‘This is amazing!’ Winning voter in the Angler’s Choice awards gets his prizes

Rik Bredewout from the Netherlands is a happy angler right now. Why? Because he has just taken delivery of his prize of €1,000 worth of fishing tackle – won simply by casting his vote in the EFTTEX Angler’s Choice awards.

Tacklestream facilitated the Angler’s Choice competition by presenting the award winners of October’s digital EFTTEX New Product Awards for online voting by anglers. It was the first time that the winning products from Europe’s trade show were presented to anglers to choose their favourites.

Thousands of anglers voted for their favourite products, encouraged by being automatically entered into a prize draw to win €1000 of fishing tackle. Rik’s name was drawn in January and he was invited to make a wish-list of tackle. And now, that tackle is safely in Rik’s hands in the Netherlands: the sublime 22 EXIST spinning reel from Daiwa along with a Westin W6 Backpack and terminal tackle items, also from Westin.

Tacklestream’s John Watson spoke to Rik this week to find that his big win is only now just sinking in. “I entered the competition organised by Tacklestream online. It was really easy to do and really fast, but I can’t believe I have won, this is amazing!” he said, before joking: “The top Daiwa reel is now in my hands but I have a problem. I don’t know whether to use it or keep it in a glass cabinet. It’s amazing!”

Rik added: “I love Daiwa reels and have a number of them. They are all brilliant, however they all now feel heavy. Seriously, this reel is so light and I’m going to need sunglasses when using it as it’s so shiny. I think I’m also going to have to take a pillow with me when I fish as there is no way I am putting it down on the floor. I am also very happy with the Westin bag, it’s perfect for keeping all my tackle safe and dry when I’m out fishing.”

The organisers of EFTTEX also had an extra surprise for Rik, by inviting him to attend the return of the in-person show in Budapest in June. Added Rik: “There is no entry for consumers, so this feels like a once in a lifetime experience. It was another brilliant surprise when they told me. I am already looking forward to it.

“I can’t thank EFTTEX and Tacklestream enough for arranging the giveaway and keeping in touch like you have. It’s been amazing.”

Online voting in the Angler’s Choice awards concluded in December and delivered six overall Angler’s Choice winning products: Shimano Stella FK spinning reel (Spinning & Baitcasting category), PENN Authority spinning reel (Saltwater), Shimano Aero Technium MgS carp reel (Carp & Feeder), American Tackle SRG (Shrink Ready Grip) System (General & Coarse), Snowbee Prestige GXS saltwater rod (Fly) and Berkley / Abu Garcia Advent Calendar (Apparel & General).

Tacklestream is the B2C platform owned by Angling International. Plans for the next Angler’s Choice awards are already in motion with the promise of even more publicity for EFTTEX award winners. Angling International owner Rob Carter said: “We moved quickly with the EFTTEX organisers to get Angler’s Choice off the ground at the end of last year. We wanted to demonstrate how EFTTEX – when working with the right media partner – can now reach consumers as well as a trade audience, and we achieved that instantly.

“Reaching both trade and consumer customers is essential when it comes to marketing fishing tackle. The organisers of EFTTEX understand that, and understand that the show’s power extends beyond the three days of the event in June. We are delighted to be part of the evolution of EFTTEX. Angler’s Choice, as presented by Tacklestream, is a powerful platform for tackle brands, but the message is, it all starts by entering the New Product Awards. If you want to take advantage of the extra marketing opportunities we offer, the first step is to be in Budapest in June with your new products.”