ICAST 2025 Recap

ICAST 2025 was an incredible (and humbling) experience for a small company like Landicho Custom Rods. We came away inspired, motivated, and more fired up than ever for what’s next. Here are a few big takeaways from the trip:

Tariffs are hitting hard.

Big rod brands are taking a beating on profit margins due to rising tariffs. It's a real reminder of why supporting local, American-made brands like LCR matters now more than ever.

AI is everywhere.

From design to customer service, AI tools are rapidly becoming part of every workflow. Staying small means staying agile — and we’re embracing the future without losing our handmade roots.

The small brands showed up.

Some of the most impressive innovations came from smaller companies — from next-level beach carts (@thebeachmule) to clever new fly storage systems (@flytimefishing) The industry's evolving fast, and we’re proud to be part of that wave.

Thanks to everyone we met, learned from, and were inspired by. This next year of rod building is going to be something special — and we’re stoked to bring you along for the ride. 

👉 Want a custom rod built just for the way you fish? Shoot us a message, or check out our latest builds — we’re taking orders now.