ICAST 2023 and Catfishing
by Ron Presley, photos by Butch Finnigan
Catfish-related companies attended the ICAST 2023 show with plans to expand their markets.
The ICAST gathering is produced annually by the American Sportfishing Association (ASA). ASA is a national, non-profit trade association with members working together to promote sportfishing while driving recreational fishing product sales.
ICAST is billed as the world’s largest sportfishing trade show and a desirable event for many. It is an event that any fishing fanatic would love to attend, but it is only open to new and existing product manufacturers, retailers, and media.
An important feature of the show is the New Product Showcase where the latest innovations in fishing gear, accessories, and apparel are displayed in a competitive environment that leads to naming the best new products in several categories and an overall “Best of Show.”
On Tuesday evening before the floor show started on Wednesday, tackle retailers and media members were allowed to begin voting on the “Best of Show” from more than 1,100 new products. The New Product Showcase Reception, sponsored by Fishing Tackle Retailer, had 37 categories of new products like rods, reels, lures, accessories, apparel, and marine electronics. The winners were announced on Wednesday evening during the Industry Awards Reception. (The winners can be viewed by clicking here.)
My interest is always focused on finding catfish-related products at ICAST. First I like to report on the availability of products and secondly, I like to identify and recognize the catfish companies that attended. The number of “catfish companies” remain small in 2023 but we had some repeats and a new one.
Repeat companies that catfish anglers might recognize included Whisker Seekers Tackle (Pradco Outdoor Products), B’n’M Poles, TTI Blakemore (Boss Kat Hooks), Kast King, and Catfish Pro.
Catfish Pro
Mike and Mitch Baker made the trip to Florida with some new products to introduce to retailers at ICAST. Their company, Catfish Pro, began as a bait company and has expanded to include rods, reels, hooks, fish grips, and apparel that includes short sleeves, long sleeves, and hoodies, all made from UV50 Sun Protection and Moisture Wicking fabric.
Their unique square baits are designed to produce a faster scent trail while staying on the hook well. It comes in 20 different scents including catfish favorites like chicken liver, skipjack, and shad.
“We introduced our tournament series spinning rod and reels, at ICAST this year,” reported Vice President Mitch Baker. “The spinning rods come in medium heavy and heavy. They feature a 7’6″ single-piece rod with a glow-in-the-dark tip. The rods are built with heavy-duty stainless steel guides. The spinning reel has 5 + 1 ball bearings and a 5 to 1 gear ratio.”
“We also have introduced our new left-handed tournament series bait caster,” added Mitch. “Anglers can see all
our products with complete descriptions and educational videos on our website at www.catfishpro.com.”
“In addition to selling, we come to ICAST to build our contacts and connections,” concluded Mitch. “Our goal is to build the brand and expand our assortment of products to other retailers and distributors.”
Draggin Master Fishing
Draggin Master Fishing is a new name in the ICAST lineup. Co-owners Bryan St Ama and Coia Sneed traveled from Texas with the Draggin Master booth designed especially for ICAST. They introduced several products to attendees at the world’s largest sportfishing trade show.
As the Draggin Master name implies, the company was founded as a drifting and dragging rig manufacturer. They now offer a variety of accessories to enhance and compliment the drifting/dragging experience including leader line, hooks, floats, rattles, brush guards, and a Draggin Master planer board by Parks Enterprises.
Draggin Master Inline Draggin Rigs
The drifting/dragging rigs come in 2 sizes, 2 ounces, and 4 ounces. They are packaged 2 to a carton. The patented inline weighted rig is designed to drag baits with “snake-like” features through brush, rocks, and other structures with fewer hang-ups. With no conventional sinkers or slinky-type dragging weights hanging down from the rig, it snakes its way through the structure in a clean and less disruptive way.
Draggin Master Hooks
They also offer Draggin Master Triple Stinger Weedless Treble Hooks. The 7/0 weedless treble hook is used to
catch those short-biting fish and can be used on all species of fish. This hook is made from high-quality carbon steel and has stainless steel weed guards that are designed to be snag-free. You can fish these hooks in places you couldn’t fish before.
Dragon Master Weedless Octopus Offset Circle Hooks are available in 8/0 and 10/0 sizes. They are made from high-quality carbon steel and fitted with a stainless-steel weed guard designed to be snag-resistant to complement the inline dragging rigs.
Draggin Master Black Armor Premier Leader Line
The company’s leader line comes in 55-yard spools of 80-pound test monofilament. Underwater the line offers a neutral color that creates the best bait presentation available and increases the chance for greater hook-ups and landings. It also features neutral buoyancy, superior abrasion resistance, strike-absorbing stretch, and smoother tracking through structure.
Draggin Master Rattle Pegs
The rattle pegs come 10 to a pack and are unique in many ways. They are designed and tested to be used with any standard line float and are included with the Draggin Master floats. They can be used to turn most peg floats into a loud rattle attractant.
Draggin Master Bite Me Floats
Draggin Master floats come 3 to the package and includes rattle pegs. This line float is super soft yet still very durable. It is intended to increase your hook-ups with its soft and spongy feel by eliminating a spit hook because of an aggressive overbite while using a hard line float or rattle lure. Each float includes the Draggin Master patented Rattle Pegs to attract those hungry fish.
Draggin Master Brush Guards
The Draggin Master Brush Guard comes with 2 per pack. They are designed to go on your line or in your float with their peg-molded design. It prevents normal snags and hang-ups in trees and rocks. Its rounded nose and bristle design help your line pop out of those cracks, crevasses, and trees where so many rigs are lost. This innovative and new patented product is sure to change the game for dragging/drifting anglers.
“We are attending ICAST as part of our strategy of breaking into the major fishing scene,” revealed Sneed at the show. “There is not very much catfishing stuff here so the opportunity exists. We have had a few bass guys and bass shop owners stop by and look at all the Draggin Master products with interest. It is encouraging.”
“It is both mine and Bryan’s first time to ICAST,” concluded Sneed. “It is very impressive as I walk around the floor. I have never been to any fishing show of this magnitude. It is interesting to talk to non-catfish anglers who see uses for the Draggin Master products with their specific species too.”
To learn more about the Draggin Master products visit their website. For a video demonstration of how the products are used click here.
Final Thoughts
There were more products on display that are used by catfish anglers. Products like trolling motors, electronics, bait containers, and general boating accessories but still not many catfish-specific products have made their way to ICAST. Kudos to those catfish-related companies that were there to give the catfish community some visibility at the world’s largest tackle show.
