Tackle Trade World - January 2024
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SENT TO MORE THAN<br />
18,500<br />
TACKLE INDUSTRY<br />
PROFESSIONALS<br />
IN OVER<br />
120 COUNTRIES<br />
EVERY MONTH<br />
JANUARY <strong>2024</strong>
Registration Opens<br />
in February!<br />
July 16-19<br />
Orlando, FL<br />
POWERED BY<br />
Orange County Convention Center<br />
ICASTfishing.org
COMMITTED TO INCREASING YOUR BUSINESS GLOBALLY<br />
www.tackletradeworld.com<br />
VISTING CHINA FISH<br />
Your guide to what’s on<br />
offer at this key show.<br />
PAGE 18<br />
LIGHTING UP LURES<br />
How Strike Pro<br />
is redefining lure<br />
illumination. PAGE 22<br />
RECORD $394 BILLION SPENT<br />
ON FISHING AND OUTDOOR<br />
ACTIVITIES IN USA<br />
Americans over 16<br />
enjoyed 1.7 billion<br />
trips to fish, hunt or<br />
go boating in 2022, boosting<br />
the US economy by spending<br />
an estimated $394 billion on<br />
equipment, travel, licences and<br />
fees.<br />
That’s according to recordbreaking<br />
figures from the 2022<br />
National Survey of Fishing,<br />
Hunting, and Wildlife-<br />
Associated Recreation,<br />
compiled by the US Fish<br />
and Wildlife Service and<br />
the Association of Fish and<br />
Wildlife Agencies.<br />
The survey, coordinated by<br />
the service, shows that US<br />
residents over the age of 16<br />
took over 1.7 billion trips in<br />
2022 to participate in outdoor<br />
activities like fishing, hunting,<br />
wildlife watching, recreational<br />
boating and target shooting<br />
– indeed some 40 million<br />
Americans went fishing during<br />
the year.<br />
Service director Martha<br />
Williams explained: “Time<br />
spent in nature is an important<br />
part of the human experience<br />
and can provide lifelong<br />
memories, connections to<br />
others, healthy activities, and a<br />
sense of rest and healing.<br />
“These numbers demonstrate<br />
how important our public lands<br />
and wild places are, not just for<br />
the wellbeing of people who<br />
enjoy them, but as an economic<br />
engine that provides thousands<br />
of jobs and sustains businesses,<br />
economies and communities<br />
throughout the nation.<br />
“The stewardship of our<br />
natural resources and access<br />
for fishing, hunting, and other<br />
wildlife-related activities is<br />
enhanced by the Biden-Harris<br />
Administration’s work under<br />
the ‘America The Beautiful’<br />
initiative.”<br />
The 2022 survey, which offers<br />
a snapshot view of participation<br />
rates and was conducted by the<br />
National Opinion Research<br />
Centre at the University of<br />
Chicago, found that 148 million<br />
residents watched wildlife in<br />
2022 while 40 million went<br />
fishing and 14.4 million hunted.<br />
This means that roughly 57<br />
per cent of Americans 16 years<br />
of age or older participated in<br />
wildlife watching, 15 per cent<br />
fished and six per cent hunted<br />
last year. These trips equalled<br />
• Continued on page 8<br />
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<br />
PROFESSIONALS IN OVER 120 COUNTRIES EVERY MONTH
JANUARY<br />
<strong>2024</strong><br />
<strong>Tackle</strong><strong>Trade</strong><br />
www.tackletradeworld.com<br />
EDITORIAL<br />
WE NEED TO STAY IN<br />
THE ‘LONG GAME’<br />
Editor:<br />
John Hunter<br />
04<br />
+44 7990 542958<br />
john.hunter@dhpub.co.uk<br />
A journalist all his life and with 20-plus years<br />
of international business magazine experience,<br />
John was the founding editor of TTW and has<br />
now returned to the helm. He has helped<br />
many brands launch and grow over the years<br />
through B2B publications and via his own<br />
consultancy business.<br />
ADVERTISING<br />
North America:<br />
Bart Manganiello<br />
+1 914 722 7601<br />
bartalm@optonline.net<br />
For over 38 years, Bart has been working with<br />
trade magazines, 34 in the tackle industry.<br />
Since 2001, he has been TTW’s North American<br />
Director, providing the best communication<br />
programs to companies, helping them connect<br />
with current and prospective trade partners<br />
around the world.<br />
Rest Of The <strong>World</strong>:<br />
Guido Knegt<br />
+39 3475036436<br />
guido.knegt@dhpub.co.uk<br />
A born and bred Dutchman, he spent five<br />
years travelling the world as a scuba-diving<br />
instructor and English teacher before settling<br />
down in Sardinia. Guido previously worked for<br />
TTW between 2014 and 2017.<br />
China: Robert Li<br />
Li Ziwei<br />
+86 13451914155<br />
robert.li365@gmail.com<br />
Li Ziwei (Robert) has been working as news<br />
editor for over 20 years. He founded the most<br />
influential Chinese fishing forum in the Straits<br />
and successfully organised many industry<br />
events. His love for culture and tourism has led<br />
him to devote his entire life to the exchanges<br />
between China and southeast Asia.<br />
Magazine Manager<br />
Justin Fox<br />
+44 7813 327966<br />
justin.fox@dhpub.co.uk<br />
A hugely experienced communicator with<br />
more than 20 years at parent company DHP,<br />
Justin knows what it takes to grow brands<br />
and businesses across the tackle sector.<br />
Sub Editor: David Haynes<br />
Art Editor: Paul Evans<br />
Editorial Design: Brad Sharp<br />
DHP LTD<br />
Editorial, administration, subscriptions and<br />
accounts to: DHP Ltd, 1st Floor, Nene House,<br />
Sopwith Way, Daventry, NN11 8EA, UK<br />
www.tackletradeworld.com<br />
As we welcome in <strong>2024</strong>, it’s an<br />
opportunity to take stock – of both<br />
our own businesses and of the<br />
industry at large.<br />
I think most of us can agree that 2023 was<br />
a difficult trading year and the start of <strong>2024</strong><br />
has done little to raise our optimism.<br />
A couple of years back – during the<br />
Covid-19 pandemic and the subsequent<br />
wave of additional interest in our sport –<br />
everyone was being urged to make the most<br />
of this and also work on ways to maintain<br />
that interest to ensure more customers who<br />
would keep coming back.<br />
It seems those suggestions fell on deaf<br />
ears.<br />
Suppliers geared up production at a<br />
difficult time to ensure retailers were stocked<br />
to the gunwales with product which, initially<br />
at least, flew out off the shelves.<br />
Looking at the surveys and figures for<br />
2022 from various industry sectors in<br />
recent months, it is clear we saw record<br />
participation numbers in many countries<br />
where fishing was seen as an ideal way to<br />
break the monotony of lockdown and enjoy<br />
the great outdoors.<br />
But, despite the efforts of some, it appears<br />
we were all too busy cashing in on this mini<br />
boom to concentrate on retaining our new<br />
anglers once the world opened up again and<br />
people could get back to all the other things<br />
that stopped them going fishing – school,<br />
work, socialising and more.<br />
Dealers are bemoaning shelves groaning<br />
with unbought product while suppliers are<br />
scratching for orders, even for the latest kit<br />
they have worked hard to develop.<br />
It’s a sad state of affairs but throughout<br />
recent months we have heard the same<br />
refrain the world over – budgets are tight<br />
and there is little sense in advertising<br />
product no one wants or working on even<br />
more new gear when they can’t shift existing<br />
3,511<br />
6,466<br />
tackle or apparel.<br />
Thankfully our industry is cyclical and,<br />
in time, that excess stock will dwindle and<br />
there will be a thirst once again for retailers<br />
to place regular orders.<br />
Of course, that will be driven by what’s<br />
happening out there on the banks of our<br />
lakes and rivers, on our coastlines and in<br />
boats around the world.<br />
But, for sure, we need more people<br />
discovering (or rediscovering) fishing and<br />
then maintaining their newfound hobby.<br />
Our angling clubs, fishing associations,<br />
coaches and conservation organisations have<br />
a huge part to play in this and, if we aren‘t<br />
already, we should be putting some of our<br />
support – both time and money – into these<br />
bodies.<br />
We should be working with them – and<br />
fisheries – not just on encouraging people to<br />
pick up a rod for the first time but to follow<br />
up and bring them back to the bank time<br />
and again.<br />
It takes investment in time, effort and<br />
money but if we want to still be making and<br />
selling fishing tackle into the next decade<br />
and beyond, we need to focus like never<br />
before.<br />
There will always be circumstances outside<br />
our control – Covid proved to be a curse<br />
and then a blessing – but we actually have<br />
participation growth within our remit.<br />
We know more people went fishing in<br />
recent years – and enjoyed it – we need to<br />
concentrate on reaching out to them once<br />
more and bringing them back.<br />
It won’t happen overnight but continued<br />
investment in this area WILL reap rewards<br />
for us all. I remain hopeful, for this year and<br />
beyond.<br />
John Hunter<br />
Editor
JANUARY<br />
<strong>2024</strong><br />
24<br />
16 20<br />
10<br />
Contents<br />
08 NEWS<br />
Italian brands Lineaeffe and Nomura plan<br />
a stronger foray into the UK and Ireland<br />
while a tagging programme will boost<br />
Australian fishing.<br />
10 BUILDING A BETTER FUTURE<br />
Foundation Outdoor Group, the giant<br />
rod-building components supplier is going<br />
global, opening a European headquarters<br />
in Sweden.<br />
16 THE ONLY SPORTFISHING SHOW IN<br />
TOWN<br />
The next best thing to being on the water<br />
and experiencing the thrill of the catch is<br />
attending ICAST each summer in Florida –<br />
the biggest tackle show in the world.<br />
18 THE BEST TIME TO VISIT CHINA FISH<br />
With a record number of exhibitors there<br />
has never been a better time to visit China<br />
Fish than February <strong>2024</strong>. We tell you all<br />
you need to know…<br />
06 www.tackletradeworld.com<br />
18<br />
20 THE PATH TO PERFECTION?<br />
The Fly Company has a reputation<br />
for working with great brands across<br />
Europe and now it has landed top fly line<br />
manufacturer Cortland.<br />
22 LIGHTING UP THE LURE MARKET<br />
Taiwan tackle giant Strike Pro continues its<br />
innovative approach with the introduction<br />
of its dual internal illuminating body<br />
system for lures.<br />
24 SPOTLIGHT ON BOAT ACCESSORIES<br />
Anglers fishing from boats need more than<br />
a means of propulsion and a fishing rod.<br />
There’s a whole host of accessories you<br />
should be stocking.<br />
28 DOING BUSINESS WITH… TAIWAN<br />
With a history of manufacturing and<br />
some key tackle brands, plus great fishing<br />
opportunities, the island of Taiwan has<br />
much to recommend it.<br />
38<br />
32 MAKING CONTACT<br />
There’s some great gear you should<br />
consider stocking from key brands. We<br />
look at the latest equipment customers<br />
will be keen to see.<br />
38 THE NEXT EVOLUTION OF G4 HAS<br />
ARRIVED<br />
Simms kicks off <strong>2024</strong> with the release of<br />
an all-new iteration of its flagship wader,<br />
the G4Z Stockingfoot; another evolution in<br />
design.<br />
42 NEW YEAR, NEW MARKETING<br />
STRATEGY<br />
As the New Year begins, it’s a great time to<br />
assess your marketing plan for the coming<br />
12 months and ensure it’s fit for purpose.
Super<br />
Heat Dissipation<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
Super<br />
Low-Friction<br />
Super<br />
Hardness<br />
Super<br />
Lightness
RECORD $394 BILLION SPENT ON FISHING<br />
AND OUTDOOR ACTIVITIES IN USA<br />
• Continued from page 3<br />
a combined total of 14 billion<br />
days spent in the field, on the<br />
water and around the home<br />
viewing wildlife – an all-time<br />
high.<br />
These activities represent an<br />
economic powerhouse, where<br />
participants together spent $394<br />
billion in 2022, the most ever<br />
recorded in any national survey,<br />
adjusted for inflation.<br />
The survey has been conducted<br />
approximately every five years<br />
since 1955. The latest one is the<br />
first national survey to use a<br />
“push to web” approach, enabling<br />
respondents to complete the<br />
survey online. Respondents<br />
could also call in or fill out and<br />
mail in their questionnaire.<br />
These options, combined with<br />
a new, shorter questionnaire,<br />
gave participants more choices<br />
and made the survey more<br />
convenient to complete than in<br />
prior years, but the changes in<br />
methodology mean that 2022<br />
results should not be directly<br />
compared to results from any<br />
previous survey.<br />
Other changes to the 2022<br />
survey include data collection on<br />
recreational motorised boating<br />
and recreational shooting sports<br />
for the first time.<br />
“We are grateful to the<br />
more than 100,000 survey<br />
respondents from households<br />
across America that took part in<br />
the 2022 Survey,” added Director<br />
Williams.<br />
“Because of this participation,<br />
the national survey continues to<br />
serve as the nation’s definitive<br />
wildlife-related recreation<br />
database and a crucial source<br />
of information on participation<br />
rates and economic impacts of<br />
outdoor activities across the<br />
nation.”<br />
This year’s survey design<br />
recognises that, in addition to<br />
wildlife-dependent activities<br />
like hunting and fishing and<br />
wildlife-watching, recreational<br />
boating and target shooting are<br />
also important nature-dependent<br />
pastimes that link people to<br />
wildlife and wild places.<br />
For many, these activities<br />
are a lifestyle and gateway to<br />
the outdoors and a connection<br />
to nature that creates lifelong<br />
memories.<br />
Each National Survey of<br />
Fishing, Hunting, and Wildlife-<br />
Associated Recreation is a<br />
wealth of information allowing<br />
stakeholders, researchers, and<br />
agency partners to examine<br />
changes in recruitment,<br />
participation, and retention in<br />
outdoor activities over time.<br />
The in-depth survey is<br />
available to view here: shorturl.<br />
at/eruR9<br />
Crewsaver brings safety deal to<br />
Sea Angling Classic <strong>2024</strong><br />
Crewsaver, Survitec’s leading lifejacket<br />
brand, has announced a partnership with<br />
the UK’s biggest sea fishing catch and<br />
release competition, the Sea Angling<br />
Classic, for the upcoming <strong>2024</strong> season.<br />
The partnership was confirmed at<br />
METSTRADE in Amsterdam, bringing<br />
together key players from the leisure<br />
industry. The safety partnership will<br />
comprise the provision of Crewsaver’s<br />
Survival Technology, along with providing<br />
expertise and guidance on the care and<br />
maintenance of safety equipment.<br />
Chris Cox, Crewsaver’s general<br />
manager, said: “As the designated safety<br />
equipment provider for Sea Angling<br />
Classic, this partnership reinforces our<br />
dedication to promoting lifejacket safety<br />
awareness and helping to protect lives.<br />
Sea Angling Classic promotes angling<br />
across the UK in a responsible manner<br />
and this partnership was a perfect fit for<br />
Crewsaver.<br />
“Our high-performance safety<br />
equipment ensures both comfort and<br />
functionality without limitation as we<br />
eagerly anticipate the forthcoming<br />
competition event<br />
in Portsmouth next<br />
summer.”<br />
A brand with over<br />
60 years’ experience<br />
in survival technology<br />
equipment design and<br />
manufacture, Crewsaver’s<br />
solutions are extensive<br />
and include lifejackets,<br />
buoyancy aids, liferafts,<br />
performance clothing<br />
and man overboard<br />
recovery.<br />
Crewsaver’s lifejackets<br />
incorporate Fusion 3D<br />
technology that moulds to the wearer’s<br />
body and is compact and lightweight.<br />
The lifejackets sit off the neck, giving<br />
sailors total freedom of movement and<br />
ensuring they are comfortable even in the<br />
most challenging environments, without<br />
compromising on safety.<br />
Sea Angling Classic founder Ross<br />
Honey added: “Running world-class<br />
events requires world-class partners and<br />
Crewsaver, with its vast range of products,<br />
Ross Honey, founder of Sea<br />
Angling Classic (left), and Chris Cox,<br />
general manager of Crewsaver.<br />
fits perfectly with the events we’re staging.<br />
We are excited to have Crewsaver and its<br />
team with expert knowledge as our safety<br />
partner.”<br />
Also showcased at METSTRADE<br />
by Crewsaver was a pioneering duo of<br />
lifejackets crafted to cater to safety-driven<br />
water sports and adventure enthusiasts.<br />
The Crewsaver EXO lifejackets guarantee<br />
unparalleled comfort and performance,<br />
ensuring peace of mind to enjoy leisure<br />
activities in absolute safety.<br />
08 www.tackletradeworld.com
Italian brands drive growth<br />
with UK appointment<br />
Top brands Lineaeffe and<br />
Nomura are promising a stronger<br />
drive in the UK and Ireland with<br />
the news that Andy Macgregor<br />
will be taking the reins as the<br />
brands’ head of new business<br />
development.<br />
With a wealth of experience in<br />
the tackle market, Andy is set to<br />
lead sales and marketing for both<br />
Lineaeffe and Nomura, striving<br />
to enhance the position of these<br />
Italian brands in what is a very<br />
competitive market.<br />
Andy’s career highlights<br />
include successfully managing a<br />
carp fishing magazine in Spain<br />
and collaborating with industry<br />
giants like Rapala and Shimano.<br />
His role as a director on the<br />
board of Angling Scotland has<br />
consistently pushed the industry<br />
forward.<br />
According to Franco Ferrari<br />
and Marco Tortora, Andy’s<br />
extensive market knowledge and<br />
successful collaborations make<br />
him ideal for leading the next<br />
phase of growth.<br />
His appointment marks<br />
a transformative phase for<br />
Lineaeffe and Nomura, with a<br />
robust strategy to expand their<br />
presence in the UK and Irish<br />
markets.<br />
Under Andy’s dynamic<br />
leadership, the brands say they are<br />
entering an exciting chapter and<br />
they are now inviting partners<br />
and enthusiasts to connect and<br />
play a role in shaping a stronger<br />
and more successful future for<br />
this market.<br />
Andy can be contacted on<br />
+44 0776 421081 or at andy@<br />
lineaeffe.it<br />
TAGGING PROGRAM<br />
WILL HIGHLIGHT VALUE<br />
OF ANGLERS<br />
Recreational anglers in Australia<br />
have given an opportunity to show<br />
how valuable they are thanks to an<br />
innovative fish tagging project in<br />
the Murray-Darling Basin.<br />
OzFish Unlimited, together<br />
with Charles Sturt University<br />
researchers and First Nations<br />
groups will spearhead the program<br />
due to funding support from<br />
the Australian Government’s<br />
OneBasin CRC program and the<br />
New South Wales Recreational<br />
Fishing Trust.<br />
It’s the first time a program has<br />
entrusted freshwater anglers and<br />
river rangers with this important<br />
work.<br />
Volunteers will complete<br />
specialist training on fish handling<br />
and be taught how to implant the<br />
Passive Integrated Transponder<br />
(PIT) Tags with a special tool.<br />
The first workshop was held at<br />
Deniliquin on November 25th with<br />
further events scheduled to take<br />
place at Swan Hill and Mildura<br />
early in <strong>2024</strong>.<br />
Dr John Conallin, who is<br />
supporting the project, explained:<br />
“The data gathered will give us a<br />
long-term picture of where native<br />
fish are moving and perhaps not<br />
moving in the Murray Darling<br />
Basin. It is critical to help uncover<br />
where our energy and focus needs<br />
to be to help native fish.”<br />
While Braeden Lampard,<br />
OzFish’s senior program manager<br />
for the Murray Darling Basin,<br />
added: “Australia runs some of<br />
the largest and longest running<br />
saltwater tagging programs in<br />
the world. They’ve been widely<br />
used for years with the support<br />
of recreational fishers, however<br />
for our freshwater anglers along<br />
the Murray Darling Basin, this is<br />
uncharted territory.”<br />
In contrast to conventional<br />
tagging programs in saltwater<br />
environments, these tags are<br />
designed to emit signals or “ping”<br />
when the fish passes through a lock<br />
or fishway.<br />
The long-term goal is to utilise<br />
recreational fishers and river rangers<br />
in fish tagging programs across<br />
the basin, integrated into scientific<br />
programs as trusted partners.<br />
www.ozfish.org.au<br />
2023-24<br />
Over 1,400 New<br />
Line Items in our<br />
2023-<strong>2024</strong> Catalog<br />
14,600+ Products<br />
Available for your<br />
Fly Tying Shops Walls!<br />
Microflex Soft<br />
Hackle Chenille<br />
Available in 5 sizes and<br />
31 Great Colors!
ROD BUILDING BRANDS SET<br />
FIRM FOUNDATION IN EUROPE<br />
Foundation Outdoor Group, arguably the<br />
world’s leading supplier of rod-building<br />
components, equipment and instruction,<br />
is taking a significant stride in its global<br />
expansion, opening a European headquarters<br />
in Sweden.<br />
This move comes less than three months<br />
after the acquisition of American <strong>Tackle</strong><br />
Company International and Mud Hole<br />
Custom <strong>Tackle</strong>, solidifying Foundation<br />
Outdoor Group’s position as an industry<br />
powerhouse.<br />
The newly formed subsidiary, Foundation<br />
Outdoor Group Europe AB, will spearhead<br />
sales and distribution efforts across Europe<br />
and beyond.<br />
Heading this international initiative<br />
is Gary Benny, who brings a wealth of<br />
experience in the European tackle industry<br />
and previously served as the European<br />
branch manager at American <strong>Tackle</strong>.<br />
Brook Oliva, president and COO of<br />
Foundation Outdoor Group, said: “This<br />
expansion is indicative of our commitment<br />
to grow the global presence of Foundation<br />
Outdoor Group.<br />
“We’re excited to bring Gary aboard from<br />
American <strong>Tackle</strong> to lead this international<br />
effort. He has a wealth of international<br />
business experience and an entrepreneurial<br />
spirit that fits perfectly with our leadership<br />
team and our assertive<br />
growth strategy.”<br />
In support of<br />
Foundation Outdoor<br />
Group Europe AB’s<br />
mission, the company<br />
has acquired a new<br />
European headquarters<br />
building located in the<br />
strategic port city of<br />
Halmstad, Sweden.<br />
This 2,100 sq<br />
m (22,604 sq ft)<br />
modern facility is<br />
ideally positioned to<br />
facilitate international<br />
distribution and access to intermodal<br />
distribution channels within the European<br />
Union.<br />
The headquarters will serve as a showcase<br />
for Foundation Outdoor Group’s extensive<br />
range of fishing and outdoor recreation<br />
product lines, housing executive and sales<br />
offices, a showroom and a state-of-the-art<br />
warehouse and distribution centre.<br />
Built in 2020, the facility features loading<br />
docks, grade-level loading, 9m (30ft) high<br />
ceilings and pallet racking, enabling Full<br />
Truckload (FTL) and Less-Than-Truckload<br />
(LTL) shipments to arrive at the port of<br />
Halmstad and be seamlessly transported to<br />
the unit.<br />
Gary added: “The new headquarters<br />
facility is in an ideal location and has<br />
everything we need to support our business<br />
expansion. Foundation Outdoor Group’s<br />
growth plans are both strategic and<br />
aggressive, and I am looking forward to<br />
driving our business and supporting anglers<br />
and our industry across Europe.”<br />
Foundation Outdoor Group’s portfolio<br />
of renowned brands currently includes<br />
Mud Hole Custom <strong>Tackle</strong>, American<br />
<strong>Tackle</strong>, MHX, Custom Rod Builder (CRB),<br />
ProProducts, ThreadMaster and FishHawk.<br />
www.foundationoutdoorgroup.com<br />
Conservation body tackling Florida water quality<br />
The Bonefish & Tarpon Trust,<br />
whose mission is to conserve<br />
bonefish, tarpon and permit<br />
fisheries through science,<br />
education and advocacy, has<br />
launched a campaign to raise<br />
awareness of Florida’s water<br />
quality issues.<br />
Titled Win Back Our Water,<br />
it highlights three key issues<br />
that have been identified<br />
as harming Florida’s water<br />
quality: failing and/or outdated<br />
wastewater and stormwater<br />
infrastructure; pharmaceutical<br />
contaminants, and glyphosate<br />
pollution that can result from<br />
the use of herbicides.<br />
The campaign follows<br />
ongoing harmful algal blooms,<br />
poor water quality, seagrass<br />
loss, fish kills and contaminants<br />
such as pharmaceuticals in fish<br />
and other marine organisms<br />
that show that much more<br />
action is needed, especially<br />
considering the ways that a<br />
changing climate aggravates<br />
these problems.<br />
Win Back Our Water aims<br />
to mobilise Floridians to take<br />
action to protect their state’s<br />
waterways and builds on BTT’s<br />
water quality priorities, most<br />
notably advocacy in support of<br />
Everglades restoration.<br />
The campaign emphasises<br />
the importance of water quality<br />
not only for marine ecosystems<br />
but also for the many Florida<br />
residents who depend on clean<br />
water for their livelihoods,<br />
recreation and<br />
quality of life.<br />
“Florida is at<br />
a crossroads,”<br />
said Jim<br />
McDuffie,<br />
BTT’s<br />
president and<br />
CEO. “Failing<br />
and outdated<br />
wastewater and<br />
stormwater<br />
infrastructure,<br />
pharmaceutical<br />
contaminants<br />
and glyphosate<br />
pollution threaten our coastal<br />
aquatic resources, economy and<br />
way of life.<br />
“The Win Back Our Water<br />
campaign is a call to action to<br />
Algal blooms are one key indicator of issues with<br />
water quality.<br />
protect the state’s waterways by<br />
addressing issues that threaten<br />
water quality and, ultimately,<br />
our livelihoods.”<br />
www.btt.org/winbackourwater<br />
10 www.tackletradeworld.com
American Fishing<br />
Wire has clear plan<br />
for acquisition<br />
FLY FISHING WORLD<br />
GETS READY FOR<br />
EUROPEAN SHOW<br />
Key fly fishing brands<br />
from around the<br />
world are preparing<br />
for Europe’s largest<br />
celebration of the<br />
sport at the EWF<br />
event this coming<br />
April.<br />
The show will take<br />
place at the Event<br />
Forum Fürstenfeld<br />
near Munich, Germany, on April 13th and 14th and will feature<br />
over 100 exhibitors from across the globe.<br />
<strong>Tackle</strong> manufacturers will rub shoulders with publishers,<br />
tour operators, authors, fly tyers, fishing schools and casting<br />
professionals at the prestigious event, now in its 19th year.<br />
There will also be casting and fly tying demonstrations,<br />
instruction and tuition plus a series of lectures on the sport and<br />
major fly fishing destinations.<br />
www.experience-world-flyfishing.com<br />
American Fishing Wire<br />
(AFW) has acquired the<br />
trademark and company<br />
assets of single and double<br />
bottom fishing rigs supplier<br />
Aqua-Clear.<br />
Aqua-Clear <strong>Tackle</strong> is<br />
well-known throughout the<br />
Mid-Atlantic region for the<br />
high-quality rigs, which are<br />
hand-tied and feature its<br />
unique components that are<br />
designed to minimise tangles.<br />
AFW sales manager<br />
Shawn Carpenter explained:<br />
“Aqua-Clear has been<br />
producing and selling high<br />
quality rigs for over 40 years.<br />
Due to some recent changes<br />
in the market, the timing<br />
for this acquisition couldn’t<br />
be better. We’re excited over<br />
the opportunity to introduce<br />
our customers to Aqua-Clear<br />
and to grow sales within the<br />
Mid-Atlantic region and<br />
beyond.”<br />
Aqua-Clear vice-president<br />
David Lorenz said: “Aqua-<br />
Clear’s success has been<br />
due to our innovative clear<br />
‘T-shaped’ standoffs made<br />
in the USA, and because we<br />
only use the highest quality<br />
components from trusted<br />
manufacturers like AFW<br />
terminal tackle and Hi-Seas<br />
Grand Slam mono leader.”<br />
Customers on both sides of<br />
this transaction will benefit<br />
from improved fill rates,<br />
enhanced packaging and by<br />
the expanded care of AFW’s<br />
larger customer service and<br />
sales staff.<br />
Distributors and dealers<br />
will also be able to utilise<br />
AFW’s convenient online<br />
wholesale website for<br />
placing orders and checking<br />
purchase history. AFW<br />
plans to collaborate with<br />
customers and to develop<br />
new, innovative Aqua-Clear<br />
rigs and related products.<br />
AFW Fishing Brands<br />
has been providing serious<br />
freshwater and saltwater<br />
anglers with the line,<br />
leader, lures and rigging<br />
products since 1926, with<br />
all wire, strand and cable<br />
still manufactured at its US<br />
factory.<br />
www.afwhiseas.com
IGFA SELLS HQ TO AID FUTURE<br />
CONSERVATION EFFORTS<br />
The International Game Fish<br />
Association (IGFA), a leader<br />
in game fish conservation, has<br />
sold its headquarters buildings<br />
and land to bring in cash for its<br />
endowment and safeguard its<br />
work.<br />
The building and the south<br />
parcel of its Florida property<br />
has been sold to Bass Pro Shops<br />
and Cabela’s while the north<br />
parcel has gone to Baywood<br />
Hotels.<br />
This transformative triparty<br />
deal, valued at nearly<br />
$20 million, includes $15.5<br />
million towards the IGFA’s<br />
endowment and an additional<br />
$4.4 million of 12½ years of<br />
prepaid rent, marking a pivotal<br />
moment in the organisation’s<br />
storied history dedicated to the<br />
conservation of game fish and<br />
the promotion of responsible,<br />
ethical angling practices.<br />
This sale comes as a result of<br />
a collaborative effort years in<br />
the making between the IGFA<br />
and Bass Pro Shops founder<br />
and IGFA Trustee Emeritus,<br />
Johnny Morris.<br />
Originally opened in 1999<br />
thanks to a generous land<br />
donation made by Morris, the<br />
IGFA’s headquarters sits within<br />
Sportsman’s Park adjacent to<br />
Bass Pro Shops and notably<br />
featured the IGFA Fishing<br />
Hall of Fame. Thanks to its<br />
strong network of supporters,<br />
Key Scandinavian retailers complete merger<br />
Fjellsport and Skitt Fiske, experts in<br />
outdoor industry retailing, have joined<br />
forces, with the combined goal to<br />
offer the best products to enthusiastic<br />
customers in Norway. Operating under<br />
the Fjellsport AS name, the combined<br />
company will have 130 employees<br />
in Sandefjord with a turnover of<br />
approximately 1 billion NOK (€85<br />
million). Fjellsport AS also has a sister<br />
company in Sweden – Outnorth AB.<br />
Skitt Fiske also has a 2,000sq m<br />
the IGFA paid off the building<br />
mortgage in 2008.<br />
Following dwindling<br />
attendance numbers and the<br />
loss of a $1 million tax credit<br />
from the state of Florida, the<br />
IGFA relocated its Fishing<br />
Hall of Fame in 2015 to<br />
Johnny Morris’ Wonders of<br />
Wildlife National Museum<br />
and Aquarium in Springfield,<br />
Missouri ahead of its 2017<br />
grand opening.<br />
IGFA president Jason<br />
Schratwieser explained: “By<br />
transforming the bricks and<br />
mortar that once housed the<br />
IGFA Fishing Hall of Fame<br />
into an endowment, we are<br />
securing the continued growth<br />
of the IGFA’s mission-driven<br />
programs in perpetuity.<br />
“This is a monumental step<br />
not only for our members and<br />
representatives but for everyone<br />
who loves the sport of fishing.”<br />
By redirecting underutilised<br />
resources from its physical<br />
headquarters, the organisation<br />
said it has fortified its<br />
commitment to a future<br />
where game fish conservation<br />
transcends geographical<br />
boundaries.<br />
This move marks a shift<br />
towards an era of global<br />
expansion for the IGFA,<br />
emphasising wide-reaching<br />
programs that will make the<br />
organisation’s resources and<br />
initiatives accessible to a<br />
broader international audience.<br />
The bolstered endowment<br />
ensures not only the<br />
continuation but the vigorous<br />
expansion of the IGFA’s work<br />
in safeguarding game fish and<br />
their habitats, promoting ethical<br />
angling, and fostering a new<br />
generation of conservationists,<br />
physical store located in Sandefjord,<br />
which offers a fantastic selection within<br />
fishing, hunting and general outdoor<br />
activities.<br />
The companies says the ambition<br />
behind this merger is to both maintain<br />
and to further develop the brands’ unique<br />
identity and expert role within the<br />
industry.<br />
The three Norwegian online stores<br />
Skittfiske.no, Skittjakt.no, and Fjellsport.<br />
no will operate as they do today but now<br />
irrespective of their location.<br />
Bass Pro Shops founder<br />
Johnny Morris added:<br />
“Conservation and inspiring<br />
young anglers to be the<br />
next generation of outdoor<br />
stewards are vital to the future<br />
of our beloved sport and the<br />
habitats that sustain it. We’re<br />
incredibly proud to further our<br />
commitment to the IGFA and<br />
its noble mission.”<br />
As part of the agreement,<br />
the IGFA will continue to<br />
occupy its current executive<br />
offices and the E.K. Harry<br />
Library of Fishes rent-free for<br />
the next 12½ years, ensuring<br />
its enduring presence in South<br />
Florida, a location with rich<br />
angling history and deep ties to<br />
the IGFA’s origins.<br />
www.igfa.org<br />
with increased expertise and resources<br />
under the same roof, as they strive for<br />
further development in several areas.<br />
The physical store located in<br />
Sandefjord will continue to operate under<br />
the Skitt Fiske/Skitt Jakt logo.<br />
In the short term, the merger will<br />
include very few changes for suppliers.<br />
The IT solutions and logistics operations<br />
will continue to be separate, but officebased<br />
employees will be co-located and<br />
certain functions will be shared.<br />
12 www.tackletradeworld.com
ST. CROIX FLY WILL CHASE MORE SALES<br />
St. Croix Fly has appointed<br />
Chase Pritchett as sales<br />
representative in the southeast<br />
US states of Alabama, Georgia,<br />
Florida, South Carolina, North<br />
Carolina and Tennessee.<br />
Based in Chattanooga,<br />
Tennessee, Chase brings 16 years<br />
of fly fishing industry experience<br />
Focused on conservation and<br />
driven by its communitybased<br />
ethos, Costa Sunglasses<br />
has announced the Marlin<br />
Fly Project, the first recorded<br />
billfish research mission solely<br />
using fly tackle.<br />
In partnership with the<br />
locals of San Carlos, Mexico,<br />
The Billfish Foundation<br />
(TBF) and International<br />
Game Fish Association<br />
(IGFA), the project team<br />
deployed 15 satellite tags in<br />
two days to better understand<br />
and protect this understudied<br />
billfish species.<br />
The project, which took<br />
place in southwestern Baja,<br />
Mexico, stands as the ultimate<br />
culmination of community<br />
and conservation.<br />
Led by Costa, it brought<br />
together some of its<br />
professional anglers and<br />
fishing guides, leading billfish<br />
scientists, conservation<br />
organisations and community<br />
partners to pursue this mission<br />
in tandem with local captains,<br />
guides and the community.<br />
Costa’s brand director<br />
Jed Larkin said: “The epic<br />
fishing tales coming out<br />
of Magdalena Bay alone<br />
to the growing St. Croix Fly<br />
sales team. This includes guiding,<br />
retail sales and distribution<br />
management in both fresh<br />
and saltwater markets in the<br />
southeast region.<br />
He explained: “I operate in<br />
an exceptionally diverse region<br />
with high-quality warm-water,<br />
Costa Sunglasses<br />
pioneers first<br />
billfish research<br />
tagging mission<br />
attracted us to the region<br />
in 2021, but what we found<br />
there was an authentic<br />
community, rich with culture,<br />
built alongside an untamed<br />
ecosystem.<br />
“That trip sparked a<br />
trailblazing idea – what if we<br />
brought our global community<br />
of scientists, partners and<br />
pros together with the local<br />
community of San Carlos<br />
to research and protect this<br />
special resource? And that’s<br />
how Marlin Fly was born.<br />
Rooted in both community<br />
and conservation, this project<br />
is everything we stand for as<br />
a brand.”<br />
Costa has spent the past<br />
four decades carrying out<br />
its ‘higher calling’ to protect<br />
the waters we love, connect<br />
those who come to life on the<br />
water, and to conserve the life<br />
within.<br />
The Marlin Fly Project is an<br />
extension of that commitment.<br />
In addition to the historymaking<br />
field-science study,<br />
the project served the local<br />
community through a number<br />
of other initiatives.<br />
www. costasunglasses.com<br />
cold-water and saltwater angling<br />
opportunities. I’m really looking<br />
forward to putting my creativity<br />
and resources to work to drive<br />
awareness and expansion for the<br />
re-emerging St. Croix Fly brand<br />
throughout my territory.<br />
“While St. Croix has been in<br />
the fly space for decades, its new<br />
team and exciting new products<br />
are squarely challenging the<br />
status quo. Few other fly rod<br />
brands can claim the heritage<br />
that St. Croix owns. Combine<br />
that with their technological,<br />
design and manufacturing<br />
capabilities and you’ve got<br />
something incredible brewing for<br />
the fly fishing community. I’m<br />
proud to be a part of it.”<br />
Director of sales, Zack Dalton,<br />
added: “The southeast region<br />
is home to diverse fisheries,<br />
exceptional angling opportunities<br />
and an incredible dealer base.<br />
Finding the best talent – and<br />
UNI SOFT WIRE EXTRA SMALL GAUGE # 36 0.006 INCH<br />
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Chase Pritchett<br />
dealers – to represent the brand<br />
is an important part of keeping<br />
our promise to anglers to offer<br />
them the ‘Best Rods on Earth’.<br />
“Chase brings a level of<br />
passion and authenticity that<br />
matches that of our brand and<br />
our anglers. We’re stoked to<br />
have him on board and have<br />
the highest confidence in his<br />
abilities to represent St. Croix<br />
Fly and the new products we’re<br />
so excited about and proud of to<br />
the passionate fly anglers of the<br />
southeast.”<br />
www.stcroixrods.com/collections<br />
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UNI PRODUCTS J.G. Cote Inc.<br />
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Tel: 450-889-8054<br />
Toll-Free: 1-877-889-8054<br />
Fax: 450-889-5887<br />
Email: info@uniproducts.com<br />
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BOAT MOTOR BRAND<br />
WELCOMES PRODUCT<br />
DEVELOPMENT HEAD ABOARD<br />
Jason Kardas, the former<br />
vice-president of product<br />
development at Hobie, will<br />
now drive innovation in electric<br />
propulsion technology at nextgeneration<br />
electric small boat<br />
motor maker Newport.<br />
As head of product<br />
development at Newport, Jason<br />
brings a wealth of knowledge<br />
and a creative passion to his<br />
role, having established himself<br />
as a valuable asset throughout<br />
his career in this sector.<br />
He will oversee all facets<br />
of Newport’s product<br />
development projects, with<br />
a specific focus on electric<br />
outboard motors. His<br />
responsibilities encompass<br />
technical leadership, product<br />
lifecycle management, electric<br />
propulsion expertise, team<br />
leadership, market leadership,<br />
and ensuring the success of<br />
product launches.<br />
With his deep knowledge of<br />
electric propulsion technology<br />
and remarkable leadership<br />
skills, Jason is positioned as a<br />
key asset in driving Newport’s<br />
products to meet and exceed<br />
industry standards and<br />
customer expectations.<br />
Newport president Patrick<br />
Dean said: “We are excited to<br />
welcome Jason to our team.<br />
His wealth of experience in the<br />
outdoor and water technology<br />
industries is a testament to his<br />
deep-rooted understanding<br />
of the field. His expertise is<br />
poised to be a significant asset<br />
to Newport, driving innovation<br />
and excellence as we shape the<br />
future of electric propulsion<br />
technology.”<br />
Jason added: “The company’s<br />
dedication to innovation in<br />
electric propulsion technology<br />
is inspiring and I’m looking<br />
forward to contributing to our<br />
shared vision. The prospect<br />
of working with such a<br />
talented and forward-thinking<br />
team is both humbling and<br />
exhilarating.”<br />
www.newportvessels.com<br />
Jason Kardas<br />
US fly shows fill up fast<br />
Exhibitor space for the Denver Fly Fishing Show scheduled<br />
for <strong>January</strong> 19th to 21st at the Gaylord Rockies Resort &<br />
Convention Center is officially sold out, with others almost<br />
equally full.<br />
Fly Fishing show president and CEO Ben Furimsky<br />
revealed: “We sold out of exhibition space approximately 92<br />
days before the Denver opening, putting us back on prepandemic<br />
schedules.<br />
“Other <strong>2024</strong> show venues are nearly equally filled with<br />
exhibitor booths. We’re down to our final four or five openings<br />
in Marlborough and nine or 10 in Atlanta.”<br />
He also confirmed Edison, Seattle/Bellevue, Pleasanton and<br />
Lancaster have only scattered open slots as well.<br />
Meydenbauer Center in the nearby Seattle suburb of<br />
Bellevue will host the return of the Fly Fishing Show to the<br />
Pacific Northwest on February 17th and 18th after a multiyear<br />
absence caused by facility unavailability.<br />
The full rundown of <strong>2024</strong> Fly Fishing Show venues and<br />
dates are:<br />
flyfishingshow.com<br />
• Marlborough, Mass. <strong>January</strong> 5-7<br />
• Denver, Colo. <strong>January</strong> 19-21<br />
• Edison, NJ: <strong>January</strong> 26-28<br />
• Atlanta, GA: February 2-4<br />
• Seattle/Bellevue, Wash. Feb 17-18<br />
• Pleasanton, Calif. February 23-25<br />
• Lancaster, Penn. March 2-3<br />
14 www.tackletradeworld.com
FEATURE<br />
ICAST<br />
ICAST is the only<br />
sportfishing trade<br />
show in town<br />
The next best thing to being on the water and experiencing the thrill of the catch is<br />
attending the International Convention of Allied Sportfishing <strong>Trade</strong>s (ICAST) – the<br />
biggest tackle show in the world.<br />
Produced by the American<br />
Sportfishing Association, ICAST<br />
is a gathering place for buyers and<br />
media and includes a global array<br />
of businesses from Europe, South America,<br />
Latin America, Australia, Africa and Asia.<br />
Come immerse yourself in sportfishing as<br />
you explore the latest innovations in rods,<br />
reels, fishing gear, lures and much more.<br />
The show returns this year to the Orange<br />
County Convention Center in Orlando,<br />
Florida from July 16th to 19th. If you are in<br />
the sportfishing trades, ICAST is the most<br />
important show of the year. From freshwater<br />
to saltwater and fly to conventional fishing,<br />
it serves up the best experience and the best<br />
products available to the industry.<br />
Getting connected<br />
To provide your customers with the most<br />
in-demand products, you need to know<br />
the right people. There is no better place to<br />
build valuable business relationships than<br />
ICAST.<br />
Manufacturers, dealers and retailers come<br />
from all over the world, every year, to make<br />
valuable connections with those who are<br />
as passionate about your industry as you<br />
are. The show promises opportunities to<br />
deepen connections within the sportfishing<br />
community, to learn about the latest<br />
industry trends and ways to improve your<br />
business, and to expand your industry<br />
16 www.tackletradeworld.com<br />
knowledge.<br />
“Fishing tackle is at the core of ICAST,<br />
but it is so much more, said Blake<br />
Swango, vice-president of trade show and<br />
membership. “Each year we add more to the<br />
overall experience by creating new activities<br />
designed to bring people together, to learn<br />
and to strengthen relationships.”<br />
Why ATTend in <strong>2024</strong>?<br />
This year’s show is on track to be the biggest<br />
ICAST ever, with organisers expecting a<br />
bigger turnout, an enlarged footprint and a<br />
greater diversity of products. Here is what<br />
you can expect:<br />
The expanded New Product Showcase,<br />
that ushered in six new categories for<br />
manufacturers last year, is attracting more<br />
entries than ever, with special categories for<br />
traditional tackle, electronics, fly fishing,<br />
women’s apparel, ice fishing and technical<br />
apparel.<br />
The designated flyfishing section is now<br />
a permanent feature of ICAST, with plans<br />
to expand the footprint of the fly fishing<br />
exhibits and bring back the popular fly<br />
casting pond and fly shop.<br />
On The Water continues to be a huge draw<br />
for attendees wanting to test equipment and<br />
participate in demonstrations. The outdoor<br />
portion of the show exceeded expectations<br />
last year and had the largest participation in<br />
history. Expect another bustling experience<br />
in <strong>2024</strong> to usher in the grand opening of the<br />
show floor.<br />
Daily Lunch & Learn business seminars<br />
to expand your knowledge of the industry<br />
are back. Topics will include marketing<br />
tactics, social media hacks and even updates<br />
on trending technologies like Artificial<br />
Intelligence.<br />
Also, all new this year, on Monday, July<br />
15th there is a cool pre-show event called<br />
“Lunkers and Bunkers” where attendees can<br />
take advantage of both fishing and golfing<br />
to benefit Keep America Fishing. This is<br />
the perfect opportunity to get to meet new<br />
industry contacts in advance of the show.<br />
And of course, let’s not forget all of the<br />
after-hours networking events to keep the<br />
conversations going.<br />
“But of course, the real stars of the show<br />
are the products themselves,” said Swango.<br />
“Thousands of people will come from all over<br />
the world to get their first peek at the latest<br />
and greatest products coming to market and<br />
get an edge over their competitors in <strong>2024</strong>.”<br />
Registration for ICAST <strong>2024</strong> opens<br />
during the second week of February at<br />
ICASTFishing.org, which also has all the<br />
information you need to plan your trip and<br />
enhance your ICAST <strong>2024</strong> experience.<br />
ICAST<br />
www.icastfishing.org
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FEATURE<br />
NOW IS THE BEST TIME<br />
TO VISIT CHINA FISH<br />
With a record number of exhibitors – including loads of first-timers – there has never been<br />
a better time to visit China Fish, the trade show that is the first port of call for many in the<br />
tackle trade. Are you ready…?<br />
About 700 exhibitors of<br />
sport fishing tackle OEM<br />
manufacturers, including over<br />
200 first-time exhibitors, will<br />
showcase their products at China Fish<br />
<strong>2024</strong>.<br />
The event, which is being held from<br />
February 21st to 23rd at the New China<br />
International Exhibition Center, Beijing,<br />
China is looking set to be the biggest one<br />
yet, with the most exhibitors since the show<br />
was founded in 1991.<br />
To many sport fishing tackle buyers it has<br />
been one of the best places to source new<br />
products, to gather with their friends in this<br />
industry, and to find their next suppliers.<br />
Thanks to favourable global exchange<br />
rates with China’s RMB, the prices in<br />
China are more affordable than before,<br />
indeed the organisers say room prices at<br />
hotels for China Fish are the best they have<br />
been for 20 years!<br />
And for the 30th anniversary of China<br />
Fish, the show’s sponsors are providing a<br />
limited number of free nights for companies<br />
who have booked their rooms before<br />
December 31st. These are on a first-comefirst-served<br />
basis.<br />
18 www.tackletradeworld.com
China Fish<br />
FEATURE<br />
AT A GLANCE<br />
• China Fish <strong>2024</strong><br />
• February 21st-23rd, <strong>2024</strong><br />
• New China International<br />
Exhibition Center, Beijing<br />
• 39,300 sq m exhibiting area<br />
• About 700 exhibitors<br />
WHAT TO SEE…<br />
You shouldn’t miss the Best Product<br />
Showcase at China Fish <strong>2024</strong>. This<br />
dedicated space will showcase over 200<br />
top products from the exhibitors at the<br />
show while inviting all its international<br />
buyers to vote for the best in each<br />
category.<br />
The winners will be announced at the<br />
Best Product Awards Party on the second<br />
evening of the show.<br />
There is no better way of discovering<br />
the best new tackle developments for<br />
<strong>2024</strong> and the companies behind them.<br />
And after the three-day show, you<br />
can source more products and suppliers<br />
beyond the hall and for 365 days of the<br />
year thanks to the new China Fish Allin-One<br />
Platform.<br />
After pre-registration, you can log<br />
in and visit the online stores of 580<br />
suppliers, view more than 7,300 products<br />
and chat directly with suppliers.<br />
You can also have a China Fish<br />
Coordinator to assist you during the year.<br />
If you think it’s too difficult to visit this<br />
show, the organiser will provide a series<br />
of show services to help make it easier for<br />
your to visit the event.<br />
These include:<br />
• Visa invitation letter to help you at your<br />
local Chinese Embassy.<br />
• Hotel Reservations that are easy to book<br />
and flexible to change.<br />
• Interpreters at just US$100-120/day/<br />
person.<br />
• Early badge pick-up at the China Fish<br />
hotels a day before the show.<br />
• Free shuttle buses, including to the<br />
airport.<br />
• Cloakroom to keep your luggage and<br />
overcoats safe during the show.<br />
• Visitor lounge for rest and refreshments.<br />
And don’t forget to register for free!<br />
Three-day visitor badges are free of<br />
charge before <strong>January</strong> 31st, <strong>2024</strong>. On-site<br />
registration is US$55/per person.<br />
Past visitors to China Fish or Weihai<br />
CGC Expo can pre-register by sending<br />
their name(s) to Lijiang@chinafish.cn<br />
New visitors can register quickly<br />
and easily on its official website: www.<br />
chinafishshow.org<br />
CHINA FISH<br />
+86 10 58203101/02/03<br />
Lijiang@chinafish.cn<br />
www.chinafishshow.org<br />
www.tackletradeworld.com<br />
19
FEATURE<br />
THE FLY COMPANY<br />
AND CORTLAND<br />
THE PATH TO ANGLING<br />
PERFECTION<br />
Denmark distributor The Fly Company has a reputation for working with great brands. Its latest<br />
addition is fly line brand Cortland, which it will be offering to dealers across Europe.<br />
In the heart of its passion for fly<br />
fishing, The Fly Company has<br />
been a steadfast guardian of quality<br />
since 1995. Guided by a mission<br />
to deliver unparalleled fly fishing<br />
equipment, it has thoroughly curated a<br />
legacy of excellence.<br />
Through enduring partnerships with<br />
industry luminaries like Winston Fly<br />
Rods, TFO and Renzetti, it has crafted<br />
an unrivalled portfolio for discerning fly<br />
tiers.<br />
Now it is excited to announce a<br />
monumental step in its journey – the Fly<br />
Company is now an official distributor<br />
for Cortland in Europe.<br />
This collaboration signifies a<br />
harmonious union between two entities<br />
deeply rooted in the art of angling.<br />
Cortland is a name identified by<br />
century-long innovation in crafting the<br />
world’s finest fly lines, making waves in<br />
the hearts of anglers worldwide.<br />
Since its inception in 1915, this iconic<br />
brand has not only revolutionised the<br />
way we fish but has also carved a niche<br />
20 www.tackletradeworld.com<br />
as a trendsetter in the fishing industry.<br />
The brand’s achievements and purpose<br />
align seamlessly with The Fly Company’s<br />
commitment to superior materials.<br />
A FISHING LEGEND<br />
Founded by the visionary Ray Smith,<br />
an undisputed maestro in braiding<br />
technology, Cortland Line made its mark
The Fly Company<br />
FEATURE<br />
with the introduction of enduring braided<br />
silk fly lines. Smith’s groundbreaking<br />
patents propelled Cortland into the<br />
limelight, transforming it into a fishing<br />
legend.<br />
However, the true essence of Cortland’s<br />
legacy lies in the hands of Leon<br />
Chandler, a luminary whose influence<br />
stretched across five remarkable decades.<br />
Chandler, a trailblazer in his own right,<br />
embarked on his journey with Cortland<br />
in 1941 at the tender age of 19.<br />
His post-<strong>World</strong> War II return saw<br />
him ascending the ranks, captivating<br />
audiences globally with his exceptional<br />
presentation skills and teaching prowess.<br />
From Chile to Japan, Chandler<br />
traversed the globe, illuminating the<br />
world about the nuances of fly fishing.<br />
Yet, Chandler’s legacy extends far<br />
beyond accolades and titles. His genuine<br />
passion for fishing was epitomised in a<br />
hearwarming tale: on the Missouri River,<br />
he once reeled in an entire length of line<br />
with a fish still attached to it.<br />
Not just any line, but a Cortland 444.<br />
Setting the fish free, he traced the line<br />
back to its owner. Chandler even gave<br />
the lucky caster a tour of the Cortland<br />
factory, showcasing not just his integrity<br />
but also the brand’s ethos.<br />
Cortland Line’s spirit of innovation<br />
has been the bedrock of the fishing<br />
industry. Its pioneering efforts birthed<br />
groundbreaking inventions, including the<br />
first fly line with a PVC coating over a<br />
braided nylon core in 1953 – a design still<br />
revered today.<br />
THE LINE-UP<br />
Discerning anglers are spoilt<br />
for choice with Cortland’s<br />
diverse array of lines.<br />
Whether it’s the classic<br />
333 and 444 series or the<br />
contemporary Trout, Streamer,<br />
Ghost Tip and Tropic Plus<br />
lines, just to name a few,<br />
Cortland caters for every<br />
fishing need. Its commitment<br />
to quality and tradition<br />
continues to lure anglers into a<br />
world where the thrill of the catch meets<br />
the artistry of the line.<br />
The Fly Company team are also<br />
anglers, understanding the pivotal role of<br />
quality tools in every fishing experience.<br />
The partnership with Cortland<br />
transcends mere distribution; it embodies<br />
a shared vision. As you cast your line,<br />
remember, you’re not just fishing; you’re<br />
weaving your own story into the rich<br />
tapestry of Cortland’s enduring heritage.<br />
Together, the partners invite fellow<br />
enthusiasts to immerse themselves in a<br />
world where tradition intertwines with<br />
cutting-edge technology.<br />
Join them on this journey, visit Flyco.<br />
dk today and enrich your own collection<br />
with the Cortland lines of your choice.<br />
Through its products, every moment on<br />
the water becomes a demonstration to the<br />
pursuit of angling perfection. Welcome to<br />
a new era of fly fishing excellence!<br />
THE FLY COMPANY<br />
www.flyco.dk<br />
www.tackletradeworld.com<br />
21
FEATURE<br />
Strike Pro<br />
Strike Pro’s internal dual illumination<br />
system (bottom lure) takes its previous<br />
design (top) to the next level.<br />
STRIKE PRO’S INNOVATION<br />
SET TO ILLUMINATE THE<br />
LURE MARKET<br />
Taiwan tackle giant Strike Pro continues its innovative approach to its products with the<br />
introduction of its dual internal illuminating body system for lures.<br />
In the lure industry, there are many<br />
designs using scales and a variety of<br />
hologram papers to produce the flash<br />
effect. On the outside of the lure, you<br />
cannot add crazy patterns because it will<br />
affect the action of the lure and the sturdiness<br />
of the body.<br />
As a result, not many patterns exist on the<br />
outside of the ABS shell, aside from scales.<br />
To compensate for that, lure companies use<br />
hologram papers or stickers.<br />
Strike Pro’s innovative dual internal<br />
illuminating body system has broken through<br />
this restriction.<br />
Not only does the external case have<br />
the facial features, it can create illuminated<br />
cutting on the inner side of the shell,<br />
allowing the external side of the body to<br />
remain smooth.<br />
This illuminated cutting allows reflective<br />
light to bend in more directions. In additional<br />
to all that, Strike Pro’s nano-coating is used<br />
as a top coat to seal all paints and any pores<br />
in the plastic shell.<br />
Nano-coating has smaller molecules<br />
compared to regular top coats and this allows<br />
the lures to achieve the best hydrodynamic<br />
effect by lowering the water resistance.<br />
MAKING LIGHT WORK<br />
All the compartments and weight systems are<br />
22 www.tackletradeworld.com<br />
contained in the inner shell that is completely<br />
sealed. Colours and holograms can be added<br />
to the exterior of the inner shell to give the<br />
lure depth.<br />
With the dual system, the light can<br />
initially be bent through the first shell, then<br />
on to the reflective hologram on the second<br />
shell to create more reflective light.<br />
And, because all compartments and<br />
the weight system are sealed in the inner<br />
compartment, the external look of the lure is<br />
clean without any wiring interfering with the<br />
design.<br />
VERSATILITY IS KEY<br />
The great thing about this dual illuminating<br />
body system is that it can be used in many<br />
different types of lure bodies.<br />
The first of many Illumino series to come<br />
is Strike Pro’s Intriger Illumino (EG-194XL-<br />
DIA-SP; Suspending; 18cm; 88g; depth:<br />
1.2m; tensile strength: 45kg).<br />
This is an Illumino series of its 2022<br />
Intriger Saltwater lure (EG-194XL-SP;<br />
Suspending; 18cm; 83g; depth: 1.2m; tensile<br />
strength: 45kg).<br />
The illuminated cutting edge really gives<br />
the lure a unique look. The colour #136T<br />
(pictured) has a hologram incorporated in the<br />
inner layer.<br />
The cutting-edge design on the inside<br />
of the external shell allows you to see the<br />
hologram at different reflective angles; it also<br />
shows the depth of the colours.<br />
Not only can you add a hologram on the<br />
inner shell, you can also have it painted. This<br />
way the colours won’t ever come off the lure.<br />
Strike Pro’s innovative dual internal<br />
illuminating body system is patent pending<br />
and the company looks forward to bringing<br />
out more illuminating series for all of its<br />
customers in due course.<br />
STRIKE PRO<br />
www.strikepro.com<br />
AT A GLANCE<br />
• New innovative dual internal<br />
illuminated body system.<br />
• 100 per cent illuminated surface<br />
created by lines and colour flash<br />
from all directions and angles.<br />
• All interior chambers are hidden,<br />
maximum exposure of lure colour<br />
and its illuminating effect.<br />
• Can be used in conjunction with<br />
all types of lure design and colour<br />
finishes.<br />
• Patent pending.
FoundationOutdoorGroup.com<br />
STOPPIONI s.n.c. Firenze Italy<br />
Tel.+39 0558739615 stonfo@stonfo.com<br />
MEMBER<br />
COMBAT BELT<br />
LIGHT MODELS<br />
BRACES<br />
Comfortable combat-belts,<br />
ideal for trolling and drifting.<br />
Made of undestroyable plastic<br />
material with stainless steel<br />
pivot or rotating gimbals and<br />
snap lock buckle.<br />
Art.127<br />
Art.128<br />
Art. 70<br />
TUNA<br />
Art.105<br />
Art.129<br />
TROLLING<br />
Art.130<br />
Universal fast connectors<br />
www.stonfo.com
SPOTLIGHT ON...<br />
BOAT ACCESSORIES<br />
SPOTLIGHT ON<br />
BOAT ACCESSORIES<br />
Anglers fishing from boats need more than a means of propulsion and a fishing rod.<br />
There’s a whole host of accessories – some vital, some plain useful – which you can<br />
offer them to increase your income from this fast-growing sector.<br />
Last issue we looked at how to sell<br />
small boats for anglers. But that’s<br />
just the start of the story. Once<br />
on board, these consumers will need a<br />
range of other gear to keep them safe<br />
and ensure their experience on the water<br />
is a positive, productive and enjoyable<br />
one.<br />
This means more add-on sales for you<br />
but understanding their requirements is<br />
important to ensure you are stocking the<br />
right selection of kit.<br />
SAFETY FIRST<br />
First and foremost, safety on the water is a prerequisite.<br />
With that in mind, the first item on any boat angler’s shopping list<br />
should be a good life jacket or personal flotation device (PFD).<br />
There are many styles and designs on the market but ensure what<br />
you are offering conforms to the relevant safety standards in your<br />
country.<br />
Depending on the size of the craft involved, the customer may also<br />
require a basic first aid kit, perhaps a lifebuoy or similar and maybe<br />
even a fire extinguisher.<br />
Many boat anglers will be off the water well before the sun goes<br />
down but not all, while some will be out at first light; so it’s also<br />
advisable to think ahead and have some form of lighting to hand<br />
– whether for navigation, searching for something or simply for<br />
tackling down at the end of the day.<br />
Communication equipment shouldn’t be overlooked either. On<br />
some boats you may wish to employ a VHF marine radio or a reliable<br />
cell phone with waterproof protection but, at the very least, a light for<br />
attracting attention, a whistle or even flares could be a lifesaver.<br />
And don’t forget to ensure your customers have good waterproof<br />
clothing and, just as crucially, dry bags or waterproof boxes to ensure<br />
they and their belongings stay dry.<br />
Cold wet anglers with missing kit don’t make for happy customers<br />
in the long run.<br />
In addition, don’t forget sun protection. A Bimini top or other<br />
sunshade can provide relief from the sun’s rays while good polarising<br />
eyewear is a must for protecting eyes from the glare and cutting<br />
through the same on the water to help you spot fish more easily.<br />
24 www.tackletradeworld.com
SPOTLIGHT ON...<br />
BOAT ACCESSORIES<br />
EVERYTHING SECURED<br />
So dry bags and waterproof storage are<br />
a ‘must’, especially for phones and other<br />
electronic equipment but what else makes<br />
the trip more enjoyable?<br />
Fishing efficiently allows you to fish<br />
effectively and, whatever the water craft,<br />
space will be at a premium.<br />
So make sure everything is to hand, with<br />
fishing rod holders and mounts as well as<br />
secure places to stash extra kit. Rod holders<br />
come in various styles, including flushmount,<br />
clamp-on and rail-mounted versions.<br />
A boat cover will also help protect your<br />
vessel from the elements when it’s not in use,<br />
extending its lifespan and keeping it clean.<br />
MORE POWER TO YOU<br />
Electronics are a mainstay of many boating<br />
anglers today – whether hunting for fish or<br />
keeping your catch alive and well.<br />
A great product to offer is a fishfinder.<br />
Coupled with a GPS, this not only allows<br />
anglers to search out and mark fishing<br />
hotspots and track routes but it also makes<br />
it easier to navigate back to your launch<br />
site.<br />
All of the big names in this sector offer<br />
fantastic kit at a wide range of prices,<br />
suitable for most pockets.<br />
Trolling motors are quiet, electric motors<br />
that allow you to move your boat silently<br />
through the water. Best used on small boats<br />
on calmer freshwaters, they can make life<br />
afloat much more pleasurable, as well as<br />
being cleaner and more affordable than<br />
many outboards. What’s more, they won’t<br />
take up too much room in the van or trailer<br />
and have forward and reverse gears to<br />
quickly and quietly manoeuvre yourself into<br />
the perfect position to make that vital cast,<br />
or perhaps carry a boatload of carp gear<br />
from one side of a large lake to an otherwise<br />
inaccessible island or far bank swim. They’re<br />
also less likely to disturb the fish.<br />
Meanwhile, if you plan on keeping your<br />
fish, a livewell is essential for storing your<br />
catch and keeping them alive until you return<br />
to shore. Proper aeration is crucial to keep<br />
the fish healthy and, again, there are plenty of<br />
systems out there to choose from and to suit<br />
various sizes of craft.<br />
If you are keeping your catch but don’t<br />
need it alive then cooler boxes are a great<br />
investment – you can store your refreshments<br />
and lunch in them then use them to transport<br />
your prize back home.<br />
Anchors help you stay in one spot while<br />
fishing while an anchor trolley system allows<br />
you to easily adjust your boat’s position<br />
without having to pull the anchor.<br />
If you have the space in store, other useful<br />
items might include paddles, gloves and boat<br />
seats. And if you sold them an inflatable,<br />
a pump and even a repair kit would be a<br />
brilliant add-on sale opportunity.<br />
CHARTING SUCCESS<br />
If your store is near a large body of<br />
water or the coastline then having<br />
charts and maps on offer is another<br />
way to keep boating anglers coming<br />
back.<br />
Meanwhile, make sure you are on<br />
top of all the local regulations and<br />
safety guidelines – this makes you a<br />
source of vital information for boating<br />
anglers and will encourage them to<br />
return for the most up-to-date details<br />
and advice.<br />
www.tackletradeworld.com<br />
25
SPOTLIGHT ON...<br />
BOAT ACCESSORIES<br />
POWER-POLE<br />
MOVE BRUSHLESS TROLLING<br />
MOTOR<br />
Designed and built from the<br />
ground up the MOVE Brushless<br />
Trolling Motor is constructed of<br />
the same premium materials<br />
and innovation found in the<br />
industry standard Shallow Water<br />
Anchors.<br />
The technology used in the<br />
next-gen brushless motor and<br />
Stealth Steering Drive are key<br />
to the power production and<br />
the operational reliability of the<br />
motor.<br />
The motor and steering<br />
systems are engineered to<br />
produce ultimate power while<br />
remaining near silent in their<br />
operation. The Power Unity<br />
System and reinforced Techflow<br />
Propeller are said to create<br />
30 per cent more power than<br />
industry-leading trolling motors,<br />
all while being whisper quiet.<br />
It is available in two versions<br />
– the MOVE ZR has a hinged<br />
scissor bracket commonly used<br />
on bass boats while the MOVE<br />
PV boasts a pivoting version<br />
most commonly used on<br />
saltwater and big water boats.<br />
The MOVE ZR is available in<br />
shaft lengths of 45, 52 and 60in<br />
versions while the MOVE PV<br />
is also available in these shaft<br />
lengths plus a 72in model.<br />
power-pole.com<br />
MILLENNIUM MARINE<br />
MONITOR MOUNTS<br />
Technology and fishing often go hand in hand and electronic<br />
depth finders and fishfinders can help anglers tip the odds in<br />
their favour – but not without a good sturdy mount to secure the<br />
monitors.<br />
These monitor mounts are constructed with corrosion-resistant<br />
anodised aluminium that stands up to harsh elements. Designed<br />
to securely hold single or double monitors at the perfect angle,<br />
they offer a wide array of adjustments, including rotation, height<br />
and viewing angle. The mounts provide a 180-degree base<br />
rotation, a 180-degree tilting riser, and an adjustable telescopic riser<br />
from 18 to 24 inches. In addition, the mounting plate is designed to<br />
fit most monitors.<br />
www.millenniumstands.com<br />
AQUAGLIDE<br />
FRAME SEAT<br />
Standard equipment on Aquaglide’s Blackfoot Angler series kayaks, the AG<br />
Frame Seat can also be added to most Aquaglide SUP models for a truly<br />
unique paddling experience. Constructed of a sturdy aluminium frame,<br />
supporting padded air mesh seat and seat back, comfort and stability can<br />
be optimised via a fully adjustable back angle and two seat height settings.<br />
The AG Frame Seat is also compatible on other paddleboards that have<br />
tie-down points to create a Hybrid SUP/Kayak.<br />
www.aquaglide.com<br />
26 www.tackletradeworld.com<br />
SRD20<br />
PREMIUM FISHING BOATING CARE<br />
This limited-edition kit has everything you need to keep your<br />
boat looking clean and pristine. It includes 8oz SRD20 Graphene<br />
Spray Protectant, 16oz Waterless Wash and Wax, 8oz Vinyl<br />
Protectant, two The Rag Company Applicator Pads for easy<br />
application, two The Rag Company 365-Edgless Microfiber<br />
Towels to make sure your finish is streak free, and a helpful<br />
instruction card to use as a reference, plus an all weatherproof<br />
SRD20 Sticker that you can proudly display on boats or cars alike.<br />
The SRD20 Best Boat Wax, Boat Detailing and Cleaning Kit is<br />
said to deliver top-notch results and is said to be the quickest<br />
way to make sure your boat stays clean and protected while on<br />
the water!<br />
www.SRD20.com
DBW...<br />
taiwan<br />
TAIWAN<br />
d o i n G B u s i n e s s w i t h . . .<br />
with a history of manufacturing and some key big-name tackle brands,<br />
not to mention some good and varied fishing opportunities, the island of<br />
taiwan has much to recommend it as a place to do strong business.<br />
With a rich history, a welcoming<br />
attitude and a developing<br />
tackle manufacturing sector,<br />
Taiwan is a great place to look<br />
at for fishing gear.<br />
28 www.tackletradeworld.com<br />
Here you will find several<br />
internationally recognised<br />
brands, plenty of OEM<br />
manufacturing and a network<br />
of fishing tackle retailers<br />
serving an enthusiastic market.<br />
Following the lead from<br />
neighbouring China, it has<br />
become a place renowned for<br />
quality OEM products and it<br />
has developed quickly over the<br />
last few decades.<br />
At the same time, several<br />
key brands have also emerged<br />
in their own right, most<br />
notably perhaps rod and reel<br />
maker Okuma, high-end lure<br />
name Strike Pro and Omoto,<br />
best known for its sea fishing<br />
reels.<br />
In addition, you have Etuoh,<br />
a fishing tackle retailer that<br />
changed the way tackle was<br />
sold in Taiwan and also set up<br />
its own rod making facility<br />
under the name HR Hearty<br />
Rise.<br />
It is credited, way back in<br />
1986, as being the first direct<br />
fishing tackle chain store in<br />
the country and currently has<br />
20 stores around the country.<br />
In 2000 it entered the<br />
Chinese market, setting up<br />
its own wholesale division<br />
in Shanghai and is a regular<br />
at shows up and down the<br />
country.<br />
Other major retailers in<br />
Taiwan include AG Jigging<br />
Masters and <strong>Tackle</strong> Berry,<br />
which actually hails from
DBW...<br />
taiwan<br />
eConoMy foCus<br />
$751.93 billion GDP (nominal) (USD) (2023 estimate)<br />
$32,339 GDP per capita (USD) (2023 estimate)<br />
2.35% GDP growth rate<br />
3.48% Unemployment rate<br />
Top export partners:<br />
- China<br />
- hong Kong<br />
- usa<br />
- Japan<br />
- european union<br />
Top import partners:<br />
- China<br />
- Japan<br />
- usa<br />
- european union<br />
- south Korea<br />
faCt fiLe<br />
Capital: Taipei<br />
Dialling code: +886<br />
Population: 23,894.394 (2022 estimate)<br />
President: Tsai Ing-wen<br />
Official languages: Mandarin, Hokkien, Hakka, Matsu plus several others<br />
Time Zone: UTC+8<br />
Currency: New Taiwan Dollar<br />
Internet domain: .tw<br />
Japan. In addition, you’ll find<br />
many independent shops in<br />
more rural areas, away from<br />
the major cities.<br />
a stronG MarKet<br />
Taiwan has a significant<br />
domestic market for fishing<br />
tackle, thanks to its extensive<br />
coastline, mountain streams,<br />
rivers, lakes and reservoirs,<br />
presenting numerous fishing<br />
opportunities.<br />
Anglers here pursue a variety<br />
of fishing styles, in both freshand<br />
saltwater, which drive the<br />
demand for a wide range of<br />
tackle. It is thought there are<br />
around 600,000 active anglers<br />
in the country.<br />
Being an island in the<br />
Pacific Ocean, it is renowned<br />
in particular for its saltwater<br />
fishing opportunities,<br />
particularly for species like<br />
marlin, tuna and various reef<br />
fish. This has led to a demand<br />
for high-quality saltwater gear,<br />
especially reels, rods, lines and<br />
lures.<br />
Additionally, there is a<br />
strong tradition of freshwater<br />
fishing in Taiwan, with the<br />
most popular species including<br />
tilapia, snakehead, bass and<br />
carp.<br />
It is estimated there are<br />
between 800 to 900 tackle<br />
shops located across the<br />
country, with a good majority<br />
catering for inshore rock<br />
fishing, while predator fishing<br />
is one area still enjoying plenty<br />
of growth.<br />
In fact, the fastest growing<br />
market is predator fishing,<br />
while the biggest challenge is<br />
to try and involve more young<br />
people in fishing over the next<br />
decades.<br />
But, while the market<br />
is strong locally, it’s really<br />
as a manufacturing hub<br />
that Taiwan is best known<br />
and it has an established<br />
reputation for technological<br />
www.tackletradeworld.com<br />
29
DBW...<br />
taiwan<br />
advancements, innovative<br />
materials and designs, making<br />
for quality gear, with exports<br />
around the globe, most notably<br />
to the USA, Europe, Japan<br />
and, more recently, China.<br />
By the same token, while<br />
Taiwanese anglers buy<br />
products at all price points,<br />
there is a notable market for<br />
premium tackle from brands<br />
with a strong kudos, for<br />
example high-end Japanese<br />
lure brands.<br />
The Taiwan International<br />
Fisheries and Seafood Show<br />
(TIFSS) had been growing<br />
in popularity in recent years,<br />
with an increased emphasis<br />
on recreational fishing, but it<br />
appears it has now moved to<br />
focus more on the aquaculture<br />
and commercial fishing<br />
industry once again.<br />
e C o n o M y i n f o C u s<br />
The economy of Taiwan is, and has been<br />
for some time, driven by manufacturing<br />
– particularly the manufacturing of<br />
electronics, machinery, chemicals and, of<br />
course fishing tackle too. As a result, it is<br />
very heavily dependent on exports.<br />
The quick industrialisation and rapid<br />
growth of Taiwan during the latter half<br />
of the 20th century has been dubbed<br />
the “Taiwan Miracle” and the country<br />
– which includes the main island of<br />
Formosa plus Penghu, Kinmen, Matsu –<br />
is one of the ‘Four Asian Tigers’ alongside<br />
Hong Kong, South Korea and Singapore.<br />
Since 2001, agriculture constituted less<br />
than two per cent of GDP, down from<br />
32 per cent in 1951 and its economy is<br />
dominated by small and medium-sized<br />
businesses. Traditional labour-intensive<br />
industries are steadily being moved<br />
offshore and with more capital and<br />
technology-intensive industries replacing<br />
them.<br />
Today Taiwan has a dynamic, exportdriven<br />
economy with gradually decreasing<br />
state involvement in investment and<br />
foreign trade. In keeping with this trend,<br />
some large government-owned banks and<br />
industrial firms are being privtatised.<br />
Since the beginning of the 1990s,<br />
economic ties between Taiwan and<br />
China have been extensive. In 2002,<br />
China surpassed the United States to<br />
become Taiwan’s largest export market<br />
for the first time. China is also the most<br />
important target of outward foreign direct<br />
investment. China hosts around 4,200<br />
Taiwanese enterprises and over 240,000<br />
Taiwanese work in China.<br />
Although the economy of Taiwan<br />
benefits from this situation, some have<br />
expressed the view that the island has<br />
become increasingly dependent on the<br />
mainland Chinese economy.<br />
There are many challenges facing the<br />
economy in Taiwan, one of the main ones<br />
being an ageing population. The country<br />
has one of the world’s lowest fertility rates<br />
and it is estimated that, by 2025, almost<br />
20 per cent of the island’s population will<br />
be aged 65 or over. This, combined with<br />
an increase in affluence of its population<br />
and subsequent demand for higher<br />
wages in manufacturing jobs, means that<br />
the country is potentially facing labour<br />
shortages in the coming years.<br />
Despite all this, Taiwan remains an<br />
important global manufacturing epicentre<br />
and one with which many fishing tackle<br />
brands do business on a regular basis.<br />
The country is experiencing solid GDP<br />
growth and is also managing to keep its<br />
unemployment level low.<br />
t a r G e t s P e C i e s<br />
target this species, fished at a<br />
wide range of depths and with<br />
no real preference between hard<br />
or soft.<br />
snaKehead<br />
The aggressive and hard-fighting<br />
predator that is the snakehead is<br />
one of Taiwan’s most revered fish.<br />
The species is definitely top of<br />
the list for many sport fishermen<br />
in the country thanks to its<br />
abundance and its exciting take<br />
or bite. They are predominantly<br />
fished for with lures, particularly<br />
surface lures such as frogs.<br />
Snakehead can be found<br />
all over Taiwan’s freshwater<br />
including lakes, rivers, ponds and<br />
canals – if you can throw a lure in<br />
it, chances are you may well catch<br />
a snakehead.<br />
The average snakehead comes<br />
in at around 50cm in length<br />
while a real specimen is classified<br />
as anything of 70cm or above.<br />
BLaCK Bass<br />
A popular freshwater fish species<br />
throughout much of east Asia,<br />
the black bass is a hard-fighting<br />
relative of the largemouth bass<br />
that is more familiar to anglers<br />
from the United States. They are<br />
most commonly found in ponds,<br />
lakes and reservoirs and may<br />
often be stocked by the owners of<br />
these waters for the enjoyment of<br />
fishermen.<br />
The average size for these fish<br />
is around 40cm but anything<br />
bigger than 50cm is considered a<br />
good fish. Lures are, once again,<br />
the most popular method to<br />
BLuefin tuna<br />
A slightly controversial subject<br />
in Taiwan, due to restrictions<br />
imposed on the country’s<br />
commercial anglers for overfishing<br />
the stocks of these fast and hardfighting<br />
fish, bluefin tuna remain<br />
popular with recreational sea<br />
anglers, where permitted to catch<br />
them.<br />
Often it’s a case of getting<br />
a boat out offshore for some<br />
deepwater jigging that is the most<br />
popular method to catch them. If<br />
that doesn’t work, then high speed<br />
trolling is also an option.<br />
other sPeCies:<br />
Panfish • Trout • Squid • Snapper<br />
30 www.tackletradeworld.com
DBW...<br />
Taiwan<br />
Squid, an incredibly<br />
popular catch among<br />
Taiwanese anglers<br />
h o w d o t h e y f i s h ?<br />
Fishing in Taiwan is quite diverse, with<br />
good options for both freshwater and<br />
saltwater angling. For both of these<br />
situations, lure fishing is one of the most<br />
popular approaches to ensure success.<br />
In freshwater lakes and ponds anglers<br />
often use surface lures to catch hardfighting<br />
species like snakehead and black<br />
bass. Taiwanese anglers tend to use light<br />
but sturdy spinning tackle for this kind of<br />
fishing, carrying minimal kit so they can<br />
cover more water on foot than they would<br />
with big heavy bags and luggage. The<br />
style of fishing is heavily influenced by<br />
the lure fishing prevalent in nearby Japan<br />
and other Asian countries like China.<br />
It is worth noting, however, that there<br />
are many areas where fishing is forbidden<br />
– indeed one may face a lengthy jail term<br />
for catching the critically endangered<br />
Formosan landlocked salmon (actually, a<br />
type of trout).<br />
In terms of sea fishing, some lure<br />
fishing is popular for certain species, such<br />
as squid and bream. For some of the big<br />
trophy fish like tuna and snapper, bait<br />
is a more successful strategy. Heading<br />
out to offshore reefs, anglers will often<br />
use vertical jigging with bait to target<br />
these species. They also sometimes utilise<br />
trolling with lures or bait.<br />
Saltwater fishing is also popular to<br />
conduct from the shore, in particular light<br />
rock fishing or LRF style. A lot of kit is<br />
sold in the tackle shops of Taiwan for this<br />
kind of fishing.<br />
i n d u s t r y V I E W<br />
Richard Cheng, Strike Pro<br />
“Overall, the size of the tackle market in<br />
Taiwan is slowly growing but so, too, is<br />
competition. There are also challenges from<br />
commercial overfishing and bans on fishing in<br />
some areas along with different fishing seasons.<br />
“I would say Taiwan’s main tackle imports<br />
are from Japan while there are strong exports<br />
to Japan, the US and Europe. As a free trade<br />
country, Taiwan is easy to trade with.<br />
“In the global market, Strike Pro is currently<br />
very stable, even with all the price inflations<br />
and high inventories being experienced.”<br />
www.tackletradeworld.com<br />
31
MAKING<br />
CONTACT<br />
Making Contact<br />
1<br />
2<br />
Want your products to<br />
be seen by thousands of<br />
potential buyers… FREE<br />
of charge? Then get in<br />
touch, we’d love to hear<br />
from you.<br />
1 FLYING FISHERMAN<br />
LAGOON FLOATING SUNGLASSES<br />
2 DAIWA<br />
REVROS LT REELS<br />
3 ROSCO<br />
EZ CLIPS<br />
3<br />
JOHN HUNTER<br />
+44 7990 542958<br />
john.hunter@dhpub.co.uk<br />
Contact John directly for details of<br />
how to send your product and a<br />
short description to <strong>Tackle</strong> <strong>Trade</strong><br />
<strong>World</strong>’s office.<br />
The Lagoon is one of three new<br />
floating sunglass models in Flying<br />
Fisherman’s <strong>2024</strong> collection. The<br />
frames are made from TPX, a<br />
super-lightweight polymer, that<br />
allows them to float in fresh or salt<br />
water. The six-base frame design<br />
offers classic styling with non-slip<br />
rubber padding on the nose and<br />
temples to ensure they stay put<br />
when the action strikes.<br />
AcuTint polarised lenses<br />
enhance colour, clarity and<br />
definition and eliminate annoying<br />
glare, helping anglers see below<br />
the water’s surface, while blocking<br />
100 per cent of UV rays. Available<br />
in matte tortoise with green mirror,<br />
or matte black with smoke, blue<br />
mirror or silver mirror lenses.<br />
Daiwa has unveiled improvements<br />
to its gateway spinning reel, the<br />
Revros LT. Available in sizes from<br />
1000 to 6000, it’s a quality reel<br />
that doesn’t break the bank.<br />
Sporting a Zaion V body, which<br />
is said to be lighter and much<br />
stronger than competitor reels at<br />
this price, this is made from true<br />
carbon resin graphite. It keeps all<br />
the bearings and gears in precise<br />
alignment because the material is<br />
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There’s also an AirDrive Rotor<br />
and AirDrive Bail and prices start<br />
at just $60.<br />
daiwa.us<br />
EZ Clips are essentially a snap that<br />
does not need to be opened. Tie<br />
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baits.<br />
Ideal for topwater, jerkbaits and<br />
swimbaits as well as for building<br />
various rigs and dredges. Test<br />
strengths include 25, 50, 75, 125 and<br />
175lb. These American-made clips<br />
are available in stainless steel or<br />
black oxide finishes.<br />
www.roscotackle.com<br />
FlyingFisherman.com<br />
32 www.tackletradeworld.com
A GROUNDBREAKING SERIES OF GUIDES AND TOPS,<br />
TONY ENGINEERING, PATENT PENDING!<br />
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PACBAY MINIMA - X offers an unparalleled level of durability, solving the problems commonly associated with inner rings<br />
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Titanium plating processes, resulting in corrosion resistance, low friction, and high thermal conductivity. As a result , the friction<br />
force during long-distance casting or retrieving is significantly reduced.<br />
If you’ve ever experienced the nightmare of losing or breaking your inner ring while battling a tough fish, you’ll appreciate the superiority of PACBAY<br />
MINIMA - X. Currently, we offer sizes ranging from #05 to #20, with plans to expand up to #50. More sizes and models will be available soon. We believe<br />
these guides are ideal for lure anglers, particularly carp anglers who often face issues with the #50 stripper guide getting damaged during transportation.<br />
With PACBAY MINIMA - X, this problem has been entirely eliminated.<br />
In summary, PACBAY MINIMA - X guides and tops are renowned for their exceptional durability and ability to withstand heavy use and harsh conditions.<br />
This innovation in the fishing world, through the abandonment of ceramic and stainless-steel rings, allows fishermen to bid farewell to the nightmares of<br />
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‘Tied to Quality’ for 100 years
Analysis of China’s Fishing <strong>Tackle</strong> Market Trends<br />
in <strong>2024</strong><br />
Regarding the Chinese fishing tackle market in <strong>2024</strong>,<br />
we can analyze it from the special perspective of the<br />
contraction of fishing tackle exhibitions.<br />
The Tianjin Fishing <strong>Tackle</strong> Exhibition is one of the<br />
most influential exhibitions in China's fishing tackle<br />
industry. Since it settled in Tianjin in the spring<br />
of 2013, it has attracted numerous fishing tackle<br />
manufacturers and fishing enthusiasts to participate<br />
every year.<br />
However, the Tianjin Fishing <strong>Tackle</strong> Show will be<br />
changed to once a year from 2023 instead of twice a<br />
year. What does this change mean? Is the offline fishing<br />
tackle market shrinking, or is the market for online<br />
sales growing?<br />
First of all, we can look at the overall development<br />
status of the fishing tackle industry. According to a<br />
report by Zhongyan Puhua, China's fishing tackle<br />
market demand is increasing year by year, with the<br />
annual growth rate remaining above 20%, and the<br />
market size reaching 93 billion yuan (2020 data).<br />
China's fishing tackle market is a typical exportoriented<br />
market, with supply nearly doubling demand.<br />
Among these products made in China, fishing rod<br />
products account for only 30%, but account for 80% of<br />
the global supply. It can be said that "no matter where<br />
you are, the fish you bite is Chinese fishing rods." This<br />
shows that China's fishing tackle industry has strong<br />
production capacity and competitive advantages, but<br />
in the domestic market, consumers have low brand<br />
awareness of domestic fishing tackle and have a small<br />
market share.<br />
Secondly, we can look at the consumption habits and<br />
needs of fishing enthusiasts. With the improvement<br />
of economic level and the diversification of leisure<br />
methods, fishing, as a healthy, environmentally friendly<br />
and fashionable sport, is increasingly favored by young<br />
people. It is reported that there are approximately 90<br />
million fishing enthusiasts in mainland China. The<br />
number of fishermen is rising sharply every year, and<br />
the potential market prospects are promising.<br />
Among fishing enthusiasts, some have turned to<br />
professional fishermen and professional fishing<br />
competition members. The average professional<br />
fisherman spends several times more on fishing gear<br />
per year than the average fishing enthusiast. The<br />
increase in professional fishermen has provided huge<br />
room for growth for the development of the fishing<br />
tackle industry.<br />
However, when choosing fishing gear, fishing<br />
enthusiasts often pay more attention to quality,<br />
performance, design and service rather than price.<br />
They prefer to buy fishing gear through Internet<br />
platforms, such as Taobao and JD.com, rather than
going to traditional fishing gear stores. This is because the Internet platform can provide more information on brands,<br />
models, prices and reviews, making it easier for fishing enthusiasts to compare and choose. Traditional fishing gear<br />
stores often can only provide limited products and services, making it difficult to meet the personalized needs of<br />
fishing enthusiasts.<br />
To sum up, we can see that the Tianjin Fishing <strong>Tackle</strong> Exhibition will be changed to once a year starting from 2023,<br />
which reflects the trend that the offline fishing tackle market is shrinking and the online sales market is growing. This<br />
trend has both advantages and disadvantages for the development of the fishing tackle industry.<br />
On the one hand, the expansion of the online sales market can provide more communication and cooperation<br />
opportunities for fishing tackle manufacturers and fishing enthusiasts, and promote innovation and upgrading of the<br />
fishing tackle industry. On the other hand, the market competition for online sales has become more intense. Fishing<br />
tackle manufacturers need to continuously improve their brand influence and product quality to win the trust and<br />
loyalty of consumers.<br />
At the same time, fishing tackle exhibitions, as an important platform for the fishing tackle industry, cannot be<br />
completely replaced by online sales. Fishing tackle exhibitions can provide more intuitive product display and<br />
experience, as well as more professional technical exchanges and services, and still play an irreplaceable role in the<br />
development of the fishing tackle industry. Therefore, the fishing tackle industry should adjust its development<br />
strategy according to market changes, make full use of online and offline advantages, and achieve healthy and<br />
sustainable development of the fishing tackle industry.
CROSS-BORDER INNOVATION OF CHINESE<br />
FISHING TACKLE COMPANIES<br />
China is a big fishing country with a huge fishing market and consumer groups. According to statistics, there are<br />
currently more than 90 million fishing enthusiasts in China, and the fishing tackle market has reached 100 billion<br />
yuan. However, China's fishing tackle companies are facing fierce competition and challenges, not only to deal with<br />
domestic and foreign counterparts, but also to meet the growing needs and tastes of anglers. Therefore, Chinese<br />
fishing tackle companies must continue to innovate in order to gain a foothold and develop in the market.<br />
Innovation is a way of thinking and a power of action. Innovation can be reflected in many aspects such as products,<br />
technology, services, and marketing. It can improve the core competitiveness of an enterprise, increase its brand<br />
influence, expand its market share, and win its customer loyalty. Innovation can also bring social benefits. It can<br />
promote the spread of fishing culture, improve the quality and level of fishermen, and enhance the health and<br />
happiness of fishermen.<br />
Chinese fishing tackle companies have many innovations, and they have used their own practices and results to prove<br />
the value and significance of innovation. Below, we will take the cooperation between Liuyu Company and JISSBON<br />
Company as an example to introduce their innovation path.<br />
Liuyu is a Chinese e-commerce company engaged in the research, development and sales of fishing equipment.<br />
According to them, there are already cases of fans of Liuyu coming from other places to apply for jobs because they<br />
believe in Liuyu’s philosophy: “Let high-quality fishing gear no longer cost as much and make fishing more<br />
youthful and fashionable”!<br />
JISSBON is a well-known condom brand, and JISSBON is a subsidiary of LifeStyles Group in China. LifeStyles<br />
originated from a natural latex manufacturing company founded in Australia by founder Eric Ansell in 1905. It is the<br />
oldest condom company.<br />
Recently, Liuyu and JISSBON have carried out cross-industry cooperation. JISSBON and Liuyu Company have<br />
launched a joint condom, which combines the passion of fishing and sex, bringing consumers a new experience and<br />
fun. This innovation not only demonstrates JISSBON's open and inclusive brand image, but also contributes to the<br />
dissemination and promotion of fishing culture.<br />
The above are some examples of the innovation path of Chinese fishing tackle companies. They illustrate the<br />
importance and necessity of innovation, and also demonstrate the diversity and unlimited nature of innovation. We<br />
look forward to more Chinese fishing tackle companies embarking on the road of innovation and bringing more<br />
surprises and happiness to the fishing industry and fishermen.
IMPRESSIONS OF THE 2ND TAIWAN FISHING<br />
TACKLE EXHIBITION<br />
The second "2023 Taiwan Fishing <strong>Tackle</strong> Expo and Friendly Fishing Promotion Event" was held<br />
from October 27 to October 29 at the Huashan 1914 Cultural and Creative Industrial Park in Taipei<br />
City. It attracted many well-known fishing tackle manufacturers at home and abroad to participate<br />
in the exhibition, displaying the latest and latest products. Popular fishing tackle products and<br />
techniques. This article will introduce the highlights and event arrangements of several exhibitors so<br />
that you can have a clear overview.<br />
The first is the well-known fishing tackle OKUMA. They have many years of fishing tackle<br />
manufacturing experience and professional technology, and provide various types and levels of<br />
fishing tackle products, from entry-level to advanced, from freshwater to seawater.<br />
Next is SHIMANO, a well-known Japanese high-end fishing tackle brand. They are world-famous<br />
for their superb technology and innovative designs. They provide a variety of high-quality and highperformance<br />
fishing tackle from fishing lines to fishing reels, from rods to lures. product.<br />
There is also DAIWA, they are one of the largest fishing tackle manufacturers in Japan and one of<br />
the most popular fishing tackle brands in the world, providing various types and styles of fishing<br />
tackle products from low to high prices, from freshwater to seawater. In this exhibition, they not<br />
only displayed the latest and most popular fishing tackle products, but also prepared a lot of activities<br />
and prizes for friends who came to the scene.<br />
The above are the highlights and activity arrangements of some of the exhibitors introduced in this<br />
article. I hope you can find your favorite fishing tackle products and fun.
FEATURE<br />
THE NEXT<br />
EVOLUTION OF G4<br />
HAS ARRIVED<br />
Outdoor and apparel expert Simms kicks off <strong>2024</strong> with the release of an all-new iteration of<br />
its flagship wader, the G4Z Stockingfoot. As you might expect, it’s a further evolution on one<br />
of its most enduring products.<br />
In its 2008 catalogue, Simms pulled<br />
back the curtain to unveil the first<br />
G4Z Stockingfoot Wader. The wader<br />
was prominently featured on the<br />
cover, the inside cover, and was also the<br />
first product consumers saw upon diving<br />
into the entire 2008 product collection.<br />
An excerpt from the catalogue regarding<br />
the brand new G4Z read as follows:<br />
“G4s aren’t made for the casual angler.<br />
They represent the peak of Simms’ design<br />
expertise. The recipient of many coveted<br />
awards, this wader is the most durable,<br />
breathable wader available on the market<br />
today.”<br />
While the statement above was<br />
originally published 16 years ago, it could<br />
be cut and pasted in any G4 copy today.<br />
Even to this day it’s true – G4s aren’t made<br />
for the casual angler.<br />
And they undoubtedly continue to<br />
embody the peak of Simms design<br />
and development expertise. Finally, it’s<br />
important to note that, before the latest<br />
G4Z was released, the wader tallied<br />
multiple coveted industry awards, making<br />
it one of – if not the most – decorated<br />
waders in the longstanding history of<br />
Simms.<br />
RAISING THE BAR<br />
So what sets the new G4Z so high above<br />
the pack? The short answer is – a lot. One of<br />
the more noteworthy aspects of this G4Z is<br />
38 www.tackletradeworld.com<br />
the fact that, in addition to being designed<br />
and developed out of Simms’ Bozeman,<br />
Montana headquarters, it’s also built from<br />
the ground up by Simms’ highly skilled,<br />
Bozeman-based Wader Maker team.<br />
One detail of the new G4Z that hasn’t<br />
changed from its predecessor is the fabric<br />
package. The reason being – it delivers across<br />
the board.<br />
In 2019, Simms released the previous<br />
G4Z iteration, which was the first time<br />
this GORE-TEX fabric package was used.<br />
This was also the first time Simms utilised a<br />
four-layer lower in lieu of five.<br />
Logically, it makes sense that shedding a<br />
layer would offer enhanced mobility, lighter<br />
weight and increased breathability, but what<br />
about durability? How could four-layer live
Simms<br />
FEATURE<br />
up to the G4 durability standards?<br />
The answer lies in the face fabric. After<br />
thousands of hours of extensive field and<br />
lab testing, the results revealed that this new<br />
four-layer fabric package offered anglers a<br />
7.5 per cent increase in tongue tear strength,<br />
a 23 per cent increase in standard puncture<br />
resistance and a 33 per cent increase<br />
in breathability, when compared to the<br />
previous five-layer lower.<br />
While the fabric package remains the<br />
same, the patterning of the wader has<br />
received pretty significant tweaks – all of<br />
which were implemented to offer anglers<br />
more comfort and better range of motion.<br />
In addition, the four-layer proved so<br />
successful, Simms extended it about five<br />
inches higher up on the thighs and the seat<br />
of the wader to bolster the overall durability<br />
in the hardest working areas of the wader.<br />
FIT FOR PURPOSE<br />
One of the more visual improvements is<br />
the all-new spacer mesh suspender package.<br />
It’s more of a harness style that provides<br />
anglers with a much more ergonomic fit and<br />
breathable support.<br />
Another tweak here is the quick-adjust,<br />
cam locking suspender hardware. This is a<br />
small detail that makes a world of difference,<br />
primarily because it gives anglers the ability<br />
to adjust their suspender on the fly. Simply<br />
flip the cam up and pull the suspender straps<br />
until the desired tension is achieved and flip<br />
the cam back down to lock in place.<br />
Wondering about the excess suspender<br />
strap material? Simms thought of that too.<br />
On the inside of the top hem of the upper<br />
of the wader, there’s a laser cut slit that<br />
channels the excess material into the chest<br />
pockets of the wader.<br />
ALL IN THE DETAIL<br />
The remaining updates are less obvious to<br />
see but the following seemingly small details<br />
make all the difference in the world.<br />
This G4Z features the classic pocket array<br />
of two zippered stretch woven chest pockets<br />
and two zippered handwarmer pockets. The<br />
handwarmer pockets now feature a higher<br />
pile micro fleece to warm frozen fingers<br />
quicker. Finally, the product team at Simms<br />
also incorporated two fully submersible<br />
TruZip toothless, self-healing zippers on the<br />
inside of the wader to stash smaller essentials.<br />
Another major update that can’t be seen<br />
is a completely new construction of the<br />
YKK centre-front, fully submersible zipper.<br />
Previously, this zipper was sewn in, now it’s<br />
bonded in.<br />
Why is this significant? When something<br />
is attached via stitches, it means more<br />
material, more tape, more bulk and more<br />
rigidity. The new construction of the G4Z’s<br />
most distinguishable feature is now bonded<br />
in.<br />
By doing so, Simms was able to reduce<br />
the construction from 16 layers of fabric<br />
down to only four (plus the zipper itself ).<br />
This drastically decreased bulk and rigidity to<br />
provide a much better fitting upper that’s way<br />
more comfortable.<br />
For more on the fly adjustment capabilities,<br />
the G4Z comes equipped with a new G4<br />
specific stretch neoprene wading belt that<br />
stays in place with upgraded low profile belt<br />
loops.<br />
Finally, it features modified lower profile,<br />
snag-free gravel guards. These now fit so well<br />
that the classic boot hook is no longer needed<br />
for them to stay in place, so it has also been<br />
removed.<br />
While this G4Z does lean into standby<br />
aspects such as fabric, its patented front and<br />
back leg seams, and anatomically engineered<br />
left and right stockingfeet, mean the latest<br />
version most definitely lives up to the original<br />
mission statement and truly lives up to the<br />
legacy of its past.<br />
SIMMS<br />
www.simmsfishing.com<br />
The G4Z Stockingfoot<br />
www.tackletradeworld.com<br />
39
Classifieds<br />
SPLIT RING<br />
PLIERS<br />
CLASSIFIEDS<br />
UNIQUELY DIFFERENT (NEW-PATENTED)<br />
The EASIEST... The FASTEST...<br />
The BESTEST...<br />
for changing hooks or spinner blades<br />
visit www.Texas<strong>Tackle</strong>.com for demo video<br />
WHOLESALE ONLY<br />
4 Sizes<br />
www.Texas<strong>Tackle</strong>.com<br />
RIGS !!!!<br />
TO BOOK THIS SPACE CONTACT:<br />
NORTH AMERICA<br />
BART MANGANIELLO<br />
T: +1 914 722 7601<br />
E: bartalm@optonline.net<br />
REST of WORLD<br />
GUIDO KNEGT<br />
T: +39 347 503 6436<br />
E: guido.knegt@dhpub.co.uk<br />
COMING UP…<br />
MARCH <strong>2024</strong><br />
Ad Copy: <strong>January</strong> 26th, <strong>2024</strong><br />
Mailed: February 14th, <strong>2024</strong><br />
Special issue: Fly Fishing<br />
Spotlight: Rods<br />
Doing Business With: Scandinavia<br />
APRIL <strong>2024</strong><br />
Ad Copy: February 23rd, <strong>2024</strong><br />
Mailed: March 13th, <strong>2024</strong><br />
Special issue: Saltwater Fishing<br />
Spotlight: Lures<br />
Doing Business With: Africa<br />
MAY <strong>2024</strong><br />
Ad Copy: March 22nd, <strong>2024</strong><br />
Mailed: April 10th, <strong>2024</strong><br />
Special issue: Inshore Fishing /<br />
China Fish review<br />
Spotlight: Eyewear<br />
Doing Business With: Alaska USA<br />
To submit news or editorial for<br />
any of these issues, contact:<br />
To advertise or discuss a marketing campaign in any of these editions,<br />
contact our business development team:<br />
EDITOR<br />
JOHN HUNTER<br />
T: + 44 (0)7990 542958<br />
E: john.hunter@dhpub.co.uk<br />
NORTH AMERICA<br />
BART MANGANIELLO<br />
T: +1 914 722 7601<br />
E: bartalm@optonline.net<br />
REST of WORLD<br />
GUIDO KNEGT<br />
T: +39 347 503 6436<br />
E: guido.knegt@dhpub.co.uk
FEATURE<br />
Marketing<br />
NEW YEAR, NEW<br />
MARKETING STRATEGY<br />
Keeping your customers makes perfect sense. After all, it’s far easier to retain existing buyers<br />
than spend time and resource on finding new ones. So how does customer retention work?<br />
Media expert John Hunter has some answers.<br />
Creating a marketing strategy the<br />
coming year will undoubtedly<br />
require a combination of<br />
traditional and digital marketing<br />
efforts to attract and retain customers. Here<br />
are some ideas to help you get started…<br />
SET CLEAR GOALS: Define your specific<br />
marketing goals. Are you looking to increase<br />
sales, expand your customer base, launch<br />
new products, or improve brand awareness?<br />
Having clear goals will guide your strategy.<br />
KNOW YOUR AUDIENCE: Understand your<br />
target audience. Are they professional anglers,<br />
beginners, casual fishing enthusiasts or<br />
visitors from out of town? What are their<br />
preferences, demographics and behaviours?<br />
COMPETITOR ANALYSIS: Identify what your<br />
competitors are doing well and where you<br />
can differentiate yourself. Look for gaps in<br />
the market that you can exploit.<br />
NEW PRODUCT LAUNCHES: If you have new<br />
tackle hitting your shelves, plan a launch<br />
campaign. Tease the products through social<br />
media and e-mail marketing before the<br />
release.<br />
SEASONAL PROMOTIONS: Take advantage<br />
of the seasons when fishing is most popular.<br />
Offer promotions and discounts on relevant<br />
products. For example, winter may be a good<br />
time to promote ice fishing gear.<br />
CONTENT MARKETING: Create informative<br />
and engaging content. This can include<br />
how-to guides, videos, blog posts and social<br />
media updates. Share tips, tricks and stories<br />
42 www.tackletradeworld.com<br />
to engage your audience.<br />
SOCIAL MEDIA MARKETING: Use platforms<br />
like Facebook, Instagram, and Twitter to<br />
connect with your audience. Share photos,<br />
videos and posts related to fishing, and<br />
engage with your followers.<br />
E-MAIL MARKETING: Build an e-mail list of<br />
customers and potential customers. Send out<br />
regular newsletters with product updates,<br />
fishing tips and exclusive offers. Remember<br />
to get their permission.<br />
SEARCH ENGINE OPTIMISATION (SEO):<br />
Optimise your website for search engines<br />
so that potential customers can find you<br />
easily. Focus on fishing-related keywords and<br />
phrases.<br />
PAY-PER-CLICK ADVERTISING (PPC): Run<br />
targeted PPC campaigns, especially on<br />
Google Ads, to drive traffic to your website.<br />
Use specific keywords to attract potential<br />
customers.<br />
INFLUENCER PARTNERSHIPS: Collaborate<br />
with influencers and experts. They can<br />
promote your products to a dedicated<br />
following. Ensure that the influencers align<br />
with your brand values.<br />
LOCAL SEO: If you have a physical store,<br />
optimise it for local search. Ensure your<br />
business is listed accurately on platforms like<br />
Google My Business.<br />
CUSTOMER LOYALTY PROGRAMS: Reward<br />
your repeat customers with loyalty programs,<br />
discounts or exclusive access to new products.<br />
USER-GENERATED CONTENT: Encourage<br />
your customers to share their fishing<br />
experiences with your products. Share<br />
user-generated content on your website and<br />
social media.<br />
COMMUNITY ENGAGEMENT: Get involved<br />
in local fishing events, sponsor tournaments<br />
and engage with fishing clubs and<br />
organisations in your area.<br />
ANALYTICS AND MONITORING: Regularly<br />
monitor your marketing efforts. Use tools<br />
like Google Analytics and social media<br />
insights to track the performance of your<br />
campaigns.<br />
FEEDBACK AND IMPROVEMENT: Collect<br />
feedback from your customers and make<br />
necessary improvements based on their<br />
suggestions. This shows that you value their<br />
input.<br />
Remember to tailor your marketing<br />
strategy to your unique brand and target<br />
audience. By implementing these tactics,<br />
you can create an effective marketing<br />
strategy to boost your fishing tackle retail<br />
business in the coming year.<br />
• John Hunter is the director of HunterMedia,<br />
a global PR, marketing and events consultancy<br />
with more than 25 years of tackle industry<br />
experience.<br />
Hunter Media<br />
john@hunter-media.co.uk<br />
www.huntermedia.co.uk
Dealer e l r inquiries<br />
r e<br />
welcome<br />
e Christoffer@flyco.dk<br />
r i s t o f fe<br />
r@f<br />
fly<br />
c d<br />
The Fly Company - www.flyco.dk<br />
European Fly-tying and fly-fishing distributor