Tackle Trade World - January 2024

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18,500 

TACKLE INDUSTRY 

PROFESSIONALS 

IN OVER 

120 COUNTRIES 

EVERY MONTH 

JANUARY 2024

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in February! 

July 16-19 

Orlando, FL 

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www.tackletradeworld.com 

VISTING CHINA FISH 

Your guide to what’s on 

offer at this key show. 

PAGE 18 

LIGHTING UP LURES 

How Strike Pro 

is redefining lure 

illumination. PAGE 22 

RECORD $394 BILLION SPENT 

ON FISHING AND OUTDOOR 

ACTIVITIES IN USA 

Americans over 16 

enjoyed 1.7 billion 

trips to fish, hunt or 

go boating in 2022, boosting 

the US economy by spending 

an estimated $394 billion on 

equipment, travel, licences and 

fees. 

That’s according to recordbreaking 

figures from the 2022 

National Survey of Fishing, 

Hunting, and Wildlife- 

Associated Recreation, 

compiled by the US Fish 

and Wildlife Service and 

the Association of Fish and 

Wildlife Agencies. 

The survey, coordinated by 

the service, shows that US 

residents over the age of 16 

took over 1.7 billion trips in 

2022 to participate in outdoor 

activities like fishing, hunting, 

wildlife watching, recreational 

boating and target shooting 

– indeed some 40 million 

Americans went fishing during 

the year. 

Service director Martha 

Williams explained: “Time 

spent in nature is an important 

part of the human experience 

and can provide lifelong 

memories, connections to 

others, healthy activities, and a 

sense of rest and healing. 

“These numbers demonstrate 

how important our public lands 

and wild places are, not just for 

the wellbeing of people who 

enjoy them, but as an economic 

engine that provides thousands 

of jobs and sustains businesses, 

economies and communities 

throughout the nation. 

“The stewardship of our 

natural resources and access 

for fishing, hunting, and other 

wildlife-related activities is 

enhanced by the Biden-Harris 

Administration’s work under 

the ‘America The Beautiful’ 

initiative.” 

The 2022 survey, which offers 

a snapshot view of participation 

rates and was conducted by the 

National Opinion Research 

Centre at the University of 

Chicago, found that 148 million 

residents watched wildlife in 

2022 while 40 million went 

fishing and 14.4 million hunted. 

This means that roughly 57 

per cent of Americans 16 years 

of age or older participated in 

wildlife watching, 15 per cent 

fished and six per cent hunted 

last year. These trips equalled 

• Continued on page 8 

S E N T T O M O R E T H A N 1 8 , 5 0 0 T A C K L E I N D U S T R Y 

PROFESSIONALS IN OVER 120 COUNTRIES EVERY MONTH

JANUARY 

2024 

TackleTrade 


EDITORIAL 

WE NEED TO STAY IN 

THE ‘LONG GAME’ 

Editor: 

John Hunter 

04 

+44 7990 542958 

john.hunter@dhpub.co.uk 

A journalist all his life and with 20-plus years 

of international business magazine experience, 

John was the founding editor of TTW and has 

now returned to the helm. He has helped 

many brands launch and grow over the years 

through B2B publications and via his own 

consultancy business. 

ADVERTISING 

North America: 

Bart Manganiello 

+1 914 722 7601 

bartalm@optonline.net 

For over 38 years, Bart has been working with 

trade magazines, 34 in the tackle industry. 

Since 2001, he has been TTW’s North American 

Director, providing the best communication 

programs to companies, helping them connect 

with current and prospective trade partners 

around the world. 

Rest Of The World: 

Guido Knegt 

+39 3475036436 

guido.knegt@dhpub.co.uk 

A born and bred Dutchman, he spent five 

years travelling the world as a scuba-diving 

instructor and English teacher before settling 

down in Sardinia. Guido previously worked for 

TTW between 2014 and 2017. 

China: Robert Li 

Li Ziwei 

+86 13451914155 

robert.li365@gmail.com 

Li Ziwei (Robert) has been working as news 

editor for over 20 years. He founded the most 

influential Chinese fishing forum in the Straits 

and successfully organised many industry 

events. His love for culture and tourism has led 

him to devote his entire life to the exchanges 

between China and southeast Asia. 

Magazine Manager 

Justin Fox 

+44 7813 327966 

justin.fox@dhpub.co.uk 

A hugely experienced communicator with 

more than 20 years at parent company DHP, 

Justin knows what it takes to grow brands 

and businesses across the tackle sector. 

Sub Editor: David Haynes 

Art Editor: Paul Evans 

Editorial Design: Brad Sharp 

DHP LTD 

Editorial, administration, subscriptions and 

accounts to: DHP Ltd, 1st Floor, Nene House, 

Sopwith Way, Daventry, NN11 8EA, UK 


As we welcome in 2024, it’s an 

opportunity to take stock – of both 

our own businesses and of the 

industry at large. 

I think most of us can agree that 2023 was 

a difficult trading year and the start of 2024 

has done little to raise our optimism. 

A couple of years back – during the 

Covid-19 pandemic and the subsequent 

wave of additional interest in our sport – 

everyone was being urged to make the most 

of this and also work on ways to maintain 

that interest to ensure more customers who 

would keep coming back. 

It seems those suggestions fell on deaf 

ears. 

Suppliers geared up production at a 

difficult time to ensure retailers were stocked 

to the gunwales with product which, initially 

at least, flew out off the shelves. 

Looking at the surveys and figures for 

2022 from various industry sectors in 

recent months, it is clear we saw record 

participation numbers in many countries 

where fishing was seen as an ideal way to 

break the monotony of lockdown and enjoy 

the great outdoors. 

But, despite the efforts of some, it appears 

we were all too busy cashing in on this mini 

boom to concentrate on retaining our new 

anglers once the world opened up again and 

people could get back to all the other things 

that stopped them going fishing – school, 

work, socialising and more. 

Dealers are bemoaning shelves groaning 

with unbought product while suppliers are 

scratching for orders, even for the latest kit 

they have worked hard to develop. 

It’s a sad state of affairs but throughout 

recent months we have heard the same 

refrain the world over – budgets are tight 

and there is little sense in advertising 

product no one wants or working on even 

more new gear when they can’t shift existing 

3,511 

6,466 

tackle or apparel. 

Thankfully our industry is cyclical and, 

in time, that excess stock will dwindle and 

there will be a thirst once again for retailers 

to place regular orders. 

Of course, that will be driven by what’s 

happening out there on the banks of our 

lakes and rivers, on our coastlines and in 

boats around the world. 

But, for sure, we need more people 

discovering (or rediscovering) fishing and 

then maintaining their newfound hobby. 

Our angling clubs, fishing associations, 

coaches and conservation organisations have 

a huge part to play in this and, if we aren‘t 

already, we should be putting some of our 

support – both time and money – into these 

bodies. 

We should be working with them – and 

fisheries – not just on encouraging people to 

pick up a rod for the first time but to follow 

up and bring them back to the bank time 

and again. 

It takes investment in time, effort and 

money but if we want to still be making and 

selling fishing tackle into the next decade 

and beyond, we need to focus like never 

before. 

There will always be circumstances outside 

our control – Covid proved to be a curse 

and then a blessing – but we actually have 

participation growth within our remit. 

We know more people went fishing in 

recent years – and enjoyed it – we need to 

concentrate on reaching out to them once 

more and bringing them back. 

It won’t happen overnight but continued 

investment in this area WILL reap rewards 

for us all. I remain hopeful, for this year and 

beyond. 

John Hunter 

Editor

JANUARY 

2024 

24 

16 20 

10 

Contents 

08 NEWS 

Italian brands Lineaeffe and Nomura plan 

a stronger foray into the UK and Ireland 

while a tagging programme will boost 

Australian fishing. 

10 BUILDING A BETTER FUTURE 

Foundation Outdoor Group, the giant 

rod-building components supplier is going 

global, opening a European headquarters 

in Sweden. 

16 THE ONLY SPORTFISHING SHOW IN 

TOWN 

The next best thing to being on the water 

and experiencing the thrill of the catch is 

attending ICAST each summer in Florida – 

the biggest tackle show in the world. 

18 THE BEST TIME TO VISIT CHINA FISH 

With a record number of exhibitors there 

has never been a better time to visit China 

Fish than February 2024. We tell you all 

you need to know… 

06 www.tackletradeworld.com 

18 

20 THE PATH TO PERFECTION? 

The Fly Company has a reputation 

for working with great brands across 

Europe and now it has landed top fly line 

manufacturer Cortland. 

22 LIGHTING UP THE LURE MARKET 

Taiwan tackle giant Strike Pro continues its 

innovative approach with the introduction 

of its dual internal illuminating body 

system for lures. 

24 SPOTLIGHT ON BOAT ACCESSORIES 

Anglers fishing from boats need more than 

a means of propulsion and a fishing rod. 

There’s a whole host of accessories you 

should be stocking. 

28 DOING BUSINESS WITH… TAIWAN 

With a history of manufacturing and 

some key tackle brands, plus great fishing 

opportunities, the island of Taiwan has 

much to recommend it. 

38 

32 MAKING CONTACT 

There’s some great gear you should 

consider stocking from key brands. We 

look at the latest equipment customers 

will be keen to see. 

38 THE NEXT EVOLUTION OF G4 HAS 

ARRIVED 

Simms kicks off 2024 with the release of 

an all-new iteration of its flagship wader, 

the G4Z Stockingfoot; another evolution in 

design. 

42 NEW YEAR, NEW MARKETING 

STRATEGY 

As the New Year begins, it’s a great time to 

assess your marketing plan for the coming 

12 months and ensure it’s fit for purpose.

Super 

Heat Dissipation 

 

 

 

Super 

Low-Friction 

Super 

Hardness 

Super 

Lightness

RECORD $394 BILLION SPENT ON FISHING 

AND OUTDOOR ACTIVITIES IN USA 

• Continued from page 3 

a combined total of 14 billion 

days spent in the field, on the 

water and around the home 

viewing wildlife – an all-time 

high. 

These activities represent an 

economic powerhouse, where 

participants together spent $394 

billion in 2022, the most ever 

recorded in any national survey, 

adjusted for inflation. 

The survey has been conducted 

approximately every five years 

since 1955. The latest one is the 

first national survey to use a 

“push to web” approach, enabling 

respondents to complete the 

survey online. Respondents 

could also call in or fill out and 

mail in their questionnaire. 

These options, combined with 

a new, shorter questionnaire, 

gave participants more choices 

and made the survey more 

convenient to complete than in 

prior years, but the changes in 

methodology mean that 2022 

results should not be directly 

compared to results from any 

previous survey. 

Other changes to the 2022 

survey include data collection on 

recreational motorised boating 

and recreational shooting sports 

for the first time. 

“We are grateful to the 

more than 100,000 survey 

respondents from households 

across America that took part in 

the 2022 Survey,” added Director 

Williams. 

“Because of this participation, 

the national survey continues to 

serve as the nation’s definitive 

wildlife-related recreation 

database and a crucial source 

of information on participation 

rates and economic impacts of 

outdoor activities across the 

nation.” 

This year’s survey design 

recognises that, in addition to 

wildlife-dependent activities 

like hunting and fishing and 

wildlife-watching, recreational 

boating and target shooting are 

also important nature-dependent 

pastimes that link people to 

wildlife and wild places. 

For many, these activities 

are a lifestyle and gateway to 

the outdoors and a connection 

to nature that creates lifelong 

memories. 

Each National Survey of 

Fishing, Hunting, and Wildlife- 

Associated Recreation is a 

wealth of information allowing 

stakeholders, researchers, and 

agency partners to examine 

changes in recruitment, 

participation, and retention in 

outdoor activities over time. 

The in-depth survey is 

available to view here: shorturl. 

at/eruR9 

Crewsaver brings safety deal to 

Sea Angling Classic 2024 

Crewsaver, Survitec’s leading lifejacket 

brand, has announced a partnership with 

the UK’s biggest sea fishing catch and 

release competition, the Sea Angling 

Classic, for the upcoming 2024 season. 

The partnership was confirmed at 

METSTRADE in Amsterdam, bringing 

together key players from the leisure 

industry. The safety partnership will 

comprise the provision of Crewsaver’s 

Survival Technology, along with providing 

expertise and guidance on the care and 

maintenance of safety equipment. 

Chris Cox, Crewsaver’s general 

manager, said: “As the designated safety 

equipment provider for Sea Angling 

Classic, this partnership reinforces our 

dedication to promoting lifejacket safety 

awareness and helping to protect lives. 

Sea Angling Classic promotes angling 

across the UK in a responsible manner 

and this partnership was a perfect fit for 

Crewsaver. 

“Our high-performance safety 

equipment ensures both comfort and 

functionality without limitation as we 

eagerly anticipate the forthcoming 

competition event 

in Portsmouth next 

summer.” 

A brand with over 

60 years’ experience 

in survival technology 

equipment design and 

manufacture, Crewsaver’s 

solutions are extensive 

and include lifejackets, 

buoyancy aids, liferafts, 

performance clothing 

and man overboard 

recovery. 

Crewsaver’s lifejackets 

incorporate Fusion 3D 

technology that moulds to the wearer’s 

body and is compact and lightweight. 

The lifejackets sit off the neck, giving 

sailors total freedom of movement and 

ensuring they are comfortable even in the 

most challenging environments, without 

compromising on safety. 

Sea Angling Classic founder Ross 

Honey added: “Running world-class 

events requires world-class partners and 

Crewsaver, with its vast range of products, 

Ross Honey, founder of Sea 

Angling Classic (left), and Chris Cox, 

general manager of Crewsaver. 

fits perfectly with the events we’re staging. 

We are excited to have Crewsaver and its 

team with expert knowledge as our safety 

partner.” 

Also showcased at METSTRADE 

by Crewsaver was a pioneering duo of 

lifejackets crafted to cater to safety-driven 

water sports and adventure enthusiasts. 

The Crewsaver EXO lifejackets guarantee 

unparalleled comfort and performance, 

ensuring peace of mind to enjoy leisure 

activities in absolute safety. 

08 www.tackletradeworld.com

Italian brands drive growth 

with UK appointment 

Top brands Lineaeffe and 

Nomura are promising a stronger 

drive in the UK and Ireland with 

the news that Andy Macgregor 

will be taking the reins as the 

brands’ head of new business 

development. 

With a wealth of experience in 

the tackle market, Andy is set to 

lead sales and marketing for both 

Lineaeffe and Nomura, striving 

to enhance the position of these 

Italian brands in what is a very 

competitive market. 

Andy’s career highlights 

include successfully managing a 

carp fishing magazine in Spain 

and collaborating with industry 

giants like Rapala and Shimano. 

His role as a director on the 

board of Angling Scotland has 

consistently pushed the industry 

forward. 

According to Franco Ferrari 

and Marco Tortora, Andy’s 

extensive market knowledge and 

successful collaborations make 

him ideal for leading the next 

phase of growth. 

His appointment marks 

a transformative phase for 

Lineaeffe and Nomura, with a 

robust strategy to expand their 

presence in the UK and Irish 

markets. 

Under Andy’s dynamic 

leadership, the brands say they are 

entering an exciting chapter and 

they are now inviting partners 

and enthusiasts to connect and 

play a role in shaping a stronger 

and more successful future for 

this market. 

Andy can be contacted on 

+44 0776 421081 or at andy@ 

lineaeffe.it 

TAGGING PROGRAM 

WILL HIGHLIGHT VALUE 

OF ANGLERS 

Recreational anglers in Australia 

have given an opportunity to show 

how valuable they are thanks to an 

innovative fish tagging project in 

the Murray-Darling Basin. 

OzFish Unlimited, together 

with Charles Sturt University 

researchers and First Nations 

groups will spearhead the program 

due to funding support from 

the Australian Government’s 

OneBasin CRC program and the 

New South Wales Recreational 

Fishing Trust. 

It’s the first time a program has 

entrusted freshwater anglers and 

river rangers with this important 

work. 

Volunteers will complete 

specialist training on fish handling 

and be taught how to implant the 

Passive Integrated Transponder 

(PIT) Tags with a special tool. 

The first workshop was held at 

Deniliquin on November 25th with 

further events scheduled to take 

place at Swan Hill and Mildura 

early in 2024. 

Dr John Conallin, who is 

supporting the project, explained: 

“The data gathered will give us a 

long-term picture of where native 

fish are moving and perhaps not 

moving in the Murray Darling 

Basin. It is critical to help uncover 

where our energy and focus needs 

to be to help native fish.” 

While Braeden Lampard, 

OzFish’s senior program manager 

for the Murray Darling Basin, 

added: “Australia runs some of 

the largest and longest running 

saltwater tagging programs in 

the world. They’ve been widely 

used for years with the support 

of recreational fishers, however 

for our freshwater anglers along 

the Murray Darling Basin, this is 

uncharted territory.” 

In contrast to conventional 

tagging programs in saltwater 

environments, these tags are 

designed to emit signals or “ping” 

when the fish passes through a lock 

or fishway. 

The long-term goal is to utilise 

recreational fishers and river rangers 

in fish tagging programs across 

the basin, integrated into scientific 

programs as trusted partners. 

www.ozfish.org.au 

2023-24 

Over 1,400 New 

Line Items in our 

2023-2024 Catalog 

14,600+ Products 

Available for your 

Fly Tying Shops Walls! 

Microflex Soft 

Hackle Chenille 

Available in 5 sizes and 

31 Great Colors!

ROD BUILDING BRANDS SET 

FIRM FOUNDATION IN EUROPE 

Foundation Outdoor Group, arguably the 

world’s leading supplier of rod-building 

components, equipment and instruction, 

is taking a significant stride in its global 

expansion, opening a European headquarters 

in Sweden. 

This move comes less than three months 

after the acquisition of American Tackle 

Company International and Mud Hole 

Custom Tackle, solidifying Foundation 

Outdoor Group’s position as an industry 

powerhouse. 

The newly formed subsidiary, Foundation 

Outdoor Group Europe AB, will spearhead 

sales and distribution efforts across Europe 

and beyond. 

Heading this international initiative 

is Gary Benny, who brings a wealth of 

experience in the European tackle industry 

and previously served as the European 

branch manager at American Tackle. 

Brook Oliva, president and COO of 

Foundation Outdoor Group, said: “This 

expansion is indicative of our commitment 

to grow the global presence of Foundation 

Outdoor Group. 

“We’re excited to bring Gary aboard from 

American Tackle to lead this international 

effort. He has a wealth of international 

business experience and an entrepreneurial 

spirit that fits perfectly with our leadership 

team and our assertive 

growth strategy.” 

In support of 

Foundation Outdoor 

Group Europe AB’s 

mission, the company 

has acquired a new 

European headquarters 

building located in the 

strategic port city of 

Halmstad, Sweden. 

This 2,100 sq 

m (22,604 sq ft) 

modern facility is 

ideally positioned to 

facilitate international 

distribution and access to intermodal 

distribution channels within the European 

Union. 

The headquarters will serve as a showcase 

for Foundation Outdoor Group’s extensive 

range of fishing and outdoor recreation 

product lines, housing executive and sales 

offices, a showroom and a state-of-the-art 

warehouse and distribution centre. 

Built in 2020, the facility features loading 

docks, grade-level loading, 9m (30ft) high 

ceilings and pallet racking, enabling Full 

Truckload (FTL) and Less-Than-Truckload 

(LTL) shipments to arrive at the port of 

Halmstad and be seamlessly transported to 

the unit. 

Gary added: “The new headquarters 

facility is in an ideal location and has 

everything we need to support our business 

expansion. Foundation Outdoor Group’s 

growth plans are both strategic and 

aggressive, and I am looking forward to 

driving our business and supporting anglers 

and our industry across Europe.” 

Foundation Outdoor Group’s portfolio 

of renowned brands currently includes 

Mud Hole Custom Tackle, American 

Tackle, MHX, Custom Rod Builder (CRB), 

ProProducts, ThreadMaster and FishHawk. 

www.foundationoutdoorgroup.com 

Conservation body tackling Florida water quality 

The Bonefish & Tarpon Trust, 

whose mission is to conserve 

bonefish, tarpon and permit 

fisheries through science, 

education and advocacy, has 

launched a campaign to raise 

awareness of Florida’s water 

quality issues. 

Titled Win Back Our Water, 

it highlights three key issues 

that have been identified 

as harming Florida’s water 

quality: failing and/or outdated 

wastewater and stormwater 

infrastructure; pharmaceutical 

contaminants, and glyphosate 

pollution that can result from 

the use of herbicides. 

The campaign follows 

ongoing harmful algal blooms, 

poor water quality, seagrass 

loss, fish kills and contaminants 

such as pharmaceuticals in fish 

and other marine organisms 

that show that much more 

action is needed, especially 

considering the ways that a 

changing climate aggravates 

these problems. 

Win Back Our Water aims 

to mobilise Floridians to take 

action to protect their state’s 

waterways and builds on BTT’s 

water quality priorities, most 

notably advocacy in support of 

Everglades restoration. 

The campaign emphasises 

the importance of water quality 

not only for marine ecosystems 

but also for the many Florida 

residents who depend on clean 

water for their livelihoods, 

recreation and 

quality of life. 

“Florida is at 

a crossroads,” 

said Jim 

McDuffie, 

BTT’s 

president and 

CEO. “Failing 

and outdated 

wastewater and 

stormwater 

infrastructure, 

pharmaceutical 

contaminants 

and glyphosate 

pollution threaten our coastal 

aquatic resources, economy and 

way of life. 

“The Win Back Our Water 

campaign is a call to action to 

Algal blooms are one key indicator of issues with 

water quality. 

protect the state’s waterways by 

addressing issues that threaten 

water quality and, ultimately, 

our livelihoods.” 

www.btt.org/winbackourwater 


American Fishing 

Wire has clear plan 

for acquisition 

FLY FISHING WORLD 

GETS READY FOR 

EUROPEAN SHOW 

Key fly fishing brands 

from around the 

world are preparing 

for Europe’s largest 

celebration of the 

sport at the EWF 

event this coming 

April. 

The show will take 

place at the Event 

Forum Fürstenfeld 

near Munich, Germany, on April 13th and 14th and will feature 

over 100 exhibitors from across the globe. 

Tackle manufacturers will rub shoulders with publishers, 

tour operators, authors, fly tyers, fishing schools and casting 

professionals at the prestigious event, now in its 19th year. 

There will also be casting and fly tying demonstrations, 

instruction and tuition plus a series of lectures on the sport and 

major fly fishing destinations. 

www.experience-world-flyfishing.com 

American Fishing Wire 

(AFW) has acquired the 

trademark and company 

assets of single and double 

bottom fishing rigs supplier 

Aqua-Clear. 

Aqua-Clear Tackle is 

well-known throughout the 

Mid-Atlantic region for the 

high-quality rigs, which are 

hand-tied and feature its 

unique components that are 

designed to minimise tangles. 

AFW sales manager 

Shawn Carpenter explained: 

“Aqua-Clear has been 

producing and selling high 

quality rigs for over 40 years. 

Due to some recent changes 

in the market, the timing 

for this acquisition couldn’t 

be better. We’re excited over 

the opportunity to introduce 

our customers to Aqua-Clear 

and to grow sales within the 

Mid-Atlantic region and 

beyond.” 

Aqua-Clear vice-president 

David Lorenz said: “Aqua- 

Clear’s success has been 

due to our innovative clear 

‘T-shaped’ standoffs made 

in the USA, and because we 

only use the highest quality 

components from trusted 

manufacturers like AFW 

terminal tackle and Hi-Seas 

Grand Slam mono leader.” 

Customers on both sides of 

this transaction will benefit 

from improved fill rates, 

enhanced packaging and by 

the expanded care of AFW’s 

larger customer service and 

sales staff. 

Distributors and dealers 

will also be able to utilise 

AFW’s convenient online 

wholesale website for 

placing orders and checking 

purchase history. AFW 

plans to collaborate with 

customers and to develop 

new, innovative Aqua-Clear 

rigs and related products. 

AFW Fishing Brands 

has been providing serious 

freshwater and saltwater 

anglers with the line, 

leader, lures and rigging 

products since 1926, with 

all wire, strand and cable 

still manufactured at its US 

factory. 

www.afwhiseas.com

IGFA SELLS HQ TO AID FUTURE 

CONSERVATION EFFORTS 

The International Game Fish 

Association (IGFA), a leader 

in game fish conservation, has 

sold its headquarters buildings 

and land to bring in cash for its 

endowment and safeguard its 

work. 

The building and the south 

parcel of its Florida property 

has been sold to Bass Pro Shops 

and Cabela’s while the north 

parcel has gone to Baywood 

Hotels. 

This transformative triparty 

deal, valued at nearly 

$20 million, includes $15.5 

million towards the IGFA’s 

endowment and an additional 

$4.4 million of 12½ years of 

prepaid rent, marking a pivotal 

moment in the organisation’s 

storied history dedicated to the 

conservation of game fish and 

the promotion of responsible, 

ethical angling practices. 

This sale comes as a result of 

a collaborative effort years in 

the making between the IGFA 

and Bass Pro Shops founder 

and IGFA Trustee Emeritus, 

Johnny Morris. 

Originally opened in 1999 

thanks to a generous land 

donation made by Morris, the 

IGFA’s headquarters sits within 

Sportsman’s Park adjacent to 

Bass Pro Shops and notably 

featured the IGFA Fishing 

Hall of Fame. Thanks to its 

strong network of supporters, 

Key Scandinavian retailers complete merger 

Fjellsport and Skitt Fiske, experts in 

outdoor industry retailing, have joined 

forces, with the combined goal to 

offer the best products to enthusiastic 

customers in Norway. Operating under 

the Fjellsport AS name, the combined 

company will have 130 employees 

in Sandefjord with a turnover of 

approximately 1 billion NOK (€85 

million). Fjellsport AS also has a sister 

company in Sweden – Outnorth AB. 

Skitt Fiske also has a 2,000sq m 

the IGFA paid off the building 

mortgage in 2008. 

Following dwindling 

attendance numbers and the 

loss of a $1 million tax credit 

from the state of Florida, the 

IGFA relocated its Fishing 

Hall of Fame in 2015 to 

Johnny Morris’ Wonders of 

Wildlife National Museum 

and Aquarium in Springfield, 

Missouri ahead of its 2017 

grand opening. 

IGFA president Jason 

Schratwieser explained: “By 

transforming the bricks and 

mortar that once housed the 

IGFA Fishing Hall of Fame 

into an endowment, we are 

securing the continued growth 

of the IGFA’s mission-driven 

programs in perpetuity. 

“This is a monumental step 

not only for our members and 

representatives but for everyone 

who loves the sport of fishing.” 

By redirecting underutilised 

resources from its physical 

headquarters, the organisation 

said it has fortified its 

commitment to a future 

where game fish conservation 

transcends geographical 

boundaries. 

This move marks a shift 

towards an era of global 

expansion for the IGFA, 

emphasising wide-reaching 

programs that will make the 

organisation’s resources and 

initiatives accessible to a 

broader international audience. 

The bolstered endowment 

ensures not only the 

continuation but the vigorous 

expansion of the IGFA’s work 

in safeguarding game fish and 

their habitats, promoting ethical 

angling, and fostering a new 

generation of conservationists, 

physical store located in Sandefjord, 

which offers a fantastic selection within 

fishing, hunting and general outdoor 

activities. 

The companies says the ambition 

behind this merger is to both maintain 

and to further develop the brands’ unique 

identity and expert role within the 

industry. 

The three Norwegian online stores 

Skittfiske.no, Skittjakt.no, and Fjellsport. 

no will operate as they do today but now 

irrespective of their location. 

Bass Pro Shops founder 

Johnny Morris added: 

“Conservation and inspiring 

young anglers to be the 

next generation of outdoor 

stewards are vital to the future 

of our beloved sport and the 

habitats that sustain it. We’re 

incredibly proud to further our 

commitment to the IGFA and 

its noble mission.” 

As part of the agreement, 

the IGFA will continue to 

occupy its current executive 

offices and the E.K. Harry 

Library of Fishes rent-free for 

the next 12½ years, ensuring 

its enduring presence in South 

Florida, a location with rich 

angling history and deep ties to 

the IGFA’s origins. 

www.igfa.org 

with increased expertise and resources 

under the same roof, as they strive for 

further development in several areas. 

The physical store located in 

Sandefjord will continue to operate under 

the Skitt Fiske/Skitt Jakt logo. 

In the short term, the merger will 

include very few changes for suppliers. 

The IT solutions and logistics operations 

will continue to be separate, but officebased 

employees will be co-located and 

certain functions will be shared. 


ST. CROIX FLY WILL CHASE MORE SALES 

St. Croix Fly has appointed 

Chase Pritchett as sales 

representative in the southeast 

US states of Alabama, Georgia, 

Florida, South Carolina, North 

Carolina and Tennessee. 

Based in Chattanooga, 

Tennessee, Chase brings 16 years 

of fly fishing industry experience 

Focused on conservation and 

driven by its communitybased 

ethos, Costa Sunglasses 

has announced the Marlin 

Fly Project, the first recorded 

billfish research mission solely 

using fly tackle. 

In partnership with the 

locals of San Carlos, Mexico, 

The Billfish Foundation 

(TBF) and International 

Game Fish Association 

(IGFA), the project team 

deployed 15 satellite tags in 

two days to better understand 

and protect this understudied 

billfish species. 

The project, which took 

place in southwestern Baja, 

Mexico, stands as the ultimate 

culmination of community 

and conservation. 

Led by Costa, it brought 

together some of its 

professional anglers and 

fishing guides, leading billfish 

scientists, conservation 

organisations and community 

partners to pursue this mission 

in tandem with local captains, 

guides and the community. 

Costa’s brand director 

Jed Larkin said: “The epic 

fishing tales coming out 

of Magdalena Bay alone 

to the growing St. Croix Fly 

sales team. This includes guiding, 

retail sales and distribution 

management in both fresh 

and saltwater markets in the 

southeast region. 

He explained: “I operate in 

an exceptionally diverse region 

with high-quality warm-water, 

Costa Sunglasses 

pioneers first 

billfish research 

tagging mission 

attracted us to the region 

in 2021, but what we found 

there was an authentic 

community, rich with culture, 

built alongside an untamed 

ecosystem. 

“That trip sparked a 

trailblazing idea – what if we 

brought our global community 

of scientists, partners and 

pros together with the local 

community of San Carlos 

to research and protect this 

special resource? And that’s 

how Marlin Fly was born. 

Rooted in both community 

and conservation, this project 

is everything we stand for as 

a brand.” 

Costa has spent the past 

four decades carrying out 

its ‘higher calling’ to protect 

the waters we love, connect 

those who come to life on the 

water, and to conserve the life 

within. 

The Marlin Fly Project is an 

extension of that commitment. 

In addition to the historymaking 

field-science study, 

the project served the local 

community through a number 

of other initiatives. 

www. costasunglasses.com 

cold-water and saltwater angling 

opportunities. I’m really looking 

forward to putting my creativity 

and resources to work to drive 

awareness and expansion for the 

re-emerging St. Croix Fly brand 

throughout my territory. 

“While St. Croix has been in 

the fly space for decades, its new 

team and exciting new products 

are squarely challenging the 

status quo. Few other fly rod 

brands can claim the heritage 

that St. Croix owns. Combine 

that with their technological, 

design and manufacturing 

capabilities and you’ve got 

something incredible brewing for 

the fly fishing community. I’m 

proud to be a part of it.” 

Director of sales, Zack Dalton, 

added: “The southeast region 

is home to diverse fisheries, 

exceptional angling opportunities 

and an incredible dealer base. 

Finding the best talent – and 

UNI SOFT WIRE EXTRA SMALL GAUGE # 36 0.006 INCH 

BLACK 

AXXEL-MINI FLASH TINSEL 

FUCHSIA 

YELLOW 

IRON GRAY 

Chase Pritchett 

dealers – to represent the brand 

is an important part of keeping 

our promise to anglers to offer 

them the ‘Best Rods on Earth’. 

“Chase brings a level of 

passion and authenticity that 

matches that of our brand and 

our anglers. We’re stoked to 

have him on board and have 

the highest confidence in his 

abilities to represent St. Croix 

Fly and the new products we’re 

so excited about and proud of to 

the passionate fly anglers of the 

southeast.” 

www.stcroixrods.com/collections 

/ fl y 

UNI PRODUCTS J.G. Cote Inc. 

1004 Principale 

Ste-Melanie, QC. Canada JOK 3AO 

Tel: 450-889-8054 

Toll-Free: 1-877-889-8054 

Fax: 450-889-5887 

Email: info@uniproducts.com 

SILVER 

UNI-MOHAIR 

CAMEL 

NEW 2024 

OLIVE 

UNI-STRAP 

Look to UNI for the best in spooled fly-tying materials! 

www.uniproducts.com

BOAT MOTOR BRAND 

WELCOMES PRODUCT 

DEVELOPMENT HEAD ABOARD 

Jason Kardas, the former 

vice-president of product 

development at Hobie, will 

now drive innovation in electric 

propulsion technology at nextgeneration 

electric small boat 

motor maker Newport. 

As head of product 

development at Newport, Jason 

brings a wealth of knowledge 

and a creative passion to his 

role, having established himself 

as a valuable asset throughout 

his career in this sector. 

He will oversee all facets 

of Newport’s product 

development projects, with 

a specific focus on electric 

outboard motors. His 

responsibilities encompass 

technical leadership, product 

lifecycle management, electric 

propulsion expertise, team 

leadership, market leadership, 

and ensuring the success of 

product launches. 

With his deep knowledge of 

electric propulsion technology 

and remarkable leadership 

skills, Jason is positioned as a 

key asset in driving Newport’s 

products to meet and exceed 

industry standards and 

customer expectations. 

Newport president Patrick 

Dean said: “We are excited to 

welcome Jason to our team. 

His wealth of experience in the 

outdoor and water technology 

industries is a testament to his 

deep-rooted understanding 

of the field. His expertise is 

poised to be a significant asset 

to Newport, driving innovation 

and excellence as we shape the 

future of electric propulsion 

technology.” 

Jason added: “The company’s 

dedication to innovation in 

electric propulsion technology 

is inspiring and I’m looking 

forward to contributing to our 

shared vision. The prospect 

of working with such a 

talented and forward-thinking 

team is both humbling and 

exhilarating.” 

www.newportvessels.com 

Jason Kardas 

US fly shows fill up fast 

Exhibitor space for the Denver Fly Fishing Show scheduled 

for January 19th to 21st at the Gaylord Rockies Resort & 

Convention Center is officially sold out, with others almost 

equally full. 

Fly Fishing show president and CEO Ben Furimsky 

revealed: “We sold out of exhibition space approximately 92 

days before the Denver opening, putting us back on prepandemic 

schedules. 

“Other 2024 show venues are nearly equally filled with 

exhibitor booths. We’re down to our final four or five openings 

in Marlborough and nine or 10 in Atlanta.” 

He also confirmed Edison, Seattle/Bellevue, Pleasanton and 

Lancaster have only scattered open slots as well. 

Meydenbauer Center in the nearby Seattle suburb of 

Bellevue will host the return of the Fly Fishing Show to the 

Pacific Northwest on February 17th and 18th after a multiyear 

absence caused by facility unavailability. 

The full rundown of 2024 Fly Fishing Show venues and 

dates are: 

flyfishingshow.com 

• Marlborough, Mass. January 5-7 

• Denver, Colo. January 19-21 

• Edison, NJ: January 26-28 

• Atlanta, GA: February 2-4 

• Seattle/Bellevue, Wash. Feb 17-18 

• Pleasanton, Calif. February 23-25 

• Lancaster, Penn. March 2-3 


FEATURE 

ICAST 

ICAST is the only 

sportfishing trade 

show in town 

The next best thing to being on the water and experiencing the thrill of the catch is 

attending the International Convention of Allied Sportfishing Trades (ICAST) – the 

biggest tackle show in the world. 

Produced by the American 

Sportfishing Association, ICAST 

is a gathering place for buyers and 

media and includes a global array 

of businesses from Europe, South America, 

Latin America, Australia, Africa and Asia. 

Come immerse yourself in sportfishing as 

you explore the latest innovations in rods, 

reels, fishing gear, lures and much more. 

The show returns this year to the Orange 

County Convention Center in Orlando, 

Florida from July 16th to 19th. If you are in 

the sportfishing trades, ICAST is the most 

important show of the year. From freshwater 

to saltwater and fly to conventional fishing, 

it serves up the best experience and the best 

products available to the industry. 

Getting connected 

To provide your customers with the most 

in-demand products, you need to know 

the right people. There is no better place to 

build valuable business relationships than 

ICAST. 

Manufacturers, dealers and retailers come 

from all over the world, every year, to make 

valuable connections with those who are 

as passionate about your industry as you 

are. The show promises opportunities to 

deepen connections within the sportfishing 

community, to learn about the latest 

industry trends and ways to improve your 

business, and to expand your industry 


knowledge. 

“Fishing tackle is at the core of ICAST, 

but it is so much more, said Blake 

Swango, vice-president of trade show and 

membership. “Each year we add more to the 

overall experience by creating new activities 

designed to bring people together, to learn 

and to strengthen relationships.” 

Why ATTend in 2024? 

This year’s show is on track to be the biggest 

ICAST ever, with organisers expecting a 

bigger turnout, an enlarged footprint and a 

greater diversity of products. Here is what 

you can expect: 

The expanded New Product Showcase, 

that ushered in six new categories for 

manufacturers last year, is attracting more 

entries than ever, with special categories for 

traditional tackle, electronics, fly fishing, 

women’s apparel, ice fishing and technical 

apparel. 

The designated flyfishing section is now 

a permanent feature of ICAST, with plans 

to expand the footprint of the fly fishing 

exhibits and bring back the popular fly 

casting pond and fly shop. 

On The Water continues to be a huge draw 

for attendees wanting to test equipment and 

participate in demonstrations. The outdoor 

portion of the show exceeded expectations 

last year and had the largest participation in 

history. Expect another bustling experience 

in 2024 to usher in the grand opening of the 

show floor. 

Daily Lunch & Learn business seminars 

to expand your knowledge of the industry 

are back. Topics will include marketing 

tactics, social media hacks and even updates 

on trending technologies like Artificial 

Intelligence. 

Also, all new this year, on Monday, July 

15th there is a cool pre-show event called 

“Lunkers and Bunkers” where attendees can 

take advantage of both fishing and golfing 

to benefit Keep America Fishing. This is 

the perfect opportunity to get to meet new 

industry contacts in advance of the show. 

And of course, let’s not forget all of the 

after-hours networking events to keep the 

conversations going. 

“But of course, the real stars of the show 

are the products themselves,” said Swango. 

“Thousands of people will come from all over 

the world to get their first peek at the latest 

and greatest products coming to market and 

get an edge over their competitors in 2024.” 

Registration for ICAST 2024 opens 

during the second week of February at 

ICASTFishing.org, which also has all the 

information you need to plan your trip and 

enhance your ICAST 2024 experience. 

ICAST 

www.icastfishing.org

lineaeffe.it 

happIness 

is a FIshing day! 

ANGLER: Daniele “Maio” Maioriello 

@maio_nomura_angler_official 

FIND OUT WHAT’S NEW IN 

2024 ON WWW.LINEAEFFE.IT 

FISH IN PEACE! 

Lineaeffe S.p.a - Via Massumatico, 3689 - 40018 S. Pietro in Casale (BO) - ITALY - info@lineaeffe.it

FEATURE 

NOW IS THE BEST TIME 

TO VISIT CHINA FISH 

With a record number of exhibitors – including loads of first-timers – there has never been 

a better time to visit China Fish, the trade show that is the first port of call for many in the 

tackle trade. Are you ready…? 

About 700 exhibitors of 

sport fishing tackle OEM 

manufacturers, including over 

200 first-time exhibitors, will 

showcase their products at China Fish 

2024. 

The event, which is being held from 

February 21st to 23rd at the New China 

International Exhibition Center, Beijing, 

China is looking set to be the biggest one 

yet, with the most exhibitors since the show 

was founded in 1991. 

To many sport fishing tackle buyers it has 

been one of the best places to source new 

products, to gather with their friends in this 

industry, and to find their next suppliers. 

Thanks to favourable global exchange 

rates with China’s RMB, the prices in 

China are more affordable than before, 

indeed the organisers say room prices at 

hotels for China Fish are the best they have 

been for 20 years! 

And for the 30th anniversary of China 

Fish, the show’s sponsors are providing a 

limited number of free nights for companies 

who have booked their rooms before 

December 31st. These are on a first-comefirst-served 

basis. 


China Fish 

FEATURE 

AT A GLANCE 

• China Fish 2024 

• February 21st-23rd, 2024 

• New China International 

Exhibition Center, Beijing 

• 39,300 sq m exhibiting area 

• About 700 exhibitors 

WHAT TO SEE… 

You shouldn’t miss the Best Product 

Showcase at China Fish 2024. This 

dedicated space will showcase over 200 

top products from the exhibitors at the 

show while inviting all its international 

buyers to vote for the best in each 

category. 

The winners will be announced at the 

Best Product Awards Party on the second 

evening of the show. 

There is no better way of discovering 

the best new tackle developments for 

2024 and the companies behind them. 

And after the three-day show, you 

can source more products and suppliers 

beyond the hall and for 365 days of the 

year thanks to the new China Fish Allin-One 

Platform. 

After pre-registration, you can log 

in and visit the online stores of 580 

suppliers, view more than 7,300 products 

and chat directly with suppliers. 

You can also have a China Fish 

Coordinator to assist you during the year. 

If you think it’s too difficult to visit this 

show, the organiser will provide a series 

of show services to help make it easier for 

your to visit the event. 

These include: 

• Visa invitation letter to help you at your 

local Chinese Embassy. 

• Hotel Reservations that are easy to book 

and flexible to change. 

• Interpreters at just US$100-120/day/ 

person. 

• Early badge pick-up at the China Fish 

hotels a day before the show. 

• Free shuttle buses, including to the 

airport. 

• Cloakroom to keep your luggage and 

overcoats safe during the show. 

• Visitor lounge for rest and refreshments. 

And don’t forget to register for free! 

Three-day visitor badges are free of 

charge before January 31st, 2024. On-site 

registration is US$55/per person. 

Past visitors to China Fish or Weihai 

CGC Expo can pre-register by sending 

their name(s) to Lijiang@chinafish.cn 

New visitors can register quickly 

and easily on its official website: www. 

chinafishshow.org 

CHINA FISH 

+86 10 58203101/02/03 

Lijiang@chinafish.cn 

www.chinafishshow.org 


19

FEATURE 

THE FLY COMPANY 

AND CORTLAND 

THE PATH TO ANGLING 

PERFECTION 

Denmark distributor The Fly Company has a reputation for working with great brands. Its latest 

addition is fly line brand Cortland, which it will be offering to dealers across Europe. 

In the heart of its passion for fly 

fishing, The Fly Company has 

been a steadfast guardian of quality 

since 1995. Guided by a mission 

to deliver unparalleled fly fishing 

equipment, it has thoroughly curated a 

legacy of excellence. 

Through enduring partnerships with 

industry luminaries like Winston Fly 

Rods, TFO and Renzetti, it has crafted 

an unrivalled portfolio for discerning fly 

tiers. 

Now it is excited to announce a 

monumental step in its journey – the Fly 

Company is now an official distributor 

for Cortland in Europe. 

This collaboration signifies a 

harmonious union between two entities 

deeply rooted in the art of angling. 

Cortland is a name identified by 

century-long innovation in crafting the 

world’s finest fly lines, making waves in 

the hearts of anglers worldwide. 

Since its inception in 1915, this iconic 

brand has not only revolutionised the 

way we fish but has also carved a niche 


as a trendsetter in the fishing industry. 

The brand’s achievements and purpose 

align seamlessly with The Fly Company’s 

commitment to superior materials. 

A FISHING LEGEND 

Founded by the visionary Ray Smith, 

an undisputed maestro in braiding 

technology, Cortland Line made its mark

The Fly Company 

FEATURE 

with the introduction of enduring braided 

silk fly lines. Smith’s groundbreaking 

patents propelled Cortland into the 

limelight, transforming it into a fishing 

legend. 

However, the true essence of Cortland’s 

legacy lies in the hands of Leon 

Chandler, a luminary whose influence 

stretched across five remarkable decades. 

Chandler, a trailblazer in his own right, 

embarked on his journey with Cortland 

in 1941 at the tender age of 19. 

His post-World War II return saw 

him ascending the ranks, captivating 

audiences globally with his exceptional 

presentation skills and teaching prowess. 

From Chile to Japan, Chandler 

traversed the globe, illuminating the 

world about the nuances of fly fishing. 

Yet, Chandler’s legacy extends far 

beyond accolades and titles. His genuine 

passion for fishing was epitomised in a 

hearwarming tale: on the Missouri River, 

he once reeled in an entire length of line 

with a fish still attached to it. 

Not just any line, but a Cortland 444. 

Setting the fish free, he traced the line 

back to its owner. Chandler even gave 

the lucky caster a tour of the Cortland 

factory, showcasing not just his integrity 

but also the brand’s ethos. 

Cortland Line’s spirit of innovation 

has been the bedrock of the fishing 

industry. Its pioneering efforts birthed 

groundbreaking inventions, including the 

first fly line with a PVC coating over a 

braided nylon core in 1953 – a design still 

revered today. 

THE LINE-UP 

Discerning anglers are spoilt 

for choice with Cortland’s 

diverse array of lines. 

Whether it’s the classic 

333 and 444 series or the 

contemporary Trout, Streamer, 

Ghost Tip and Tropic Plus 

lines, just to name a few, 

Cortland caters for every 

fishing need. Its commitment 

to quality and tradition 

continues to lure anglers into a 

world where the thrill of the catch meets 

the artistry of the line. 

The Fly Company team are also 

anglers, understanding the pivotal role of 

quality tools in every fishing experience. 

The partnership with Cortland 

transcends mere distribution; it embodies 

a shared vision. As you cast your line, 

remember, you’re not just fishing; you’re 

weaving your own story into the rich 

tapestry of Cortland’s enduring heritage. 

Together, the partners invite fellow 

enthusiasts to immerse themselves in a 

world where tradition intertwines with 

cutting-edge technology. 

Join them on this journey, visit Flyco. 

dk today and enrich your own collection 

with the Cortland lines of your choice. 

Through its products, every moment on 

the water becomes a demonstration to the 

pursuit of angling perfection. Welcome to 

a new era of fly fishing excellence! 

THE FLY COMPANY 

www.flyco.dk 


21

FEATURE 

Strike Pro 

Strike Pro’s internal dual illumination 

system (bottom lure) takes its previous 

design (top) to the next level. 

STRIKE PRO’S INNOVATION 

SET TO ILLUMINATE THE 

LURE MARKET 

Taiwan tackle giant Strike Pro continues its innovative approach to its products with the 

introduction of its dual internal illuminating body system for lures. 

In the lure industry, there are many 

designs using scales and a variety of 

hologram papers to produce the flash 

effect. On the outside of the lure, you 

cannot add crazy patterns because it will 

affect the action of the lure and the sturdiness 

of the body. 

As a result, not many patterns exist on the 

outside of the ABS shell, aside from scales. 

To compensate for that, lure companies use 

hologram papers or stickers. 

Strike Pro’s innovative dual internal 

illuminating body system has broken through 

this restriction. 

Not only does the external case have 

the facial features, it can create illuminated 

cutting on the inner side of the shell, 

allowing the external side of the body to 

remain smooth. 

This illuminated cutting allows reflective 

light to bend in more directions. In additional 

to all that, Strike Pro’s nano-coating is used 

as a top coat to seal all paints and any pores 

in the plastic shell. 

Nano-coating has smaller molecules 

compared to regular top coats and this allows 

the lures to achieve the best hydrodynamic 

effect by lowering the water resistance. 

MAKING LIGHT WORK 

All the compartments and weight systems are 


contained in the inner shell that is completely 

sealed. Colours and holograms can be added 

to the exterior of the inner shell to give the 

lure depth. 

With the dual system, the light can 

initially be bent through the first shell, then 

on to the reflective hologram on the second 

shell to create more reflective light. 

And, because all compartments and 

the weight system are sealed in the inner 

compartment, the external look of the lure is 

clean without any wiring interfering with the 

design. 

VERSATILITY IS KEY 

The great thing about this dual illuminating 

body system is that it can be used in many 

different types of lure bodies. 

The first of many Illumino series to come 

is Strike Pro’s Intriger Illumino (EG-194XL- 

DIA-SP; Suspending; 18cm; 88g; depth: 

1.2m; tensile strength: 45kg). 

This is an Illumino series of its 2022 

Intriger Saltwater lure (EG-194XL-SP; 

Suspending; 18cm; 83g; depth: 1.2m; tensile 

strength: 45kg). 

The illuminated cutting edge really gives 

the lure a unique look. The colour #136T 

(pictured) has a hologram incorporated in the 

inner layer. 

The cutting-edge design on the inside 

of the external shell allows you to see the 

hologram at different reflective angles; it also 

shows the depth of the colours. 

Not only can you add a hologram on the 

inner shell, you can also have it painted. This 

way the colours won’t ever come off the lure. 

Strike Pro’s innovative dual internal 

illuminating body system is patent pending 

and the company looks forward to bringing 

out more illuminating series for all of its 

customers in due course. 

STRIKE PRO 

www.strikepro.com 

AT A GLANCE 

• New innovative dual internal 

illuminated body system. 

• 100 per cent illuminated surface 

created by lines and colour flash 

from all directions and angles. 

• All interior chambers are hidden, 

maximum exposure of lure colour 

and its illuminating effect. 

• Can be used in conjunction with 

all types of lure design and colour 

finishes. 

• Patent pending.

FoundationOutdoorGroup.com 

STOPPIONI s.n.c. Firenze Italy 

Tel.+39 0558739615 stonfo@stonfo.com 

MEMBER 

COMBAT BELT 

LIGHT MODELS 

BRACES 

Comfortable combat-belts, 

ideal for trolling and drifting. 

Made of undestroyable plastic 

material with stainless steel 

pivot or rotating gimbals and 

snap lock buckle. 

Art.127 

Art.128 

Art. 70 

TUNA 

Art.105 

Art.129 

TROLLING 

Art.130 

Universal fast connectors 

www.stonfo.com

SPOTLIGHT ON... 

BOAT ACCESSORIES 

SPOTLIGHT ON 


Anglers fishing from boats need more than a means of propulsion and a fishing rod. 

There’s a whole host of accessories – some vital, some plain useful – which you can 

offer them to increase your income from this fast-growing sector. 

Last issue we looked at how to sell 

small boats for anglers. But that’s 

just the start of the story. Once 

on board, these consumers will need a 

range of other gear to keep them safe 

and ensure their experience on the water 

is a positive, productive and enjoyable 

one. 

This means more add-on sales for you 

but understanding their requirements is 

important to ensure you are stocking the 

right selection of kit. 

SAFETY FIRST 

First and foremost, safety on the water is a prerequisite. 

With that in mind, the first item on any boat angler’s shopping list 

should be a good life jacket or personal flotation device (PFD). 

There are many styles and designs on the market but ensure what 

you are offering conforms to the relevant safety standards in your 

country. 

Depending on the size of the craft involved, the customer may also 

require a basic first aid kit, perhaps a lifebuoy or similar and maybe 

even a fire extinguisher. 

Many boat anglers will be off the water well before the sun goes 

down but not all, while some will be out at first light; so it’s also 

advisable to think ahead and have some form of lighting to hand 

– whether for navigation, searching for something or simply for 

tackling down at the end of the day. 

Communication equipment shouldn’t be overlooked either. On 

some boats you may wish to employ a VHF marine radio or a reliable 

cell phone with waterproof protection but, at the very least, a light for 

attracting attention, a whistle or even flares could be a lifesaver. 

And don’t forget to ensure your customers have good waterproof 

clothing and, just as crucially, dry bags or waterproof boxes to ensure 

they and their belongings stay dry. 

Cold wet anglers with missing kit don’t make for happy customers 

in the long run. 

In addition, don’t forget sun protection. A Bimini top or other 

sunshade can provide relief from the sun’s rays while good polarising 

eyewear is a must for protecting eyes from the glare and cutting 

through the same on the water to help you spot fish more easily. 




EVERYTHING SECURED 

So dry bags and waterproof storage are 

a ‘must’, especially for phones and other 

electronic equipment but what else makes 

the trip more enjoyable? 

Fishing efficiently allows you to fish 

effectively and, whatever the water craft, 

space will be at a premium. 

So make sure everything is to hand, with 

fishing rod holders and mounts as well as 

secure places to stash extra kit. Rod holders 

come in various styles, including flushmount, 

clamp-on and rail-mounted versions. 

A boat cover will also help protect your 

vessel from the elements when it’s not in use, 

extending its lifespan and keeping it clean. 

MORE POWER TO YOU 

Electronics are a mainstay of many boating 

anglers today – whether hunting for fish or 

keeping your catch alive and well. 

A great product to offer is a fishfinder. 

Coupled with a GPS, this not only allows 

anglers to search out and mark fishing 

hotspots and track routes but it also makes 

it easier to navigate back to your launch 

site. 

All of the big names in this sector offer 

fantastic kit at a wide range of prices, 

suitable for most pockets. 

Trolling motors are quiet, electric motors 

that allow you to move your boat silently 

through the water. Best used on small boats 

on calmer freshwaters, they can make life 

afloat much more pleasurable, as well as 

being cleaner and more affordable than 

many outboards. What’s more, they won’t 

take up too much room in the van or trailer 

and have forward and reverse gears to 

quickly and quietly manoeuvre yourself into 

the perfect position to make that vital cast, 

or perhaps carry a boatload of carp gear 

from one side of a large lake to an otherwise 

inaccessible island or far bank swim. They’re 

also less likely to disturb the fish. 

Meanwhile, if you plan on keeping your 

fish, a livewell is essential for storing your 

catch and keeping them alive until you return 

to shore. Proper aeration is crucial to keep 

the fish healthy and, again, there are plenty of 

systems out there to choose from and to suit 

various sizes of craft. 

If you are keeping your catch but don’t 

need it alive then cooler boxes are a great 

investment – you can store your refreshments 

and lunch in them then use them to transport 

your prize back home. 

Anchors help you stay in one spot while 

fishing while an anchor trolley system allows 

you to easily adjust your boat’s position 

without having to pull the anchor. 

If you have the space in store, other useful 

items might include paddles, gloves and boat 

seats. And if you sold them an inflatable, 

a pump and even a repair kit would be a 

brilliant add-on sale opportunity. 

CHARTING SUCCESS 

If your store is near a large body of 

water or the coastline then having 

charts and maps on offer is another 

way to keep boating anglers coming 

back. 

Meanwhile, make sure you are on 

top of all the local regulations and 

safety guidelines – this makes you a 

source of vital information for boating 

anglers and will encourage them to 

return for the most up-to-date details 

and advice. 


25



POWER-POLE 

MOVE BRUSHLESS TROLLING 

MOTOR 

Designed and built from the 

ground up the MOVE Brushless 

Trolling Motor is constructed of 

the same premium materials 

and innovation found in the 

industry standard Shallow Water 

Anchors. 

The technology used in the 

next-gen brushless motor and 

Stealth Steering Drive are key 

to the power production and 

the operational reliability of the 

motor. 

The motor and steering 

systems are engineered to 

produce ultimate power while 

remaining near silent in their 

operation. The Power Unity 

System and reinforced Techflow 

Propeller are said to create 

30 per cent more power than 

industry-leading trolling motors, 

all while being whisper quiet. 

It is available in two versions 

– the MOVE ZR has a hinged 

scissor bracket commonly used 

on bass boats while the MOVE 

PV boasts a pivoting version 

most commonly used on 

saltwater and big water boats. 

The MOVE ZR is available in 

shaft lengths of 45, 52 and 60in 

versions while the MOVE PV 

is also available in these shaft 

lengths plus a 72in model. 

power-pole.com 

MILLENNIUM MARINE 

MONITOR MOUNTS 

Technology and fishing often go hand in hand and electronic 

depth finders and fishfinders can help anglers tip the odds in 

their favour – but not without a good sturdy mount to secure the 

monitors. 

These monitor mounts are constructed with corrosion-resistant 

anodised aluminium that stands up to harsh elements. Designed 

to securely hold single or double monitors at the perfect angle, 

they offer a wide array of adjustments, including rotation, height 

and viewing angle. The mounts provide a 180-degree base 

rotation, a 180-degree tilting riser, and an adjustable telescopic riser 

from 18 to 24 inches. In addition, the mounting plate is designed to 

fit most monitors. 

www.millenniumstands.com 

AQUAGLIDE 

FRAME SEAT 

Standard equipment on Aquaglide’s Blackfoot Angler series kayaks, the AG 

Frame Seat can also be added to most Aquaglide SUP models for a truly 

unique paddling experience. Constructed of a sturdy aluminium frame, 

supporting padded air mesh seat and seat back, comfort and stability can 

be optimised via a fully adjustable back angle and two seat height settings. 

The AG Frame Seat is also compatible on other paddleboards that have 

tie-down points to create a Hybrid SUP/Kayak. 

www.aquaglide.com 


SRD20 

PREMIUM FISHING BOATING CARE 

This limited-edition kit has everything you need to keep your 

boat looking clean and pristine. It includes 8oz SRD20 Graphene 

Spray Protectant, 16oz Waterless Wash and Wax, 8oz Vinyl 

Protectant, two The Rag Company Applicator Pads for easy 

application, two The Rag Company 365-Edgless Microfiber 

Towels to make sure your finish is streak free, and a helpful 

instruction card to use as a reference, plus an all weatherproof 

SRD20 Sticker that you can proudly display on boats or cars alike. 

The SRD20 Best Boat Wax, Boat Detailing and Cleaning Kit is 

said to deliver top-notch results and is said to be the quickest 

way to make sure your boat stays clean and protected while on 

the water! 

www.SRD20.com

DBW... 

taiwan 

TAIWAN 

d o i n G B u s i n e s s w i t h . . . 

with a history of manufacturing and some key big-name tackle brands, 

not to mention some good and varied fishing opportunities, the island of 

taiwan has much to recommend it as a place to do strong business. 

With a rich history, a welcoming 

attitude and a developing 

tackle manufacturing sector, 

Taiwan is a great place to look 

at for fishing gear. 


Here you will find several 

internationally recognised 

brands, plenty of OEM 

manufacturing and a network 

of fishing tackle retailers 

serving an enthusiastic market. 

Following the lead from 

neighbouring China, it has 

become a place renowned for 

quality OEM products and it 

has developed quickly over the 

last few decades. 

At the same time, several 

key brands have also emerged 

in their own right, most 

notably perhaps rod and reel 

maker Okuma, high-end lure 

name Strike Pro and Omoto, 

best known for its sea fishing 

reels. 

In addition, you have Etuoh, 

a fishing tackle retailer that 

changed the way tackle was 

sold in Taiwan and also set up 

its own rod making facility 

under the name HR Hearty 

Rise. 

It is credited, way back in 

1986, as being the first direct 

fishing tackle chain store in 

the country and currently has 

20 stores around the country. 

In 2000 it entered the 

Chinese market, setting up 

its own wholesale division 

in Shanghai and is a regular 

at shows up and down the 

country. 

Other major retailers in 

Taiwan include AG Jigging 

Masters and Tackle Berry, 

which actually hails from

DBW... 

taiwan 

eConoMy foCus 

$751.93 billion GDP (nominal) (USD) (2023 estimate) 

$32,339 GDP per capita (USD) (2023 estimate) 

2.35% GDP growth rate 

3.48% Unemployment rate 

Top export partners: 

- China 

- hong Kong 

- usa 

- Japan 

- european union 

Top import partners: 

- China 

- Japan 

- usa 

- european union 

- south Korea 

faCt fiLe 

Capital: Taipei 

Dialling code: +886 

Population: 23,894.394 (2022 estimate) 

President: Tsai Ing-wen 

Official languages: Mandarin, Hokkien, Hakka, Matsu plus several others 

Time Zone: UTC+8 

Currency: New Taiwan Dollar 

Internet domain: .tw 

Japan. In addition, you’ll find 

many independent shops in 

more rural areas, away from 

the major cities. 

a stronG MarKet 

Taiwan has a significant 

domestic market for fishing 

tackle, thanks to its extensive 

coastline, mountain streams, 

rivers, lakes and reservoirs, 

presenting numerous fishing 

opportunities. 

Anglers here pursue a variety 

of fishing styles, in both freshand 

saltwater, which drive the 

demand for a wide range of 

tackle. It is thought there are 

around 600,000 active anglers 

in the country. 

Being an island in the 

Pacific Ocean, it is renowned 

in particular for its saltwater 

fishing opportunities, 

particularly for species like 

marlin, tuna and various reef 

fish. This has led to a demand 

for high-quality saltwater gear, 

especially reels, rods, lines and 

lures. 

Additionally, there is a 

strong tradition of freshwater 

fishing in Taiwan, with the 

most popular species including 

tilapia, snakehead, bass and 

carp. 

It is estimated there are 

between 800 to 900 tackle 

shops located across the 

country, with a good majority 

catering for inshore rock 

fishing, while predator fishing 

is one area still enjoying plenty 

of growth. 

In fact, the fastest growing 

market is predator fishing, 

while the biggest challenge is 

to try and involve more young 

people in fishing over the next 

decades. 

But, while the market 

is strong locally, it’s really 

as a manufacturing hub 

that Taiwan is best known 

and it has an established 

reputation for technological 


29

DBW... 

taiwan 

advancements, innovative 

materials and designs, making 

for quality gear, with exports 

around the globe, most notably 

to the USA, Europe, Japan 

and, more recently, China. 

By the same token, while 

Taiwanese anglers buy 

products at all price points, 

there is a notable market for 

premium tackle from brands 

with a strong kudos, for 

example high-end Japanese 

lure brands. 

The Taiwan International 

Fisheries and Seafood Show 

(TIFSS) had been growing 

in popularity in recent years, 

with an increased emphasis 

on recreational fishing, but it 

appears it has now moved to 

focus more on the aquaculture 

and commercial fishing 

industry once again. 

e C o n o M y i n f o C u s 

The economy of Taiwan is, and has been 

for some time, driven by manufacturing 

– particularly the manufacturing of 

electronics, machinery, chemicals and, of 

course fishing tackle too. As a result, it is 

very heavily dependent on exports. 

The quick industrialisation and rapid 

growth of Taiwan during the latter half 

of the 20th century has been dubbed 

the “Taiwan Miracle” and the country 

– which includes the main island of 

Formosa plus Penghu, Kinmen, Matsu – 

is one of the ‘Four Asian Tigers’ alongside 

Hong Kong, South Korea and Singapore. 

Since 2001, agriculture constituted less 

than two per cent of GDP, down from 

32 per cent in 1951 and its economy is 

dominated by small and medium-sized 

businesses. Traditional labour-intensive 

industries are steadily being moved 

offshore and with more capital and 

technology-intensive industries replacing 

them. 

Today Taiwan has a dynamic, exportdriven 

economy with gradually decreasing 

state involvement in investment and 

foreign trade. In keeping with this trend, 

some large government-owned banks and 

industrial firms are being privtatised. 

Since the beginning of the 1990s, 

economic ties between Taiwan and 

China have been extensive. In 2002, 

China surpassed the United States to 

become Taiwan’s largest export market 

for the first time. China is also the most 

important target of outward foreign direct 

investment. China hosts around 4,200 

Taiwanese enterprises and over 240,000 

Taiwanese work in China. 

Although the economy of Taiwan 

benefits from this situation, some have 

expressed the view that the island has 

become increasingly dependent on the 

mainland Chinese economy. 

There are many challenges facing the 

economy in Taiwan, one of the main ones 

being an ageing population. The country 

has one of the world’s lowest fertility rates 

and it is estimated that, by 2025, almost 

20 per cent of the island’s population will 

be aged 65 or over. This, combined with 

an increase in affluence of its population 

and subsequent demand for higher 

wages in manufacturing jobs, means that 

the country is potentially facing labour 

shortages in the coming years. 

Despite all this, Taiwan remains an 

important global manufacturing epicentre 

and one with which many fishing tackle 

brands do business on a regular basis. 

The country is experiencing solid GDP 

growth and is also managing to keep its 

unemployment level low. 

t a r G e t s P e C i e s 

target this species, fished at a 

wide range of depths and with 

no real preference between hard 

or soft. 

snaKehead 

The aggressive and hard-fighting 

predator that is the snakehead is 

one of Taiwan’s most revered fish. 

The species is definitely top of 

the list for many sport fishermen 

in the country thanks to its 

abundance and its exciting take 

or bite. They are predominantly 

fished for with lures, particularly 

surface lures such as frogs. 

Snakehead can be found 

all over Taiwan’s freshwater 

including lakes, rivers, ponds and 

canals – if you can throw a lure in 

it, chances are you may well catch 

a snakehead. 

The average snakehead comes 

in at around 50cm in length 

while a real specimen is classified 

as anything of 70cm or above. 

BLaCK Bass 

A popular freshwater fish species 

throughout much of east Asia, 

the black bass is a hard-fighting 

relative of the largemouth bass 

that is more familiar to anglers 

from the United States. They are 

most commonly found in ponds, 

lakes and reservoirs and may 

often be stocked by the owners of 

these waters for the enjoyment of 

fishermen. 

The average size for these fish 

is around 40cm but anything 

bigger than 50cm is considered a 

good fish. Lures are, once again, 

the most popular method to 

BLuefin tuna 

A slightly controversial subject 

in Taiwan, due to restrictions 

imposed on the country’s 

commercial anglers for overfishing 

the stocks of these fast and hardfighting 

fish, bluefin tuna remain 

popular with recreational sea 

anglers, where permitted to catch 

them. 

Often it’s a case of getting 

a boat out offshore for some 

deepwater jigging that is the most 

popular method to catch them. If 

that doesn’t work, then high speed 

trolling is also an option. 

other sPeCies: 

Panfish • Trout • Squid • Snapper 


DBW... 

Taiwan 

Squid, an incredibly 

popular catch among 

Taiwanese anglers 

h o w d o t h e y f i s h ? 

Fishing in Taiwan is quite diverse, with 

good options for both freshwater and 

saltwater angling. For both of these 

situations, lure fishing is one of the most 

popular approaches to ensure success. 

In freshwater lakes and ponds anglers 

often use surface lures to catch hardfighting 

species like snakehead and black 

bass. Taiwanese anglers tend to use light 

but sturdy spinning tackle for this kind of 

fishing, carrying minimal kit so they can 

cover more water on foot than they would 

with big heavy bags and luggage. The 

style of fishing is heavily influenced by 

the lure fishing prevalent in nearby Japan 

and other Asian countries like China. 

It is worth noting, however, that there 

are many areas where fishing is forbidden 

– indeed one may face a lengthy jail term 

for catching the critically endangered 

Formosan landlocked salmon (actually, a 

type of trout). 

In terms of sea fishing, some lure 

fishing is popular for certain species, such 

as squid and bream. For some of the big 

trophy fish like tuna and snapper, bait 

is a more successful strategy. Heading 

out to offshore reefs, anglers will often 

use vertical jigging with bait to target 

these species. They also sometimes utilise 

trolling with lures or bait. 

Saltwater fishing is also popular to 

conduct from the shore, in particular light 

rock fishing or LRF style. A lot of kit is 

sold in the tackle shops of Taiwan for this 

kind of fishing. 

i n d u s t r y V I E W 

Richard Cheng, Strike Pro 

“Overall, the size of the tackle market in 

Taiwan is slowly growing but so, too, is 

competition. There are also challenges from 

commercial overfishing and bans on fishing in 

some areas along with different fishing seasons. 

“I would say Taiwan’s main tackle imports 

are from Japan while there are strong exports 

to Japan, the US and Europe. As a free trade 

country, Taiwan is easy to trade with. 

“In the global market, Strike Pro is currently 

very stable, even with all the price inflations 

and high inventories being experienced.” 


31

MAKING 

CONTACT 

Making Contact 

1 

2 

Want your products to 

be seen by thousands of 

potential buyers… FREE 

of charge? Then get in 

touch, we’d love to hear 

from you. 

1 FLYING FISHERMAN 

LAGOON FLOATING SUNGLASSES 

2 DAIWA 

REVROS LT REELS 

3 ROSCO 

EZ CLIPS 

3 

JOHN HUNTER 

+44 7990 542958 

john.hunter@dhpub.co.uk 

Contact John directly for details of 

how to send your product and a 

short description to Tackle Trade 

World’s office. 

The Lagoon is one of three new 

floating sunglass models in Flying 

Fisherman’s 2024 collection. The 

frames are made from TPX, a 

super-lightweight polymer, that 

allows them to float in fresh or salt 

water. The six-base frame design 

offers classic styling with non-slip 

rubber padding on the nose and 

temples to ensure they stay put 

when the action strikes. 

AcuTint polarised lenses 

enhance colour, clarity and 

definition and eliminate annoying 

glare, helping anglers see below 

the water’s surface, while blocking 

100 per cent of UV rays. Available 

in matte tortoise with green mirror, 

or matte black with smoke, blue 

mirror or silver mirror lenses. 

Daiwa has unveiled improvements 

to its gateway spinning reel, the 

Revros LT. Available in sizes from 

1000 to 6000, it’s a quality reel 

that doesn’t break the bank. 

Sporting a Zaion V body, which 

is said to be lighter and much 

stronger than competitor reels at 

this price, this is made from true 

carbon resin graphite. It keeps all 

the bearings and gears in precise 

alignment because the material is 

harder and more rigid. 

There’s also an AirDrive Rotor 

and AirDrive Bail and prices start 

at just $60. 

daiwa.us 

EZ Clips are essentially a snap that 

does not need to be opened. Tie 

one on and quickly change out your 

lures without having to re-tie, plus 

they enhance the action of your 

baits. 

Ideal for topwater, jerkbaits and 

swimbaits as well as for building 

various rigs and dredges. Test 

strengths include 25, 50, 75, 125 and 

175lb. These American-made clips 

are available in stainless steel or 

black oxide finishes. 

www.roscotackle.com 

FlyingFisherman.com 


A GROUNDBREAKING SERIES OF GUIDES AND TOPS, 

TONY ENGINEERING, PATENT PENDING! 

TONY HUANG 

PACBAY MINIMA - X offers an unparalleled level of durability, solving the problems commonly associated with inner rings 

popping out or getting crushed. Through extensive reform and innovation, PACBAY MINIMA - X is constructed using highstrength 

, one-piece stainless steel. Both the guides and tops utilize mirror polishing, multi-layer Hard Chrome plating, and 

Titanium plating processes, resulting in corrosion resistance, low friction, and high thermal conductivity. As a result , the friction 

force during long-distance casting or retrieving is significantly reduced. 

If you’ve ever experienced the nightmare of losing or breaking your inner ring while battling a tough fish, you’ll appreciate the superiority of PACBAY 

MINIMA - X. Currently, we offer sizes ranging from #05 to #20, with plans to expand up to #50. More sizes and models will be available soon. We believe 

these guides are ideal for lure anglers, particularly carp anglers who often face issues with the #50 stripper guide getting damaged during transportation. 

With PACBAY MINIMA - X, this problem has been entirely eliminated. 

In summary, PACBAY MINIMA - X guides and tops are renowned for their exceptional durability and ability to withstand heavy use and harsh conditions. 

This innovation in the fishing world, through the abandonment of ceramic and stainless-steel rings, allows fishermen to bid farewell to the nightmares of 

ring breakages, crushing, and detachment. 

Build Great Fishing Rods 

www.fishpacbay.com 

info@fishpacbay.com 

100 YEARS SERVING THE FLY FISHING TRADE 

Why settle for less? 

TOP QUALITY FLY-TYING MATERIALS SINCE 1923 

With our traditional approach to business, 

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Contact us now to open your account on: 

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See our comprehensive range of fly-tying 

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‘Tied to Quality’ for 100 years

Analysis of China’s Fishing Tackle Market Trends 

in 2024 

Regarding the Chinese fishing tackle market in 2024, 

we can analyze it from the special perspective of the 

contraction of fishing tackle exhibitions. 

The Tianjin Fishing Tackle Exhibition is one of the 

most influential exhibitions in China's fishing tackle 

industry. Since it settled in Tianjin in the spring 

of 2013, it has attracted numerous fishing tackle 

manufacturers and fishing enthusiasts to participate 

every year. 

However, the Tianjin Fishing Tackle Show will be 

changed to once a year from 2023 instead of twice a 

year. What does this change mean? Is the offline fishing 

tackle market shrinking, or is the market for online 

sales growing? 

First of all, we can look at the overall development 

status of the fishing tackle industry. According to a 

report by Zhongyan Puhua, China's fishing tackle 

market demand is increasing year by year, with the 

annual growth rate remaining above 20%, and the 

market size reaching 93 billion yuan (2020 data). 

China's fishing tackle market is a typical exportoriented 

market, with supply nearly doubling demand. 

Among these products made in China, fishing rod 

products account for only 30%, but account for 80% of 

the global supply. It can be said that "no matter where 

you are, the fish you bite is Chinese fishing rods." This 

shows that China's fishing tackle industry has strong 

production capacity and competitive advantages, but 

in the domestic market, consumers have low brand 

awareness of domestic fishing tackle and have a small 

market share. 

Secondly, we can look at the consumption habits and 

needs of fishing enthusiasts. With the improvement 

of economic level and the diversification of leisure 

methods, fishing, as a healthy, environmentally friendly 

and fashionable sport, is increasingly favored by young 

people. It is reported that there are approximately 90 

million fishing enthusiasts in mainland China. The 

number of fishermen is rising sharply every year, and 

the potential market prospects are promising. 

Among fishing enthusiasts, some have turned to 

professional fishermen and professional fishing 

competition members. The average professional 

fisherman spends several times more on fishing gear 

per year than the average fishing enthusiast. The 

increase in professional fishermen has provided huge 

room for growth for the development of the fishing 

tackle industry. 

However, when choosing fishing gear, fishing 

enthusiasts often pay more attention to quality, 

performance, design and service rather than price. 

They prefer to buy fishing gear through Internet 

platforms, such as Taobao and JD.com, rather than

going to traditional fishing gear stores. This is because the Internet platform can provide more information on brands, 

models, prices and reviews, making it easier for fishing enthusiasts to compare and choose. Traditional fishing gear 

stores often can only provide limited products and services, making it difficult to meet the personalized needs of 

fishing enthusiasts. 

To sum up, we can see that the Tianjin Fishing Tackle Exhibition will be changed to once a year starting from 2023, 

which reflects the trend that the offline fishing tackle market is shrinking and the online sales market is growing. This 

trend has both advantages and disadvantages for the development of the fishing tackle industry. 

On the one hand, the expansion of the online sales market can provide more communication and cooperation 

opportunities for fishing tackle manufacturers and fishing enthusiasts, and promote innovation and upgrading of the 

fishing tackle industry. On the other hand, the market competition for online sales has become more intense. Fishing 

tackle manufacturers need to continuously improve their brand influence and product quality to win the trust and 

loyalty of consumers. 

At the same time, fishing tackle exhibitions, as an important platform for the fishing tackle industry, cannot be 

completely replaced by online sales. Fishing tackle exhibitions can provide more intuitive product display and 

experience, as well as more professional technical exchanges and services, and still play an irreplaceable role in the 

development of the fishing tackle industry. Therefore, the fishing tackle industry should adjust its development 

strategy according to market changes, make full use of online and offline advantages, and achieve healthy and 

sustainable development of the fishing tackle industry.

CROSS-BORDER INNOVATION OF CHINESE 

FISHING TACKLE COMPANIES 

China is a big fishing country with a huge fishing market and consumer groups. According to statistics, there are 

currently more than 90 million fishing enthusiasts in China, and the fishing tackle market has reached 100 billion 

yuan. However, China's fishing tackle companies are facing fierce competition and challenges, not only to deal with 

domestic and foreign counterparts, but also to meet the growing needs and tastes of anglers. Therefore, Chinese 

fishing tackle companies must continue to innovate in order to gain a foothold and develop in the market. 

Innovation is a way of thinking and a power of action. Innovation can be reflected in many aspects such as products, 

technology, services, and marketing. It can improve the core competitiveness of an enterprise, increase its brand 

influence, expand its market share, and win its customer loyalty. Innovation can also bring social benefits. It can 

promote the spread of fishing culture, improve the quality and level of fishermen, and enhance the health and 

happiness of fishermen. 

Chinese fishing tackle companies have many innovations, and they have used their own practices and results to prove 

the value and significance of innovation. Below, we will take the cooperation between Liuyu Company and JISSBON 

Company as an example to introduce their innovation path. 

Liuyu is a Chinese e-commerce company engaged in the research, development and sales of fishing equipment. 

According to them, there are already cases of fans of Liuyu coming from other places to apply for jobs because they 

believe in Liuyu’s philosophy: “Let high-quality fishing gear no longer cost as much and make fishing more 

youthful and fashionable”! 

JISSBON is a well-known condom brand, and JISSBON is a subsidiary of LifeStyles Group in China. LifeStyles 

originated from a natural latex manufacturing company founded in Australia by founder Eric Ansell in 1905. It is the 

oldest condom company. 

Recently, Liuyu and JISSBON have carried out cross-industry cooperation. JISSBON and Liuyu Company have 

launched a joint condom, which combines the passion of fishing and sex, bringing consumers a new experience and 

fun. This innovation not only demonstrates JISSBON's open and inclusive brand image, but also contributes to the 

dissemination and promotion of fishing culture. 

The above are some examples of the innovation path of Chinese fishing tackle companies. They illustrate the 

importance and necessity of innovation, and also demonstrate the diversity and unlimited nature of innovation. We 

look forward to more Chinese fishing tackle companies embarking on the road of innovation and bringing more 

surprises and happiness to the fishing industry and fishermen.

IMPRESSIONS OF THE 2ND TAIWAN FISHING 

TACKLE EXHIBITION 

The second "2023 Taiwan Fishing Tackle Expo and Friendly Fishing Promotion Event" was held 

from October 27 to October 29 at the Huashan 1914 Cultural and Creative Industrial Park in Taipei 

City. It attracted many well-known fishing tackle manufacturers at home and abroad to participate 

in the exhibition, displaying the latest and latest products. Popular fishing tackle products and 

techniques. This article will introduce the highlights and event arrangements of several exhibitors so 

that you can have a clear overview. 

The first is the well-known fishing tackle OKUMA. They have many years of fishing tackle 

manufacturing experience and professional technology, and provide various types and levels of 

fishing tackle products, from entry-level to advanced, from freshwater to seawater. 

Next is SHIMANO, a well-known Japanese high-end fishing tackle brand. They are world-famous 

for their superb technology and innovative designs. They provide a variety of high-quality and highperformance 

fishing tackle from fishing lines to fishing reels, from rods to lures. product. 

There is also DAIWA, they are one of the largest fishing tackle manufacturers in Japan and one of 

the most popular fishing tackle brands in the world, providing various types and styles of fishing 

tackle products from low to high prices, from freshwater to seawater. In this exhibition, they not 

only displayed the latest and most popular fishing tackle products, but also prepared a lot of activities 

and prizes for friends who came to the scene. 

The above are the highlights and activity arrangements of some of the exhibitors introduced in this 

article. I hope you can find your favorite fishing tackle products and fun.

FEATURE 

THE NEXT 

EVOLUTION OF G4 

HAS ARRIVED 

Outdoor and apparel expert Simms kicks off 2024 with the release of an all-new iteration of 

its flagship wader, the G4Z Stockingfoot. As you might expect, it’s a further evolution on one 

of its most enduring products. 

In its 2008 catalogue, Simms pulled 

back the curtain to unveil the first 

G4Z Stockingfoot Wader. The wader 

was prominently featured on the 

cover, the inside cover, and was also the 

first product consumers saw upon diving 

into the entire 2008 product collection. 

An excerpt from the catalogue regarding 

the brand new G4Z read as follows: 

“G4s aren’t made for the casual angler. 

They represent the peak of Simms’ design 

expertise. The recipient of many coveted 

awards, this wader is the most durable, 

breathable wader available on the market 

today.” 

While the statement above was 

originally published 16 years ago, it could 

be cut and pasted in any G4 copy today. 

Even to this day it’s true – G4s aren’t made 

for the casual angler. 

And they undoubtedly continue to 

embody the peak of Simms design 

and development expertise. Finally, it’s 

important to note that, before the latest 

G4Z was released, the wader tallied 

multiple coveted industry awards, making 

it one of – if not the most – decorated 

waders in the longstanding history of 

Simms. 

RAISING THE BAR 

So what sets the new G4Z so high above 

the pack? The short answer is – a lot. One of 

the more noteworthy aspects of this G4Z is 


the fact that, in addition to being designed 

and developed out of Simms’ Bozeman, 

Montana headquarters, it’s also built from 

the ground up by Simms’ highly skilled, 

Bozeman-based Wader Maker team. 

One detail of the new G4Z that hasn’t 

changed from its predecessor is the fabric 

package. The reason being – it delivers across 

the board. 

In 2019, Simms released the previous 

G4Z iteration, which was the first time 

this GORE-TEX fabric package was used. 

This was also the first time Simms utilised a 

four-layer lower in lieu of five. 

Logically, it makes sense that shedding a 

layer would offer enhanced mobility, lighter 

weight and increased breathability, but what 

about durability? How could four-layer live

Simms 

FEATURE 

up to the G4 durability standards? 

The answer lies in the face fabric. After 

thousands of hours of extensive field and 

lab testing, the results revealed that this new 

four-layer fabric package offered anglers a 

7.5 per cent increase in tongue tear strength, 

a 23 per cent increase in standard puncture 

resistance and a 33 per cent increase 

in breathability, when compared to the 

previous five-layer lower. 

While the fabric package remains the 

same, the patterning of the wader has 

received pretty significant tweaks – all of 

which were implemented to offer anglers 

more comfort and better range of motion. 

In addition, the four-layer proved so 

successful, Simms extended it about five 

inches higher up on the thighs and the seat 

of the wader to bolster the overall durability 

in the hardest working areas of the wader. 

FIT FOR PURPOSE 

One of the more visual improvements is 

the all-new spacer mesh suspender package. 

It’s more of a harness style that provides 

anglers with a much more ergonomic fit and 

breathable support. 

Another tweak here is the quick-adjust, 

cam locking suspender hardware. This is a 

small detail that makes a world of difference, 

primarily because it gives anglers the ability 

to adjust their suspender on the fly. Simply 

flip the cam up and pull the suspender straps 

until the desired tension is achieved and flip 

the cam back down to lock in place. 

Wondering about the excess suspender 

strap material? Simms thought of that too. 

On the inside of the top hem of the upper 

of the wader, there’s a laser cut slit that 

channels the excess material into the chest 

pockets of the wader. 

ALL IN THE DETAIL 

The remaining updates are less obvious to 

see but the following seemingly small details 

make all the difference in the world. 

This G4Z features the classic pocket array 

of two zippered stretch woven chest pockets 

and two zippered handwarmer pockets. The 

handwarmer pockets now feature a higher 

pile micro fleece to warm frozen fingers 

quicker. Finally, the product team at Simms 

also incorporated two fully submersible 

TruZip toothless, self-healing zippers on the 

inside of the wader to stash smaller essentials. 

Another major update that can’t be seen 

is a completely new construction of the 

YKK centre-front, fully submersible zipper. 

Previously, this zipper was sewn in, now it’s 

bonded in. 

Why is this significant? When something 

is attached via stitches, it means more 

material, more tape, more bulk and more 

rigidity. The new construction of the G4Z’s 

most distinguishable feature is now bonded 

in. 

By doing so, Simms was able to reduce 

the construction from 16 layers of fabric 

down to only four (plus the zipper itself ). 

This drastically decreased bulk and rigidity to 

provide a much better fitting upper that’s way 

more comfortable. 

For more on the fly adjustment capabilities, 

the G4Z comes equipped with a new G4 

specific stretch neoprene wading belt that 

stays in place with upgraded low profile belt 

loops. 

Finally, it features modified lower profile, 

snag-free gravel guards. These now fit so well 

that the classic boot hook is no longer needed 

for them to stay in place, so it has also been 

removed. 

While this G4Z does lean into standby 

aspects such as fabric, its patented front and 

back leg seams, and anatomically engineered 

left and right stockingfeet, mean the latest 

version most definitely lives up to the original 

mission statement and truly lives up to the 

legacy of its past. 

SIMMS 

www.simmsfishing.com 

The G4Z Stockingfoot 


39

Classifieds 

SPLIT RING 

PLIERS 

CLASSIFIEDS 

UNIQUELY DIFFERENT (NEW-PATENTED) 

The EASIEST... The FASTEST... 

The BESTEST... 

for changing hooks or spinner blades 

visit www.TexasTackle.com for demo video 

WHOLESALE ONLY 

4 Sizes 

www.TexasTackle.com 

RIGS !!!! 

TO BOOK THIS SPACE CONTACT: 

NORTH AMERICA 

BART MANGANIELLO 

T: +1 914 722 7601 

E: bartalm@optonline.net 

REST of WORLD 

GUIDO KNEGT 

T: +39 347 503 6436 

E: guido.knegt@dhpub.co.uk 

COMING UP… 

MARCH 2024 

Ad Copy: January 26th, 2024 

Mailed: February 14th, 2024 

Special issue: Fly Fishing 

Spotlight: Rods 

Doing Business With: Scandinavia 

APRIL 2024 

Ad Copy: February 23rd, 2024 

Mailed: March 13th, 2024 

Special issue: Saltwater Fishing 

Spotlight: Lures 

Doing Business With: Africa 

MAY 2024 

Ad Copy: March 22nd, 2024 

Mailed: April 10th, 2024 

Special issue: Inshore Fishing / 

China Fish review 

Spotlight: Eyewear 

Doing Business With: Alaska USA 

To submit news or editorial for 

any of these issues, contact: 

To advertise or discuss a marketing campaign in any of these editions, 

contact our business development team: 

EDITOR 

JOHN HUNTER 

T: + 44 (0)7990 542958 

E: john.hunter@dhpub.co.uk 

NORTH AMERICA 

BART MANGANIELLO 

T: +1 914 722 7601 

E: bartalm@optonline.net 

REST of WORLD 

GUIDO KNEGT 

T: +39 347 503 6436 

E: guido.knegt@dhpub.co.uk

FEATURE 

Marketing 

NEW YEAR, NEW 

MARKETING STRATEGY 

Keeping your customers makes perfect sense. After all, it’s far easier to retain existing buyers 

than spend time and resource on finding new ones. So how does customer retention work? 

Media expert John Hunter has some answers. 

Creating a marketing strategy the 

coming year will undoubtedly 

require a combination of 

traditional and digital marketing 

efforts to attract and retain customers. Here 

are some ideas to help you get started… 

SET CLEAR GOALS: Define your specific 

marketing goals. Are you looking to increase 

sales, expand your customer base, launch 

new products, or improve brand awareness? 

Having clear goals will guide your strategy. 

KNOW YOUR AUDIENCE: Understand your 

target audience. Are they professional anglers, 

beginners, casual fishing enthusiasts or 

visitors from out of town? What are their 

preferences, demographics and behaviours? 

COMPETITOR ANALYSIS: Identify what your 

competitors are doing well and where you 

can differentiate yourself. Look for gaps in 

the market that you can exploit. 

NEW PRODUCT LAUNCHES: If you have new 

tackle hitting your shelves, plan a launch 

campaign. Tease the products through social 

media and e-mail marketing before the 

release. 

SEASONAL PROMOTIONS: Take advantage 

of the seasons when fishing is most popular. 

Offer promotions and discounts on relevant 

products. For example, winter may be a good 

time to promote ice fishing gear. 

CONTENT MARKETING: Create informative 

and engaging content. This can include 

how-to guides, videos, blog posts and social 

media updates. Share tips, tricks and stories 


to engage your audience. 

SOCIAL MEDIA MARKETING: Use platforms 

like Facebook, Instagram, and Twitter to 

connect with your audience. Share photos, 

videos and posts related to fishing, and 

engage with your followers. 

E-MAIL MARKETING: Build an e-mail list of 

customers and potential customers. Send out 

regular newsletters with product updates, 

fishing tips and exclusive offers. Remember 

to get their permission. 

SEARCH ENGINE OPTIMISATION (SEO): 

Optimise your website for search engines 

so that potential customers can find you 

easily. Focus on fishing-related keywords and 

phrases. 

PAY-PER-CLICK ADVERTISING (PPC): Run 

targeted PPC campaigns, especially on 

Google Ads, to drive traffic to your website. 

Use specific keywords to attract potential 

customers. 

INFLUENCER PARTNERSHIPS: Collaborate 

with influencers and experts. They can 

promote your products to a dedicated 

following. Ensure that the influencers align 

with your brand values. 

LOCAL SEO: If you have a physical store, 

optimise it for local search. Ensure your 

business is listed accurately on platforms like 

Google My Business. 

CUSTOMER LOYALTY PROGRAMS: Reward 

your repeat customers with loyalty programs, 

discounts or exclusive access to new products. 

USER-GENERATED CONTENT: Encourage 

your customers to share their fishing 

experiences with your products. Share 

user-generated content on your website and 

social media. 

COMMUNITY ENGAGEMENT: Get involved 

in local fishing events, sponsor tournaments 

and engage with fishing clubs and 

organisations in your area. 

ANALYTICS AND MONITORING: Regularly 

monitor your marketing efforts. Use tools 

like Google Analytics and social media 

insights to track the performance of your 

campaigns. 

FEEDBACK AND IMPROVEMENT: Collect 

feedback from your customers and make 

necessary improvements based on their 

suggestions. This shows that you value their 

input. 

Remember to tailor your marketing 

strategy to your unique brand and target 

audience. By implementing these tactics, 

you can create an effective marketing 

strategy to boost your fishing tackle retail 

business in the coming year. 

• John Hunter is the director of HunterMedia, 

a global PR, marketing and events consultancy 

with more than 25 years of tackle industry 

experience. 

Hunter Media 

john@hunter-media.co.uk 

www.huntermedia.co.uk

Dealer e l r inquiries 

r e 

welcome 

e Christoffer@flyco.dk 

r i s t o f fe 

r@f 

fly 

c d 

The Fly Company - www.flyco.dk 

European Fly-tying and fly-fishing distributor

Tackle Trade World - January 2024

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