Orlando Florida, ICAST 2012 was the scene of the most successful showing the American Tackle Company has ever had. Sparing no expense and leaving nothing to chance our entire team was mobilized to create the show of a lifetime which is exactly what was experienced.
Seeking an open concept booth design meant securing a 20' x 20' island booth. The goal was to allow as many visitors as possible to enter the booth while examining our products and meet with our personnel. Access from 4 sides, ample room for product displays combined with 2 meeting areas meant mission accomplished. The raised 10' x 10' x 10' x 10' banner above the booth along with prominent AT banner flags overhead made it impossible for anybody to wonder by without noticing the American Tackle Company.
This is the first show where American Tackle has been able to have the complete staff participate in an ICAST event. At times there were as many as 10 representatives working the booth and demonstrating. The large staff was an absolute necessity to address the extremely heavy traffic visiting the booth. One ProStaffer mentioned that he was quite impressed how every person that stopped by the booth received equal attention, whether they were a manufactured rod designer or just an angler working in another booth curious about the company. To that subject, a huge debt of gratitude is owed to the participating ProStaff members because without their assistance that level of service could not have been possible.
ICAST Highlights
This show saw the introduction of the MicroWave Line Control System that AT has been developing with the Bass Professor Doug Hannon, inventor of Wave Spin reels. It was reported by many that our system was the only breakthrough worth noting at this show. We gave live casting demonstrations with rods using the MicroWave guide system comparing the effects to rods built with popular guide trains in "Cone of Flight" and the "New Guide Concept". We coaxed almost every big name in the industry into casting along with dozens of people & members of the press who stopped by saying that they heard about our casting demonstrations and wanting to judge first hand.
BDOutdoors stated: "The new Microwave Guide from American Tackle has a small guide within a larger guide to help avoid wind knots and give you a longer cast. We tested it out and will confirm that it works."
With literally hundreds of people casting to give unanimous testimony feeling the improvement the Microwave Guide System provided over standard traditional guide trains. The "feel" we were pointing out is a reduction in vibration which represents friction caused by the oscillating line leaving the spinning reel and going through the line guides. That friction slows line down decreases casting distance. Most anglers generally have to put more power into their casts to compensate for the lost efficiency which impedes accuracy. This system controls line during the cast to allow less power to be used to achieve the same distance (or more to increase distance) which returns the focus back to accuracy all while reducing fatigue. Being a "see it & feel it" to believe it concept this show provided the perfect opportunity for a large group of industry professionals and dedicated anglers a chance to try it firsthand. The response was stellar! (Stocking inventory due by the end of August)
Another notable draw for rod builders was the new BUSHIDO blank series. Making their debut at the show was the Bushido Freshwater & Inshore models utilizing high strain Japanese fibers with advanced resin systems to feature newly refined actions and non-traditional lengths to complete a comprehensive application specific line up. In addition, many people were able to see the unique Nano Super Composite saltwater blanks designed for jigging and popping for the first time. Both Bushido lines were a hit seeing orders written at the show.
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Reno/Lake Tahoe
August 16-18, 2012
Come join us at the International Fly Tackle Dealer show and get a chance to test cast the Matrix series fly blanks. We will also have all our fly components available for you to get your hands on. Stay tuned for more information in our upcoming newsletters. (For IFTD details click on logo above)
Another notable draw for rod builders was the new BUSHIDO blank series. Making their debut at the show was the Bushido Freshwater & Inshore models utilizing high strain Japanese fibers with advanced resin systems to feature newly refined actions and non-traditional lengths to complete a comprehensive application specific line up. In addition, many people were able to see the unique Nano Super Composite saltwater blanks designed for jigging and popping for the first time. Both Bushido lines were a hit seeing orders written at the show. 
