show report
ICAST 2026 New Product Showcase Winners Announced — Rapala, Shimano, Daiwa Lead Awards
ICAST 2026 New Product Showcase — Full Winners List
ICAST 2026, the world’s largest fishing tackle trade show, announced its New Product Showcase winners on July 16, 2026, with Rapala’s best-selling CrushCity line taking two awards across freshwater and saltwater soft lure categories.
The annual awards, judged by a panel of industry experts and media representatives, recognise innovation across 25 product categories ranging from rods and reels to electronics, apparel, and fly fishing equipment.
Rapala Dominates with CrushCity
Rapala visited the podium on four occasions at this year’s awards. The Finnish brand’s CrushCity bait series took awards in both the Freshwater Soft Lure category (The CEO 21) and Saltwater Soft Lure category (IMPOSTER). The brand also won for its High Capacity Line Remover (Fishing Accessory) and the Giant Lure Bald Eagle (Novelties and Wellness).
Rods, Reels, and Combos
Among the major fishing tackle manufacturers, Shimano and Daiwa both secured multiple awards:
| Category | Winner |
|---|---|
| Rod and Reel Combo | Rhino 30 Two-piece Spinning Combo (Rather Outdoors) |
| Freshwater Rod | St. Croix of Park Falls Triumph Freshwater |
| Freshwater Reel | Shimano Curado DC |
| Saltwater Reel | Daiwa 2026 BQ SW Spinning Reels |
| Saltwater Rod | Bull Bay Tackle Company BANSHEE-BG |
| Kid’s Tackle | Zebco Bottomland Spincast Combo (Rather Outdoors) |
Shimano’s Curado DC — a digitally controlled baitcasting reel — continues the company’s dominance in the freshwater reel segment, while Daiwa’s BQ SW Spinning Reels took the saltwater reel category with a design optimised for big-game applications.
Electronics and Energy
| Category | Winner |
|---|---|
| Motorised Boating Accessory | Garmin USA Spy Pole Mount |
| Electronics | Garmin USA LiveScope 2 HD |
| Energy | ePropulsion Technology Limited kMax Battery |
Garmin’s LiveScope 2 HD continues the company’s leadership in live-sonar technology, while ePropulsion’s kMax Battery represents growing interest in electric propulsion solutions for anglers.
Lures and Terminal Tackle
| Category | Winner |
|---|---|
| Wired And Skirted Lure | Z-Man Chatterbait Elite EVO HD |
| Freshwater Hard Lure | American Baitworks Synch Artisan Wake & Crank 130 |
| Freshwater Soft Lure | Rapala CrushCity “The CEO” 21 |
| Saltwater Soft Lure | Rapala CrushCity IMPOSTER |
| Saltwater Hard Lure | Shimano LEDGERUNNER |
| Terminal Tackle | G-Ratt Baits Urchin Rig |
| Braided Fishing Line | Daiwa J-Braid Grand X8 Ocean Splash |
| Non-Braided Fishing Line | Seaguar BRWLR Monofilament |
The prize for Braided Fishing Line went to Daiwa J-Braid Grand X8 Ocean Splash — a product category where Chinese OEM manufacturers (including SAMYEAR, Kangle, and Ningbo NTEC) supply significant global volume. The award-winning Seaguar BRWLR monofilament, meanwhile, is manufactured by Japanese fluorocarbon specialist Seaguar, though much of the global monofilament supply originates from Chinese extrusion facilities.
Apparel and Eyewear
| Category | Winner |
|---|---|
| Women’s Lifestyle Apparel | AFTCO Women’s Overcast Sweatshirt |
| Men’s Lifestyle Apparel | HUK Tide Point KC Printed Shirt |
| Extreme Weather Technical Apparel | AFTCO Hydronaut Insulated Jacket and Bib |
| Women’s Technical Apparel | Fishewear Brookie ¼ Zip Thermal |
| Men’s Technical Apparel | Simms Challenger Suit |
| Eyewear | Bajio Sunglasses Concho Dark Blue Camo |
| Footwear | Hey Dude HEY20 Flip |
Accessories and Fly Fishing
| Category | Winner |
|---|---|
| Cutlery, Hand Pliers, or Tools | BUBBA Pro Series Gen 2 Electric Filet Knife |
| Fishing Accessory | Rapala High Capacity Line Remover |
| Custom Tackle Components | BUZBE Magnetic Launch Pad |
| Tackle Management | BUZBE Basic Deep Urchin Bait Box |
| Non-Motorised Boating Accessory | Turtlebox Audio Turtlebox Cub |
| Ice Fishing | Evolution Fishing Ice Rod Locker |
| First Time Exhibitor Product | ArcPro Fishing Floating Aerator |
| Novelties and Wellness | Rapala Giant Lure Bald Eagle |
| Category | Winner |
|---|---|
| Fly Fishing Reel | Looop Classic X Multiplier |
| Fly Fishing Rod | St. Croix Imperial Fly Rods |
| Fly Fishing Technical Apparel | Simms Men’s G37 Pro Stockingfoot Waders |
| Fly Fishing Tools And Materials | Asghar Export Kampus Premium Fly Tying Kit |
| Fly Fishing Accessory | Simms Scout SlingBack |
Chinese Manufacturing Presence at ICAST
While the major award winners are predominantly global brands headquartered in Finland, Japan, and the USA, a significant portion of the awarded products are manufactured or assembled in China. Many of the products honoured — from Daiwa’s J-Braid line (produced in Chinese factories under Japanese QC specifications) to Garmin’s electronics manufactured in Asian supply chains — rely on China’s manufacturing ecosystem.
The ICAST awards also featured a notable Chinese exhibitor presence, with companies like BKK Hooks and other Chinese manufacturers demonstrating their own branded products alongside OEM services.
Significance for International Buyers
The ICAST New Product Showcase provides a useful benchmark for distributors and retailers evaluating product trends for the 2027 season. Key takeaways include:
- Live sonar and electronics continue to drive angler interest at the premium end
- Soft lure innovation remains a key differentiator (Rapala CrushCity’s double win)
- Digital control reels (Shimano Curado DC) are becoming standard in the baitcaster segment
- Electric propulsion (ePropulsion) signals growing crossover between kayak and motorboat categories
- Chinese OEM capacity underpins many of the winning products across line, terminal tackle, and electronics categories
Source: Angling International (July 16, 2026), ICAST New Product Showcase official results.
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