Who Won Best of Category Awards at ICAST?

The Garmin Force won the battle of new trolling motors at ICAST 2019 Wednesday night.

The Force was the most notable winner in the fishing trade show’s Best of Category Awards held at the Orange County Convention Center in Orlando.

Garmin’s Best Boating Accessory win was significant as it won over Lowrance’s Ghost — as the two fishing-electronics makers released their first-ever entries into the trolling-motor market at the popular show.

Also, it sets up the possibility Garmin may win the Best of Show Award — designating the show’s top new product—for the second straight year. Garmin’s Panoptix LiveScope live-scan sonar won the top prize last year.

Other top winners included LIVETARGET lures and St. Croix rods, which each won three category awards Wednesday. Humminbird, Shimano reels, Simms and AFTCO won two categories each (see list below).

The awards, determined by votes from attending media members, included 1,003 new products in 29 categories. The 29 winners will be voted on again Thursday morning to determine the overall winner.

ICAST 2019 Best of Category winners

Best Boating Accessory – Garmin Force Trolling Motor

Best Kayak Accessory – Hobie Mirage 360 Angler

Best Eyewear — Costa Water Woman

Best Footwear – Frogg Toggs Skipper

Best Giftwear – 13 Fishing Fillet Table Beverage Management System

Best Lifestyle Apparel – AFTCO Yurei Air-O-Mesh Performance Shirt

Best Technical Apparel Cold Weather — SIMMS M’s G4Z Stockingfoot Wader

Best Technical Apparel Warm Weather — AFTCO Overboard Submersible Shorts

Best Ice Fishing – Humminbird ICE HELIX 7 CHIRP GPS G3N

Best Cooler and Bait Storage — Frabill Magnum Bait Station 30

Best Cutlery Hand Pliers & Tools – BUBBA 110V Electric Fillet Knife

Best Electronics – Humminbird MEGA 360 Imaging

Best Fly Fishing Accessory – SIMMS Dry Creek Z Sling Pack

Best Fishing Accessory – American Tackle Company MW20 Finesse Set

Best Fishing Line – PowerPro Moonshine Braid

Best Kids Tackle — Anything Possible Brands The Bumblebee by ProFISHiency

Best Tackle Management – Plano Edge

Best Terminal Tackle – VMC Bladed Hybrid Treble Short

Best Freshwater Soft Lure – Lukerhunt Phantom Spider

Best Saltwater Soft Lure – LIVETARGET Slow-Roll Shiner

Best Freshwater Hard Lure – LIVETARGET Erratic Shiner

Best Saltwater Hard Lure – LIVETARGET Flutter Sardine

Best Freshwater Reel – Shimano SLX DC Baitcasting Reel

Best Saltwater Reel – Shimano Stradic FL Spinning Reel

Best Fly Reel – SEiGLER Reels SF

Best Freshwater Rod – St. Croix Rods Mojo Bass Glass Rip N’ Chatter Rod

Best Saltwater Rod – St. Croix Rods Avid Surf

Best Fly Fishing Rod – St. Croix Rods Imperial Salt

Best Rod & Reel Combo – Lew’s Mach Smash Baitcast Combo

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