Touring ICAST with Bertrand

I asked Elite Series pro Josh Bertrand if I could follow him around for a while at ICAST. Our first stop was the B.A.S.S. booth, where he spent some time talking to B.A.S.S. editors Thomas Allen and Bryan Brasher.
I asked Elite Series pro Josh Bertrand if I could follow him around for a while at ICAST. Our first stop was the B.A.S.S. booth, where he spent some time talking to B.A.S.S. editors Thomas Allen and Bryan Brasher.
After that it was off to the show.
After that it was off to the show.
At the Garmin booth Josh and John Murray couldn't take their eyes off this giant screen...
At the Garmin booth Josh and John Murray couldn’t take their eyes off this giant screen…
It's for much larger boats than bass boats, but who knows?
It’s for much larger boats than bass boats, but who knows?
Our next stop was with Zack at Boat Bling. He carried us across the show and proceeded to make this boat dirty with his footprints, adding a little water to make sure it got done right.
Our next stop was with Zack at Boat Bling. He carried us across the show and proceeded to make this boat dirty with his footprints, adding a little water to make sure it got done right.
And then he made Josh clean it up.
And then he made Josh clean it up.
Josh did a great job.
Josh did a great job.
And the boat was good as new.
And the boat was good as new.
Josh spends a little time watching fly fisherman at the casting pond.
Josh spends a little time watching fly fisherman at the casting pond.
Time to check out some Costa sunglasses...
Time to check out some Costa sunglasses…
I told Josh to stand in the middle of the booth and look cool.
I told Josh to stand in the middle of the booth and look cool.
B.A.S.S. CEO Bruce Akin is making the rounds and stopped to greet Josh.
B.A.S.S. CEO Bruce Akin is making the rounds and stopped to greet Josh.
Josh heads to the Berkley booth to show off the new deep-diving crankbait, the Dredger.
Josh heads to the Berkley booth to show off the new deep-diving crankbait, the Dredger.
Plenty of new colors to check out.
Plenty of new colors to check out.
Adrian Avena is also hanging out at the booth.
Adrian Avena is also hanging out at the booth.
They go in a back room and check out unreleased prototype baits that we won't see for literally years. They made me blur it out, though. Not cool, fellas!
They go in a back room and check out unreleased prototype baits that we won’t see for literally years. They made me blur it out, though. Not cool, fellas!
Here's something you can see right now. The Revo Rocket spinning reel with a fast 7:1:1 ratio.
Here’s something you can see right now. The Revo Rocket spinning reel with a fast 7:1:1 ratio.
Another favorite of Josh's...
Another favorite of Josh’s…
Is the Abu Garcia ALX baitcaster.
Is the Abu Garcia ALX baitcaster.
Abu Garcia has a few rods here or there.
Abu Garcia has a few rods here or there.
Including this Frozen rod for kids. Josh really liked it, but I told him to just let it go.
Including this Frozen rod for kids. Josh really liked it, but I told him to just let it go.
Josh decides to escape ICAST and enter the world of virtual reality.
Josh decides to escape ICAST and enter the world of virtual reality.
He slips on this headset and is transported to a pond.
He slips on this headset and is transported to a pond.
I remained back in Orlando to take some pictures of him.
I remained back in Orlando to take some pictures of him.
Fishing Planet is a game where you can fish in exotic locales, and with a HTC Vive on, you can almost think you're there.
Fishing Planet is a game where you can fish in exotic locales, and with a HTC Vive on, you can almost think you’re there.
The motion controllers mean Josh was making his regular fishing motion...
The motion controllers mean Josh was making his regular fishing motion…
...and caught a nice crappie, virtually.
…and caught a nice crappie, virtually.
After catching a fish in the fake world, he was hoping to find one in the lure tank. He did get a pretty good view of the show floor.
After catching a fish in the fake world, he was hoping to find one in the lure tank. He did get a pretty good view of the show floor.
A few last stops before calling it a day. Can you guess where he's at from that iconic structure?
A few last stops before calling it a day. Can you guess where he’s at from that iconic structure?
Of course, Power-pole. Here you can raise and lower the Power-Pole to see how quick it is. Josh did it about 4 more times than I needed him to. He seemed to enjoy it.
Of course, Power-pole. Here you can raise and lower the Power-Pole to see how quick it is. Josh did it about 4 more times than I needed him to. He seemed to enjoy it.
It's on to Motor Guide, and if you're going to throw a trolling motor over your shoulder, you best do it just like KVD does.
It’s on to Motor Guide, and if you’re going to throw a trolling motor over your shoulder, you best do it just like KVD does.
We find Cliff Prince, who is not happy that Josh is taller than him...
We find Cliff Prince, who is not happy that Josh is taller than him…
So he aims to fix it. Nailed it, Cliff!
So he aims to fix it. Nailed it, Cliff!
Josh checks out some interesting booths at the show..
Josh checks out some interesting booths at the show..
...and then finds a tent to take a little nap before continuing his tour. Thanks for letting us tag along, Josh!
…and then finds a tent to take a little nap before continuing his tour. Thanks for letting us tag along, Josh!