Voter’s Speak! ICAST Trophies Reveal Readers’ Choices
OutdoorHub 07.09.14
26 companies, plus pros Bill Dance and Kevin VanDam, earn coveted Readers’ Choice Awards
Game & Fish/Sportsman magazine readers have voted for their favorite fishing gear in 26 different categories, and the magazine will honor those winning manufacturers July 17-19 at ICAST in Orlando. The Readers’ Choice trophies will be awarded to the selected companies and to a pair of popular bass-fishing icons: Bill Dance and Kevin VanDam.
Game & Fish/Sportsman had asked manufacturers to submit new-gear nominees in 26 categories, from rods and reels to raingear and sunglasses. To be considered “new,” gear must have been introduced in the last three years. The magazine then queried a sampling of subscribers and e-newsletter recipients to determine their favorite picks. More than 2,000 anglers responded and voted for their favorite gear.
Readers also were asked to pick their favorite bass angler of all time and their favorite pro on tour. They overwhelmingly voted for Bill Dance and Kevin VanDam, respectively.
Game & Fish/Sportsman magazines Publisher Peter Gross will present crystal trophies to the pros and to each of the companies at the International Convention of Allied Sportfishing Trades, or ICAST, in Orlando.
“It is my pleasure to represent our hard-core fishermen and present these tokens of accomplishment to industry partners, such as Berkley, Minn Kota and G. Loomis,” said Gross. “These companies and their products are recognized as some of the best in the industry. I just wish all who voted could also be here to join in a round of applause.”
According to results tallied by independent analyst Accelera Research, nearly two in five respondents caught more than 50 bass last year, with an average catch of 34 bass per angler. The survey also showed that respondents fished an average of 42 days. A total of 37 percent of anglers considered themselves advanced or expert bass anglers, 54 percent said they were intermediate level, and just 9 percent said they were beginners.
Full results of the voting are online at gameandfishmag.com/2014-rca-bass.
The 26 companies are:
G. Loomis GL2 spinning rod; Shimano Stradic CI4+ spinning reel; G Loomis GL2 baitcasting rod; Abu Garcia Revo MGX baitcasting reel; Bass Pro Shops Lazer Eye spinner bait; Bass Pro Shops Enticer Pro Series Football Jig; YUM MightEE worm; Savage Gear 3D crawfish bait; Bass Pro Shops XPS Slim Dog topwater; Rapala Scatter Rap Crank; Rapala BX Jointed Minnow; Booyah Money Minnow plastic swimbait; Zoom Super Fluke soft jerkbait; Berkley Schooling Rig; Berkley Trilene XT XL mono/copolymer line; SpiderWire Glow-Vis braid; Berkley Trilene 100% FluoroXL; Bass Pro Shops XPS Magna Superlock hook; Lowrance Elite-5 DSI; Ranger Z118C small bass boat; Ranger Z521C large bass boat; Mercury 9HP ProKicker; Yamaha V MAX SHO 150; Minn Kota Talon 12; Cabela’s Guidewear Bass Angler; and Berkley Zephyr sunglasses.
