FISH CATCHING TRAVEL
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The man = Bil Dance. The man the myth the legend.
Where to start? How about right here! I had barely got in the door and there he was. What a way to start the show. What makes this sighting so special is over 30 years ago I saw him wading Lake Seminole on his show. He was smashing huge bas on the Bang O Lure, which led to my lifetime fishing love of the Bang O Lure. From this point on in the show it was a fishing extravaganza. I knew the show would be a bucket list trip for me and it exceeded that. Until you walk around the show for a couple of days and barely scratch the surface it is hard to really describe how huge it was. It was a who’s who of the fishing industry and all I have to say is good thing you could not sell at the show, or I would be in big trouble with the Boss.
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The Wade Right Fishing Belt and the new Madre Sling.
For all your wading needs.
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The whole gang working the booth.
First thing my thanks to Michael and his family for letting me tag along. Besides Michaels design and innovation abilities he has a great family. (He is percolating another cool idea but if I told you he would have to kill ME!) His wife Jocelle and the boys are good folks and I appreciate spending time with them. A show like this is a big undertaking and the old takes a village applies.
Big Water Adventures Mark Davis dropped by the booth. He has used the Knockin Tails twice on this show.
The show is literally crawling with those folks I watch on the weekend fishing shows. So cool to have Mark stop by. As personable and nice a guy as you will find, it is a tribute to the Knockin Tail’s ability to catch fish. And speaking of famous people here is a list of those I saw. I did not bother any of them, the crowd was doing plenty of that, but here is who I remember. Ike, KVD, Ish, Randy Howell, S. Browning, S. Feider, S Reece, and on and on. It was just something.
This is for you Rusty. Once cool vice to go along with some great fly tying material. Check them out.
Here is one of the coolest things I saw at the show. Jeff, the owner was a very personable guy and has a line of really interesting jigs (He gave me a couple which will get a workout.) and a line of fly-tying material along with some other stuff. His stuff is ethically sourced, and the jigs do not have any lead or tungsten, cool product. But his vice which will be coming out soon, it is in production, has a couple of great features not found on other vices. I cannot do his product line justice but trust me if you are a hard-core tier, it is the bomb and was a hit with buyers. He also has a line of cool revolutionary material that can greatly simplify tying jigs and flies. There is no way I can do his products line justice so stop by his site and take a look, great stuff.
Zoe Angling Group | Ethically Sourced Innovative Fishing Goods (zag.fish)
When it is all said and done there was something for everyone who loves to fish for anything, anywhere, anytime. Hope I get another chance to attend, it is a fisherman’s dream. Suffice to say if you use it, heard of it, or want to put your hands on it you can do it at ICAST.
It was so different from other shows I have attended. Only retailers, wholesalers, manufacturers and media, are allowed in and it was so different from selling to the general public. We spoke with folks from all around the country, Italy, France, Canada, Mexico, and Puerto Rico to name a few. And speaking of Puerto Rico, what are the odds. We all say it is a small world and my experience proved it.
A gentleman and his family stopped by to see the product and speak about using/selling it in Puerto Rico. When I noticed his badge my comment: I told him that one of my greatest memories of all time was catching my first marlin off the coast of PR with Captain Pepe on the Mikara Hunter. His response, he is a friend of mine and I captain his boat at times! What are the odds? Pepe has sold the boat the first mate who was a kid when I fished with them and he is now a marine surveyor. It really is a small world.
Tom Roland of Saltwater Experience stopped by the booth on day 2.
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I have almost no internet or phone as I am staying in the actual glades in a swamp. The first couple of days the fishing was slow, today was a home run.
My personal best snook! My last bite this morning. What a fish.
My first one landed this morning on the 5″ Halloween Knockin Tail. What a thump! My first bite I jumped a nice tarpon. The Glades is a wonderful place.
Love those big headed monsters!
So just to let you all know I have not dissapeared from the face of the earth. No internet and no phone to speak of. Suffice to say today made the whole trip and every mile worth it. I will be catching up at some point but suffice to say a couple of more days to fish and I can only hope it is anywhere near today. So take the bull by the horns and make your adventure happen. And thanks to Michael, we have had a great time! So keep stopping in and thanks for ready my stuff.
Good Luck and Tight Lines
