WEDNESDAY, JULY 9, 2025   |   SUBSCRIBE    ARCHIVES   
 
Croft's 23 years at BOATUS is slated to end Sept. 30 as he retires--and opens his position to a new PR expert.

A temporary drawdown of Black and Clear Lake has been scheduled by LDWF to reduce growth of invasive giant salvinia.

The U.S. Coast Guard has announced the renaming of its operational districts from numerical to geographic designations under the government initiative Force Design 2028

The new Okuma Veros Inshore Combos deliver clean, crisp performance in a streamlined package, built to go to work the moment it hits the water.

Legendary angler Joe Humphreys, at 96 years old, continues to captivate and inspire anglers worldwide--don't miss this 2-hour session with Ross Purnell.

Bigger baits may mean bigger fish--check out the new 6.5" Cliffhanger Worm from Big Bite Baits.

The Tungsten Smeltinator from Northland Tackle is a smaller, improved version of the original Smeltinator that is more sensitive and has a better sonar return than traditional lead jigs.

The spotlight: Wazoo’s Cache Cap, Cache Belt, and a handpicked assortment of basic EDC tools for savvy travelers

The seventh season of the Major League Fishing (MLF) Bass Pro Tour is now underway on Discovery, airing Saturdays at 7 a.m. ET. The series continues through November 15, 2025.

The D-400 Deck Chair from Millennium Marine® continues to earn its place as a go-to option for dependable on-deck seating.

Magnesium (Mg) gives all the advantages of light weight, but now they have leveled up even further by adding another element that not only has the advantage of weight savings, but also extreme durability, Titanium (Ti).

St. Croix has been proudly handcrafting premium fishing rods that give all anglers the upper hand, right here on U.S. soil in Northern Wisconsin, for 77 years.

The new Pro Series features enhanced realism, tighter swimming action, upgraded components, designed to match bluegill forage with deadly accuracy.

This free virtual program, which will be from 3:30-4:30 p.m., is being put on by the staff of MDC’s Springfield Conservation Nature Center.

Teams of 20 paddlers, a drummer and a steerer will race 46-foot-long traditional dragon boats across the water in an exciting display of coordination and spirit.

Evolution will offer an amazing lineup of tackle storage for both fresh and salt water at the ICAST Show July 15-18

A portion of the income from this new Z-Man fish catcher will go to support Captains for Clean Water and their battle to save tarpon country.

Freshly juiced with Z-Man’s ElaZtech® superplastic, the new 2-inch Llama TubeZ™ (and Llama TubeZ™ Jighead) is already activating those selective bass Feider calls “cruisers”; the tube is also scoring suspended bass ‘scoped with forward-facing sonar.

Introducing all-new SEVIIN GW Series saltwater spinning reels for 2026 – reels that prioritize smooth and reliable operation, power, corrosion resistance, and value.

The Outlander features an ultra-wide lens design, maximizing your field of view and providing extensive coverage, which is particularly beneficial for activities like fishing and boating.

Compact new lure from Daiwa packs a wallop for lunker bass and other fish with lots of action and color.

Montana Fish, Wildlife & Parks hopes the stocking effort will boost crappie populations while still providing some angler opportunity.

Waypoint TV, the leading streaming platform for fishing, hunting, and outdoor adventure entertainment, is proud to announce its official sponsorship of ICAST 2025, the world’s largest sportfishing trade show, taking place July 15–18 in Orlando, Florida.

Designed from the ground up with input from bass pro Jason Christie himself, the JC Elite is packed with innovative features and precision engineering.

A free virtual event presented by the Soundings Trade Only Group, designed to give boating industry stakeholders timely insights into the evolving global policy landscape, will take place on Wednesday, July 16, from 9:00 to 10:30 a.m. EST.

Leave it to Whitewater Fishing with their combined 100-years of apparel design expertise to leverage the inherent comfort, moisture-wicking, and cooling properties of Merino wool and merge them with sunshirt features and technologies.

If clear communication, organization, and teamwork are your strengths, you could be the newest addition to the FWC’s social media team!

Renowned Grand Rapids-based fishing guide Tom Neustrom sits down with host Thomas Allen in a special two-part series on In-Fisherman Storyline presented by L.L. Bean podcast

Made from tungsten which is 70% more dense than traditional lead, the Crappie Queen gets to fish quick – even at smaller sizes.

The 2,300 square-foot location becomes Huk’s 16th retail store nationwide and third full-price store in Florida, joining popular locations in Key West and Panama City Beach.

Attendees can visit Booth #1216 to explore Hobie® Eyewear’s full lineup and get an up-close look at Hull Float, the brand’s most ambitious sustainability effort to date.

Yamaha Rightwaters joined forces with Davidson College to sponsor a student-led sustainable marine project which converted a gas-powered pontoon into a fully solar-powered vessel with minimal environment alimpact.

The FWC has allocated an unprecedented $2.35 million over two years to support this restoration effort, marking the largest revegetation project in agency history.

Epitomizing the term “user-friendly”, the Baby Bubbler is a 2" plopper-style topwater lure that can be fished just about anywhere.

The July 10-Aug. 18 season includes all state waters south of the Hernando-Pasco county line and north of the Anclote Key Lighthouse in northern Pinellas County, including all waters of the Anclote River.

Preliminary findings indicate that an Alumacraft jon boat, carrying five individuals, was traveling on the water when it was struck from behind by a Yamaha boat with two occupants.

Shallow water aficionado, Keith Poche, felt right at home in Richmond, Virginia on the James River claiming his third Major League Fishing victory and his first at the Invitationals level. Poche started Day One off strong, catching the biggest limit of the event with 23 pounds, 15 ounces, anchored by two six-plus pound largemouth. He hunkered down the next two days and leaned on his unique backwater approach to edge out a stacked field and add another milestone to his growing tournament resume.

Expect another huge crowd of anglers and spectators for the 92nd Alabama Deep Sea Fishing Rodeo (ADSFR) during Alabama’s premier fishing event July 17-20 at the rodeo site on Dauphin Island.

A new naturalistic fish passage at Shikellamy State Park in Northumberland County will benefit upstream native species such as American shad and eels, and downstream species like stripers on the Chesapeake Bay.

The affordable Okuma Safyre spinning reel is available in sizes 1000 to 5000, with high-speed options in the 2500, 3000, and 4000 sizes. Pricing ranges from $84.99 to $94.99.

The Kentucky Department of Fish and Wildlife Resources is hosting a “Mentor to Win” contest to encourage experienced anglers to introduce new people to the fun of fishing this summer.
 

ICAST On the Horizon
The annual ICAST show is next week at the Orange County Convention Center in Orlando, as it has been for some time. (ASA)

By Frank Sargeant
Frankmako1@gmail.com

ICAST—the International Convention of Allied Sportfishing Trades—is slated for next week, July 15-18 at the Orange County Convention Center in Orlando. ICAST started nearly 70 years ago as a modest industry gathering in Chicago—about 125 companies and 2500 attendees-- aimed at helping manufacturers connect with dealers. 

Though it faced some headwinds in the Covid years, it’s still by far the world’s largest sportfishing trade show, attracting manufacturers and retailers from around the world. ICAST has grown more or less steadily under the American Sportfishing Association (ASA), and the 2025 edition is expected to draw around 12,000 buyers, media and industry associates to steamy central Florida for the show. 

What’s New for 2025?

More than 1,000 companies are expected, showcasing the latest fishing gear, marine electronics, apparel, and accessories. Highlights include:

  • New Product Showcase: With 41 categories and awards like “Best of Category” and “Best of Show” — voted by media and buyers. Scoring a win often means strong sales throughout the following year. 
  • Interactive zones: Lure Tank, ICASTing Pond, FlyCASTing Pond, and onwater demos give buyers and media a chance to try out new lures and gear.
  • Fly Fishers Welcome: Though the show leans heavily on bass and saltwater fishing with conventional gear, the show this year will have an expanded “Fly Fishing Village” to welcome fly fishing fans and dealers, as well.
The massive show floor offers miles of tackle and gear displays of products that will be on the shelves in 2026. (ASA)

Who’s Absent—and Why It Matters

Despite the buzz, several large tackle companies including industry giant Pure Fishing, which owns Berkley, Abu-Garcia, Penn and Plano,  have opted out of this year’s show. Pure says it will hold a dealer event separately at its new showroom in South Carolina to display its new lineups.

The eye-watering costs for renting space at the convention center, combined with very high costs for accommodations in the Disney-World-dominated Orlando area make attending the event very pricey.

Another factor is likely the continuing geometric expansion of online marketing, where products can be shown in detail, including videos of on-the-water use, to buyers who can totally focus on them at a time convenient for them—and at very little cost to either the seller or the buyer.

Whether this is an anomaly or a trend remains to be seen—but ICAST organizers are betting on the effectiveness of face-to-face selling to win again this year.

Why Show Up? The Stakes Are High

However, being at ICAST isn’t just about exhibiting—it’s a statement:

Thousands of buyers, distributors, and media descend to place orders, negotiate contracts, and scout trends—particularly important for new companies, if they’re able to make a splash with an innovative product or display.

Winning a New Product Showcase award can translate to national headlines in fishing media, social reach, and major pre-orders.

A presence at the show also says “we’re serious” and helps forge partnerships—maybe future licensing or retail agreements.

According to ASA, business relationships formed here often become year-long supply or distribution contracts, so for those willing to put in the time, money and teamwork to attend, particularly relative unknowns, it can be a make or break proposition.  

What the Show Can Do for You

Buyers and media swarm into the show floor when the gates open, looking for the Next Big Thing in fishing tackle—what will it be this year? (Frank Sargeant)

In an era of digital launches and virtual pitches, ICAST remains unique: it’s face-to-face, hands-on, immersive, and if you’re good at face-to-face selling, it can be a winner.

There’s also lots of media at the show, and while some are there mostly to get handouts, legitimate new products and stories are always in demand from established video producers, writers and editors. And of course the publishing/sales folks are always there hoping to make deals, as well.

Skipping ICAST isn’t just lost foot traffic—it’s lost visibility and influence. While some major brands may experiment with alternatives, winners next week will likely be those who doubled down on presence.

Those who do attend will come home bone-tired, foot-sore and hoarse from talking over the steady din of the show floor, as well as likely a bit hung over from the many after hours cocktail gatherings where sometimes the best deals are made and always the best stories are shared.

There’s still time to register and attend. Visit www. https://www.icastfishing.org for details.
 
Water World Wire - 2271 N Upton St., Arlington, VA 22207
Copyright © 2023, OWDN, All Rights Reserved.