Tackle Trade Word - February 2023

SENT TO MORE THAN 

18,500 

TACKLE INDUSTRY 

PROFESSIONALS 

IN OVER 

120 COUNTRIES 

EVERY MONTH 

FEBRUARY 2023

COMMITTED TO INCREASING YOUR BUSINESS GLOBALLY 

www.tackletradeworld.com 

THE BIGGEST 

MARKET? 

How to do profitable 

business with China. 

PAGE 26 

TRADE AT THE TOP 

We report from the ASA 

Sportfishing Summit. 

PAGE 32 

FISHING FOUND TO EASE 

MENTAL HEALTH ISSUES 

Anglers are less likely 

to self-harm, report 

anxiety or attempt 

suicide according to a landmark 

study, while fishing has actually 

been prescribed by health 

services as antidote to mental 

health problems. 

Research carried out by the 

UK’s Anglia Ruskin University 

(ARU), European retail giant 

Angling Direct Plc and the UK 

charity Tackling Minds found 

that recreational fishing could 

help people suffering serious 

mental health issues. 

Around 1,900 UK 

adults were surveyed, with 

significantly fewer of those 

who said they participated in 

recreational fishing stating 

that they suffered from anxiety 

disorder (16.5 per cent versus 

26.4 per cent), had attempted 

suicide (7.5 per cent versus 

13.2 per cent) and engaged 

in deliberate self-harm (10.4 

per cent versus 20.6 per cent) 

compared to those who do not 

fish. 

The main motivators for 

fishing were the challenge of 

the sport and to relax, with no 

difference in motivators for 

fishing being shown among 

anglers with disabilities 

compared to those without. 

Meanwhile, a separate 

study by Anglia Ruskin 

University (ARU), published 

in the International Journal for 

Environmental Research and 

Public Health, also found that 

fishing participation is similar 

between anglers with and 

without disabilities, suggesting 

the pastime is relatively 

accessible. However, barriers 

such as costs, lack of transport, 

or lack of companions to fish 

with were more commonly 

reported by people with 

disabilities. 

In 2021, Tackling Minds 

was successful in its campaign 

for angling to be recognised as 

an official social prescribing 

activity on the UK’s National 

Health Service (NHS), thanks 

to its many mental health and 

wellbeing benefits. 

Tackling Minds’ founder, 

David Lyons, said: “We 

have been told on numerous 

occasions by our service users 

that if it were not for the 

fishing sessions, they don’t 

think they’d be alive today. To 

now have scientific evidence to 

back up what we’ve been saying 

all along, is unbelievable, to say 

the least. 

• 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

FEBRUARY 

2023 

04 

TackleTrade 


EDITORIAL 

Editor: 

John Hunter 

+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. 

Co-Editor: 

David Haynes 

+44 7766 263908 

david.haynes@dhpub.co.uk 

A lifelong angler, David has tried his hand 

at most types of fishing and is a great 

accumulator of tackle and now focuses on 

competition fishing. Having worked at DHP for 

the last 16 years on every title in the company’s 

portfolio, he brings a wealth of knowledge and 

experience to the editorial team. 

ADVERTISING 

North America: 

Bart Manganiello 

+1 914 722 7601 

bartalm@optonline.net 

For over 35 years, Bart has been working with 

trade magazines, 31 in the tackle industry. 

Since 2001, he has been TTW’s North 

American Director, providing provide 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. 

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 


SHOWS – 

GUILTY BY 

ASSOCIATION? 

Over the years, we have become 

a new Brussels-based company taking over 

accustomed to the large trade 

the reins. 

organisations or associations also Around the same time, EFTTEX Trading 

running trade shows or events in their 

Ltd was founded to take on the show, 

country too. 

which had been scheduled to take place last 

It makes perfect sense, of course. The summer in Budapest. 

associations, generally, have the membership, The plan is still to hold the show this 

the database and the clout to put these things June at the same Hungexpo venue but, 

together and lean heavily on their board surprisingly, EFTTA then made a formal 

members’ skills to deliver strong events. announcement to the effect that it had 

We have seen this everywhere – from nothing to do with the show and was focused 

the USA (with TWO shows covering 

purely on its lobbying and fishing protection 

sportfishing and fly), Europe, Australia, roles. It was an unambiguous ‘distancing’. 

Japan, Taiwan and more. 

Now, after what I can only imagine was a 

Ironically, one of the few that wasn’t run very ‘interesting’ discussion between EFTTA 

by a trade body was the UK’s Tackle & Guns and EFTTEX, we hear that any profits from 

Trade Show, which was organised by TTW’s the show will be returned to EFTTA to 

one-time sister magazine, Tackle & Guns, support its work, with CE Olivier Portrat 

when yours truly was the editor. 

urging companies to exhibit. And yet, the 

To be fair, the UK’s Angling Trades 

two entities are no longer linked. 

Association at the time was arguably not as Which brings me back to the UK’s 

strong as others so it made sense – but more Angling Trades Association. Instead of 

on that later. 

working on a new trade show, it is using its 

So it has been rather intriguing to witness strength to work with the largest outdoor 

the seeming fallout and subsequent making consumer event in the UK – The Game Fair 

up between the European trade association (and its Scottish and Welsh iterations) – to 

EFTTA and the EFTTEX show. 

produce the Get Into Fishing event, designed 

For many years, EFTTA organised and to encourage newcomers and returners while 

ran EFTTEX – with exhibitors required also catering for existing fisherfolk. 

to be EFTTA members before they could It’s a fascinating development and is 

participate, while the profits were ploughed gathering impressive momentum. 

back into the organisation for its vital 

You can find out more and how to get your 

lobbying work. 

brands involved via the ATA by going to: 

However, following the cancellation of shorturl.at/abcwN 

the last three EFTTEX shows due to the 

Covid-19 pandemic and resulting lockdowns 

(not to mention Brexit), the setup changed, John Hunter 

with EFTTA in London closing down and Editor 

3,511 

6,466

& 

LET’S GET BACK 

TOGETHER! 

EFTTEX 2023 is live! 

REGISTRATION 

JOIN EUROPEAN ANGLING’S BIGGEST MEETING TO FIND NEW SUPPLIERS, 

CUSTOMERS AND BUSINESS PARTNERS! 

Join us on 15-17 June 2023 at Budapest HUNGEXPO 

European Exhibitor Starter Package for € 2.190 

• 9 sqm octanorm system with white walls 

(2,5 m high) 

• Coloured front cover 

• Grey carpet 

• Lighting fascia board (company name) 

• 1 spotlamp / 3 sqm 

• 1 socket 

• Without electric connection 

and other measured services 

as internet etc. 

*Package available only for European Exhibitors and contains all mentioned service’s fee. 

REGISTER NOW AT WWW.EFTTEX.COM 

Email: info@efttex.com I Tel: +36 1 755 58 15

FEBRUARY 

2023 

20 

32 

18 

26 

08 

Contents 

48 

8 NEWS 

Disappointment over Australian fishing 

ban extension, more appointments at 

Fairpoint Outdoors and a European 

approach for a Japanese brand. 

16 ICAST LOOKS OVERSEAS 

Why the US sportfishing trade show is 

positioning itself as an international mustattend 

event. 

18 TOURNAMENT BASS FISHING GOES 

GLOBAL 

John Mazurkiewicz explores why bass 

fishing contests – once the preserve 

of Americans – are attracting wider 

audiences. 

20 SPOTLIGHT ON… REELS 

From a few pounds up to top dollar, there 

is a reel to suit every customer’s budget 

and needs. 

22 SHOP WINDOW 

With so many styles, designs and sizes, 

which fishing reels should you be stocking? 

We have a few pointers. 

06 www.tackletradeworld.com 

24 EFTTEX INVITES ALL TO RETURN 

The European Fishing Tackle Trade 

Exhibition (EFTTEX) is back after four long 

years, giving everyone a chance to meet in 

person once more. 

26 DOING BUSINESS WITH… CHINA 

Despite tricky recent times China still 

remains the epicentre of the global fishing 

tackle industry. 

30 RELIX NUSANTARA HAS ALL STYLES 

COVERED 

Although PT Central Sarana Pancing’s 

Relix Nusantara brand was developed for 

Indonesia, it’s gaining ground elsewhere. 

32 INDUSTRY LEADERS REACH OUT AT 

SUMMIT 

ICAST might be the highlight event for the 

American Sportfishing Association (ASA), 

but its annual Sportfishing Summit is just 

as crucial. 

36 MAKING CONTACT 

More products from global suppliers that 

will be worth stocking in your outlet. 

40 LEGEND RE-ENGINEERED AND 

EXPANDED 

Three more swimbait rods designed to 

provide a better bass fishing experience 

have grown St Croix Rods’ techniquespecific 

series again. 

42 COMBINING QUALITY AND 

AFFORDABILITY 

Daiwa’s Tatula name continues to make 

waves, with a proven combination of 

baitcasting reel and the right rod for bass 

fishing. 

48 HOW EMPLOYEES CAN HELP YOUR 

GROWTH 

Business owners often feel like they 

need to make all the decisions but 

your employees can be superb brand 

extensions for you… if you let them. 

50 LAST CAST 

Torben Kass, chairman of Danmarks 

Sportsfiskerforbund, outlines how it 

is improving relations with the tackle 

industry and political leaders.

Super 

Heat Dissipation 

 

 

 

Super 

Low-Friction 

Super 

Hardness 

Super 

Lightness

Fishing found to ease 

mental health issues 

• Continued from page 3 

“The wider implications this 

research will have, not only in the 

angling sector, but also mental 

health provision will be amazing 

to see.” 

Lee Smith, Professor of 

Public Health at ARU, added: 

“Recreational fishing is very 

popular in the UK, with about 

two million people taking part 

in the pastime in 2019. Our 

published study found that it is 

an accessible sport, despite the 

presence of some barriers. 

“We know from previous 

studies that exposure to aquatic 

environments, known as blue 

spaces, is associated with 

improved mental health and 

wellbeing. 

“The work we have carried out 

has highlighted that individuals 

Major Craft reveals 

European drive 

Japanese tackle maker Major 

Craft continues its growth with 

the opening of a European base 

in Madrid, Spain. 

The company, which already 

has a facility in North America 

plus a manufacturing operation 

in Vietnam, is keen to develop 

products specifically for 

European anglers while also 

offering a better service to its 

buyers on the continent. 

Major Craft Co was set up 

back in 2001 and has grown 

steadily in that time, most 

recently launching a new 

building in Vietnam to increase 

rod building capacity to around 

who fish have lower levels of 

diagnosed anxiety disorder, 

suicide attempts and instances of 

deliberate self-harm compared to 

those who did not fish. 

“This would suggest that 

encouraging participation in 

fishing could be a good dualmethod 

strategy for both 

promoting relaxation and 

good mental health as well as 

encouraging increased levels of 

physical activity within those 

with mental health issues such as 

anxiety disorder.” 

Andy Torrance, CEO of 

20,000 pieces per 

month. 

Alongside this it has 

an OEM partnership 

in China and works 

hard to develop all types 

of lure fishing rods, 

covering everything 

from bass and sea bass 

to shore jigging, offshore 

jigging and much more. 

It uses Fuji guides and reel 

seats throughout its rod range 

while ensuring their high quality 

by checking every single rod 

Angling Direct , commented: “At 

Angling Direct our purpose is to 

get everyone fishing. Anglers have 

long known that the combination 

of the fishing combined with 

relaxation in the outdoors in great 

for their general wellbeing and 

mental health. 

“We’re delighted to be working 

on this with Anglia Ruskin 

University and Tackling Minds 

and are very excited about its 

potential implications to support 

social prescribing and further 

public health interventions.” 

The research about angling and 

mental health is currently being 

peer-reviewed ahead of scientific 

journal publication. 

You can read the full, openaccess 

study about accessibility 

here: https://www.mdpi. 

before it is shipped from the 

factory. 

Since 2014 it has also 

been supplying lures, with its 

JIGPARA perhaps its bestknown 

and bestselling item. 

SUPER CONTROL SC125 LINEWINDER 

BIG GAME HD140 LINEWINDER 

2-YR WARRANTY | FULL TECHNICAL SUPPORT | 110V & 220V 

TELEPHONE +1 (201) 699-4228 | MADE IN THE U.S.A. 

Order online: www.trianglesport.com

Fairpoint adds more faces as it grows 

Danish company Fairpoint 

Outdoors, which includes brands 

such as Westin and Kinetic, has 

added two more key personnel to 

its line-up. 

Rikke Storm, a well-known 

face within the industry, has been 

appointed as product manager, 

bringing with her an impressive 

track record and wealth of 

experience in developing highly 

functional clothing from some of 

the biggest players in the fishing 

and hunting clothing field. 

Fairpoint COO Thomas 

Sanotra said: “Signing Rikke 

Storm is a scoop for our 

company and yet another step in 

our goal of becoming the most 

innovative and passion driven 

company in the industry. 

“I have had the privilege 

to have Rikke in my team in 

Zebco chalks up decade of School Of Fish 

The Zebco School of Fish, a major US 

kids’ fishing education program, has just 

completed 10 years of hosting fishing 

classes for kids, parents and other adults. 

The scheme taught 25 schools in 2022, 

graduating 577 “water-ready” kids with 227 

adults also attending. 

“School of Fish expanded to several new 

communities in 2022, but also returned to 

many locales where we have been multiple 

times in the past” said Mike Frisch, one of 

Ban eXtended on iConiC WesteRn 

austRalian Fish 

Angling groups have reacted 

angrily to Western Australian 

government plans to double the 

length of the current demersal 

fish close season for boat 

anglers. 

Fisheries Minister Don 

Punch unveiled a funding and 

management package to boost 

the recovery of demersal scale 

fish stocks and their future, 

including the four-month ban. 

While it is significantly less 

than the original nine-month 

proposal, it is still double the 

current two-month closure, 

although land-based anglers will 

previous positions and I know 

her as a skilled and hardworking 

team member. 

“Together with the rest of our 

clothing team and the entire 

development team, Rikke will 

lead the future development of 

the clothing department for our 

brands Westin and Kinetic. I’m 

expecting this signing to be a 

‘game changer’ for our company 

progression into clothing and 

something that all of our valued 

customers will benefit from very 

soon.” 

Meanwhile, avid angler 

Mathias Gundestrup is the 

newest face and voice in the 

customer service department. 

Fairpoint’s CEO Jens Buhl 

explained: “Our customers 

are always at the centre of our 

business and providing them 

the organisation’s co-founders. “We think it 

speaks well of our program and curriculum 

when communities have us back year 

after year. We continue to graduate waterready 

kids who have the knowledge, skills, 

and equipment needed to start their fishing 

careers. Most importantly, we try to provide 

the School of Fish experience in a fashion 

that excites them about our sport!” 

Started in 2013, the Zebco School of Fish 

has expanded to present classes in six states, 

still be able to fish year-round. 

The open seasons have been 

timed to allow people to catch 

these popular fish during all 

school holidays. 

Don Punch said: “Western 

Australians have always 

demonstrated their desire to 

preserve the state’s fisheries, 

and I am confident that as 

a community we can work 

together to recover our demersal 

scale fish stocks for the future. 

“We have listened to the 

feedback – recreational fishers 

asked for more time on the 

water. I understand the changes 

Mathias Gundestrup 

with premium service has 

always been a cornerstone in 

our approach to building a great 

company. 

“With Mathias on board we 

expect to take our service to a 

new level and provide even faster 

and better service than ever 

will be difficult for recreational 

fishers. I have delivered the 

very best recreational package 

possible while also ensuring 

that you have sustainable fish 

stocks going forward. 

“The changes being 

introduced balance the fishing 

experience with the action 

needed to protect these fish. 

There is simply no other way.” 

But Recfishwest CEO Dr 

Andrew Rowland said: “We are 

deeply disappointed that these 

proposals have been overlooked 

in favour of an extended ban on 

recreational fishing, which will 

mean West Australians being 

unable to access dhufish and 

Rikke Storm 

before. 

“On top of that, Mathias is a 

great person with huge passion 

for our industry and a skilled 

angler, so he blends perfectly in 

with the rest of the team.” 

www.fairpoint.dk 

has now taught over 250 schools and has 

graduated 5,696 kids and with 1,945 adults 

also involved. 

Other School of Fish sponsors include 

G3 Boats, Hannay’s Marine, Soderholm 

Insurance, KLN Family Brands, 

ShoreMaster, Strike King, Lew’s, Women 

Anglers of Minnesota, Diamond Buick 

GMC, CLAM, Distinctive Cabinet Design, 

Artie’s Bait & Tackle and Fishing the 

Midwest. 

pink snapper for six months of 

the year. 

“At the moment there is 

an inequitable division of 

resources between recreational 

and commercial fishers with 

only a 12 per cent reduction 

of catch for commercial 

operators, compared with 

a 50 per cent reduction for 

recreational fishers. A buy-back 

of commercial licences should 

help to address this imbalance 

and ensure fairer access to the 

Demersal Fishery for all sectors 

of the community.” 

The new rules were due to 

come into effect on February 

1st, 2023. 


09

eFtta distaNCes 

itselF From 

eFtteX 

The European Fishing Tackle Trade 

Association (EFTTA) is focused on its 

lobbying role as it works to safeguard 

sportfishing and has moved to clarify its 

position over the EFTTEX trade show. 

In a statement, CEO Olivier Portrat 

has outlined the work that Brussels-based 

EFTTA AISBL now undertakes and 

clarified that the European Fishing Trade 

Exhibition (EFTTEX), scheduled for June 

15th to 17th in Budapest, Hungary, is an 

independent event organised by a private 

company, EFTTEX Kft. 

He told TTW: “Following Brexit and 

the closure of EFTTA Ltd and EFTTEX 

Ltd in England in 2021, EFTTA AISBL 

was established in Brussels, Belgium in 

early 2022. 

“Since then, times have become 

ever more challenging for the future 

of recreational angling within Europe. 

Threats come from multiple sides and the 

list of tasks for EFTTA AISBL is long. 

[It] has been established as a registered 

non-profit association with membership 

fees entirely dedicated to finance our 

lobbying work in Brussels. This important 

role is time consuming and demands our 

full attention. 

Knife f irm goes to Source 

Bear Forest Knives, a USbased 

knife manufacturer, 

has selected Source Outdoor 

Group as its marketing and 

public relations firm to expand 

its recognition further. 

This partnership combines 

Source Outdoor Group’s years 

of experience in branding, 

marketing and advertising 

in the outdoors market with 

Bear Forest Knives’ passion for 

quality and excellence. 

Only using the best carbon 

and stainless steels, 80CrV2, 

1095, 52100, 1084, AEB-L, 

Nitro-V, and W2 for customs, 

Bear Forest Knives says it is 

setting the tone for modern 

outdoor knives. 

Handle scales include 

Micarta, G10, elm, dogwood, 


“In 2022, EFTTEX Kft 

was founded in Hungary as 

an independent, privately 

owned company to organise 

the EFTTEX Show. For the 

sake of clarity and good order 

we highlight that EFTTA 

AISBL has no shares within 

EFTTEX Kft and there 

is no legal or operational 

connection between EFTTA 

AISBL and EFTTEX Kft.” 

Following additional 

discussions between the 

two parties, Olivier added: 

“EFTTEX Trading does not 

organise the EFFTEX show on behalf 

of EFTTA AISBL but for the benefit of 

EFTTA. The profit of the show is being 

forwarded to EFTTA and used to save the 

future of recreational angling in Europe by 

our lobbying work. 

“The EFFTA board is grateful to our 

board members Ciro Esposito (Europesca), 

Rudi Heger (Traun River Products) 

and Istvan Pal (Energofish) for all the 

energy they invest in order to bring back 

our ‘traditional’ EFTTEX show to life 

with many new elements serving the 

osage orange, poplar, padauk, 

ironwood, white oak, red oak 

and antler. All sheaths are 

made in-house from 0.080 

Kydex in various colours, 

graphics and textures. 

Source Outdoor Group 

works with some of the biggest 

names in the fishing, outdoors 

and firearms industry while 

offering top-rate services, for 

the past 15 years. 

Olivier Portrat, EFTTA CEO 

European tackle trade. They have invested 

considerable time, energy and money into 

that project. 

“The EFTTA board wishes all the 

best to EFTTEX Trading Ltd for the 

organisation of EFTTEX 2023. May it 

be a successful revival! EFTTA invites all 

the trading industry around recreational 

angling to support the EFTTEX shows in 

the future!” 

www.eftta.com 

trade eXpert 

BriNgs eXperieNCe 

to orgaNisatioN 

One of the European tackle trade’s bestknown 

professionals, André Akkermans 

has stepped down from the commercial 

side of the industry to focus on a key 

Netherlands organisation. 

André, who has worked with major 

names including Fox, Wolf, Sensas, 

Svendsen Sport and, most recently major André Akkermans 

retailer Angling Direct, will be assisting 

Sportvisserij Zuidwest Nederland to boost the sport’s future. 

The body works on behalf of anglers, clubs and associations 

to promote the accessibility of sportfishing and to maintain and 

safeguard its future. 

André said: After working on the commercial side of angling 

for almost 30 years I [have] started as a representative at 

Sportvisserij Zuidwest Nederland. I am grateful now to be able to 

dedicate myself to the sport that has brought me so much, both 

professionally and privately.”

Huk protects anglers and oceans 

Over 1,000 New Line 

items added to the 

2022-23 New Catalog 

Apparel brand Huk’s Waypoint 

Collection is designed to protect 

anglers from the cold and the 

oceans from discarded plastic, 

with its latest addition – full-zip 

and half-zip fleece jackets made 

of recycled plastic. 

Anglers, boaters and outdoor 

enthusiasts have long turned to 

polyester fleece for comfort on a 

cool morning or layering in the 

coldest weather. 

While it provides warmth, its 

breathable construction allows 

perspiration to evaporate rather 

than trapping it on the skin. 

Huk has partnered with 

REPREVE to incorporate 

Film festival deal helps 

improve the great outdoors 

The International Fly Fishing Film Festival 

and Backcountry Hunters & Anglers have 

partnered in a North American effort to 

preserve habitat and waterways. 

The US-based festival (IF4) and BHA want 

to ensure people can access the great outdoors 

and then enjoy it to the full. 

Jennifer Bird, IF4 executive producer and 

Josh Mills, corporate partnership coordinator 

of BHA, explained the aim was to “make sure 

we have the quality habitat and waterways 

when we get there.” 

Josh added: “As the voice for North 

America’s wild public lands, waters and 

wildlife, BHA is dedicated to improving 

access for sportsmen and women across the 

continent – and making sure we have the 

quality habitat and waterways when we get 

there. 

recycled materials into its 

Waypoint line to help reduce 

plastic pollution. The collection 

will have the same unique 

Huk style but an eco-friendly 

twist. On average, it takes nine 

recycled plastic bottles to create 

one item in the Waypoint 

collection. The blended fabric 

provides flexibility and stretches 

while maintaining shape and fit. 

Huk’s fleece is made from 

100 per cent recycled polyester, 

as the brand builds on its 

commitment to help reduce 

plastic pollution. Using recycled 

polyester prevents plastic from 

entering the waste stream, which 

could end up in the oceans or 

other sensitive environments. It 

makes producing new material 

less necessary, conserving 

natural resources and avoiding 

emissions-creating processes. 

The Waypoint Fleece FZ 

and Edisto Fleece FZ full-zip 

jackets and half-zip pullovers 

feature quick-drying fabric, a 

must for anglers who face bow 

spray and splashing fish at the 

boat. They come in a range of 

colours and sizes, designed to 

help anglers feel good about 

venturing out in cool weather 

and helping protect the 

environment. 

“Anglers are on the frontlines of water 

quality, river access, fish stock health and other 

key cogs in the wheel for the health of our 

watersheds.” 

Jennifer added: “At the core of fly fishing is 

the pursuit of wild spaces and peaceful places 

that are just beyond the reach of day-to-day. 

It is in these spaces where fish seem most 

willing, the water appears in its purest form 

and our community connects and thrives.” 

Founded in 2011, the International Fly 

Fishing Film Festival is the world’s leading 

fly fishing film event. Consisting of short and 

feature-length films produced by professional 

filmmakers from all corners of the globe, 

the IF4 showcases the passion, lifestyle and 

culture of fly fishing while creating community 

everywhere it travels. The films have captured 

the attention of anglers around the world. 

Hareline Ceramic 

Zirconia Dubbing Rake 

The 

Bone Comb 

Hareline UV Flexi 

Squishenille

NEWS IN BRIEF 

President 

dismounts from 

Mustang 

Jason Leggatt has resigned his 

position as president of life vest, 

apparel and PFD expert Mustang 

Survival following a number of 

changes within the company. 

He will now become a member 

of the board following his 

departure, working for The Wing 

Group and the Mustang Survival 

business in a governance role. 

Book for Aus show 

The 2023 Australian Fishing Trade 

Association Tackle Show is now 

open for exhibitor bookings 

Space bookings can be made 

online while a new exhibitor 

portal offers a centralised hub for 

exhibitors to re-visit as often as 

needed. 

Visit www.afta.net.au for details 

OneWater 

completes deal 

OneWater Marine Inc has 

completed the acquisition of 

Harbor View Marine, expanding 

the firm‘s presence in the Gulf 

Coast region and enhancing new 

and pre-owned boat sales, finance 

and parts and services offerings. 

OneWater CEO Austin Singleton 

said: “The acquisition strengthens 

our presence in the Gulf Coast 

market and expands our portfolio 

with their suite of iconic brands 

and full-service offerings.” 

Mark boards 

marine firm 

CED Marine has hired respected 

sales leader Mark Sullivan as 

territory sales manager for the 

southeastern United States. 

He arrives after more than 15 

years at Navico, where he most 

recently served as the distributor 

channel director. 

CED Marine president Greg 

Borchardt said Mark’s arrival 

continues the company’s 

strategic plan of building out 

an experienced team of marine 

industry veterans to support its 

rapid growth. 

St Croix simplifies 

the complex 

US rod maker St Croix has solved more 

problems and overcome more challenges 

with the unveiling of its X-Trek fresh- and 

Sole saltwater fishing systems. 

After three years of development, the 

spinning rods and reels have been designed 

to make complex decisions simple and help 

anglers make the most of every second on 

the water. 

St Croix brand manager, Ryan Teach, 

explained: “Three years in the making, 

these exceptionally balanced and precisionmatched 

spinning rods and reels have been 

conceived, engineered and handcrafted from 

a blank slate – then extensively tested – to 

provide bundled, worry-free performance 

that gives anglers the upper hand right off 

the rack. 

“These fishing systems are going to appeal 

to a wide range of anglers… from the 

relative newcomer who’s ready to step up to 

St Croix performance, to the sage stick who 

wants to build up his or her arsenal with 

balanced, high-quality rods and reels at a 

reasonable cost.” 

The X-Trek (pronounced cross-trek) 

Freshwater and Sole Saltwater Fishing 

Systems begin with handcrafted, premium 

SCII carbon blanks. Ryan added: “X-Trek 

and Sole each include four versatile, fastaction 

spinning models to provide anglers 

with distinct, high-performance choices well 

suited for the widest variety of freshwater 

and inshore saltwater techniques.” 

Beyond the blank, the system are finished 

with equally impressive componentry, anglertuned 

ergonomics and progressive aesthetics. 

X-Trek Freshwater models are matched 

with precision-engineered 2000-size and 

2500-size X-Trek spinning reels, while Sole 

Saltwater models receive saltwater-grade 

3500-size and 4500-size Sole spinning 

reels. Rock-solid yet lightweight, these 

skeletonised, composite reels deliver optimal 

balance and silky-smooth operation with a 

versatile 6.2:1 retrieve ratio, while featuring 

proven, stacked-carbon drag systems. 

www.stcroixrods.com 

12 www.tackletradeworld.com

Tackle industry specialist 

seeking new challenge 

Thomas Wæver, a well-known and highly 

respected name in the trade, is seeking 

a fresh challenge he can bring his varied 

repertoire of skills to. 

After 10 years as vice president and 

outdoor director for premium awardwinning 

eyewear specialist Wiley X, he 

moved to the high-profile role of export 

manager for Danish-based Fairpoint 

Outdoors. 

Despite facing down both Covid and war 

in the Ukraine, Thomas managed to double 

the turnover in Fairpoint’s outdoor division. 

He told TTW: “It has been a privilege 

to work for great companies like Wiley X 

and Fairpoint Outdoors and I have really 

enjoyed my roles in both, where I have been 

very fortunate to turn my positions into a 

way of life. 

“I’m a strong believer that people buy 

from people they like and people they trust. 

I have always worked with a high level of 

structure; I have thrived in my positions and 

I have always been focused on leading by 

example. 

“Throughout my career I have worked 

in sales and, for more than the last 15 

years, it has been internationally, where 

I have built a great network of business 

partners and friendships. I’m an experienced 

professional with a global reach in the retail 

and distributor industry. I’m determined to 

follow international sales responsibility in 

my next step.” 

Thomas’ ability to develop strong 

relationships plus his loyalty to those he has 

worked for will stand him in good stead for 

the next part of his professional journey. For 

both Wiley X and Fairpoint Outdoors he 

leaves a significant footprint. 

Thomas Wæver 

Thomas is now ready to open a new 

chapter in his career and he can be contacted 

via the following personal details: (phone) 

+45 2217 4950 (phone) or sport@mvb.net 

(email). 

pREDAtoRtoUR 

SAFEGUARDS FISh 

StoCKS WIth KEY RUlES 

The team behind 

the popular 

Predatortour fishing 

event has revealed 

details of its plans 

for 2023 with 

a series of rules 

designed to keep 

the welfare of the 

fish at the top of the 

agenda. 

For its Swedish 

edition, anglers 

will follow the guidelines for 

pike fishing on lake Vänern, 

including catch and release, 

barbless hooks, rubberised nets, 

unhooking mats and lead-free 

lures. 

Organiser Evert Oostdam 

said: “The Predator Tour always 

feels responsible for nature and 

the environment. That’s why we 

have been lead-free for fishing 

lures for many years. Feeling 

responsible for our hobby is 

our main goal, which is why we 

also promote catch and release 

fishing. This way our children 

also enjoy sport fishing.” 

Other key rules for the 

Swedish event include clear 

maps and information for all 

anglers, reporting of all catches 

to the County Administrative 

Board after the competition 

to improve knowledge of 

fish stocks and boost their 

management while also 

controlling the number of other 

competitions close to the event, 

and limiting ‘test fishing’ days 

to conserve stocks and reduce 

pressure on the fish. 

FUJI ® ULTRA-Poly ® 

Wrapping Thread 

it’s not just good, it’s FUJI ® good. 

Preferred by the best custom rod builders and 

factories worldwide. ULTRA-Poly ® is a colorfast 

polyester guide 

wrapping thread made 

exclusively for FUJI ® 

to wrap smooth, 

burnish without 

fuzzies and resist 

fading. You’ll enjoy 

intense color that 

gets better with 

every coat of finish. 

Contact info@ 

anglersresource. 

net for more information. 

Carded 

product available 

for retail. 

Exclusive FUJI Agent North America 

Foley, Alabama USA • info@anglersresource.net 

www.anglersresource.net 

Thread ad for TTW.indd 1 

5/9/22 9:41 AM

Simms wades in to help 

Yellowstone 

Simms Fishing Products is 

working alongside a local 

fishing organisation to 

launch a new wader that will 

provide financial help to the 

Yellowstone ecosystem, which 

was devastated by floods last 

summer. 

Its Watershed stockingfoot 

wader has been developed 

alongside Montana Freshwater 

Partners – a collective of 

professionals and individuals – 

and is based on Simms’ multiaward-winning 

G3 Guide 

wader. 

Last June, a combination of 

an unusual atmospheric rain 

event and warm overnight 

temperatures coincided 

with Montana’s peak runoff, 

resulting in a devastating 500- 

year flood event, leaving the 

park closed, visitors evacuated 

and bridges, houses and roads 

completely swept away. 

To the residents of 

southwest Montana, the 

Yellowstone River is not only 

a vital economic resource, it’s 

an ecosystem that’s essential to 

their way of life. 

The Watershed wader uses 

excess Gore-Tex Pro Shell 

fabric in a three-layer upper 

and four-layer lower portion. 

This lightweight fabric is 

breathable, durable, waterproof 

and offers an unhindered range 

of motion. 

Featuring an oversized 

stretch-woven zippered chest 

pocket and a microfleece 

lined, zippered, pass-through 

handwarmer pocket, the wader 

also comes equipped with 

adjustable suspenders with 

opposing buckles that allow for 

a waist-high conversion. 

For mobility and durability, 

Simms has incorporated 

their patented front and back 

leg seams. To round out the 

feature set, the wader includes 

integrated gravel guards and 

anatomically correct left and 

right stockingfeet with an 

antimicrobial finish. 

Available in eight sizes, 

it will be offered in limited 

quantities. 

Diane Bristol, Simms’ 

vice-president of community 

and culture, said: “It’s hard 

to put into words what 

the Yellowstone River and 

ecosystem means to us here at 

Simms. On the surface, it’s a 

picturesque, iconic trout fishery 

but, in reality, it’s so much 

more than that. 

“It’s where we unwind, 

recreate, create unforgettable 

memories and forge lifelong 

family bonds and friendships. 

The surrounding communities 

and lifestyle that comes with it 

truly embody our Fish It Well 

philosophy. 

“We are thrilled to 

collaborate with Montana 

Freshwater Partners and 

couldn’t be more excited to 

utilise a product that’s so 

synonymous with our brand 

to help restore this a national 

treasure that runs through our 

backyard.” 

Announcing the wader’s 

launch, Simms donated 

$10,000 to the Yellowstone 

River Stewardship Campaign 

and, from January when the 

product is sold, Simms plans 

to make an additional $50,000 

contribution. 

www.simmsfishing.com 

Rodriguez lights up torch brand 

Streamlight Inc, a leading provider of 

high-performance flashlights, has appointed 

Daniel Rodriguez as regional sales manager 

for Latin America. 

In his new position, Rodriguez will 

be responsible for sales development of 

Streamlight products in Latin American 

markets, as well as overseeing independent 

sales agencies to generate product sales. 

He previously served as area manager – 

Latin American and Caribbean for Dorian 

Drake International, White Plains, New 

York, where he won the President’s Award 

for Outstanding Achievement in 2020. 

He was responsible for international 

business strategy and development in 

the industrial and environmental sector, 

focusing on centrifugal pumps, blowers, and 

instrumentation product lines. 

He has also worked as commercial 

director for EYMAQ, Inc in Miami where 

he oversaw international sales in the areas 

of mining, material handling and wear plate 

technologies as well as co-founding Sigma 

Equipment Co, selling used equipment and 

replacement parts to international markets. 

“We are delighted to have someone 

with Daniel’s global experience join our 

international team,” said Streamlight’s chief 

revenue officer, Michael F. Dineen. 

“His knowledge of international markets 

will no doubt further enhance Streamlight’s 

presence in Latin America.” 


SENSATIONAL CASTABILITY. RIDICULOUS CATCHABILITY 

VERTEBRATA PENCIL 

DEFINING 

FISHING GEAR 

SINCE 1877 

Freshwater and saltwater predators alike can’t resist our new lip-less sinking pencil, the Vertebrata. Bubble 

trail holes in the gill and a vibrating inner core cause an irresistible commotion. As it pulls through the water, 

the Vertebrata swims in a swaying, s-shaped action horizonatally follow ing a wiggling vertical fall. Available in 

70mm and 90mm lengths and featuring Mustad’s new Jaw Lok inline trebles. 

/MustadFishing 

@mustadfishing 

www.mustad-fishing.com

FEATURE 

ICAST 

Expanding ICAST cementing 

itself AS must-attend 

trade show of 2023 

ICAST Is not just a US sportfishing trade show, it is the biggest and best attended, so it‘s little 

wonder that visitors come from across the globe to see the latest products. 

For most of the year, you can 

find the team at Davo’s Tackle 

diligently managing Australia’s 

pre-eminent online fishing tackle 

store from their headquarters near the 

Coral Sea. 

Located just north of Brisbane, the 

burgeoning business is home to some 

60,000 products ranging from boating 

accessories like trolling motors to 

artificial flying fish – many of which 

are destined for the sublime saltwater 

fisheries surrounding the continent on all 

sides. 

And, while the Davo’s team joins its 

customers in pursuit of offshore quarry 

as often as they can, in July you’re most 

likely to find members of the team nearly 

15,000 kilometres away at the Orange 

County Convention Center in Orlando, 

Florida for ICAST. 

From July 11th to 14th 2023, the global 

sportfishing community will gather for 

the trade show that defines the entire 

industry. 

A global gAThering 

Produced by the American Sportfishing 

Association, ICAST brings together tackle 

dealers, distributors, manufacturers and 

media members to showcase the newest 

products in fishing. The annual gathering 


bridges the gap between the manufacturer’s 

drawing board and tackle store shelves. 

It’s where the entire sportfishing 

community can see new products from 

leading global brands to up-and-coming 

startups hoping to break through with a 

game changing innovation. 

At ICAST, household names are made 

by the intense spotlight of marketing and 

media shining down on the show floor 

combined with the expertise of tackle 

dealers with their thumb on the pulse of 

consumer needs. 

Last year, individuals from 73 countries 

joined a crowd of more than 12,000 

industry members on the show floor. They 

came from Australia, Europe, Asia, South 

America, North America and Africa 

to see new products first-hand. And in 

2023, ICAST promises to showcase more 

travel-worthy product innovation than ever 

before. 

The show’s renowned New Product 

Showcase, where retailers and media 

members vote for overall Best of Show and 

Best of Category awards, is expanding to 

incorporate even more tackle and lifestyle 

products into its ranks. 

Last year, the New Product Showcase 

featured more than 900 product debuts for 

dealers to peruse. This year, the showcase 

will feature six new fly fishing categories 

alongside two new categories for boating 

accessories for those products to compete 

in. Category winners are then pitted 

against each other for voters to determine 

an overall best of show winner. 

Without leaving the show floor, 

attendees can settle into daily Lunch & 

Learn business improvement seminars 

headlined by some of the most creative and 

innovative leaders in sportfishing. These 

informative sessions highlight key issues 

and strategies for tackle dealers to help 

improve their business processes. 

Outside of the convention hall, 

attendees will have the opportunity to try 

out products at ICAST On The Water 

Product Demo Day. There, dealers can 

explore products with the manufacturers 

that designed them. Rods, reels, lures, 

kayaks, sunglasses and marine electronics 

can all be tested at ICAST On The Water. 

Meanwhile, at nearby Lake Toho, buyers 

and media can register to fish in the 

ICAST Cup Bass Fishing Tournament, 

produced by Major League Fishing. 

Registration for ICAST 2023 is now 

open at ICASTFishing.org. There, 

tackle dealers can browse through more 

information about even more events during 

show week, learn about the New Product 

Showcase and browse a gallery of videos 

from 2022.

THE GUIDE 

OF CHOICE 

FOR ROD 

DESIGNERS 

ALSO AVAILABLE IN 

BLACK DIAMOND 

FINISH 

The TiForged Family of guides is the most requested 

by rod designers worldwide. American Tackle set 

out to design a family of guides that were ideal for 

casting, spinning, offshore, and more. With materials 

from 316SS or solid Titanium alloy in a snagless frame 

design, the TiForged Guide family has options for every 

rod builder. Rod designers can choose from single-foot, 

double-foot, different ceramic rings or no rings, and 

multiple color options. And with a range of sizes from 

5.5 ring size all the way up to 50, there is nothing that 

the TiForged family of guides can’t do. 

(800) 516-1750 

americantackle.us 

SCAN HERE 

TO LEARN MORE

FEATURE 

MLF 

TOURNAMENT 

BASS FISHING SEES 

EXPANDING GLOBAL 

INTEREST 

By John 

Mazurkiewicz. 

The world is getting smaller and competitive tournament 

bass fishing is playing its part. Along with growing the sport 

– and the sale of rods, reels, lures, line and more designed 

for it – it continues to attract anglers from way beyond the 

traditional US ‘Bible belt’. It truly has gone global. 

When more than 275 

participants at the recent 

Major League Fishing 

(MLF) Toyota Series 

Championship arrived on the famed bass 

fishing mecca of Lake Guntersville in 

Alabama, USA, competing for the top prize 

of up to $235,000 (USD) there were not only 

anglers from 39 US states but from Canada, 

Italy, Mexico, Namibia, Portugal, South 

Africa, South Korea, Spain and Zimbabwe. 

In its own way, you could call it the ‘World 

Cup’ of bass fishing. 

According to MLF vice president 

operations Dave Washburn, MLF started 

its affiliation with bass fishing clubs around 

the globe in 2015: “We received a steady 

stream of interest from bass anglers in other 

countries who would respond to news about 

our tournaments found on our website. They 

wanted to become involved and we naturally 

found the opportunity to grow the interest in 

competitive bass fishing beyond our borders.” 

EXPANSION AND BACKING 

The MLF-affiliated clubs around the world 

receive guidance and guidelines on how to 

conduct an MLF- branded tournament trail 

in their own countries. 

Through these grassroots efforts that help 

foster the competitive juices for anyone who 

participates in a sport, bass anglers quickly 

identify the relevant tackle offerings from 

global brands like Daiwa, Abu Garcia, Rapala, 

Pure Fishing and Shimano so dealers in those 

countries can now add to their store’s product 

assortment. 

US-based manufacturers such as 

PRADCO, Strike King Lures, Lew’s, 


Z-Man, AFTCO and Simms are afforded 

the opportunity to expand and bring 

awareness to their bass fishing products to an 

international audience, while names like BKK 

Hooks, Molix, Jackall, Evergreen, Weston, 

Keitech and others can see residual exposure 

in it all to the 20 million-plus US bass fishing 

market. 

The demographics for bass anglers 

worldwide are changing. As the sport 

becomes more sophisticated from the 

participant side with a rising middle class 

in certain countries who have the means 

and need to spend more of their income 

on fishing for recreation, and as tackle 

and gear manufacturers continue to add 

more funding and focus to their research, 

product development, and marketing efforts, 

Washburn says the MLF efforts will continue 

to embrace the international bass fishing 

market. 

“It’s becoming that no matter where you 

live, tournament bass fishing is benefiting all 

segments of the sport and growing it globally. 

“For those participating in our events 

where we give anglers from other countries 

the opportunity to fish some of the best lakes 

in the US, there’s a quick, genuine connection 

between the angler no matter if they are 

from Tennessee or South Carolina or if they 

travelled across the world from Italy, South 

Korea or Zimbabwe to see who can catch the 

biggest limit and have bragging rights – and 

the nice cheque that goes along with it.” 

BASS FISHING HAS ITS OWN 

LANGUAGE 

Since participants compete in both ‘pro’ 

and ‘co-angler’ divisions, the MLF Toyota 

MLF – Jose Acero and Cooper Jett 

Series Championship boat pairings can at 

times team up interesting combinations. 

Even though he didn’t speak English and 

his partner didn’t speak Spanish, Spain’s 

pro angler Jose Acero and Michigan 

USA co-angler Cooper Jett landed 18 

bass during their time on the water, 

with Acero noting that he learned the 

importance of changing up his lures for 

situation and location from Jett. This is 

bass fishing. 

INTERNATIONAL CHAMPS 

While all the international anglers 

compete against the full field at the MLF 

Toyota Series Championship, there is also 

a ‘tournament-within-a-tournament’ just 

for them. 

A TRULY UNUSUAL SIGHT 

From its location in north-central 

Alabama, it’s not often (how about never 

before) you see the Zimbabwe flag flying 

over the docks of Lake Guntersville, 

considered by many the best tournament 

bass fishing lake in the US. The team has 

a large contingent of supporters travelling 

with them to help out, which included 

letting all the other participants know 

that the Zimbabwe team was there to 

compete.

Your 

B2B EQUIPMENT 

SUPPLIER 

Best-in-class wholesale 

pricing and services. 

MUDHOLE.COM/WHOLESALE

SPOTLIGHT ON... 

REELS 

SPOTLIGHT ON 

REELS 

From a few pounds up to top dollar, there is a reel to suit every customer’s budget and needs, 

so let’s take a look at a few different types that might end up on your tackle store shelves. 

Almost every method or style of 

fishing requires a reel – pole 

fishing and tenkara being the 

obvious exceptions – and there 

are hundreds, nay thousands of different 

models and sizes, from ultra-lightweight fly 

reels to fixed spool ‘spinning’ reels of every 

size for every fish and fisherperson, to huge 

multipliers capable of holding literally miles 

of line for hauling big jigs and lures up from 

unfathomable depths on deep sea expeditions 

after monster leviathans. 

Despite there being so many reels on the 

market they can be broken down into just 

a few different types, and which types you 

mostly stock may very well depend on the 

fishing around you. 

FIXED SPOOL SPINNING REELS 

Fixed spool reels are very popular as they are 

easy to use, often cheap to buy and require 

little maintenance. 

Based around a non-rotating spool that is 

fixed in place, a bail arm rotates around this 

and winds line around the spool when reeling 

in. Generally, the more ball bearings a reel has 

the better it will perform. Cheaper fixed spool 

reels are likely to have a single ball bearing, 

whereas high-end reels will have many more. 

Fixed spool reels are either front drag or rear 

drag but with either system the aim is to allow 

the reel to give out line before the force of a 

fighting fish snaps it. 

Nowadays through advances in technology 

and ever lighter but stronger materials it is 

difficult to find a bad fixed spool reel at any 

price point. 

Major brands will always sell well and will 

have a strong range, so you’ll never struggle to 

find the right ones for your marketplace. 

MULTIPLIER REELS 

Multipliers are so called because due to the 

gear ratio, turning the handle a single turn 

causes the spool to rotate multiple times. The 

free-running spool allows greater casting 

distance and the cranking power of the spool 

design is more effective when reeling in. 

Multipliers are popular when beach 

casting a very long distance, and the high 

ratio provides the retrieve speed to get rigs up 

off the sea bed and high in the water, away 

from snags. Boat fishing sees multipliers used 

because of the need to retrieve lures and pirks 

from great depths, and they are powerful reels 

for playing big, hard-fighting fish. 

A braking system reduces the speed of 

the spinning spool during a cast to provide 

additional control for the angler. This can 

be either a centrifugal system or a magnetic 

braking system. Generally, multiplier reels 

with magnetic braking systems offer the best 

performance but are also the most expensive. 

A level-wind system lays line across the 

spool evenly when reeling in so that the angler 

has no need to do this manually. 

SPINCAST REELS 

The spincast reel is one of the easiest reels 

to use, making it perfect for children and 

beginners. It has a cover or closed face keeping 

all the essential parts of the reel protected. To 

use the reel, simply press down on the thumb 

button on the back during your forward cast, 

letting the line out. Once you let go of the 

button, the line will stop peeling out, making it 

easy to control. 

BAITCASTER REELS 

Baitcasters are a little more difficult to use. 

When casting, you must keep the spool under 

control or it will turn into a bird’s nest of line. 

Experienced anglers will use their thumb to 

brake and control the line as they are casting. 

Popular with bass anglers in the USA, these 

reels are increasing in popularity throughout 

Europe for predator fishing, where the 

lightweight design, ease of use (after practice!) 

and direct contact make working lures 

extremely efficient and rewarding. 

Baitcasters ensure speed and accuracy for 

users and need to be durable, since they will 

have to cope with hundreds or even thousands 

of casts per session. 

FLY REELS 

A fly reel is probably the simplest of all fishing 

reels, a drum to store a fly line and sufficient 

backing. Turning the handle wraps the line 

around the arbor and to remove line you 

simply pull the fly line above the reel with your 

hand. 

Materials used in their construction 

nowadays include aluminium, steel, 

magnesium, plastic, carbon fibre and 

composites. Many boast interchangeable 

spools or cassette systems and can be easily 

converted from right to left hand retrieves. 

Fly reels tend to differ in three main ways: 

size, construction and drag. This affects their 

suitability for different types of fly fishing, as 

well as impacting their price. They are made in 

three main ways: bar stock aluminium, die-cast 

aluminium or plastic composite. The majority 

tend to be die-cast aluminium as they are 

cheaper, easier to produce and work perfectly 

well, although barstock aluminium reels are 

considered the best; machined from single 

blocks of aluminium they’re lighter, more 

resilient and can last decades if well looked 

after. However, this comes at a higher cost. 


Our Power-Pole Blade Shallow Water Anchor fits in so well 

with nature you’d almost think it had gills, fins and a tail. 

Power-Pole.com


REELS 

PENN 

FATHOM II LEVER DRAG SERIES 

For offshore anglers who fish at the highest 

levels, the Fathom series has long been a goto 

reel for its immense cranking power and 

intuitive design. The all-new Fathom II Lever 

Drag reels take a class-leading reel and raise 

the bar even more with a model for every 

application. 

Integrating the palm side plate and frame 

allows the reels to be more compact in hand 

and increases strength. At the Fathom’s core 

is a stainless steel main and pinion gear and 

a forged and machined aluminium spool 

that adds maximum durability. This reel is 

machined and designed to help anglers win 

big-fish battles! 

www.pennfishing.com 

SAKURA 

FURYO FD SPINNING REEL 

The classy and refined Furyo FD spinning 

reels are equipped with high quality 

mechanics, mounted on sealed Japanese 

stainless steel bearings. Equipped with 

a frame and a rotor made of carbontitanium 

FLC composite, the Furyo reels are 

remarkably light. 

Compact, robust and silent, their design 

and high-precision mechanics give them 

surprisingly smooth rotation and power. 

• S-Curve oscillation system 

• Anti-twist line roller 

• Anodised CNC aluminium handle 

• Micrometric progressive drag 

• Extra-large drag knob for better grip 

www.sertfishing.com 

FISHING FERRARI 

DAGON 

The ideal reel for sea fishing from the 

beach and the boat. It is equipped with 5 

+ 1 steel shielded bearings and a complete 

anti-salt treatment. It mounts an extralight 

aluminium spool with line safety ring 

and worm shaft system. The handle is 

ultra-resistant metal and the ergonomic 

knob improves performance during fights. 

With a metal body and rotor the reliability 

and build quality place it at the top in its 

category. 

www.lineaeffe.it 

ABU GARCIA 

ZENON LOW-PROFILE BAITCAST REELS 

Designed for anglers who appreciate compact 

and lightweight reel design, the Zenon MG- 

LTX is the most finesse focused of the Zenon 

casting family, featuring a 30mm spool that 

is 10 per cent lighter and a smaller diameter 

than MG-X and X models. Ceramalite spool 

bearings facilitate a more free and lower 

start-up inertia making it the ideal choice for 

accurately casting lighter baits. 

• EXD concept design to maximise casting 

performance 

• 8 SS HPCR Bearings + 1 Roller Bearing 

www.abugarcia.com 


HARDY 

FORTUNA REGENT REEL 

This top-of-the-line reel is built to exceed 

the expectations of competitive saltwater 

anglers and was designed to deliver 

effortless control and power under the 

most demanding conditions. With up 

to 22lb of drag in a single 360-degree 

rotation, you can fight big fish without 

missing a beat. 

Built around a multi-pad, carbon fibre 

disc drag system housed within a sealed, 

waterproof hub design it offers the highest 

level of sealing yet seen on a Hardy fly reel. 

In addition, the large arbor spool delivers 

exceptional line pick-up and the narrow 

spool profile ensures easy level stacking of 

the line during the heat of the battle. 

www.hardyfishing.com 

OKUMA 

CEYMAR HD 

This spinning reel is guided by the concept 

of sheer power, thanks to its oversized 

HDG-II high-density oversized gearing. With 

its 7+1 bearings it operates smoothly while 

maintaining its lightweight construction. 

The machined aluminium screw-in handle 

is in direct contact with gears, reduces 

handle play and improves the overall feel 

while cranking. 

Features a corrosion-resistant graphite 

body, frictionless main shaft design and 

Even Flow Roller System with DLC Coating. 

Available in five sizes, the wide range of 

gear ratios and line capacities covers all the 

major needs for freshwater angling with the 

best price point in its spinning reel category. 

www.okumafishing.com


REELS 

DAIWA 

EXIST LT REEL 

This flagship freshwater spinning reel is 

designed for the most serious anglers 

seeking the highest level of performance, 

weight reduction and rotation. It boasts an 

all-new EXIST Air Drive System with ZAION 

Air Drive rotor, bail, spool and shaft, making 

the rotor 15 per cent lighter, while ensuring 

lighter rotation, giving less handle-turning 

resistance. 

The reel also offers Daiwa’s Advanced 

Tournament (ATD) system for a maximum 

of 22lb of drag pressure in the 3000, 4000, 

and 5000 sizes while the 2000 and 2500 

sizes offer 11lb of drag for light, feathery drag 

adjustment. 

Interchangeable right- and left-handed 

versions in three different gear ratios. 

www.daiwa.us 

WYCHWOOD 

RS2 FLY REELS 

Designed in the UK, Wychwood RS2 Fly 

Reels are constructed from a lightweight, 

tempered 6061-T6 aluminium, making 

them extremely robust and durable. 

Finished in tasteful anthracite these heavily 

ported reels offer a unique, hour glass frame 

design, with both spool and frame featuring 

inverted spokes adding to the reel’s 

overall strength without compromising 

overall weight. Add to this the multiple 

carbon washer 4kg drag and not only are 

they aesthetically pleasing but they offer 

exceptional performance in all fishing 

situations. 

www.wychwoodgame.co.uk 

A JENSEN 

NEWTON REELS 

Built for battling the fish of your dreams, 

this powerhouse is named after the famous 

mathematician and scientist. Tested in both 

fresh- and saltwater on hard-fighting species 

the reel is CNC cut from high-grade 6061 

aircraft aluminium, which ensures the highest 

strength combined with low weight. 

The housing is a combination of highstrength 

woven carbon fibre and aluminium, 

making it lightweight, saltwater-proof and 

strong. The spool is ‘V’ cut, to make space for 

extra backing when targeting the torpedoes of 

the saltwater and freshwater world. 

www.ajensenflyfishing.com 

SAVAGE GEAR 

SG8 BC 

Offering power, style, performance and a 

wide range of unique features – the SG8 

series of baitcasting reels has it all. These 

reels are built to be strong and rigid thanks 

to their one-piece aluminium frames and 

are ideal for taming all kinds of predators 

including pike, bass, zander and even perch 

and trout. Features such as DuraGrease, 

Line-ID, external centrifugal brake and finely 

tuned gear ratios mean the reel will run 

smoothly time and time again. 

• Super savage matte camo green colours 

• Available in both RH and LH for 250 and 

300 

• Available with normal gear ratio and high 

speed 

• Five-year warranty 

www.savage-gear.com 

ORVIS 

HYDROS II EURO 

The popular Hydros fly fishing reel now 

makes its debut as a fully caged European 

nymphing machine with tightened 

tolerances to completely eliminate lines 

slipping between spool and frame. The reel’s 

weight has been increased slightly to better 

balance with the 10ft and 11ft rods common 

in Euro circles. 

The reel includes an ergonomically 

accessible drag knob, a refined seal on the 

sealed drag to protect the clutch bearing 

in the drag mechanism and a radiused reel 

foot for kink-free leader protection plus fully 

sealed Hydros drag system with stacked 

carbon/stainless steel disc washers and zero 

startup inertia. 

www.orvis.com 

SHIMANO 

ULTEGRA XTE AND XSE 

The Ultegra XTE and XSE are based on 

Shimano’s best selling long range casting 

models and are set to redefine the mid-priced 

long range reel market. Containing many of 

Shimano’s leading ‘long cast’ technologies, in 

sleek monochromatic bodies – black XTE or 

silver XSE – these reels exceed expectations 

and are set to become best sellers throughout 

Europe. 

Inside the lightweight, rigid, CI4+ body 

is a selection of Shimano’s most advanced 

technology. HAGANE Gear and X-SHIP 

combine with Infinity Drive and Silent Drive to 

deliver amazing smoothness and lightweight 

rotation. 

The Super Slow 5 Oscillation generates 

amazingly smooth line lay that is proven to 

reduce friction and increase casting potential. 

Rigid Cast reduces spool deflection at the 

moment of release during a cast and Parallel 

Body sends the line at the perfect angle 

towards the first guide. And as the line flows 

over the lip of the aluminium AR-C spool 

it ‘coils down’ to reduce friction. The result 

is casting brilliance never seen at such an 

affordable price. 

www.shimano.com 


23

FEATURE 

EFTTEX 

EFTTEX 

AN INVITATION TO GET 

TOGETHER AGAIN 

The European Fishing Tackle Trade Exhibition (EFTTEX) is back after four long years, 

where the industry could not meet in person. Indeed, it seems that everybody has accepted 

meeting online is the way to work. But EFTTEX 2023 will change all that, writes EFTTEX’s 

and Energofish’s Istvan Pal. 

It was a great feeling to visit ICAST 

in July, shaking hands with partners, 

having a beer together. 

Energofish is exhibiting at 

EFTTEX for the 22nd time at the event’s 

39th edition, being held in Budapest, 

Hungary, from June 15th to 17th. It’s a 

perfect location in a friendly city, which will 

offer the opportunity to meet and connect 

with clients and suppliers alike. 

Major changes took part in early 

December 2022. The European Fishing 

Tackle Trade Association (EFTTA) and 

the organisers of EFTTEX agreed on a 

split, which is good news for EFTTEX and 

potential exhibitors. 

Now that membership of EFTTA is 

not a requirement for a place at the show, 

European companies will have a big 

advantage and we can offer booths at prices 

that were not possible before. In some cases 

it could be as much as a third less than 

previous years. 

While I would thoroughly recommend 

all companies within the tackle trade to 

support the incredibly important work that 

EFTTA does at European Union level, 

it should not have been a prerequisite of 

attending the show. 

A different approach will now be in focus, 

placing European companies in the centre, 

offering a very convenient package for small 

manufacturers and brands. 


Not only will it be free for visitors to 

attend but there will be a strong marketing 

campaign to convince them to come. 

Attending EFTTEX will offer visitors 

the chance to find new manufacturers and 

brands in order to increase their sales. They 

will be able to find new suppliers to gain a 

competitive advantage or simply widen their 

product range. 

We had seen during Covid times how 

sensitive the market is, how easy the change 

can happen. Staying on top of the latest 

trends is made easier when you see brands 

and products up close. 

Hungexpo will, for the third time be the 

location of EFTTEX. After a major renewal 

it is the perfect location, offering a brand 

new business lounge and a good number 

of meeting rooms, making it possible for 

everyone to enjoy all the benefits of meeting 

in person. 

I understand many companies will not 

take big booths in these uncertain times, 

indeed we feel the average stand size will 

likely be under 20 sq m. Offering companies 

the opportunity to display their products at 

the Best New Product Showcase without 

having a stand in the hall is another new 

initiative. 

The angling market is changing, so 

EFTTEX is changing too. Our exhibitors 

expect to reach beyond the hall of the trade 

show and not just to their customers in the 

industry. They want to reach consumers and 

excite them about new products. 

We plan to help them do just that. We’re 

offering a B2B2C marketing platform for 

brands launching new tackle in Europe. 

EFTTEX will continue to be a meeting 

place for the trade and, with our increased 

online presence, we are closing the gap 

between EFTTEX and consumers. 

You can register and find out more here: 

www.efttex.com 

EFTTEX 

w www.efttex.com

C O N N E C T I N G S E L L E R S A N D B U Y E R S G L O B A L L Y 

Postbox, Inbox… 

or both? 

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 

NEW FOR 2023 

UNI-MYLAR TINSEL WHITE AND BLACK THREE SIZES 

TTW continues to print and mail thousands of 

copies across the globe every month. 

What you may not realise is we also publish the 

magazine digitally, allowing subscribers to receive 

the magazine at the push of a button. 

If you haven’t done so already, sign up to this service by 

visiting the website and clicking on the ‘subscribe’ tab. 

UNI-FLAT BRAID 8 PLIES 

SMALL HOLOGRAPHIC GOLD 

UNI-THREAD 8/0 PUMPKIN 

WAXED OR UNWAXED 

The printed magazine isn’t going anywhere – we can 

assure you of that – but to keep your finger on the pulse, 

sign up to our digital database today at: 


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

www.uniproducts.com 

FULL RANGE OF TERMINAL TACKLE AND ACCESSORIES 

It’s a 

family 

thing 

EST. 

1958 

F J Neil has been family owned and operated since the 

1950s… and is still going strong! Under the Dolphin brand 

we supply all types of terminal tackle and accessories, from 

traditional bamboo poles to the latest rigs and lures. 

• Competitive pricing 

• Large stock inventory – no order delays 

• Rapid turnaround • Export specialists 

• Able to source any special requirements 

FOR FULL TRADE DETAILS 

PLEASE CONTACT US AT CANEFISH@AOL.COM / +1 631-957-1073 

FJ NEIL COMPANY INC, 1064 ROUTE 109, PO BOX 617, LINDENHURST, NY 11757-0617 USA 

We are looking for experienced agents or distributors for the European market. If qualified, email Neil Miritello at nmfjn@aol.com

DBW... 

CHinA 

d O i n G B u s i n E s s w i T H . . . 

d O i n G B u s i n E s s w i T H . . . 

CHINA 

A huge country with a vast population, despite tricky recent 

times China still remains the epicentre of the global fishing 

tackle industry. 

C 

hina is the largest of all Asian 

countries and has the largest 

population of any country in 

the world, about one-fifth of 

the world’s population. It covers 

approximately one-fourteenth 

of the land area of Earth and is 

surpassed in area by only Russia 


and Canada, and it is almost as 

large as the whole of Europe. 

Beijing, the capital of the 

People’s Republic, is also 

the cultural, economic, and 

communications centre of the 

country, while Shanghai is the 

main industrial city and Hong 

Kong is the leading commercial 

centre and port. 

Since the late 1970s China 

has dramatically increased its 

interaction with the international 

economy, and it has become a 

dominant figure in world trade. 

China is the world’s largest 

producer of rice and is one of 

the world’s largest producers 

of a number of industrial and 

Beijing is the capital city of China.

ECOnOMy FOCus 

$17.73 trillion GDP (USD) 

$12,556.33 GDP per capita (USD) 

8.1% GDP growth rate 

4.2% Unemployment rate 

DBW... 

CHinA 

Top export partners: 

– usA 

– Hong Kong 

– Japan 

– south Korea 

– vietnam 

Top import partners: 

– Taiwan 

– south Korea 

– Japan 

– usA 

– Australia 

Weihai is a centre of the tackle industry. 

FACT FiLE 

Capital: Beijing 

Dialling code: +86 

Population: 1.412 billion 

President: Xi Jinping 

Official language: Mandarin 

Time zones: China Standard Time (GMT+8) 

Currency: Yuan 

Internet domain: .cn 

mineral products including 

cotton cloth, tungsten, and 

antimony and is an important 

producer of cotton yarn, coal, 

crude oil, and a number of 

other products. It has acquired 

many highly sophisticated 

production facilities through 

foreign investment and joint 

ventures with foreign partners. 

The technological level and 

quality standards of many of its 

industries have improved rapidly 

and dramatically. 

In September 2022 China 

exported $323 billion and 

imported $238 billion, resulting 

in a positive trade balance of 

$84.7 billion. 

The top exports were 

telephones, computers, 

integrated circuits, electric 

batteries and refined petroleum. 

Its top imports were integrated 

circuits, crude retroleum, iron 

ore, petroleum gas and gold. 

China exported mostly to 

the USA, Hong Kong, Japan, 

South Korea and Vietnam, and 

imported mostly from Taiwan, 

South Korea, Japan, USA and 

Australia. 

China today accounts for 

27 per cent of annual global 

carbon dioxide and a third of 

the world’s greenhouse gas 

emissions – with per capita 

emissions now surpassing 

those of the European Union, 

although slightly below the 

OECD (Organisation for 

Economic Co-operation and 

Development countries) average 

and well below the level of the 

United States. 

The Covid-19 pandemic 

continues to make a significant 

impact on the Chinese and 

global economy. Data from 

China’s National Bureau of 

Statistics (NBS) shows that 

the country’s gross domestic 

product (GDP) in the first 

quarter fell by 6.8 per cent year 

on year, its first contraction 

since 1992. Although many 

industries in China have 

fallen into downturns during 

the COVID-19 pandemic, 

production lines of the 

healthcare industry keep 

operating at their full capacity. 

The Ministry of Commerce 

said in early April that China 

will next promote the building 

of overseas warehouses, and 

encourage enterprises to improve 

supporting services. The country 

will back domestic cross-border 

e-commerce platforms in going 

global and support various 

foreign trade companies and 

manufacturing enterprises in 

cooperating with international 

e-commerce platforms to 

achieve common development. 


27

DBW... 

CHinA 

H O w d O T H E y F i s H ? 

Although China has been a bit of a latecomer 

to the global passion for recreational fishing 

it is a rising pastime in the country, especially 

among the younger generation. In fact, 

angling generated equipment sales of over 

98.5 billion yuan (US$15.2 billion) in 2019, 

double from five years earlier. 

According to a 2020 report issued by China 

Business Network’s data consultancy affiliate 

CBNData, the ranks of recreational anglers 

are people born between the mid-1990s and 

the early 2010s. They are both blue-collar 

and white-collar workers, and most of them 

hail from the cities of Chongqing, Shanghai, 

Guangzhou, Suzhou and Chengdu. 

A fishing industry survey conducted in 

2017 found that 46 per cent of Chinese 

anglers are between 25 and 44 years old, and 

22 per cent are even younger. 

For a very long time in China, fishing 

carried the reputation of being a low-key, 

modest, and somewhat unfashionable 

recreational activity. Seemingly once a popular 

hobby for people of retirement age and status 

only, recently, it has become trendy among 

China’s Gen Z and millennial demographics 

in an astonishing culture shift. 

Apart from becoming a new social trend 

on ecommerce sites, fishing has also been 

trending all over Chinese social media. 

The rise of fishing influencers, who share 

fishing videos online, has also significantly 

contributed to this. 

Deng Gang, the best-known fishing 

influencer in China, attracted more than 10 

million followers on Douyin (the Chinese 

version of TikTok) in just one month and 

has now reached around 25 million fans on 

the platform. His success can be credited to 

his videos, in which he catches an enormous 

amount of fish in a short period. 

Purchasing fishing gear can cost anywhere 

from a couple of hundred yuan to a couple of 

thousand, so fishing attracts a relatively welloff 

demographic who tend to have both free 

time and disposable income. 

In China, recreational fishing is an activity 

with high socioeconomic importance, 

involving 0.80 million employees and 

generating 90.23 billion RMB (13.63 billion 

US$) in 2018. It can involve a variety of 

gear types and takes place both natural and 

‘aquaculture’ waters. 

In general, the fish caught are eaten by the 

fishermen against payment of a fee, especially 

in dedicated ponds and marine enclosures. 

The Chinese Government identified 

recreational fishing as one of the five major 

industries among its modern fisheries in 2011. 

The style of angling known as Taiwan 

fishing, introduced to the mainland from 

Taiwan in the 1980s, is the main norm for 

freshwater fishing competitions in mainland 

China. 

It is generally undertaken in large pools 

similar to a swimming pool but it can also 

be undertaken on natural waters. Crucian 

carp or grass carp are the species targeted in 

competitions, generally with 90 minutes per 

competition, and anglers can fish up to three 

to four contests in a day. Many of the Taiwan 

style fishing competitions are very prestigious 

events and feature on television. 

Recreational fisheries have become the 

fastest growing fishery industry in China. 

It is an important direction for promoting 

supply-side structural fisheries reforms, 

and the Chinese Government has actively 

encouraged recreational fisheries’ development 

and places strong emphasis on its healthy and 

standardised development. 

T A C K L E i n d u s T r y 

Pre-Covid there were many 

fishing tackle exhibitions in 

China, including China Fish in 

Beijing, Shanghai International 

Lure Fishing Show, China 

International Fisheries Expo 

in Fuzhou, Weihai Fishing 

Gear Manufacturing Center 

Expo and China Fishing Gear 

Manufacturing Center Expo. 

Hopefully we will start to see 

these open again as Covid 

restrictions are lifted. 

China is a stronghold of the 

global tackle manufacturing 

industry, including 

manufacturers, wholesalers 

and suppliers for OEM. 

There cannot be many tackle 

brands around the world that 

don’t have something in their 

portfolio that bears the legend 

Made In China. 

The tackle industry is mainly 

based in different provinces 

such as Zhejiang, Guangdong, 

Jiangsu and Shandong. The 

main industrial bases of China’s 

fishing tackle are in Weihai 

City, Shandong Province 

(fishing rods, fishing reels), 

Guangdong Province (fishing 

rods, fishing reels, fishing baits), 

Gu’an, Hebei Province, and 

Xian County (low-end fishing 

rods, small accessories), Henan 


DBW... 

CHINA 

Xiping (fishing nets), Linxiang 

City, Hunan Province (buoys), 

Zhejiang Jinhua (fishing lines, 

integrated wholesale), Hubei 

(fishing lures), Sichuan (fishing 

lures, accessories) and Hunan 

(fishing hooks). The Chinese 

have a history of fishing going 

back thousands of years, but the 

modern fishing tackle industry 

was transferred from Japan, 

Taiwan, Korea and other places 

after 1980. 

Starting from Weihai, 

perceived as the global epicentre 

of fishing tackle production – 

since 2008 it has been thought 

to produce 80 per cent of 

fishing tackle products in the 

world – there are two types of 

fishing tackle factories in China: 

domestic sales and export. 

The production of fishing 

tackle exported abroad, or the 

production of fishing tackle sold 

in China, are two completely 

different production lines, with 

completely different factories, 

and the products basically have 

no similarities. So much so that 

fishing tackle manufactured for 

export cannot be used in China, 

because the fish, waters and 

fishing methods are so different. 

i n d u s t r y v i e w s 

Zuo Xianjin, Chairman, Chengdu Fisherman Fishing Tackle Co., Ltd. 

Established 2002. 

TTW: What are the main 

products and business of 

your company (fishing tackle 

industry)? 

ZX: The company owns 

three major brand series of 

“Fisherman” fishing line and 

hooks, “Jinlong” fishing bait, 

“Feisunman” fishing line, hooks, 

rods, reels, floats, tool boxes, etc. 

The products are diversified. 

The company’s marketing centre 

has established a pre-sale, 

in-sale, and after-sales service 

system in the form of special 

supply monopoly, channel 

agency, conference sales and 

network. The products cover 

36 provinces and cities across 

the country. At present, it has 

more than 4,000 customers 

nationwide. 

TTW: In the current period 

of normalisation of epidemic 

prevention and control, what 

has been the impact on your 

products and global affairs? 

ZX: After the optimisation 

of epidemic prevention and 

control, the speed of logistics 

transportation has been 

improved, the waiting time 

of products in circulation has 

been reduced, logistics costs 

have been reduced, capital 

turnover has been improved, 

and product economic benefits 

have been increased. The 

current precise prevention 

and control measures can more 

effectively promote economic 

and social development on the 

basis of safety, ensuring both 

people’s livelihood and economic 

development. 

TTW: What are your hopes 

for this industry or what 

are your expectations for the 

future? 

ZX: Fisherman Co., Ltd. 

is a fishing gear enterprise 

integrating R&D, production 

and sales. The company is 

committed to the development 

and innovation of fishing gear, 

focusing on brand strategy and 

construction, and the promotion 

of fishing sports. Over the 

years, the company has created 

two major brands, “Fisherman” 

and “Golden Dragon”. The 

rich fishing experience and 

excellent production and R&D 

technology have provided 

consumers with various 

high-quality products, which 

have won unanimous praise 

from consumers and are well 

received by fishing enthusiasts. 

Due to the high recognition 

of our company’s products by 

consumers and the increasing 

brand awareness, the company 

has already become an 

influential and well-known 

enterprise in China and has 

achieved remarkable results. 

It also provides a broad 

development platform and 

profit margins. 

With the development 

of the market economy and 

society, the introduction of 

various favourable policies 

of the country and the strong 

support of our customers, 

we have more confidence to 

operate the market. We are full 

of confidence in the company’s 

future work. We firmly believe 

that with the leap of fishermen 

development, the company, 

customers and consumers will 

achieve a win-win situation. 

Zhu Jiayu, Business Manager, Dongyang Yile Fishing Tackle Co., Ltd. 

Established 2013. 

TTW: What are the main 

products and business of 

your company (fishing tackle 

industry)? 

ZJ: Fishing line domestic 

sales and export. 

TTW: In the current period 

of normalisation of epidemic 

prevention and control, what 

has been the impact on your 

products and global affairs? 

ZJ: The number of export 

orders has decreased. 

TTW: What are your hopes 

for this industry or what 

are your expectations for the 

future? 

ZJ: Hopefully with the 

opening up of China, normal 

business dealings can resume. 


29

FEATURE 

Relix 

Nusantara 

has all styles 

covered 

Back in 2015, PT Central 

Sarana Pancing launched 

its Relix Nusantara brand, 

especially developed for its 

own Indonesian market. But the 

collection is perfect for many 

other territories too… 


Relix 

FEATURE 

With 30 years of 

manufacturing experience, 

not to mention countless 

years spent working with 

local anglers on product development, 

it is no surprise that Central Sarana 

Pancing is a leading Indonesian tackle 

producer. 

Indeed, it covers a wide range of tackle 

requirements, most notably fishing lines 

– braids, nylon and leaders – fishing rods 

and, of course, accessories including a 

strong line-up of lures. 

Indonesia is an archipelago and tropical 

country, offering both fresh and saltwater 

fishing while its fishing season is all year 

round. 

As a result, the development of Relix 

Nusantara products covering a wide 

spectrum of fishing styles, from popping, 

jigging and bottom fishing to spinning 

and casting, pond and lake fishing and 

even micro styles. 

EXPANDING HORIZONS 

While the Relix Nusantara brand has 

been very successful in Indonesia, it has 

now begun to find popularity around the 

world. 

With the rise in social media, most 

notably YouTube and Facebook, it 

has never been easier to access ‘local 

information’ on a global scale. As more 

and more people were introduced to the 

brand, overseas demand began to grow. 

One of the legendary rods developed in 

the early days was an ultralight rod under 

the name Cangkek. 

Back then, only a few ultralight rods 

were available in the Indonesian market 

but the Cangkek has made it possible 

for many Indonesian anglers to enjoy 

ultralight fishing styles. 

Today, Relix Nusantara has a wide 

range of rods and tackle to offer markets 

around the world, from the most 

ultralight fishing mentioned earlier to 

heavy game fishing such as popping and 

jigging. 

REEL APPEAL 

Now, as we move into 2023, Relix 

Nusantara is adding another string to its 

tackle bow, in the shape of fishing reels. 

Although these are currently still 

at development stage, the addition of 

reels is just another reason why Relix 

continues to be taken seriously as a key 

manufacturer in the fishing tackle market 

across the globe. 

Indeed, Relix Nusantara is now seen 

as one of the major players competing 

both with local brands in the Indonesian 

market, not to mention on the 

international stage. 

Another reason for the success of 

Relix Nusantara – alongside its strong 

product development – is the fact that 

is developed a great reputation for fast 

customer service response and spare parts 

availability. 

Soon Relix Nusantara will set another 

new standard in the fishing industry with 

its new reel. 

Meanwhile, the brand has also unveiled 

a new Penta series for its Capung rod 

range. These cover a wide range of 

disciplines including spinning and 

baitcasting. 

RELIX CONTACTS 

For English enquiries contact Whatsapp: 

+62877 8002 8925 

sales@relixfishing.com 

relixnusantara.com 

YOUTUBE CHANNEL: 

https://www.youtube.com/@RelixNusantara 


31

FEATURE 

INDUSTRY LEADERS 

REACH OUT TO EACH 

OTHER AT ASA SUMMIT 

While the International Convention of Allied Sportfishing Trade Show (ICAST) held 

each July is the highlight event for the American Sportfishing Association (ASA), the 

recreational fishing industry’s body continues to dedicate substantial efforts to its annual 

Sportfishing Summit. 

By John Mazurkiewicz 

At one time more of a 

social event for tackle 

manufacturer owners and 

senior management, the ASA 

Summit today is all about business and 

industry issues. 

It brings together nearly every segment 

of the sportfishing industry. Attendees 

now include company CEOs joined by 

their sales, marketing and conservation/ 

advocacy executives, manufacturer sales 

representatives, retailers and distributors, 

fishing and outdoor media companies, 

staff from various US state and federal 

fisheries agencies, plus a lengthy list of 

conservation and allied organisations that 


focus on various aspects of the fishing 

industry. 

While ICAST is where the fishing 

world gathers to see and talk about new 

products, the ASA Summit is where the 

leaders, movers and shakers of the US 

recreational fishing business gather to 

work together all for the same cause – 

ASA efforts that impact them all to grow 

the sport along with addressing critical 

issues impacting recreational fishing. 

MAKING AN IMPACT 

“At our 2022 Summit, we gathered the 

business side of our sport to provide a 

forum where our members were informed 

about the fishing industry workplace 

of the future, projections about the US 

economy and its impact on our trade, 

what ASA’s Government Affairs team is 

doing to address fisheries policy issues, 

and developing strategies for next year 

and beyond,” said ASA president Glenn 

Hughes. 

“Along with conducting the business 

affairs of our association’s operations, the 

Summit includes important committee 

meetings focusing on our ICAST 

show, government affairs, membership, 

marketing and communications, our efforts 

with industry data and statistics, and 

dealing with trade and commerce issues.

ASA 

FEATURE 

Summit reception 

“Those committee members play an 

important role by being ASA’s voice to 

their various customer bases, where they 

can reach millions about fisheries issues 

that affect them and what ASA is doing 

to positively have a role in the decision 

process.” 

Hughes notes the 2022 event was 

attended by more the 200 sportfishing 

industry leaders presenting 115 different 

companies. 

“The Summit provides no better place where 

our government officials can talk with 

sportfishing industry leaders.” 

And, as had happened in the past where 

US senators and congressmen, Cabinet 

secretaries and federal agency chief 

administrators have been in attendance, 

both US Congressman Garrett Graves 

from Louisiana and Janet Coit, assistant 

administrator for the National Marine 

Fisheries Services, visited with Summit 

attendees 

“The Summit provides no better place 

where our government officials can talk 

with sportfishing industry leaders to help 

them better understand their journey 

being involved in the fishing industry 

both personally and for their respective 

businesses,” said Hughes. 

ATTENDEE REACTIONS 

Attending his first ASA Sportfishing 

Summit, American Tackle Company’s 

marketing manager Kevin Landers came 

back to his office more than pleased with 

the experience and noted the interaction 

he had with other attendees will benefit 

him both in his role with American 

Tackle but also in his own career growth. 

“At American Tackle, our senior 

management has a solid history of 

supporting the efforts of ASA, and 

attending the Summit allowed me to me 

to do my part,” he said. 

“From being welcomed by the ASA 

stuff as a newcomer to the event, to the 

well-planned and educational seminars, 

to having open conversations with highlevel 

thinkers from our industry at the 

various breakfasts and lunches, it was 

time well-spent. I can’t see myself missing 

an ASA Summit in the future.” 

Landers noted that, while ICAST 

has an all-business and competitiveness 

to it, the Summit 

allows many of those 

same competitors to 

have free-flowing 

discussion about 

issues and ideas that 

will benefit the whole 

of the sportfishing 

industry. 

Daiwa’s regional 

sales manager Greg 

Johnson has attended 

the past three inperson 

ASA Summits 

(like the ICAST 

Show in 2020, the 

ASA Summit also 

pivoted to an online 

Phil Lillo, ASA Board Chair 

event), always with a personal goal to 

introduce himself to a new contact in 

the business and learn something about 

them and their journey through the 

sportfishing industry. 

“Professionally, the Summit offers me 

the opportunity to engage in and learn 

about real life industry topics,” Johnson 

said, “especially those movements that 

directly affect the business of some of our 

most important customers, which for me 

are our independent tackle dealers in my 

East Coast and Midwest territories.” 

Educating and engaging himself in the 

humanistic things that can both threaten 

and improve the recreational fishing 

industry is his key benefit from attending 

the Summit, notes Johnson. 

“It provides an additional layer and 

sense of pride in our daily life in being 

a liaison to my network of industry 

contacts, friends, family and fellow 

recreational anglers in telling them about 

the positive efforts ASA makes in fishery 

management and clean water legislation, 

programs to grow the sport, and the 

outstanding job they do with the ICAST 

show.” 


33

FEATURE 

Conservation Sesssion Panel – Casey Shedd, Diane Bristol, 

Stephanie Vatalaro, Martin Peters and Glenn Hughes. 

SUMMIT 2023 

While the 200-plus attendees at the 

2022 Summit surpassed 2021 figures, 

the ASA staff is hoping to see pre-Covid 

attendance numbers exceeding 250. 

“We will continue our goal to enhance 

the educational, information gathering 

and networking opportunities to the 

Summit,” said ASA member relations 

manager Robert Russel. 

“With the Hilton Sandestin Resort 

in the Florida Panhandle being the 

Summit destination next October 3rd to 

6th, we want all ASA member to know 

they can contribute to the success of 

the sportfishing industry by attending, 

and also can look forward to some great 

fishing opportunities in the area.” 

Russel notes the 2022 Summit was 

successful thanks to the generous 

support from the US Forest Service, 

the Recreational Boating & Fishing 

Foundation, the Association of Fish & 

Wildlife Agencies, the Bass Fishing Hall 

of Fame Board, Engel Coolers, Fin-Nor 

and Freeman Companies. 

For information the 2023 ASA 

Sportfishing Summit, reach out to Russel 

at rrussel@asafishing.org. 

CONSERVATION SPENDING 

BOOSTS BOTTOM LINE 

The highlight ‘general session’ at the 

2022 ASA Sportfishing Summit was an 

armchair discussion with industry leaders 

where they shared how their conservation 

efforts can impact fishing’s future and 

increase participation but can also have a 

positive effect on their company’s bottom 

line. 

With the theme of ‘Future Forward 

– Making a Difference’ the session 


included Casey Shedd, president 

at AFTCO, Simms’ VP Culture 

& Community Diane Bristol, 

Stephanie Vatalaro with the 

Recreational Boating & Fishing 

Foundation, and Martin Peters, 

division manager for External 

Affairs for Yamaha’s US Marine 

Business Unit. 

PAST ASA CHAIRS STAY 

INVOLVED 

At the summit’s final evening banquet, 

ASA president Glenn Hughes noted that 

the 2022 event featured more past ASA 

Board chairs than any previous one. 

These included ASA president Glenn 

Hughes; Chip Powell, president of Mason 

Tackle; Peter Foley, president, Boone 

Bait Company; Dave Pfeiffer, president, 

Shimano North American Fishing; Chris 

Megan, publisher, On The Water Media; 

Jesse Simpkins, vice president/marketing, 

St Croix Rod; Dave Bulthuis, president, 

Pure Fishing; Kirk Immens, consultant, 

Sportco Marketing and Mike Leonard, 

ASA VP Government Affairs. 

SHEDD HONOURED WITH AWARD 

In announcing that “there is no better 

person to receive this recognition than 

Bill Shedd (AFTCO’s chairman and 

CEO)”, ASA president Glenn Hughes 

presented the inaugural Gary J. Zurn 

Conservation Award to Shedd at the 

summit’s final evening reception. 

Zurn passed away unexpectedly in 

August 2021. He was with Big Rock 

Sports for nearly 30 years and gave 

countless hours to the ASA Government 

Affairs efforts for both freshwater and 

saltwater fishing. 

Mike Leonard and Glenn Hughes present the 

Gary J. Zurn Conservation Award to Bill Shedd. 

ASA’S 90 YEARS OF SERVICE 

Serving the business interests of an industry 

for 90 years in a world that has changed so 

much is quite an accomplishment. 

The ASA staff kicked off its year-long 

celebration as the trusted voice of the US’ 

recreational fishing community. 

According to ASA president Glenn 

Hughes, throughout 2023 the staff will 

highlight ASA accomplishments in fisheries 

conservation and access issues, working 

with government officials and policy leaders, 

producing the ICAST show and hosting 

the summit, doing market research, and 

providing benefits including healthcare, 

insurance, and other business needs to its 

members. 

Hughes said the revamped asafishing. 

org that recently went live will include 

information on ASA efforts over the past 90 

years. 

ASA 

www.asafishing.org

Welcome to the world of 

& 

This is where passion, clever design and 

practical knowledge results in award 

winning quality fly fishing gear, and 

now also spin fishing gear, for the most 

dedicated, demanding and price/margin 

oriented customers. 

Following a year where we expanded 

into spin fishing with a very positive 

response and growth we’re now seeking 

new partners globally (distributors,sales 

agents and/or retailers), but especially 

in Australia, New Zealand, Germany, 

UK, Ireland, France, Italy, Canada, USA, 

Poland, Austria, Norway, Finland, Iceland 

and Spain. 

Interested? Contact: A.Jensen Fly Fishing - Denmark 

info@AJensenFlyFishing.com www.AJensenFlyFishing.com Tel: 45 48264547

MAKING 

CONTACT 

Making Contact 

2 

1 

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. 

3 

1 DAIWA 

TANACOM 1200 REEL 

2 TRUE UTILITY 

SWIFT EDGE FISH FILLET KIT 

3 A JENSEN 

PHANTOM ROD 

JOHN HUNTER 

+44 7990 542958 

john.hunter@dhpub.co.uk 

DAVID HAYNES 

david.haynes@dhpub.co.uk 

Contact John or David directly 

for details of how to send your 

product and a short description to 

Tackle Trade World’s office. 

This versatile power-assist reel is 

easier to operate and offers more 

power and more speed than its 

predecessors, vastly improving 

the angling experience while kite 

fishing, deep-dropping or bottomfishing 

for halibut, snowy grouper, 

tilefish and other beasts of the 

deep. 

Holding 1,100 yards of 80lb 

Daiwa J-Braid – 220 yards more 

than the Tanacom 1000, it also 

has a 30 per cent faster retrieval 

rate and 20 per cent more power. 

Maximum drag pressure has 

improved, too. 

Saltwater-sealed, the main 

feature though is new motor 

placement and gearing system., 

hidden inside the spool itself for 

greater performance. 

This six-piece kit features 6in, 

7½ in, and 9½in fillet blades, a 

thermoplastic rubber handle, a 

moulded sheath and a soft storage 

case. The knife handle is larger 

in diameter than previous Swift 

Edge counterparts. The handle 

also houses a lanyard/carabiner 

mount on the rear. This design 

and material are more useful in 

wet and slippery environments 

as it provides a better gripping 

surface. On top of the sheath is 

an integrated sharpening rod for 

easy use and quick honing. An 

integrated belt sheath makes it 

easy to carry safely. 

www.trueutility.com 

Built to meet and exceed the 

standards and needs of the 

modern fisherman, in salt or 

freshwater, these rods benefit 

from specialist input from around 

the globe. 

They are built on the base of its 

former top model, Spook Stalker, 

but with upgrades throughout 

including the best fittings and raw 

material on the market. The blank 

is made of mega high density, 

unidirectional 45 + 50 ton IM8 

nano carbon with SBD (Slim Blank 

Design) technology. 

New models for 2023 include an 

8ft 6in 4-wt, 8ft 5-, 6-wt and 7-wts 

plus a 9ft 9-wt. 

www.ajensenflyfishing.com 

www.daiwa.us 


JOIN THE 

TODAY! 

Fishing and tackle brands from all over the world have been a part of the Wave Army for 

years. The Wave Army are brands that utilize the Award-Winning MicroWave Line Control 

System. Rod designers and brands have been choosing the MicroWave Line Control System 

for its distance, control, and durability. Be a part of this ever-growing group of brands who 

have made the choice to join the Wave Army! 

The “Wave Army” is comprised of users and enthusiasts of the MicroWave Line Control System, the world’s only award-winning guide system. 

SCAN HERE TO LEARN MORE ABOUT THE WAVE ARMY AND THE MICROWAVE LINE CONTROL SYSTEM!

MAKING 

CONTACT 

5 

4 

7 

6 

4 WESTIN 

W3 LEG BAG 

5 Z-MAN FISHING 

SALTY NED SHRIMPZ 

6 SHAKESPEARE 

SUPERTEAM FLX REELS 

7 WYCHWOOD 

COMFORTER MINI PACKSMART 

Ideal for bank fishing and street 

fishing, thanks to the strap 

attachment around the waist and 

leg the W3 Leg Bag gives more 

movement and reduces pressure 

on your shoulders compared to a 

regular backpack. 

Made of 660D/210D diamond 

pattern polyester, it swallows 

all you need and features three 

pockets, one lure box, a Velcro 

tool strap and a clip to attach your 

accessories. The padded back 

means it is comfortable to carry 

all day long. 

www.westin-fishing.com 

This industry-first saltwaterspecific 

profile has been designed 

with the popular Ned rig finesse 

technique in mind. 

Made of 10x Tough ElaZtech for 

extreme durability, it features a 

lifelike shrimp profile with thin legs 

and antennae that quiver with the 

slightest movement. 

The naturally buoyant material 

allows for a slow sink rate and 

causes the bait to rise off the 

bottom for realistic presentation. 

The Shrimpz pair perfectly with 

Finesse BulletZ, ShroomZ, NedlockZ 

and Texas Eye jigheads. 

www.zmanfishing.com 

Ideal for fishing the float, bomb or 

light feeder, these reels are super 

lightweight and come in three 

sizes – 2000, 2500 and 300. 

The smaller sizes are great 

for float work while the 300 can 

handle bombs and feeders or any 

length rod for tackling commercial 

fisheries. 

Each has an ultra-high gear 

ratio of 7.2:0, meaning a 30 per 

cent faster retrieve compared with 

standard reels of this size. 

www.purefishing.com 

This mini modular system from 

Wychwood is just the job to keep 

you organised and prepared for 

your next trip. 

The Mini Packsmart consists 

of three compartments that 

zip and clip together to form a 

single transportable unit. The 

main compartment boasts carry 

handles on the top and side 

plus zips for a the two smaller 

compartments. 

Carry as one or split on arrival 

so everything is to hand and well 

organised. 

www.leeda.co.uk 


STOPPIONI s.n.c. Firenze Italy 

Tel.+39 0558739615 -Fax +39 0558739648 stonfo@stonfo.com 

BAIT ELASTIC BANDS 

Art.135 

Art.137 

MAGNUM BAIT ELASTIC BANDS 

Art.596 

Mis. 0 1 2 2,5 3 

Art.722 

BAIT BANDS TRIS 

Mis. 0 1 2 

Bait bands for triple or double hook baiting of pellets and boilies. For 

double hook baiting cut the third ring. 

Mis. 1 2 

Art.697 

BAIT BANDER TOOL 

Tool to open the elastic band allowing an easy insertion of pellets and 

other baits. Wide opening. Supplied with 24 bait elastic rings size 2-2,5- 

3 suitable for baits from 3 to 18 mm. 

Ø int 6 mm 

Ø int 4 mm 

www.stonfo.com 

NEW PACBAY 

CHARONOSAURUS 

ROLLER GUIDES 

The world’s best-known saltwater anglers trust in PACBAY’s fishing tackle components and accessories for their 

reliable and faultless performance. With a view to preserving its valued reputation, PACBAY has maintained a strict 

program of quality control in the making of each and every product with the PACBAY name carved on it. 

In the same spirit as always, PACBAY has now launched its brand-new Charonosaurus roller guides. 

- Aluminum openwork construction reduces weight but doesn’t reduce strength - Deeply embedded roller design restricts line from cramming between 

roller and frame - Inbuilt Teflon tube bearing to diminish friction and heat - Tube bearing treated with TEFLON for performance and constant lubrication 

- Perfectly shaped guide feet to fit blanks with tip size - The structure of the arch-bridge design reduces weight as well as reducing the restrain between 

blank and guide - Structure designed to accommodate knots and connection of wind-on leader – line never gets stuck 

- PACBAY roller tip-tops (model # ERT,EMRT,EJRT) are an excellent match for these guides - All products patented. 

Build Great Fishing Rods 

info@fishpacbay.com 

www.fishpacbay.com

FEATURE 

St Croix 

RE-ENGINEERED AND 

EXPANDED LEGEND 

TOURNAMENT BASS SERIES 

Three all-new swimbait rods with an ergonomic angler interface to provide a better bassfishing 

experience have grown St Croix Rods’ top-performing technique-specific series to 

27 models. 

Building on its expanding and 

proprietary expertise with 

hybrid blank development, 

St Croix’s latest expression of 

angler-centric design becomes reality 

with the Legend Tournament Bass 

rods, said to be lighter, stronger and 

poised to boost the fishing experience 

with improved balance, performance 

and capability in any technique or 

presentation. 

Unveiled earlier this year at the 

2022 Bassmaster Classic, 24 Legend 

Tournament Bass casting and spinning 

rods became available to anglers. 

Then, at ICAST 2022, a trio of 

swimbait models featuring St Croix’s 

proprietary GRASP reel seat were 

revealed, firmly establishing a new 

standard in heavy bass lure rod design 

and performance. 

Designed to excel in the presentation 

of swimbaits and Alabama rigs, these 

three rods bring the newly reimagined 

series to a total of 27 distinct techniquespecific 

high-performance models. 

BUILDING ON SUCCESS 

These rods feature next-generation 

hybrid SCIV+ carbon fibre blanks. Select 

reaction bait models will feature the latest 

iACT Glass hybrid blanks. In addition to 

their unique combinations of proprietary 


materials, the rods will also incorporate 

all of St Croix’s top technologies and 

premium components. 

Despite all the improvements, some 

things will stay the same… they remain 

handcrafted in Park Falls, Wisconsin, 

USA with a 15-year transferrable 

warranty backed by St Croix Superstar 

Service. They also retain their iconic 

Tournament Blue Pearl colour. 

St Croix brand manager Ryan Teach 

explained: “Recent launches of Croix 

Custom Ice, Legend Xtreme, Victory, 

Panfish and other series have proven 

the performance advantages that can be 

attained using hybrid blank designs. 

“We’re building rods for anglers today 

that are markedly lighter, stronger and 

better balanced than previous models and 

these hybrid designs are also allowing 

us to dial in specific models within each 

series to possess the unique performance 

characteristics that allow them to excel in 

their intended applications. 

“In other words, rods within the 

same series may look the same, but each 

individual blank contains a different and 

distinct combination of materials. 

“In the case of these 

Legend Tournament Bass rods, those 

materials are high modulus SCIV carbon, 

super-high modulus SCVI exotic carbon, 

and in the case of some of the reactionbait 

models, linear S-Glass. The specific 

and proprietary percentages, locations, 

and combinations are based on exhaustive 

research and testing for each length, 

power and action.” 

He revealed that the exercise of 

designing, testing and building the latest 

Victory Series opened the door to widerranging 

opportunities. 

“After we saw what could be 

accomplished with the hybrid SCIII+ 

material in the Victory Series, we knew 

SCIV+ would be next, and the anglerfavourite 

Legend Tournament Bass 

Series was the logical place to deliver the 

exciting advantages of this material to 

anglers.” 

ST CROIX 

www. stcroixrods.com

Registration is now open 

POWERED BY 

July 11-14 | Orlando, FL 

Orange County Convention Center 

ICASTfishing.org

FEATURE 

Daiwa 

QUALITY AND 

AFFORDABILITY 

COMBINE FOR 

TATULA COMBOS 

Daiwa’s Tatula name continues to make waves, this time around with a proven combination 

of baitcasting reel and the right rod for the job of bass fishing. 

Combining quality and 

affordability for bass fishing 

enthusiasts, Daiwa’s Tatula 

TWS reel and rod combos are 

a welcome addition to the brand’s bassfocused 

tackle. 

The baitcasting reels are matched with 

the right action and length rod, to cover 

all your bass fishing needs. 

The line up includes high-speed 7.3:1 

gear ratio Tatula 100CT reels in either 

right- or left-hand retrieves mounted on 

either a 7ft or 7ft 3in Daiwa-designed 

graphite rods, with four in all. 

Daiwa’s Marc Mills explained: “These 

Tatula TWS combos make it easy for 

more experienced bass anglers to use 

quality tackle when fishing a weeknight 

derby and are also perfect in both 

performance and price for those taking a 

serious interest in high school and college 

bass fishing circuits. 

“From our interaction with bass 

anglers at these levels, product quality 

tops the cost in the tackle they want, 

but we understand there are limits. The 

new Tatula TWS combos meet all those 

needs.” 

FEATURE-RICH 

Daiwa’s Tatula baitcasting reels have 

the requisite features for every bass 

technique, including the T-Wing System 

(TWS) for long casts and to reduce 

backlashes. 

The 100CT with its high-speed gear 

ratio matched with a 7ft medium action 

rod is ideal for jig and worm rigs, smaller/ 

medium crankbaits and topwater action. 

When combined with the 7ft 3in 

medium-heavy rod, the 100CT is 

ideal for all-around bass fishing action, 

including fishing heavy cover and casting 

bigger spinnerbaits and small swimbaits. 

Both rods offer all-day fishing comfort 

from their EVA split grip handle. 

These new combos join Daiwa’s everexpanding 

Tatula series of bass fishingfocused 

rods and reels. 

Marc added: “As we say when 

talking about any gear that carries that 

product name, with the Tatula TWS 

combos we’ve got your bass covered. 

“The Tatula TWS combos make it easy 

to be on the water with rods and reels you 

can have confidence in.” 

DAIWA 

daiwa.us 


WORLD 

CLASS 

FISHING 

TACKLE 

DESIGN - INNOVATION - EXCELLENCE 

Atomic tackle is a 100% Australian 

owned tackle company making rods, 

lures and line for a wide variety of 

fish species all over the world. With a 

guaranteed swimming action, and a 

huge choice, you can rely on Atomic 

when you absolutely have to catch fish. 

WWW.ATOMICTACKLE.COM.AU

2023 FISH TALES CUP 

THE LURE MASTER CHALLENGE 

Start registration, welcome to sponsor us 

Dates: 18-22 August 2023 

Location: Yunbing, Pahang, Malaysia 

VENUE:Kuala Rompin,Pahang,Malaysia 

consultation:robert.li365@gmail.com

Analysis of Chinese fishing tackle and fishing 

methods 

I also have a long history of fishing in Taiwan. By chance, 

I met a friend who was fishing with a thin extension rod by 

the side of the Taiwan fishing pond. Out of curiosity, I realized 

for the first time that this is a parallel rod. Looking at it I also 

started a journey of exploration and continuation with the 

wonderful arc of the fish and the happy expression of the fishing 

friends, and thus entered the black la fishing method, which is 

currently a small and mysterious black la circle in China. 

Heila is the transliteration of Japanese crucian carp. The 

so-called Heila fishing method is aimed at various methods 

of fishing Japanese high-backed white crucian carp. It is very 

popular in Japan and South Korea, because Japanese highbacked 

white crucian carp has the habit of foraging in various 

water layers (domestic Crucian carp basically feeds on the 

upper layer and the bottom), resulting in different water layer 

fishing methods such as the so-called shallow (fishing floats 

about 1 meter), deep (fishing depth 1-3 meters), bottom fishing 

(about 5 meters); If the bait is classified from the sub-line, it 

can be divided into two groups (two group baits, fishing at the 

same time) and combination (atomized group bait on the hook, 

and decoy bait like rice grains on the lower hook), so there is 

Qianzhou Combination, shallow two groups, deep combination, 

deep two groups, section bottom (bottom fishing combination), 

bottom fishing (bottom fishing two groups) and other various 

fishing methods for different fish conditions. It is precisely 

because of the habits of different water layers of Japanese highbacked 

crucian carp that it also gave birth to the vigorous 

development of business. I personally think that Taiwan fishing 

is a simplified version of Japan’s black fishing method or a 

modified version suitable for our country’s fish conditions. 

Taiwan fishing The three fishing rod sizes of 3.6, 4.5, and 5.4 

meters can basically meet the various fish conditions of Taiwan 

fishing (except for wild fishing with special lengths of 7.2 and 

8.1 meters), while the Japanese black fishing method requires 

fishing rods for different water layers In addition to the 12 basic 

sizes (7, 8...18 feet) (except wild fishing lengths of 19, 20...27 

feet, etc.), there are also non-integer sizes such as 8.1, 9.1..., etc. 

Japan has a detailed classification of products and workmanship 

The exquisite and shrewd business acumen is also worth 

learning from our domestic fishing tackle manufacturers. 

Bingji rods are popular in China now. I saw many fishing 

friends exchanging their experiences and experiences in Bingji 

Bar. I also wrote a few experience articles about Bingji for 

novices. I personally think that the reason why most fishing 

friends like Bingji so much is first of all. Due to its own plug-in 

structure, thin rod and thick wall, it can bring fishermen a more 

relaxed and comfortable fishing feel, and enjoy the pleasure 

of fishing with thin lines and small hooks; second, exquisite 

fishing tackle and various tonality ( First adjustment, basic first, 

original adjustment, fine adjustment, etc.), hardness (hard 

adjustment, soft adjustment, etc.), style (he rod, synthetic 

rod, carbon rod, etc.), brand (Dawa, Shimano, Gamma 

Katz, Edogawa, Zhengxing and Hegan masters, etc.), so that 

fishermen can't put it down, and there are more choices and 

topics of communication. In a sense, following the discussion 

of fishing tackle, it has become Continuing with the main 

topic and a beautiful landscape, the catch and fishing 

method take the second place. I think this is because with 

the continuous improvement of the living standards of the 

majority of fishing friends, many people have already moved 

from the material pursuit of fish catch to the joy of fishing. 

The spiritual realm of it. 

In the bar, I saw many fishing friends arguing about the 

advantages and disadvantages of union, vibration, black, 

Taiwan fishing, etc. I personally think that there is no 

distinction between high and low fishing, and the one that 

suits you is the best. I have two sets of fishing tackle for 

table fishing and black fishing. If I want to catch big fish and 

other fish species, I bring a fishing chair and a vibrating rod 

to experience the addiction of table fishing. I want to slowly 

experience the experience of walking fish with a thin line 

Feeling, just sit on the ground, use and continue to enjoy the 

pleasure of Hei La. 

Domestic heila fishing friends generally go through 

the journey of fishing in Taiwan first, then continuing, and 

finally playing heila. Therefore, the number of people is 

also distributed in a pyramid. The reason why Heila is not 

popular is because there are few professional Heila pools. 

Because Heila fishes different fish layers, it must meet the 

two necessary conditions of a water depth of about 5 meters 

and Japanese high-backed white crucian carp species. At 

present, only Shanghai, Beijing, Tianjin, and Zhejiang have 

very few professional fishing ponds, resulting in very few 

audiences. Second, the purpose of Heila Fishing is not to 

entertain the fish, but to release it as you catch it. It has a taste 

of Zen in the way of fishing. You sit cross-legged and fish 

near the water. It is the same as most Chinese people pursue 

big fish and catch fast fish. The pursuit of quantity, weight, 

and stimulation are very different, so there are very few 

people who catch hackers due to different concepts. Third, 

there are few professional teachers and videos to teach Heila 

fishing. The various fishing methods and Japanese make 

many beginners confused, thus dispelling the idea of further 

study. Fourth: the price of exquisite fishing tackle and bait 

is relatively high. Compared with Taiwan fishing, the socalled 

cost performance is not high from the perspective of 

fish catch, and some misleading people who make Heila so 

magical and unattainable will also cause many Fishermen 

are turned away. In fact, in Japan and other countries, this 

is a sport that is suitable for all ages. The popularity rate is 

very wide and the threshold is very low. It is not necessary 

to cross-legged to fish. The price of fishing rods also varies. 

Inexpensive, except that there is a big difference between 

float and bait and platform fishing (the black float needs to 

control the water layer, generally the buoyancy is relatively 

large, and the bait also has various special black baits), other 

fishing tackles for platform fishing are also fully capable 

Of course, there are so many fishing tackles matching 

Heila, such as rod hanging, Wanli, Yatou, Duancha, Yuzhi, 

nethead, etc., which are really exquisite and hard to put 

down. Every fishing friend can adjust them according to 

their actual situation and hobbies. choose.

China (Hainan) Sea Fishing Series Events Around 

the Island Successfully Held 

On December 11, 2022, the Changjiang Station of the China 

(Hainan) Round the Island Sea Fishing Grand Prix ended 

at Hainan Wanguo Qiziwan Beach Hotel. The champion, 

captains No. 23 and No. 19 won the Excellent Captain Award. 

So far, the six rounds of the 2022 China (Hainan) Round the 

Island Sea Fishing Grand Prix have come to a successful 

conclusion. 

Wang Shuang, deputy director of the Mass Sports 

Department of the Hainan Provincial Department of Tourism, 

Culture, Radio, Television and Sports; Wang Changjiang, 

deputy county magistrate of Changjiang Li Autonomous 

County; Director Liu An, director of the Competition and 

Referee Committee of the China Fishing Sports Association 

Hao Weidong, deputy chief referee Zheng Xiong of the 2022 

China (Hainan) Round the Island Sea Fishing Grand Prix, 

and Ke Rui, director of planning and operation of the Hainan 

Tourism and Leisure Sea Fishing Association, attended the 

closing ceremony of Changjiang Station and present awards to 

the winners. 

Changjiang is rich in marine ecological resources and the 

water is clear. It is one of the "natural fishing grounds" for 

sea fishing in western Hainan. Talking about why he chose 

Changjiang to hold the last round of the Island Sea Fishing 

Grand Prix, Chairman Liu An said in an interview with 

reporters that there are four natural fishing ports in Changjiang, Changhua, Haiwei, Shayutang and Xingang, and there are very 

rich types of sea fish. To meet the needs of fishing friends from all corners of the country, more importantly, Changjiang has both 

the double urban scenery of the sea and the tropical rainforest. The "natural oxygen bar" represented by Bawangling will provide 

fishing friends with physical and mental recuperation to relieve stress after the game . Compared with other venues, Changjiang is 

the first time to host the Sea Fishing Grand Prix around the island. Taking the event as an opportunity, it will promote the integrated 

development of "sea fishing + tourism" in Changjiang, further promote the natural advantages of Changjiang's recreational fishery, 

and build a Hainan Province sea fishing service center for Changjiang Contribute. 

After two days of competition, the top six winners of the round-the-island sea fishing grand prix Changjiang station are: Hainan 

Diaopinge Sea Fishing Club, Lingshui Sea Fishing Alliance Team 3, Jinghaitianyi Team, Hainan Kangtu Team , Rafting Crazy 

Dance Team, Jingzhou Yacht Sea Fishing Club; the top three single tail heavy groups belong to Xinqiao Fishing Gear, Lingshui Sea 

Fishing Alliance Team 2, and Mingyang Team respectively. 

At the end of the year, the cold air moved south, and the temperature dropped in many places in Hainan. The strong winds 

blowing from the sea brought uncertainty to the competition in this station. Li Cheng of Hainan Diaopinge Sea Fishing Club 

attributed the championship to luck, "Because of the strong wind, all teams in this competition can only fish in the inner harbor. 

Fishing spots, thanks to the mutual cooperation of our teammates and everyone’s years of sea fishing experience, we caught a 

large number of black bream and grouper, which made us stand out at Changjiang Station, where there are many strong players. A 

successful conclusion to the Grand Prix." 

With the closing of Changjiang Station, the nearly one-month 2022 China (Hainan) Round the Island Sea Fishing Grand Prix 

came to a successful conclusion. And Changjiang exhibits sea fishing techniques to experience the joy of catching fish. During the 

period, some fishermen in the province lamented the vast sea area and rich sea fishing resources in different cities and counties in 

Hainan, and some fishermen outside the province fell in love with Hainan's superior fishing environment and customs through the 

Grand Prix of Sea Fishing Around the Island. Lu Chunjie from Beijing Haitian Team 1 is a native of Beijing. In Hainan, he has an 

indissoluble bond with sea fishing. "I used to come to Hainan to play sea fishing every year, but it was usually seasonal. This time I

used the competition as a platform to play sea fishing. I stayed 

in Hainan for nearly a month and was deeply attracted by the 

unique high-quality sea fishing environment here. , Maybe I will 

live in Hainan for a long time in the future, so it will be more 

convenient to go to sea." Lu Chunjie laughed and talked about his 

feelings after completing the six rounds of the Island Sea Fishing 

Grand Prix. 

Through the holding of this round-the-island sea fishing grand 

prix, the advantages of Hainan's tropical marine resources are 

shown to fishermen inside and outside the province, so that more 

people can see the unique charm of Hainan's "sea fishing resort", 

and promote the vigorous and healthy development of Hainan sea 

fishing. Promote the deep integration of sports and tourism, create a beautiful business card for the sports tourism industry, stimulate 

tourism consumption, and help build a national sports tourism demonstration zone and an international tourism consumption center 

in Hainan Province. 

The 2022 China (Hainan) Circle Island Sea Fishing Grand Prix is organized by the China Fishing Sports Association, the 

Hainan Provincial Department of Tourism, Culture, Radio, Television and Sports, the People's Government of Haikou City, the 

People's Government of Wenchang City, the People's Government of Wanning City, the People's Government of Lingao County, 

and Lingshui Co-sponsored by the People's Government of Li Autonomous County and the People's Government of Changjiang 

Li Autonomous County, Haikou City Tourism Bureau, Wenchang City Tourism Bureau, Wanning City Tourism Bureau, Lingao 

County Tourism Bureau, Lingshui Li Autonomous County Tourism Bureau, Changjiang Li Autonomous County Organized by 

the Bureau of Tourism and Culture and Hainan Tourism, Leisure and Sea Fishing Association, co-organized by Hainan Provincial 

Health Commission, Hainan Provincial Public Security Department, Hainan Provincial Department of Agriculture and Rural 

Affairs, Hainan Maritime Safety Administration, Hainan Provincial Department of Industry and Information Technology, and 

Hainan Provincial Meteorological Bureau, Hainan Province The whole event planning of the Tourism and Leisure Sea Fishing 

Association.

FEATURE 

Marketing 

WHY EMPLOYEES 

ARE CRUCIAL TO 

YOUR GROWTH 

Business owners and managers often feel like they need to make all the decisions and set the 

tone for their company but, in fact, your employees can be superb brand extensions for you… 

if you let them. 

We’ve probably all heard 

the phrase ‘employee 

engagement’ but there is a 

case to push this concept 

further and empower and activate your staff 

too. 

After all, you can’t do everything in your 

business and you can’t always be there 24/7, 

which is why you employ staff in the first 

place. 

And yet, we often see these employees as 

simply ‘cover’ or an extra pair of hands when, 

in fact, they can be ‘activated’ to really boost 

your business. 

A great customer experience starts with 

your staff – whether that is the person who 

answers the phone or the one who greets 

customers on their way into your store or 

business. 

So not only do they need to be 

personable and pleasant but they should 

be knowledgeable too. Spend some time 

training them about your product range or 

the ethos of your business and you have a 

new brand ambassador who engages at the 

earliest opportunity with your buyers. 

Customers now know your business cares 

about them, can answer their questions 


and offer advice before they even reach the 

manager or owner! 

HAPPY STAFF, HAPPY CUSTOMERS 

It stands to reason your staff will work better 

for you if they enjoy what they do and work in 

a good atmosphere. 

Make your workplace an attractive place to 

be – heating or air conditioning (as necessary), 

a kitchen for food and drink preparation and a 

pleasant area for breaks. 

Keep them informed about what your 

business is doing – successes, new products, 

key decisions – and get them involved in 

discussions about future projects. 

That all seems obvious so now it’s time to 

move the concept forward. 

Activating your staff means empowering 

them to become an extension of your company. 

Training will help them understand your 

culture and your products and it can also help 

them climb the ladder of your business. You 

have invested in these people so you want 

to keep them and help them grow too. The 

more skills they develop, the higher up your 

organisation they can aim. 

If they are tech savvy, encourage them to 

post or share online or social media content on 

your behalf. Having someone else producing 

content about your products, services and 

culture will free up some of your time and 

increase the output and visibility of your 

brand or business. 

Can they take photos, make videos or 

write blog content for you? You could turn 

a shopfloor helper into a digital marketing 

executive – which is good news for both of 

you. 

And once they start sharing all the good 

things about your business, it will become 

ingrained and will manifest itself in their 

face-to-face interaction with customers while 

also making the workplace a more dynamic 

and exciting place to be. 

And who doesn’t want that for their 

business? 

• 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 

wwwhuntermedia.co.uk

Advertise Here 

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 

SPLIT RING PLIERS 

4 Sizes 

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 

www.TexasTackle.com 

- pole floats 

- CARP floats 

- sliding floats 

- bolognese 

...and much more 

shingoats.net@gmail.com 

+381 638147859 

Nis - Serbia(EU) 

Inventory volume 

to support 

REAL wholesale 

Call us to open an account today! 

(360) 681-2381 

Or email us at 

sales@batsonenterprises.com 

visit our website 

www.batsonenterprises.com 

® 

COMING UP… 

APRIL 2023 ISSUE 

Ad Copy: Feb 24th, 2023 

Mailed: March 15th, 2023 

Special issue: Saltwater Fishing 

Spotlight: Lures 

Doing Business With: Denmark 

MAY 2023 ISSUE 

Ad Copy: March 24th, 2023 

Mailed: April 13th, 2023 

Special issue: Inshore Fishing 

Spotlight: Eyewear 

Doing Business With: Texas 

JUNE 2023 – EFTTEX PREVIEW 

Ad Copy: April 21st, 2023 

Mailed: May 11th, 2023 

Special issue: Fishing Technology 

Spotlight: Bait 

Doing Business With: Australia 

& New Zealand 

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 

Last Cast 

to shine a light on the entire angling 

value chain. Together with tackle 

shops, wholesalers, fishing guides, 

tour boats, ‘put and take’ waters and 

tourism businesses, we are working on 

establishing the number of jobs and the 

size of the economy related to angling. 

We believe firmly that numbers beat 

words. 

Even before we have the statistics in 

place, we have seen political interest in 

the outcome. Our minister of fisheries 

has asked us to arrange a conference 

about angling as a driver for local 

economy and jobs. 

With such a conference, we can 

produce numbers that tell a story of a 

The Danish Sports Fishing Association 

Federation House is an active place for 

anglers, while at the same time housing 

the Sports Fishermen’s Association’s 

administrative part. 

LAST CAST... 

The work of fishing associations in every country is vital. 

Torben Kass, chairman of Danmarks Sportsfiskerforbund, 

outlines how the Danish organisation is improving relations 

with the industry and political leaders to improve fishing 

and the trade for everyone. 

We all want the same 

thing – cleaner waters, 

more fish, improvements 

in nature. This applies 

regardless of whether we are anglers, 

tackle shops, or owners of local 

businesses living from fishing tourists. 

We are in the same boat. 

In the national angling associations, 

we are used to working on these topics. 

We go to our authorities and politicians 

to make them aware of the problems 

and of our wishes for better possibilities 

for our members. And if it doesn’t hurt 

agriculture or commercial fishing too 

much, we get small concessions and 

minor changes of regulations. 

Recreational activities do not beat 

commercial interests. And there is very 

little awareness that angling relates to 

real economy like jobs, tax base and 

turnover in local communities. In the 

heads of our parliamentarians, angling is 

pure recreation, and it is free of cost to 

ignore our problems. 

In Denmark, we now try to join forces 

between the national Danish angling 

association and the commercial side 

fish caught by an angler being 100 times 

worth the value of the same fish caught 

by a commercial fisher. This is what 

we need to argue for funds to develop 

angling and make space for anglers – 

even if it means less space for some 

commercial activities. 

In the past we have experienced staff, 

particularly in tackle shops, as being 

sceptical of our angling association. 

Often, the tackle shop staff are the first 

and most important source of knowledge 

on how to get catch that first fish for a 

newcomer. 

While, for experienced anglers, it is 

the place where they complain about 

not catching enough! We need the staff 

to convey a message that the national 

association works hard to change things 

and that we need members to have the 

legitimacy and the economy to do that 

job properly. 

Right now, we are building cooperation 

with tackle shops all over the country 

where the staff get free membership of 

our association and we give them courses 

on fish biology, new techniques – and 

the importance of our work. And, in 

return, the staff will tell their customers 

about the importance of joining our 

association. 

www.sportsfiskeren.dk

Tackle Trade Word - February 2023

Create successful ePaper yourself

Delete template?

Save as template?