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And the ICAST 2020 Best in Category Awards Go To?

July 20, 2020

Are you ready for the ICAST 2020 Best in Category winners?  The Fishing tackle trade show was to be held in Orlando this year, but due to the COVID-19 pandemic, it was held virtually. Over 200 exhibitors used a portal created by the American Sportfishing Association which thankfully allowed the show to go on.

Every year, a new product showcase is displayed and out of the new products, 30 of them are given the honor of Best of Category for their respective category.  The winners are determined by votes from media and dealers.  An overall winner is also selected from the 30 category winners, and this year the grand title went to the Old Town Sportsman Autopilot motorized kayak from Johnson Outdoors Watercraft.

Here are the winners by category for this year’s event.

Best Boat and Watercraft: Johnson Outdoors Watercraft — Old Town Sportsman Autopilot

The Old Town Sportsman AutoPilot motorized kayak leverages Minn Kota’s GPS Spot-Lock technology to deliver the most advanced kayak fishing craft on the market. Motor to your spot faster and hold your position on your spot no matter the conditions. Controlled with a touch of a finger using the i-Pilot remote, your hands remain free to fish. The Autopilot features a seamlessly integrated, saltwater-ready 45 lb. thrust 12V Minn Kota motor is compatible with lead acid or lithium ion batteries.

Best Boating Accessory: Minn Kota — Raptor Shallow Water Anchor

Minn Kota Raptor is designed to hold you more reliably than any other anchor. Raptor debuts two industry first anchoring technologies: Active Anchoring which monitors anchoring force and adjusts to keep you pinned to the bottom; and Auto-Bottom Mode which automatically detects bottom hardness to determine the right amount of anchoring force. Raptor boasts an industry leading, comprehensive 5 year warranty and will be available in 8 and 10-foot lengths. Available in black, white, red and silver.

Best Giftware: Garmin — quatix 6X Solar Smartwatch

Do what you love longer with the quatix 6X Solar marine GPS smartwatch with solar charging. Its unique power-replenishing feature uses the sun’s energy to extend battery life up to 24 days. Designed for life on the water, the Quatix 6X Solar is preloaded with specialized boating, fishing, cruising and sailing capabilities. With comprehensive connectivity and built-in activity profiles for SUP, kayaking, skiing, golf & more, it’s ready to go the distance for every adventure on and off the water.

Best Footwear: Under Armour — UA Micro G Kilchis

The Micro G Kilchis highly breathable, quick-dry textile upper. Welded synthetic overlays for abrasion protection Full-length Micro G® foam midsole for the ultimate in long lasting, responsive cushioning. Rapid water drainage from ports built into lateral and medial sides of the midsole. Non-marking rubber outsole maximizing surface area contact for best in class grip on wet surfaces. Versatile collapsible-heel construction for easy slip-on capability Comfortable stretch collar construction for barefoot-capable wear.

Best Eyewear: Costa Del Mar — Ferg

Ray Ferguson founded Costa Sunglasses with high standards and the frame bearing his name continues his legacy. Ferg offers a refined focus on top-of-the-line performance details. Equipped with the tech necessary for elite anglers or captains, the frame features top and side shields, integrated textured Hydrolite rubber and vented adjustable nose pads. Ferg’s OmniFit frame and 360-degree nose pad adjustability allows for a more comfortable and secure fit on a variety of face shapes and sizes.

Best Lifestyle Apparel for Women: Simms — Women’s Challenger Jacket and Bib

Finally, a rain suit designed for female anglers. Simms all-new Women’s Challenger Jacket and Bib are built with a waterproof and breathable 2-layer Toray fabric and boast a women’s specific fit. The jacket features an adjustable hood, a center-front zipper with a waterproof storm flap, a chest pocket with a built-in sunglass chamois, and handwarmer pockets. The bib comes equipped with a pass-through handwarmer pocket, plier port, and knee-high zips for easy on/off. Jacket and bib sold separately.

Best Lifestyle Apparel for Men: AFTCO — Saba Recycled Seam-Free Boardshorts

Boardshorts that care about the environment. Saba is AFTCO’s 1st product to integrate recycled material into the fabric. Built with a sustainable 88% recycled polyester/12% spandex fabric that is feather-light. In fact, these are the lightest shorts ever built by AFTCO. To accomplish this, we reduced the amount of seams and unnecessary trims to deliver max comfort with a Seam Free construction. 4-way stretch gives you freedom of mobility, and the bonded hem ensures total comfort & zero chafing.

Best Technical Apparel – Warm Weather: AFTCO — Diffuse Air-O Mesh Fishing Shorts

AFTCO checks yet another box off the innovation bucket list with the first pair of technical fishing shorts made entirely of AFTCO’s breathable, yet durable Air-O Mesh® technology. The Diffuse Air-O Mesh fishing shorts accomplish this with a proprietary 100% polyester mechanical stretch fabric with dissolving yarn to creates the micro Air-O Mesh® venting throughout the shorts. Reap the benefits of ultimate comfort in warm, humid climates that would otherwise make for a sticky situation.

Best Technical Apparel – Cold Weather: AFTCO — Reaper Windproof 3-Layer Softshell Jacket

Eliminate wind with Reaper! The Reaper 3-Layer Windproof Jacket is constructed from a durable stretch soft shell rip-stop fabric with an ultra-warm Hexatron™ fleece lining and integrated fleece face mask. A durable 94% polyester / 6% spandex rip-stop outer shell is fused to the Hexatron™ lining. This combination in a 3-layer fabric provides added comfort, warmth, and wind protection. For the angler looking for max warmth in cold weather, Reaper checks all the boxes and more!

Best Cooler: Yeti — Roadie 24

The Roadie 24 Hard Cooler is a fresh take on a tried-and-true YETI favorite. It’s 10% lighter weight, holds 20% more, and even performs 30% better thermally than its legendary predecessor. Plus, we built it tall enough to accommodate bottles of wine and slim enough to squeeze behind the driver’s or passenger’s seat of a car.

Best Electronics: Humminbird — CoastMaster Charts

Humminbird® CoastMaster™ charts deliver captains the information to fish and navigate with confidence, with complete coverage for all U.S. coastal waters on one card. Anglers can identify fish-holding areas by utilizing detailed depth contours, points of interest, navigational aids, and predictive tides and currents. And as part of the One-Boat Network™, anglers can pair a Humminbird chartplotter and Minn Kota® trolling motor with i-Pilot® Link™ to automatically follow a depth contour.

Best Ice Fishing: Rapala — Strikemaster Lithium 24V

The Strikemaster Lithium 24V will kick gas forever in the ice fishing world. The legendary auger company has once again set the bar with innovation that can’t be touched. The new lightweight auger head combined with the popular Lite-flite lazer drill, brings more power, more holes, stable ergonomic handling in the lightest, most compact peak performer in its class. 100 holes per charge with the 6″ drill and 50 holes per charge with the 8″ drill. Lose weight on the ice, not speed.

Best Cutlery, Hand Pliers or Tools: Line Cutterz — Dual Hybrid Micro Scissor

Line Cutterz introduces the world’s first dual hybrid fishing line cutter. The Micro Scissor consists of a patented corrosion resistance fixed ceramic blade in the back end and a stainless steel scissor action in the front end. This dual hybrid fishing line cutter offers anglers a fast, safe, convenient and durable way to cut braid, mono and fluorocarbon fishing lines. Attach it to hats, retractors, PFD’s, lanyards and fly fishing vests so you always have a fishing line cutter within reach.

Best Fly Fishing Accessory: Plano — Frabill Floating Trout Nets

Whether wading, kayaking or fly-fishing Frabill’s new Floating Trout Nets put success in the hands of anglers who always stay close to their targets. Safely catch and release with the net frame directly on the water surface. Comfortable rubber handle includes lanyard with carabiner, Fish-friendly dipped micromesh netting and five classic hoop shapes with flat bottom netting.

Frabill Floating Trout Net
Frabill Floating Trout Net

Best Fishing Accessory: American Tackle Company — Tsuka Handle System

Entered into the BNP Showcase as Best Fishing Accessory, the “Tsuka Handle System” is the most advanced rod handle ever produced. While fishing rod blanks have improved through modern advances in carbon and resin systems, handles have remained relatively static. This new Tsuka Handle is the pinnacle of component design offering a complete integrated system utilizing the same carbon material used in the best fishing rod blanks to finally offer a handle worthy of the modern blank technology.

Best Kids’ Tackle: Pure Fishing — Abu Garcia Gen Ike EZ Cast Baitcast Combo

Designed for the youth angler learning to throw their first low profile baitcast reel, the Ike EZ Cast Baitcast Combo features an Anti-Backlash System that can be turned on and off and allows for tangle-free casting. This combo is Mike “Ike” Iaconelli approved and ready to forge the next generation of anglers without the mess and frustration caused by backlashes.

Best Freshwater Rod: St. Croix — Legend Xtreme

St. Croix’s most sensitive rod series ever expands to eleven models, supporting anglers in a wider range of freshwater presentations and techniques. The reengineered SCV carbon found in the new Legend Xtreme is an example of St. Croix’s constant drive to obtain the unimaginable – proven Xtreme durability with unprecedented sensitivity. It incorporates an improved, overlaid ART (Advanced Reinforcing Technology) to yield the highest levels of carbon fiber density found on any fishing rod on earth.

Best Saltwater Rod: St. Croix — Mojo Inshore

St. Croix’s popular Mojo Inshore Series is all-new for 2021. Mojo Inshore’s transformation begins with lighter, upgraded one-piece SCIII carbon blanks, further enhanced via Integrated Poly Curve (IPC) mandrel technology. Featuring full cork handles on light, medium-light, and medium power models. Medium-heavy, heavy and extra-heavy power rods have been upgraded with full-length cork and EVA combination handles. 

Best Fly Fishing Rod: Pure Fishing — Hardy Zane Pro

The Hardy Zane Pro performance saltwater fly rod sets the standard for premium, fast action. Made in England, the Zane Pro features a reduced blank diameter for better wind penetration and reduced weight. Redesigned mandrels and pattern layups boost performance of the aerospace grade carbon fiber and advanced SINTRIX 440 resin system. Titanium recoil guides with a ceramic insert and a scratch-resistant, hard-anodized double up-lock reel seat round out the offering. Offered in 1pc & 4pc designs.

Best Freshwater Reel: Shimano — Vanford 2500 Spinning Reel

Sculpted from over a decade of engineering advancement, the Vanford series tests the boundaries of spinning reel technology. Built upon a CI4+ body for a lightweight feel and carbon rigidity, the Vanford incorporates a new Magnum Lite Rotor for up to 48% less rotational inertia than traditional rotor construction. The cold-forged HAGANE Gear combined with Silent Drive and MicroModule Gear II produce Vanford’s smooth rotational performance while the Long Stroke Spool increases casting distance.

Best Saltwater Reel: Pure Fishing — PENN Battle III

The PENN Battle III is now equipped with our proprietary CNC Gear Technology, HT-100 Carbon Fiber Drag System, and a Full Metal Body to give it the guts and drag to handle serious abuse. Stronger, smoother, and more durable than ever before, the PENN Battle III series has a model for every angler at an incredible value with sizes ranging from 1000 to 10000 and select sizes available in high speed ratios. Let the Battle begin.

Best Fly Reel: Pure Fishing — Hardy Ultradisc UDLA Reel

A lightweight disc drag reel in its purest form, Hardy Ultradisc UDLA fly reels offer an innovative, original spool/line guide design for use with ultra-thin fly lines and running lines as well as leader only systems for popular Euro nymphing fishing. Scaled to size multi-disc carbon drag system is unregulated to allow for smooth, fine adjustment of the drag pressure across a wide range. Available in gun metal or black anodized finish.

Best Rod & Reel Combo: Pure Fishing — Abu Garcia Virtual Casting Combo

The Abu Garcia Virtual rod is the world’s first integrated fishing rod that digitally logs your catches. Paired with the Anglr app via Bluetooth from a smartphone, a simple click of the button records your catch with location, weather and water data, and documents it in your personal and private logbook. The combo pairs this innovative new rod with a tried and true Abu Garcia reel that matches the rod cosmetics and takes your fishing to the next level.

Best Fishing Line: Pure Fishing — Berkley FluoroShield

Berkley FluoroShield now gives anglers wanting to switch from monofilament to fluorocarbon another option. The Berkley scientists have now discovered how to infuse fluorocarbon in a copolymer, combining the manageability of monofilament with the abrasion resistance and near invisibility of Fluorocarbon.

Best Freshwater Hard Lure: Z-Man — ChatterBait JackHammer StealthBlade

When the situation suggests a bladed jig, but instinct advises finesse, the StealthBlade becomes the smartest play of the day. Equipped with a clear polycarbonate blade that starts thumping intensely with the first half-turn of the reel handle, a lighter wire, Decoy® fluorine nanocoated hook, stainless wire hand-tied silicone skirt, and dual wire trailer keepers, its low center of gravity, fish-shaped head tracks true and skips easily. Available in 3/8- and ½-ounce sizes in six colors.

Best Freshwater Soft Lure: A Band of Anglers — Hyperlastics Dartprop Pro SK

The DartProp™ Pro is similar to the ever-popular DartSpin™ from Hyperlastics™, but instead of a molded-in will blade, you’ve got a prop on the front and the rear of the lure. Cast and Retrieve, let it sink to fish at different depths. Although it is a sinking model, you can speed up your retrieve, to give yourself a nice topwater prop bait presentation. The body of the lure will give it a big minnow action, while the prop on the tail will have erratic motion.

Best Saltwater Hard Lure: Shimano — SP-Orca 150 Flash Boost

The SP-Orca FB sinking pencil bait is equipped with Shimano’s revolutionary Flash Boost Technology to constantly emit a fish-attracting flash, even on the pause. Flash Boost Technology suspends foil on small springs inside the lure body with placement and movement designed to mimic the movements and flash of an injured baitfish. The SP-Orca FBlure is equipped with 3X hooks and split rings, through-wire construction and Shimano’s Propulsion Weight Transfer system for increased casting distance.

Best Saltwater Soft Lure: 13 Fishing — The Mullet

Custom HD VMC Weighted Swimbait Hook. Hand Painted Finishes HD Holographic Eyes Nose Anchors for Durable Rigging USA Sourced Material Super Mega Certified

Best Tackle Management: Plano — EDGE Flex

Make it your own. The EDGE Flex adds ultimate versatility to Plano’s popular EDGE boxes. Available in two sizes, every EDGE Flex tackle box includes a revolutionary fully customizable internal divider system that provides customization like never before! EDGE Flex also includes RUSTRICTOR, DRI-LOC SEAL, WATER WICK, DURAVIEW CLEAR LIDS, EZ-LABEL, PRE-CUT VENTED DIVIDERS, STAINLESS STEEL HINGE PINS and much more!

Best Terminal Tackle: Rapala — VMC Crossover Rings

Stop wasting plastics and start crossing over! The Crossover Rings have an innovative dual-channel hood which allows for Neko or Wacky rigging like never before. These rings, paired with the Crossover Pliers maximize efficiencies when rigging soft plastics. The rings are made in 5 sizes (4mm-8mm) to cover a wide variety of diameter plastics, 10/pack and produced in 3 colors (black, green pumpkin and clear).
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