ICAST 2010

Mosquito Creek Outdoor's Indian RiverLagoon Coast Fishing Report
July 22, 2010


By Captain Tom Van Horn

Upcoming Classes, Seminars and Events
Saturday August 7th  9 a. m. to noon at Mosquito Creek Outdoors, 170 S. Washington Ave. in Apopka Florida. Free seminar on "Snook Fishing Tactics" instructed by Captains Chris Myers and Tom Van Horn.  Special guest instructor Steve Chapman from Fishing Florida Radio. Come learn the secrets to catching snook, and become a more successful angler.

First half hour is basic instruction and after the class is open forum.

For the past week or so, my angling adventures led me away from the Indian River Lagoon Coast of Florida to ICAST Convention in Las Vegas, and the DOA Lures Writer's Conference in Jensen Beach, Florida.



ICAST
Although ICAST, the International Convention of Allied Sportfishing Trades produced by the American Sportfishing Association (ASA), dose not involve wetting a line, it's always one of my favorite off the water fishing adventures, and when combined with the DOA Lures Outdoor Writers Conference in Jensen Beach Florida, it made for a very exciting week.

The ICAST 2010 trade show was conducted from July 14-16, at the Las Vegas Convention Center in Las Vegas with over 7,000 representatives from the sportfishing industry gathering to see the latest innovations in tackle, gear and apparel and to network with the world sportfishing community. ICAST is the sportfishing industry's premier trade event where tackle dealers, media and manufactures gather, interact and review what's new in the industry and its feature event is the New Products Showcase.

Over two hundred exhibiting companies entered 750 tackle products and accessories into the New Product Showcase where both the media and buyers vote on this year's innovations and at the 2010 showcase, fourteen companies took top honors.

This year the G.Loomis NRX was voted by buyers and media as the most innovative product in the ICAST 2010 New Product Showcase in both the freshwater rod category and the overall "Best of Show." In addition, other showcase winners were G.Loomis, Lowrance-Navico, Pure Fishing, Sebile Innovative Fishing and Shimano American Corporation. Listed below are the 2010 Showcase winners:

2010 ICAST New Product Showcase Award Winners

Line - Rapala - Sufix 832 Advanced Superline

Kids Tackle - Pure Fishing - Pflueger-Spinning Combo-Apprentice

Eyewear - Maui Jim Sunglasses - Guy Harvey Collection

Apparel - Frabill, Inc. - FXE Stormsuit

Combo - Ardent/Lamiglas - C400/XC704 Fishouflage Bass

Electronics - Lowrance-Navico - Lowrance Elite-5 DSI

Fishing Accessory - Adventure Products, Inc. - EGO S2 Slider Landing Net

Giftware - Boating Expressions, Inc. - Fishfenders

Soft Lure - Koppers Fishing & Tackle Corporation - Live Target Hollow Body Frog

Hard Lure - Shimano American Corporation - Waxwing Sub-Surface Swimming Jig

Marine - Minn Kota-Johnson Outdoors, Inc. - Talon-Shallow Water Anchor

Freshwater Reel - Shimano American Corporation - Stella FE

Saltwater Reel - Shimano American Corporation - Trinidad A

Freshwater Rod - G.Loomis - NRX

Saltwater Rod - Shimano American Corporation - Terez

Tackle Management - HYI, Inc. - Openwater Tackle Backpack

Terminal Tackle - Sebile Innovative Fishing - Soft Weight System

Overall Best of Show - G.Loomis - NRX

Next it was off to Jensen Beach, Florida to attend the DOA Writers Conference.  One of the great perks about being a fishing guide and an outdoor writer is getting invited to event such as this and I have to tell you, my good friend Captain Mark Nichols and his dedicated staff of employees and guides know how to host an event.

River Palms Cottages



The setting for the three day show is the River Palms Cottages in Jensen Beach, which was just like stepping into a tropical paradise.  The low-key resort presents the feel of a far away tropical island and the exotic flora and lagoon beach draws all of the life's tension from your bones as soon as you step foot on the premises. For those of you reading this report, there is no need to travel thousands of miles and spend thousands of dollars to escape to a tropical paradise, simply book a few days at the River Palms instead.


Although my escape was quite and enjoyable, strong easterly winds made fishing conditions tough, but with the support of the DOA Pro Staff Guides and some hardcore anglers, we still managed to catch quite a few snook over 30 pounds.  The big females were holding up in the inlet near the "Hole in the Wall", as they fell victim to the big Terror Eyz in the rootbeer/gold glitter color bounced on the bottom during the falling tide.  For me, I managed to catch four snook from 18 to 24 inched fishing docks with a ¼ ounce CAL Jig in the Stark Naked color.
All snook were cought, photographed and released, and documented in the Snook Foundation's Angler Action Program.


In closing, I would like to also thank Ocean Kayaks, Minn-Kota, Costa, Shimano, Eagle Claw, and Flambeau for co-sponsoring the event and my guides, Captains John Young and Mike Peppe (http://www.tarpondancer.com) for putting me on fish despite the blustery conditions.


As always, if you need information or have any questions, please contact me.


Good luck and good fishing,


Captain Tom Van Horn
Mosquito Coast Fishing Charters
www.irl-fishing.com
407-416-1187 on the water
407-366-8085 land line

Visit Mosquito Creek Outdoors at www.mosquitocreek.com, it's where your adventure begins.