Rapala enjoys night to remember with five ICAST awards

Rapala VMC was the stand-out winner in the New Product Showcase Awards at ICAST this week, scooping five prizes.

The Finnish-based tackle giant triumphed in the Ice Fishing, Terminal Tackle, Freshwater Hard Lure, Saltwater Hard Lure and Novelties & Wellness categories to make it a memorable show for the company.

Quantum celebrated its first year as a saltwater-only brand by picking up two major accolades. The Rather Outdoors brand, which celebrated its 40th anniversary last year by announcing the change in direction, won the awards in the saltwater reel (Cabo) and rod and reel combo (Merit) categories.

Also among the major winners in a competition bereft of serial victors Pure Fishing for the first time was another industry giant Daiwa. It was a double winner, taking the best freshwater reel for its Ballistic 3000 BAM QLT and freshwater rod for the Tatula range (above) of bass rods.

The full list of winners were:

Tackle Management: BUZBE Swarm Hexslide;

Saltwater Reel: Quantum Cabo Spinning Reel CB4000;

Saltwater Soft Lure: Z-Man PrawnstarZ LB;

Rod & Reel Combo: Quantum Merit Saltwater Combo;

Fly Fishing Rod: St Croix Legend;

Fly Fishing Reel: Okuma Integrity;

Fly Fishing Rod & Reel Combo: Kickin’ TheirBass KTB56 Combo by Martin Fly;

Fly Fishing Waders & Wading Boots: frogg toggs Men’s Sonic Edge SF Wader;

Fly Lines, Leaders, Tippet & Line Accessories: FLYTIME 24 Fly Storage & Quick Change System;

Fly Fishing Technical & General Apparel: Lenwood Tech Hoodie;

Fly Tying Vices, Tools & Materials: Rambler Co. Nomad Fy Tying Vice – Lightweight Travel Vice;

Freshwater Rod: Daiwa Tatula Bass Rod;

Saltwater Rod: Fitzgerald Fishing Flats Class Inshore Rods;

Freshwater Soft Lure: SWAG LT Line-Through Swimbait;

Freshwater Hard Lure: Rapala Claptail 110;

Saltwater Hard Lure: Rapala Magnum Countdown Elite;

Fly Fishing Backpacks, Bags & Luggage: PFG Wild Cast 34L Backpack;

Fly Fishing Tools & Accessories: BUZBE Colony 28T;

Fishing Line: PowerPro Max-8;

Terminal Tackle: VMC Minnow Shaker Jig;

Ice Fishing: Strikemaster Maven 40V;

Kid’s Tackle: Create-a-Lure Lunker Edition;

Fishing Accessory: Solar Power Bait Shack;

Cutlery, Hand Pliers or Tools: BUBBA Smart Fish Scale Lite;

Soft & Hard Coolers: Ninja FrostVault 45qt Wheeled Cooler with Dry Zone;

Custom Tackle & Components: Mud Hole All-in-One Spinning Rod Building Kit;

Men’s Cold Weather Technical Apparel: Climate Jacket – Black;

Women’s Cold Weather Technical Apparel: Women’s Shield Float Vest – Dark Olive;

Men’s Warm Weather Technical Apparel: AFTCO Pinnacle Shorts (above);

Women’s Warm Weather Technical Apparel: Pelagic Exo-Tech;

Men’s Lifestyle Apparel: Camp Shirt;

Women’s Lifestyle Apparel: Women’s Barricade Blue Haze Hoody;

Footwear: UA Kilchis River Shoes;

Eyewear: Bajio Greenland Green Water Matte with Rose Mirror;

Electronics: Humminbird XPLORE Fish Finder Series;

Energy: Powerbox 2.5KW/Solar Panel Lithium Battery Charging System-Klt;

Novelties & Wellness: Rapala Giant DT Crankbait USA:

Boats & Watercraft: Fluxjets Kayaks – World’s First Electronic Jet Kayak:

Motorised Boating Accessories: Force Current Kayak Trolling Motor;

Non-Motorised Boating Accessories: Turtlebox Ranger;

Freshwater Reel: Daiwa Ballistic 3000 BAM QLT