – Dryfender Insulated Raingear www.fish.shimano.com

Best of Show – Boating Accessory – JL Marine Systems, Inc.
Product – Power-Pole Micro Anchor www.power-pole.com

Best of Show – Boats – Johnson Outdoors Watercraft, Inc.
Product – Predator 13 www.johnsonoutdoors.com

Best of Show – Combo – 13 Fishing
Product – Whiteout www.13fishing.com

Best of Show – Electronics – Johnson Outdoors
Product – Humminbird Bow Mount 360 Imaging www.humminbird.com

Best of Show – Eyewear – Costa
Product – Tuna Alley www.costadelmar.com

Best of Show – Fishing Accessory – American Tackle Company
Product – Tidal Wave-MicroWave System www.americantackle.us

Best of Show – Fishsmart Tackle – Foreverlast, Inc.
Product – G2 Floating Wading Net www.foreverlast.com

Best of Show – Fly Fishing Accessory – Columbia Sportswear
Product – Henry’s Fork V Vest www.columbia.com

Best of Show – Fly Fishing Reel – Beam Outdoors
Product – Elite 21 Reel www.beamoutdoors.com

Best of Show – Fly Fishing Rod – G. Loomis, Inc.
Product – PRO 4x www.gloomis.com

Shimano won several Best of Show awards.
Best of Show – Freshwater Reel – Shimano American Corporation
Product – CHRONARCH C14+ fish.shimano.com

Best of Show – Freshwater Rod – G. Loomis, Inc.
Product – NRX Umbrella Rig www.gloomis.com

Best of Show – Giftware – Rapala
Product – Original Floating Bottle Opener www.rapala.com

Best of Show – Kids’ Tackle – Pure Fishing, Inc.
Product – Shakespeare Ugly Stik GX2 Youth Combo www.purefishing.com

Best of Show – Line – PowerPro
Product – PowerPro Zero-Impact www.powerpro.com

Best of Show – Hard Lure – Koppers Fishing & Tackle Corporation
Product – LIVETARGET BaitBall www.koppersfishing.com

Best of Show – Soft Lure – Lunkerhunt
Product – Lunker Frog www.lunkerhunt.com

We caught Wild Bill from Deadliest Catch! Boy did he make me feel short!

Best of Show – Saltwater Reel – Shimano American Corporation
Product – Stella SW 30000 www.fish.shimano.com

Best of Show – Saltwater Rod – St. Croix Rod
Product – Legend Xtreme Inshore www.stcroixrods.com

Best of Show – Tackle Management – Plano Molding Company
Product – 3700 Guide Series Tackle Bag www.planomolding.com

Best of Show – Terminal Tackle – Mustad
Product – Grip-Pin Swim www.mustad.no

For complete ICAST information, visit ICASTfishing.org.

Just curious, is there something for fishing that is not offered that you wish you could buy? Post your answer on Facebook! Please tell us what you like the most from the new products we mentioned!

We worked really hard to get all this info for you, miles of walking. It was hot in Vegas, more than 100 degrees. My shoes melted from the heat on the pavement. Time for a new pair of Crocs!

Come visit us at www.ladiesletsgofishing.com, email info@ladiesletsgofishing.com or call 954-475-9068.
Tight lines, Betty Bauman and the gals