Join Steve Harvey as we kick off ICAST 2026 live from the ICASTLive! stage. Steve will be joined by Bill Dance and the two will share stories that are sure to entertain and inspire. This is a session you won’t want to miss.

Join KastKing’s Jose Cinco for a demonstration of their latest product – the Kestrel Ultimate Casting Reel. Fueled by innovation, the Kestrel Ultimate is the lightest Magnesium baitcaster on the market. Weighing only 4.6 ounces, you can easily cast lures down to 1/32 of an ounce. Don’t let the lightweight fool you, manufactured with a Magnesium frame and side covers, Kestrel Ultimate is built for strength and durability.

Join our panel of trade and government affairs experts to learn the latest information about the tariffs that are affecting our industry.

Big retailers like Walmart and Dick’s Sporting Goods are forcing their suppliers to include an RFID tag on every product. Find out what they are using it for, how you are benefiting, and how you can utilize this technology to boost your own profits, such as reducing labor costs or eliminating chargebacks.

Retailers don’t just sell products, they are community builders. This session will explore how to turn first-time buyers into lifelong anglers by leveraging digital touchpoints. Learn how to capture word-of-mouth referrals, connect customers with guides and local resources, and create simple next-step systems inside the store that keep customers engaged long after their initial purchase. We’ll also touch on how AI and automated tools can streamline follow-ups, personalize outreach, and make it easier to scale these efforts. Walk away with practical strategies to drive repeat business, unlock new revenue opportunities, and build a loyal, local fishing community.

Founder and CEO, Digital Sportsman

Youth retention in fishing is the long game. This session digs into structured youth programming —what moves kids from a one-time experience to a lifelong angler —told through the lens of a girl dad raising the next generation.

It’s often the simplest tactics that lead to the win. This seminar will bring to light 10 core concepts that, if followed, will change your business. Areas of focus include human resources, purchasing, merchandising and delegation strategies. Expect to leave this seminar with action items that you can implement immediately in your own business.

Manager, TCO Fly Shop; Owner, VILD Consulting

The fishing consumer is changing fast. This FutureCast session will explore how macro pressure, experience-driven spending, social commerce, and AI-assisted discovery are reshaping how anglers research, choose, and buy products. Don Unser will frame what fishing brands and retailers need to know to compete in the next path-to-purchase era.

The way buyers find and choose fishing brands has changed, fast. For years, growth came from search rankings, shelf space, and word of mouth on the water.

Today, a new decision-maker has entered the process: AI. Buyers are asking AI tools what to buy, who to trust, and which companies are the safest choice. And AI does not give them ten options. It gives them one or two.

If your business is not one of them, it risks becoming invisible. Whether you build product, run a shop, lead a brand, or cover the sport, this shift touches every part of the industry. In this session, Marcus Sheridan delivers a clear, practical roadmap for winning visibility, trust, and recommendations in this new landscape, without massive budgets or complicated tech.

You’ll walk away knowing:

• Why “ranking on Google” is no longer enough and what replaces it
• What makes AI trust and recommend one fishing business over another
• The practical steps any company can take to improve AI visibility starting the week you get home

Kick off day two of ICASTLive! with legendary angler Kevin VanDam and the team from Rather Outdoors as they pull back the curtain on an exciting new product. Get an inside look at what makes it different, hear the stories behind its development, and enjoy plenty of laughs, fishing insights, and behind-the-scenes conversation with one of the sport’s all-time greats. Whether you’re a longtime KVD fan or just love seeing the latest innovations, this is a session you won’t want to miss.

2018 Hall of Fame Inductee, Seven-Time BASS Angler of the Year • FLW Angler of the Year, Four-Time Classic Champion • Twenty-Five Time Bassmaster Winner

Join five accomplished women from across the sportfishing industry for a conversation introducing Women in Angling, a new organization dedicated to inspiring, empowering, and connecting women in the business of fishing. Panelists will share the vision behind the organization, discuss the value of mentorship and professional community, and explore how Women in Angling aims to strengthen leadership, foster meaningful connections, and support the next generation of women shaping the future of the sportfishing industry.

Data isn’t just numbers, it’s your competitive edge. Join us for a deep dive into the most important findings from the 2026 Special Report on Fishing, translated into clear opportunities for manufacturers, retailers, and brands. Learn how angler trends, participation data, and behavioral insights can inform smarter decisions, sharpen your strategy, and drive measurable growth across your business.

Join us for an engaging session tailored to sportfishing retailers seeking to enhance their online presence. In this dynamic workshop, we’ll delve into practical website tips and tools designed to amplify your business’s digital footprint. Discover user-friendly tools and platforms that streamline website management and drive growth. Whether you’re a novice or seasoned entrepreneur, this session offers invaluable insights to propel your small business towards online success.

Learn how to protect your e-commerce business from fraud while delivering excellent customer service. This seminar covers key fraud warning signs, prevention strategies, and best practices for handling customer interactions, disputes, and chargebacks. Gain practical tools to build trust, improve satisfaction, and create a secure, seamless shopping experience.

Key Takeaways:

• Identify and prevent common fraud risks
• Handle customer issues and disputes effectively
• Improve customer satisfaction and loyalty

Join Eyeking LLC at ICAST Live as the team shares the story behind Hobie Eyewear’s Upcycled Collection, crafted from 100% upcycled Hobie kayak plastic and designed to support a greater mission beyond eyewear. The presentation will explore the brand’s partnership with the FishAmerica Foundation, ongoing advocacy for lake and waterway cleanups, and how sustainability continues to shape product innovation and community engagement. Attendees will also get a first look at the new collaboration between Salt Life Eyewear and the FishAmerica Foundation, expanding conservation efforts across both brands through purpose driven product initiatives and outreach programs.

If you are purchasing softgoods and hardgoods with the same mindset you are losing margin and sales. In this seminar we will review best practices and pitfalls when purchasing both softgoods and hardgoods. Areas of focus will include the difference between seasonal buying of softgoods, versus annual buying of hardgoods, product life cycle planning and how to use it to your business’s advantage. Additionally, we will cover how to use vendor pre-seasons to reduce the need for margin-eating ASAP orders.

Fly fishing has long been seen as a niche within the larger fishing world, but its influence reaches far beyond the river. This session explores how fly fishing is shaping the future of the sport through storytelling, community, conservation, travel, lifestyle, and a growing audience of new anglers. From brand loyalty to participation growth, attendees will learn what the broader fishing industry can take from fly fishing’s ability to create deeper emotional connections and lasting engagement.

What is it costing you not to do video? Every day, your customers are watching videos to learn about products, compare brands, and decide who they trust. The question is: are they watching yours?

Most companies in the fishing industry still aren’t using video consistently, which means they’re missing opportunities to build trust, influence buying decisions, and stay top of mind with future customers.

In this session, Marcus Sheridan shares how businesses can use video to become the most known and trusted brand in their market. Drawing from his experience building one of the fastest-growing fishing education channels on YouTube and helping companies across dozens of industries do the same, Marcus will show how to create videos that buyers actually want to watch, without a large budget, studio, or production team.

You’ll walk away knowing:

• The types of videos that influence buying decisions and build trust
• How to create content consistently with the people and tools you already have
• A practical framework for using video to grow awareness, trust, and demand