Who Won Best of Show at ICAST 2024?

As Glenn Hughes, president of the American Sport Fishing Association, strode to the podium in the South Exhibit Hall of the Orange County Convention Center, he had a broad smile on his face.

Because as the 67th annual International Convention of Allied Sportfishing Trades (ICAST) fishing trade show reached its midpoint during a July 17-19, 2024 run, Hughes knew what few others in the spacious exhibit hall in Orlando knew, and that was who the winner of the 2024 ICAST New Product Showcase Best of Show award was.

That winner came after buyers and media gathered on Tuesday evening to select the 41 Best of Category winners in freshwater fishing, saltwater fishing, fly fishing, lifestyle and accessory categories. After those winners were announced on Wednesday, the same buyers and media reconvened through midday on Thursday, ultimately selecting this year's Best of Show winner, the PENN Fathom Electric Reel from Pure Fishing, Inc.

The innovative reel caught everyone's attention from Super Tuesday's "On the Water" product demonstration day. The world's first reel with an integrated battery, the PENN Fathom Electric gives anglers incredible torque and power when cranking up a deep fish from the ocean blue, or even perhaps a lake trout coming up from the depths.

Thanks to the reel's easy-to-use LED display screen showing a true line counter, auto-stop functionality and angler-friendly customizable settings, the PENN Fathom Electric comes in three sizes (30, 50, 80) and has an array of accessories available too.

"It means a lot after the several years we put into this and for the members of our team to be recognized” said Ben Joyce, PENN Senior Product Manager at Pure Fishing, in an ASA news release. "You can continue to expect improved innovation from us this year and beyond.”

Dating back to the 2004 ICAST fishing trade show a couple of decades ago, this year’s win marked the third Best of Show award for Pure Fishing, which has Pflueger, Abu Garcia, Berkley, Stren, Ugly Stik, Shakespeare, Johnson, Spider Wire, Van Staal, FIN-NOR, Hardy, Penn, Fenwick, Savage Gear, Frabill, Grey’s, Mitchell and Plano among its brands.

The new reel will be available in three sizes (30, 50, 80), with an MSRP of $799.95-$899.95.

“When I think about what a truly game-changing product looks like, I think of a product that alters the way we approach the sport by adding a new value or technique,” says Jon Schlosser, Chief Product and Brand Officer for Pure Fishing. “The PENN Fathom Electric is not only the first of its kind, cordless electric reel, but it makes deep dropping more accessible. I am extremely proud of the PENN team for the time they put in designing such a groundbreaking achievement.”

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