DAN SIMMONS Sportsman's Quest MORE COLUMNS SPECIAL TO THE PVT One of the displays at the ICAST show in Las Vegas attracts visitors. Advertisement

The International Convention of Allied Sportfishing Trades (ICAST) is the world's largest sport fishing trade show. Some call it the largest "Boys' Toys" show, and it amazes me every time.

Held every other year at the Las Vegas Convention Center, the three-day presentations of new products and our old favorites is a sportsman's wonderland. Virtually every significant manufacturer demonstrates their latest rods, reels, lures, baits and tackle; it's "hooks to boats" and lots of new gadgets.

The industry is not without its challenges, though. This past year created "the perfect storm" to devastate the sport fishing industry.

The floods in the South have hit bass fishing in the belly, and it is one of the mainstays of American sport fishing. Hurricanes in the Gulf and Southeast have done much the same to the saltwater fishermen. Top that off with high gas prices and increased airfares and we fishermen are having a tough time.

Then there is the unemployment / underemployment factor. There was a time if we had a short layoff we could look forward to a little inexpensive fishing recreation. Now employment uncertainty and increased travel costs cause many to think twice before buying that new rod, reel, or boat.

On the brighter side, there are lots of bargains out there as competition increases for the sportsman's dollar. Your favorite sporting goods suppliers are trying to help with outstanding sales; many lodges have reduced rates, as do hotels and car rental agencies.

There are even unexpected air travel bargains like Central America for $338 round trip or eastern Canada and the Northeast for $300 (just don't take that extra bag).

For many of us, now is the perfect time to get away from it all and do a little fishing.

My goal at this year's show was to discover the ultimate traveling equipment for fresh and saltwater, as well as new and unique stuff that causes one to say, "Why didn't I think of that?" or just plain ol', "Wow!"

Here's what I found:

I'm most excited to have finally found what may be the ultimate take-down rod for serious saltwater fishing. It's a two-piece that detaches at the butt and has an overall length of less than four feet, fitting easily into your check-on luggage.

It's a Fin-Nor model FBGSU50 and matched with a Fin-Nor Santiago SA30W reel. It can do it all from yellowtail, mahi-mahi to sails. Its pedigree and quality can't be beat. Fin-Nor, known for its fine reels, is one of the oldest and most respected since the 1930's, and has been used by revered anglers such as Hemingway and Zane Grey.

I'll be writing more about this combo as the season progresses. They also make a fine three-piece spinning combo. For more information go to www.finnorfishing.com

One of the hottest rods for the last couple of years, and at this show, too, is the E21 Carrot Stick. It is actually constructed of carrot fiber and has a unique design being copied by many other rod manufacturers. Now that you've stopped laughing, take a look at it on their Web site. It's weighs almost nothing, and everyone I met at the show wants one.

I have to mention Pacific Bay Rods. They produce quality rods for all types of fishing.

I have used them and they are excellent, but what I find most interesting is their take-down build-your-own rod kits, which they have been providing to US servicemen in Iraq for years, at no cost. This company deserves your respect. For more information go to www.fishpacbay.com.

Rapala was at the show in full force with a huge display of new, traditional and classic lures. They also brought their full line of other fishing tackle and accessories.

Shad Rap, with some new models and their wide range of trolling rigs are a standard of the industry and are found on every well-outfitted fishing boat.

For freshwater the Vibrax and Flash spinners, under the Blue Fox brand, have never been surpassed for quality and just plain catchin' fish. Go to www.rapala.com.

Here's a new one: The Dancing Dolphin mimics a small mahi-mahi, looks and acts live, and has so far won more than $4 million in salt water tournament cash. It's designed both as a trolling lure with a slightly larger model to be used as a teaser. If their Web site has video, you'll buy one of these. I did. Go to www.TacticalTackle.com.

For my freshwater tackle box, I picked up some more Castaic soft baits. They had some new offerings and I trust they are as effective as the ones I have been using for years. They are great. Go to www.naturevisioninc.com.

There's a bunch of new fish hooks on the market and some great improvements on our traditional and favorite brands. You be the judge on these, but I have found one that is unique; it doesn't use a knot and maintains 100 percent line strength.

It's simple (I can even do it), but it's best seen on their Web site and worth the look. It's the easy2hook. Go to www.easy-2-hook.com.

Now that you have all that new stuff, you can either put it in a sack or your tackle box. Remember Plano? This was your grandfather's, your father's, and now you probably have one of these and it's an excellent value.

They have a new line of soft-pack tackle carriers. "Tackle carriers" is the best I can do to describe them. You can take a look at this new wave of "tackle boxes" on their Web site; they're really neat, efficient and even Ol' Seldom could get organized with one of these. Go to www.planomolding.com.

My other most favorite item from the show is InstaBoat. It is one of the most versatile, strong and capable small traveler's/explorer's boats on the market, and a good value too. From northern lakes and southern ponds, to Central and South America, this is the real one.

It's new, it's great and I'll be using one on my fly-in trips. You will be reading more about this in future columns too, and you can find more information on these great boats at www.instaboat.com.

Finally, one that can not be overlooked. You have heard of the pet rock. Well, this is the pet sinker. It's one of nature's best weights, a fine natural rock. It has a swivel ring attached to it in a unique way, and really makes sense. It has a much more sensitive bounce when drift-fishing rivers and streams. It also is a sign of the times as more and more small bodies of water are being closed to lead weights.

We've seen tungsten and other metals used to replace lead, but I'm going with the rock, and this one will stay on my line better than the ones I tried to basket tie when I was a kid. It's on the web at www.pallatraxusa.com.

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If you've found a product that's new, unique, or interesting or if you have an adventure, a story or a comment on this or other articles, give me a call at 727-9777 or e-mail me at dansimmons@usa.net.

Update

Gas prices and a sluggish economy are impacting the sport fishing fleet, but the fishing is hot out of San Diego's H&M landing, with limits of dorado and lots of yellowtail. As the water warms and the fish move north keep an eye on the Catalina/San Clemente Island catch out of the 22nd Street Landing.

On the bright side for the fisherman, this means less angler competition and some world class fishing on great boats.

For more information go to www.hmlanding.com and www.freedomsportfishing@aol.com.

Good fishing and let us know how your trip goes.

Recipe of week

I'll first try some of this new equipment on albacore off the coasts of Southern California and Mexico. Even I can get lucky on these. You can too, the fishing is really picking up, so make your reservations and make this for a special occasion.

Southwest Tuna

Four 1/4 pound tuna steaks; 2 tsp sea salt; 2 tsp finely ground black pepper; 1/2 cup extra virgin olive oil; 1/4 cup diced onion; 3 cloves garlic, minced; 3 tomatoes, seeded and chopped; 1/4 cup chopped green olives; 2 Tbsp red wine vinegar; 2 Tbsp small capers; 2 tsp fresh rosemary, chopped; 2 tsp of your favorite hot sauce;

Sprinkle tuna steaks with salt and pepper; heat the olive oil in a frying pan over medium heat; add onion and cook until soft; add garlic, tomatoes and rosemary, cook for five minutes; add remaining ingredients (except for tuna) and cook until slightly reduced; meanwhile grill tuna steaks to desired doneness; spoon warm sauce over fish and serve with a nice rice pilaf.