Who Won ICAST 2017 Best of Show?

Orlando, Fla. — All you had to do to understand the impact kayaks and paddleboards are having on the fishing industry was to pay attention to what happened this week at ICAST 2017, the world's largest sportfishing trade show.

Along with the dozens of the individual watercrafts on display all over the show floor came the drop-the-mic announcement of the show's top distinction.

The American Sportfishing Association announced the ICAST 2017 Best of Show award Wednesday night in front of a packed ballroom at the Orange County Convention Center — it was an innovative paddleboard that promises to take small-craft fishing to a new level.

BOTE's Rover was voted (by buyers and media) as the best new product in both the overall and boat accessory categories  — 1,263 products in 26 categories from 280 companies were entered in the show's signature New Product Showcase.

The unique paddleboard, which can handle up a 6 hp outboard, if desired, is 14 feet long, 40 inches wide and weighs 105 pounds, according to the company.

On its website, BOTE says the Rover is a "stand-up paddleboard, micro skiff and everything in between."

• Click here to learn more about the Rover

Another paddleboard finished runner-up to the Rover in the boats and watercraft category —  Live Watersports'  Live L4Expedition — Realtree Edition.

Additionally, five other  companies each won two best-of-category awards — Shimano (freshwater and saltwater reels), 13 Fishing (kids' fishing, freshwater rod); Frogg Toggs (lifestyle and technical apparel); Pure Fishing (fly reel and fishing line); and Yeti Coolers (boating and fishing accessories).

• See list of winning products below

ICAST — in its 60^thyear as the industry's trade show — is the annual destination for representatives from the global recreational fishing industry to see the latest innovations in tackle, gear, accessories and apparel.

"This year we are living up to our reputation as the world's largest sportfishing trade show," show director Blake Swango said. "We are just shy of 15,000 registered show attendees.

"We saw a number of new products being entered into the New Product Showcase which will certainly have an impact on the 2017 and 2018 markets."

Best of Show Awards

ICAST 2017 Overall Best of Show — Bote

• Product: Rover

Best of Category — Boats and Watercraft — Bote

• Product: Rover

Best of Category — Boating Accessories — Yeti Coolers

• Product: LoadOut Bucket

Best of Category — Eyewear — Costa

• Product: The Sunrise Mirror Lens

Best of Category — Footwear — Huk Performance Fishing

• Product: Attack

Best of Category — Giftware — The Catch and Release Print Shop

• Product: Fish Prints — Actual Size

Best of Category — Lifestyle Apparel — Frogg Toggs

• Product: Prym1 Series Pilot II Jacket & Bibs

Best of Category — Technical Apparel — Frogg Toggs

• Product: Sierran Transition Wader

Best of Category — Electronics — Johnson Outdoors Marine Electronics, Inc. (Humminbird)

• Product: SOLIX 15 CHIRP MEGA SI GPS

Best of Category — Fishing Accessory — Yeti Coolers

• Product: Panga Duffel

Best of Category — Fly Fishing Accessory — Simms Fishing Products

• Product: G3 Guide™ Stockingfoot Wader

Best of Category — Fishing Line — Pure Fishing Inc.

• Product: Berkley Fireline Ultra 8

Best of Category — FishSmart — Eagle Claw Fishing Tackle

• Product: 2017 Flounder Sample Pack

Best of Category — Kids' Tackle — 13 Fishing

• Product: Ambition Combo

Best of Category — Tackle Management — Daiwa Corporation

• Product: Tactical Backpack

Best of Category — Terminal Tackle — Trapper Tackle

• Product: Trapper Round Bend Treble

Best of Category — Freshwater Hard Lure — Okuma Fishing Tackle Corp.

• Product: Savage Gear 3D Topwater Bat

Best of Category — Saltwater Hard Lure — Rapala

• Product: X-Rap Magnum 40

Best of Category — Freshwater Soft Lure — Lunkerhunt LP

• Product: Prop Series

Best of Category — Saltwater Soft Lure — LIVETARGET

• Product: LIVETARGET Hollow Body Mullet

Best of Category — Fly Reel — Pure Fishing, Inc.

• Product: Pflueger Supreme QRS Fly Reel

Best of Category — Freshwater Reel — Shimano American Corp.

• Product: Curado K Baitcasting Reels

Best of Category — Saltwater Reel — Shimano American Corp.

• Product: Sustain Reels C4000/5000

Best of Category — Rod & Reel Combo — Lew's Fishing Tackle

• Product: Mach Crush Speed Spool Combo

Best of Category — Fly Fishing Rod — G. Loomis, Inc.

• Product: IMX-Pro Fly Rod

Best of Category — Freshwater Rod — 13 Fishing 

• Product: Fate Black

Best of Category — Saltwater Rod — St. Croix Rods

• Product: Legend Tournament Inshore

First Runners-Up

First Runner-Up — Boating Accessories — Johnson Outdoors Marine Electronics, Inc.

• Product: Talon Shallow Water Anchor — 15 ft

First Runner-Up — Boats and Watercraft — Live Watersports

• Product: Live L4Expedition — Realtree Edition

First Runner-Up — Eyewear — Maui Jim Sunglasses

• Product: Kanaio Coast Style #766

First Runner-Up — Footwear — Simms Fishing Products

• Product: Challenger Mid Boat Shoe — Waterproof

First Runner-Up — Giftware — L'il Sucker Products, Inc.

• Product: Insulator

First Runner-Up — Lifestyle Apparel — Simms Fishing Products

• Product: SolarFlex® Armor Shirt

First Runner-Up — Technical Apparel —  Simms Fishing Products

• Product: Contender Insulated Jacket 

First Runner-Up — Electronics — Lowrance-Navico

• Product: Lowrance HDS Carbon 16

First Runner-Up — Fishing Accessory — Rapala

• Product: Mag Spring Pliers

First Runner-Up — Fly Fishing Accessory — Phoenix Inventors, LLC

• Product: The SimpliFLY

First Runner-Up — Fishing Line — Rapala

• Product: Sufix 832 — Coastal Camo

First Runner-Up — FishSmart — Adventure Products, Inc.

• Product: EGO Kryptek S2 Slider Landing Net — Medium Clear Rubber

First Runner-Up — Kids' Tackle — Anything Possible

• Product: Steinhauser Tangle-FREE Pocket Combo

First Runner-Up — Tackle Management — Plano Synergy

• Product: KVD Signature Bag

First Runner-Up — Terminal Tackle — American Tackle Company

• Product: JIGSKINZ "ProSkinz Color Series"

First Runner-Up — Freshwater Hard Lure — Rapala

• Product: RipStop

First Runner-Up — Saltwater Hard Lure — Yo-Zuri America, Inc.

• Product: Hydro Minnow LC

First Runner-Up — Freshwater Soft Lure — LIVETARGET

• Product: BaitBall Spinner Rig

First Runner-Up — Saltwater Soft Lure — Chasebaits Australia

• Product: Smash Crab JNR

First Runner-Up — Fly Reel — Zebco Brands

• Product: Van Staal VFHD 8-10-12 Wt

First Runner-Up — Freshwater Reel — 13 Fishing

• Product: Concept Z

First Runner-Up — Saltwater Reel — Pure Fishing

• Product: PENN International VI — 50VISW

First Runner-Up — Rod & Reel Combo — 13 Fishing

• Product: Fate Black and Origin FB Reel

First Runner-Up — Fly Fishing Rod — St. Croix Rods

• Product: Imperial USA

First Runner-Up — Freshwater Rod — G. Loomis, Inc.

• Product: CONQUEST Bass Rods

First Runner-Up — Saltwater Rod — Lew's Fishing Tackle

• Product: Tournament Performance TP1 Inshore

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