This is my second year attending ICAST, and while some things have changed dramatically, the reasons I’m so excited to attend this show are still the same.
I really enjoyed last year because I found representation of the entire fishing industry in one place. I got to speak with top-tier anglers from multiple organizations, I had my first business meetings and I really got an insider’s look at how the industry works.
Last year was a major learning experience. The best lesson I learned was you have be prepared. You have to understand that you’re not the only person a potential sponsor will be meeting with, so you have to be ready to make the most of the time you have.
This year, ICAST will be even busier for me. Winning the Bassmaster Classic has put a lot more on my plate and a lot of companies are demanding my presence.
I’ll have a lot of media creation duties and a lot of opportunities to strengthen my relationships and make some new ones. Hopefully, this will mean more growth for me.
One thing I’ve noticed after winning the Classic is people value you a lot more. It still feels weird to me because everywhere I go someone wants my autograph.
Two years ago, I was that person wanting someone else’s autograph. It’s amazing how quickly that flipped around, and I’m grateful to be in this position.
It definitely makes me super appreciative of the position I’m in. I’m fishing for a living, and that’s been a dream of mine since I was a little kid.
I know there’s a huge crop of college kids wanting to do what I do, so I try to let them know it’s possible. I think it’s my job to take on that role of encouraging others to pursue their dreams.
Another big change for me has been my marketability. Since winning the Classic, all my numbers are through the roof. All the impressions — print, internet, everything — have skyrocketed.
I can present that to sponsors and show them the comparison from before and after the Classic. It’s pretty cool to see the big difference in my value, just since March.
This year, I’ll spend over half my booth time at Strike King and Lew’s. From there, I’ll bounce between my other sponsors and do my best to make sure I’m giving all of them my best service.
In addition to the booth time, my ICAST schedule will include a couple of press conferences for Strike King products. I’m particularly excited to talk about the Strike King Tumbleweed and the Sexy Bug — two baits I helped develop.
I’ll have the opportunity to talk about these baits during the press conferences with Kevin VanDam and Mark Zona. That’s another super cool, eye-opening moment with Strike King putting me in the same room with two guys I’ve looked up to since I was a kid.
That’s just another example of how much the Classic has changed my life. It’s been an amazing experience, but the part of ICAST I’m most looking forward to is the time I’ll spend just talking about fishing with everyone.
This is a very important show, but we’re just a bunch of fishing nuts. We’re all from different walks of life gathered in one convention center talking about the sport we love. I eat that up.
