ICAST: Where Salmon Mean Business

This week in sunny Las Vegas, Save Our Wild Salmon was on hand for ICAST, the world's largest sportfishing trade show, hosted by our friends at the American Sportfishing Association.  ASA represents the interests of America’s 60 million anglers who generate over $45 billion in retail sales with a $125 billion impact on the nation’s economy creating employment for over one million people. 

Buyers, sellers, manufacturers, and even bloggers of all kinds come from all corners of the globe to view what's new in the industry.  ICAST provides SOS with a great way to connect with business leaders whose very livelihoods depend on healthy rivers, oceans, and abundant fishing opportunities.  Also, having ICAST in Las Vegas gives us a chance to both spread the word nationally about our campaign to restore Columbia-Snake Basin salmon and steelhead and dish out a bit of history regarding salmon in Nevada.

Wha?

Yes, that's right.  Northern Nevada was once home to abundant salmon and steelhead populations.  Along with beef and produce, many ranchers brought salmon to market, plucked from their local stream.  Read more about the salmon and steelhead connection in Nevada.

The show was a great success.  A HUGE thank you to American Sportfishing Association, the Northwest Sportfishing Industry Association, and all of the businesses that are helping move our campaign forward to restore Columbia-Snake basin salmon and steelhead.  Check out a few photo highlights from the show:

Ron and Dave at Easy2Hook (out of Las Vegas!) were pleased to hear about the salmon / Nevada connection, and they were selling some pretty nifty hooks at the show.

Met with Mike and Lance at Chums.  Both were jazzed (different ways of showing it).

Chatted with Chris Timmerman from The Creek Company out of Steamboat Springs, Colorado.  Chris talked up the benefits of free-flowing rivers. 

 

Met w/ Kelly Marble and Jeff Kolodzinski (not pictured) from Frabill out of Jackson, Wisconsin.  These folks were so nice and very supportive.  Frabill won this year's Best New Apparel Award (see the mannequin).  And PS: Why is everyone from Wisconsin so nice?  Probably makes sense to link to the work of Congressman Tom Petri (R-WI) here too.

Some friends from back home: longtime SOS supporter Randy Woolsey from the Tom Posey Co. and Kari McClellan Swigart from NSIA (Northwest Sportfishing Industry Association) at the Okuma booth.  Kari was SUPER helpful and introduced me to several new people.  Thanks a million Kari! 

And thank you to everyone at ICAST!