Number provided by the ASA indicate about 10,000 people attended the seminars, casting exhibitions, manufacturer booth displays and other offerings. Ben Bulis, president of the American Fly Fishing Trade Association, said the merger more than doubled attendance for past shows held separately.
"Our show in Reno (Nevada) offered no crossover market," Bulis told The Outdoor Wire. "This location and union allowed us to open new avenues and capture a fresh new audience."
Bulis said having the shows under one roof has the potential to attract anglers who haven't been exposed to fly fishing and are apprehensive about trying it because they think it is too expensive or difficult to learn.
Ian Davis, owner of Bozeman, Montana's Yellow Dog Flyfishing Adventures, which offers fishing adventures worldwide, said he has attended the IFTD shows for the past 22 years, and the number of people he saw at the ICAST Show willing to expand their fishing techniques was very encouraging.
Statistics from the 2011 National Survey of Fishing, Hunting, and Wildlife-Associated Recreation Survey indicates 33.1 million U.S. residents enjoyed a variety of fishing opportunities, spending $41.8 billion in fishing-related expenses in the process. Fishing equipment expenditures totaled $15.5 billion, 37 percent of all fishing expenditures, with $6.1 billion (40 percent of all equipment expenditures) going towards rods, reels, tackle boxes, depth finders, and artificial lures and flies.
"The energy and excitement generated during this year's show was felt by everyone," said ASA President and CEO Mike Nussman. "The decision by the boards of directors of ASA and the American Fly Fishing Trade Association to co-locate ICAST and the International Fly Tackle Dealer show (IFTD) is a reflection of that. Our commitment to our member exhibitors, media and all show attendees is to listen and improve the trade show in any and every way we can."
The ICAST Show was recognized in 2012 as one of the fastest-growing trade shows by attendance in the U.S. by Trade Show Executive and the Trade Show News Network. Trade Show Executive's "Fastest 50" award is determined based on growth in attendance over a two-year period of time. ICAST was ranked ninth on the list. The Trade Show News Network also placed ICAST on its "Top 25 Fastest-growing Shows by Attendance for 2012."
Next year the two trade shows will again be held in the same venue, this time at the Orange County Convention Center in Orlando, Florida, July 15-18.
"We expect to see continued growth in attendance, particularly in the international and marine markets. Business-wise-it's a good investment for us," said ASA Board of Directors Chairman Gregg Wollner.
--Etta Pettijohn
(Next: Etta's Picks O' the Show)