A decade of design work paid off as American Tackle Company took home…
A decade of design work paid off as American Tackle Company took home “Best of Show” honors at ICAST, sportfishing’s largest trade show, with a sleek, nearly weightless custom rod component: the Tsuka 2 Complete Carbon Handle.
“Components are often overlooked,” said American Tackle Company’s Darrin Heim, “but at this point, it’s hard to overlook them because this is true innovation.”
The Tsuka 2 Complete Carbon Handle is a masterwork from the Florida-based custom rod manufacturer, well-known for introducing the MicroWave Guide System about a decade ago. Heim said the company has been working for almost ten years to refine the manufacturing process for its carbon rod handles, first working with reel seats and rod butts before finally borrowing a blown carbon building technology from the bicycle industry to create the new ICAST Best of Show champion.
According to Heim, carbon rod handles have been available in the fishing industry since the 1980s; however, his team believes the time has finally arrived for the material to be seen as a widespread replacement for traditional handles made of cork.
“In my opinion, this is the perfect time to jump on the bandwagon and push carbon along,” said Heim. “There is a demand but there hasn’t yet been the same recognition for carbon in this industry that we see in others like cycling. People are used to using cork, which is essentially tree bark, and they’ve been using that forever. But we think carbon is going to be the preferred material of the future. It’s lightweight, it’s extremely durable and strong. It’s beautiful. It’s sensitive and we feel that the time is right for carbon to be widely accepted.”
Previously, Heim said most carbon products in fishing were cylindrical products that were cut by hand, baked, and then sanded to form. Now—using blow molding—more products with curves and ergonomic designs are making their way to the show floor.
This year’s ICAST New Product Showcase featured 1,087 new products from 292 companies, and some of the winners included:
Motorized Boating Accessories: PowerPole Move ZR | Power-Pole
Non-Motorized Boating Accessory: BOTE WATER HAMMOCK | BOTE
Boats and Watercraft: Old Town Sportsman BigWater ePDL + 132 | Johnson Outdoors Watercraft, Inc.
Footwear: Ankle Deck Boots – Black | AFTCO
Eyewear: King Tide 8, Black 580G Blue Mirror | Costa Sunglasses
Lifestyle Apparel for Women: Women’s Coverup Dress | Huk Performance Fishing
Lifestyle Apparel for Men: Ocean Bound Hooded Performance Shirt | AFTCO
Warm Weather Technical Apparel for Women: Mojeaux 1/4 Zip Performance Shirt | AFTCO
Warm Weather Technical Apparel for Men: Channel Hooded Performance Shirt | AFTCO
Cold Weather Technical Apparel for Women: Women’s Barricade Rain Suit | AFTCO
Cold Weather Technical Apparel for Men: Gale Pullover | Blackfish Gear
Soft and Hard Coolers: Flop Box 10 | Flop Industries
Electronics: Westin EscapeCam | Westin Fishing
Cutlery, Hand Plies or Tools: BUBBA Pro Series Smart Fish Scale | BUBBA
Fishing Accessory: ENGEL USB Rechargeable Lithium-Ion XL Live Bait Aerator Pump | ENGEL Coolers
Terminal Tackle: VMC Swingin’ Ned Rig Jig | Rapala
Fishing Line: Mastiff Fluorocarbon | Shimano
Saltwater Soft Lure: Mulletron LT (Line Through) Swimbait | Z-Man Fishing Products
Saltwater Hard Lure: MirrOlure The Duke Dog | L&S Bait Company
Saltwater Rod: NRX+ Inshore | Shimano
Saltwater Reel: Seapower 1200 | Daiwa Corporation
