Early Birds Get the Leads and the Deals at ICAST

Booking ICAST early can score exhibitors deals at one of the best investments in sportfishing.

Fairy lights illuminated a row of mason jars on the ICAST show floor last July. Soft plastic fishing lures glowed in each, suspended in a translucent gel that froze each lure in place. Inside, tails, antennae and tentacles of baits designed to catch trophy largemouth bass reached out towards an aisle, luring passersby into a conversation with Cade Thompson, co-owner of Lake Fork Lure Co.

The display was simple, but in a 200,000-square-foot village of sprawling trade show booths, the humble row of glowing fishing lures stood apart from the crowd. For three days, the simple display lured in business connections in the same way the baits inside each jar were designed to lure in lunker bass. For Thompson, distributors, retailers, sales groups and other lure manufacturers were the prey of choice.

At ICAST, attendees fish for connections with the same skill and savvy that they use on the water. The Texas-based tackle company says they only need two dozen or so connections each year to make ICAST a valuable return on investment. Between 20 and 30-percent of contacts made at ICAST transform into sales or partnerships. And for Lake Fork Lure Co., that’s enough to make attending the sportfishing industry’s largest trade show a yearly “must.”

“At the end of the day, getting everybody in the same room and getting eyeball to eyeball is how you build relationships,” says Thompson. “That’s how deals get done. So for us, ICAST is a lot more efficient and cost effective than traveling all over the country. And it’s certainly more personal than Zoom or WebEx calls.”

After acquiring the legacy lure company in 2022, Thompson and company promptly booked a booth at ICAST. Since then, they’ve made three consecutive trips to the Orange County Convention Center on a quest to continue their growth.

With more than 14,000 attendees spanning hundreds of tackle companies, buyers and media organizations, ICAST is truly the epicenter of the recreational sportfishing world. Businesses and anglers from all fisheries and all disciplines convene here.

Last year, representatives from 75 nations attended the show. And added value can be had for businesses that book booth space early.

Through February 1, ICAST floor space pricing starts at $16/square foot. That rate increases, though, as the calendar inches closer to showtime in July. Rates increase to $18/square foot in February and finally settle at $20/square foot from April forward. For now, that means the “get in the door” price of an ICAST booth is as low as $1,600. A booth like Thompson’s would total closer to $3,200 with the biggest early bird discount and up to $4,000 from April onward.

“Booth space at ICAST is highly sought after,” adds American Sportfishing Association Vice President of Trade Show & Marketing Blake Swango. “Exhibitors can find a booth size for almost any need if they register early. We have booths ranging from 100-square-feet all the way to 4,800-square-feet.”

For Thompson, securing space at ICAST a top priority. “This is the number one line item in our budget,” he adds. “We love coming here.”

To learn more about exhibiting at ICAST 2025, set for July 15-18 in Orlando, Florida, visit ICASTFishing.org. The Orange County Convention Center is located just 12 miles from Orlando International Airport, which services more than 160 international destinations in 27 countries.