Bull Bay Rods is proud to announce that the Banshee BG has been named Best Saltwater Rod at ICAST 2026 — marking the company’s third ICAST Best Rod award, following previous wins in 2021 and 2022. The recognition is one of the fishing industry’s highest honors, acknowledging innovation, performance, and product excellence.
This award represents far more than the launch of a new rod series. It reflects Bull Bay’s commitment to listening to the anglers, captains, dealers, and industry professionals who have helped shape the company from the very beginning.
The Banshee BG was developed through years of collaboration with independent tackle shops, charter captains, tournament anglers, guides, and Bull Bay’s pro staff. Every conversation and every piece of feedback played a role in creating a rod series that fills an important place within the Bull Bay family while remaining true to the performance, feel, and attention to detail that anglers have come to expect from the brand.
Designed to bridge the gap between traditional inshore tackle and heavier offshore applications, the Banshee BG allows anglers to outfit their boats with confidence, carrying a familiar feel and consistent performance from light inshore fishing all the way to demanding nearshore and offshore battles. Rather than creating a standalone product, Bull Bay focused on expanding the Banshee family with a series that offers a unified experience across multiple fisheries while maintaining the lightweight balance, responsiveness, and signature design language that define the brand.
“Our goal is to create rods that not only look great but deliver unmatched performance, versatility, and a warranty that stands among the best in the industry. The Banshee BG came directly from listening to our dealers and customers who wanted the same lightweight feel, balance, and performance they’ve trusted from the Banshee family. Winning Best Saltwater Rod validates what can happen when you let the people who fish every day help guide the development process.”
— DUSTIN PHILLIPS, PRESIDENT | BULL BAY RODS
For Bull Bay, the Banshee BG is another example of the company’s product development philosophy. Every rod begins with real-world feedback from the people who fish them every day. By working hand in hand with dealers, captains, guides, tournament anglers, and everyday fishermen, Bull Bay continues to refine its lineup to meet the evolving demands of anglers without compromising the performance, durability, or value the company has built its reputation on.
Winning Best Saltwater Rod at ICAST is an incredible milestone for the Bull Bay team, but it also serves as motivation for what’s next. The company remains committed to pushing innovation forward while continuing to build rods that anglers can trust in every fishery and every condition.
Bull Bay Rods extends its sincere appreciation to its dealers, pro staff, captains, industry partners, and loyal customers whose support, feedback, and passion continue to drive every new product the company brings to market. This award belongs to everyone who has been part of the journey.
HOW IT STARTED
Back in 2011, I had a frustrating experience with the warranty of a well-known rod brand and one of the biggest outdoor retailers. Instead of accepting it, I decided to build something better.
That experience led me down the path of building custom fishing rods — because I believed every angler deserved to feel the difference in quality, performance, and real customer service. That’s how Bull Bay Rods was born.
Dustin and I were told over and over to stay in the custom rod business, because the big brands would crush us. They didn’t.
Sixteen years later, Bull Bay Rods has been named Best Saltwater Rod three times — and we’re just getting started. We believe in what we’ve built. We believe in our team. Most importantly, we believe in never settling for good enough.
None of this would be possible without the incredible support of our friends, our family, and above all, our faith. We give Him the glory for every blessing along the way.
— KELLY PHILLIPS, CO-FOUNDER & CEO | BULL BAY RODS
About Bull Bay Rods
Founded in 2012 by Kelly and Dustin Phillips, a father-and-son team with a passion for building better fishing rods, Bull Bay Rods has grown from a small custom rod builder into one of the fastest-growing rod manufacturers in the country and one of the most recognized names in the saltwater fishing industry. Built on the belief that anglers shouldn’t have to choose between premium performance, exceptional craftsmanship, and value, Bull Bay has continually pushed innovation while staying committed to the people who fish its products every day. Today, Bull Bay offers a complete lineup of freshwater, inshore, and offshore rods engineered to deliver industry-leading performance, versatility, and durability, all backed by one of the strongest warranties in the business. As Bull Bay continues to grow, its vision remains the same as it was in 2012: to design innovative products that outperform expectations, provide exceptional customer service, and deliver the same uncompromising level of quality, performance, and versatility across every series and every style of fishing.
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