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.