Bote Boards Rover
The Bote Boards Rover won the coveted Best in Show award and the Boats and Watercrafts award during the ICAST 2017 New Product Showcase, one of the most important events each year during ICAST.
Soundings TradeOnlyToday Magazine
Another ICAST has come and gone and it left the fishing universe eager to get out and put to use the latest new products offered by a record 580 exhibitors.
Each year, the New Product Showcase highlights the latest innovations and offerings from many in the fishing tackle trade, and this year more than 300 companies submitted 1,200 products, American Sportfishing Association vice president of industry relations Glenn Hughes said.
The talk of the July 11-14 International Convention of Allied Sportfishing Trades at the Orange County Convention Center in Orlando, Fla., was about power. Kayak brands that never before had any means other than a paddle to propel them through the water added optional foot-pedal propulsion systems. Foot pedal-powered kayaks added electric motor power options.
But somehow the standup paddleboard, which only became a fishing platform about three years ago, shot right past the kayakers by taking it one step further.
The Bote Rover received the ICAST 2017 Overall Best of Show Award and the Boats and Watercrafts award (https://www.boteboard.com/). Bote founder Corey Cooper, a paddleboard builder from Fort Walton Beach, Fla., designed a slick and modular way to add the option of a gas-powered outboard motor to his paddleboard. Rover, available this summer, includes a mounting rack that easily can be removed and holds up to a 6-hp outboard. Rover can now get between two fishing spots at up to 16 mph.
“We really didn’t want to take away from the paddle experience,” Cooper said, “but we had anglers who wanted the freedom to cover more ground. Once they get to the next spot, they return to paddling for the stealth of it.” Cooper named the Rover a “powerboard,” which is fitting.
The following is the list of award winners in each of 26 categories:
BEST OF CATEGORY
Boating Accessories – Yeti Coolers, LoadOut Bucket. Info: http://yeti.com/
Boats and Watercraft – Bote, Rover. Info: https://www.boteboard.com/
Costa Sunrise Silver Mirror Lens
Eyewear: The Costa Sunrise Silver Mirror Lens offers a glass lens coating that helps the wearer during lower-light conditions.
Eyewear – Costa, The Sunrise Mirror Lens. Info: https://www.costadelmar.com/
Footwear – Huk Performance Fishing, Attack. Info: https://www.hukgear.com/
Giftware – The Catch and Release Print Shop, Fish Prints Actual Size. Info: https://prints.fish/
Lifestyle Apparel – Frogg Toggs, Prym1 Series Pilot II Jacket & Bibs. Info: https://www.froggtoggs.com/
Technical Apparel – Frogg Toggs, Sierran Transition Wader. Info: https://www.froggtoggs.com/
Electronics – Johnson Outdoors Marine Electronics, Inc., Solix 15 Chirp Mega SI GPS. Info: https://www.johnsonoutdoors.com/
Fishing Accessory – Yeti Coolers, Panga Duffel. Info: http://yeti.com/
Fly Fishing Accessory – Simms Fishing Products, G3 Guide™ Stockingfoot Wader. Info: https://www.simmsfishing.com/
Fishing Line – Pure Fishing Inc., Berkley Fireline Ultra 8. Info: http://www.berkley-fishing.com/
FishSmart – Eagle Claw Fishing Tackle, 2017 Flounder Sample Pack. Info: https://www.eagleclaw.com/
Kids’ Tackle – 13 Fishing, Ambition Combo. Info: http://www.13fishing.com/
Tackle Management – Daiwa Corporation, Tactical Backpack. Info: http://www.daiwa.com/global/en/
Terminal Tackle – Trapper Tackle, Trapper Round Bend Treble. Info: https://trappertackle.com/
Savage Gear 3D Topwater Bat
Freshwater hard lure: Okuma Fishing Tackle Corp., Savage Gear 3D Topwater Bat represents the fourth consecutive victory for Savage Gear in the freshwater hard lure category. The “metal-winged crawler” type of lure, popular with muskie anglers for years, is an actual 3-D scan of an actual bat and comes in three colors.
Freshwater Hard Lure – Okuma Fishing Tackle Corp., Savage Gear 3D Topwater Bat. Info: http://savage-gear.com/
Saltwater Hard Lure – Rapala, X-Rap Magnum 40. Info: http://www.rapala.com/rapala-lures/
Freshwater Soft Lure – Lunkerhunt LP, Prop Series. Info: http://www.lunkerhunt.com/
Live Target Hollow Body Mullet
Saltwater soft lure: Live Target Hollow Body Mullet gives the angler a topwater or mid-depth fishing option with the same lifelike profile of its extremely popular and extremely successful swim bait series.
Saltwater Soft Lure – LiveTarget, Hollow Body Mullet. Info: https://www.livetargetlures.com/
Fly Reel – Pure Fishing, Inc., Pflueger Supreme QRS Fly Reel. Info: http://www.pfluegerfishing.com/
Shimano Curado K Baitcasting Reels
Freshwater reel: Shimano American Corp. Curado K Baitcasting Reels offers the smooth bearings and technical drag options Shimano is known for.
Freshwater Reel – Shimano American Corp., Curado K Baitcasting Reels. Info: http://fish.shimano.com/
Saltwater Reel – Shimano American Corp., Sustain Reels C4000/5000. Info: http://fish.shimano.com/
Lew's Tackle Mach Crush rod-and-reel combo
Rod-and-reel combo: Lew’s Tackle made it two years in a row winning in this category with its eye-catching orange-and-black-trimmed Mach Crush rod-and-reel combo in spinning reel and casting reel configurations.
Rod & Reel Combo – Lew’s Fishing Tackle, Mach Crush Speed Spool Combo. Info: http://www.lews.com/index.php
Fly Fishing Rod – G. Loomis, Inc., IMX-Pro Fly Rod. Info: http://www.gloomis.com/
Freshwater Rod – 13 Fishing, Fate Black. Info: http://www.13fishing.com/
Saltwater Rod – St. Croix Rods, Legend Tournament Inshore. Info: http://stcroixrods.com/
Originally published here.