ORLANDO, Fla. – LiveTarget was among the companies that doubled down Wednesday night during the New Product Showcase “Best of Category” Awards reception at the Orange County Convention Center.
Grant Koppers and his team added to their growing list of ICAST accolades with two Best of Show awards. LiveTarget won the soft lure freshwater and saltwater categories for their Hollow Body Crawfish and Fleeing Shrimp.
“It’s them,” Koppers said pointing to his team of about 15 all donning red company shirts. “They’re now coming up with the ideas. They’re now coming up with the development. They’re designing it.
“Remember when we launched, it was Koppers LiveTarget. We dropped the Koppers. Everybody wants a piece of that.”
Koppers said he believes his team is the hardest working in the industry, and he can prove it with photos of the company parking lot.
“I call it my Friday 5 o’clock collection,” he said. “You’re going to see our parking lot full of cars, sometimes at 9, 10 o’clock. These guys are working long hours. We spend a lot of time on product development. These guys have their heart in the game.”
And the work is paying off. For the first time, they had back-to-back awards. ASA president Glenn Hughes, who presented the awards, gave them the freshwater trophy, then while still on stage, told them to stick around as he named the saltwater winner.
It was a night of multiple wins for several companies as media and buyers voted on the best products in 25 categories.
Shimano America did a double take in reels, winning in freshwater with the Curado DC and taking saltwater with the Tekota 500 Levelwind.
YETI won the for Fishing Accessory with its Tundra Haul and its Panga Backpack 28 took top honors in Fly Fishing Accessory.
AFTCO also won twice. It’s Hydronaut Heavy-Duty Waterproof System took best Technical Apparel, and the Hexatron Performance Fleece won in Lifestyle Apparel.
Walking away with the most hardware was St. Croix, the big stick in fishing rods. It won three Best of Shows: the Mojo Yak in Saltwater; the Legend Glass in Freshwater; and the Mojo Trout in Fly Fishing.
The 25 winners (the remaining awards are listed below) will be on display Thursday near the ICAST registration area, and, new this year, credentialed media and buyers can vote for the Overall Best of Show from 8-11 a.m. The Overall will be presented on the showroom floor at the New Product Showcase at 2 p.m.
BoomBoom stands up for Panoptix
When Garmin USA won the Electronics category with its Panoptix LiveScope, Bassmaster Elite angler Fred Roumbanis was asked to help accept the trophy with company officials. He was then asked to explain the product, which he did with the story of his big bass at the Lake Oahe tournament.
“I was one of the first ones to get it on the boat,” he said of the scanning sonar with detailed images. “I watched that fish eat the bait in 35 feet of water. Never before have you been able to see and identify a fish to the exact species. LiveScope shows you the actual fish. It’s unreal. I don’t know how they do it.
“I throw a jig down to the bottom and snap it up, and you’d see a walleye – it’s long slender body come off the bottom and chase it. You pull it away and go on. LiveScope shows everything.”
Expect more detailed reports on this “game-changer.”
Dude Perfect helps take Kids award
Anything Possible Brands has the mission of getting kids off electronics (not fishing electronics) and out on the water fishing. Dude Perfect, the YouTube video guys who make all sorts of incredible shots, was up for that.
Their union helped win the Kids’ Tackle category with Kid Casters Dude Perfect Fishing Kit & Casting Game, which provides a target for tricks shots like the guys. Former NBA player Brad Miller, one of the company owners, planted the seeds when he crossed paths with members of Dude Perfect.
“I met them at a Bass Pro Shops Legends of Golf tournament a couple years ago,” Miller said. “Because I do a hunting show, I invited them to hunt.”
After a couple of deer were taken on his property, the relationship grew and Dude Perfect came on board to help keep kids fishing.
“My hunting show has always gotten a lot of resources to add to the fishing company,” he said. “It just kind of spawned from hat.”
Anything Possible’s Ralph Duda said Miller has certainly helped the business with his varied connections.
“The Dude Perfect folks are all about YouTube and spreading that mission,” he said. “But when we talked to them about putting the iPhones up and getting kids outside, the kids fishing initiative, they were on board.”
Modern Fish Act passes house
Hughes received a cheer when he first came on stage as he announced efforts to give recreational anglers a voice in the federal government. Congress is working on reauthorization of the primary marine fisheries law, the Magnuson-Stevens Fishery Conservation and Management Act, and it now considers more anglers like those at ICAST.
“The House of Representatives voted on the Modern Fish Act and it passed, so thank you very much,” he said. “There’s still a lot of work to be done. The bill will have to pass in the Senate, so be on the lookout at KeepAmericaFishing.org.”
Best of Show Award winners
Johnson Outdoors Marine Electronics Inc. won the Best of Show Boating Accessories award with its Minn Kota Ultrex with Built-In MEGA Down Imaging. In Boats and Watercraft, Jackson Kayak had a best with its 360 Angler.
Lew’s Fishing again topped the Rod and Reel Combo category with its Custom Black LFS Combo, while Rapala’s VMC Neko Skirt won best Terminal Tackle.
In Freshwater Hard Lure, Westin won with Freddy the Frog, and the Lure Locker from Tak Logic Lure Lock was voted best in Tackle Management.
Seigler won the Fly Fishing category with its MF Fly Reel, and the Saltwater Hard Lure category was Octopi by 13 Fishing.
PowerPro wins the Fishing Line category with the SuperSlick V2 Braid. The top Giftware was Number 6 Brands’ Cauldryn Coffee. In Eyewear, Baffin by Costa Sunglasses won, and the best Footwear was Fish Sandals by Rivers Edge.
