2011 Buyer’s Guide: Walleye edition

More than 100 products compiled

In years past we’ve done our best to pick out some of the best new products released at ICAST for our Buyer’s Guide. This year, we wanted more. We have compiled more than 100 products for this year’s Buyer’s Guide, making it our most comprehensive guide ever. Don’t worry, we still weeded out the products that should be weeded out, but we’ve included all the new products that we would normally showcase later on in the year, allowing you to see all the newest products in one place. To help you with your holiday wish list, we have also kept up the tradition of spotlighting some of our favorites.

Reels

Pinnacle Performa XT Spinning

This reel is pure value. It has top-end features like a ResistTwist line roller that reduces line twist and a QuickFold handle that folds with the push of a button for easy storage. Yet it carries only a $99.99 price tag.

Available in two sizes, the reel features a waterproof multistack drag system and eight double-shielded bearings that ward off dirt and water to keep the reel turning smoothly. Both models feature a 5.0:1 gear ratio. The smaller PEF30 model holds up to 100 yards of 8-pound-test line, while the PEF40 doubles that at 200 yards of

8-pound-test line.

Pflueger Patriarch Spinning

Anglers simply won’t find a lighter reel on the market. The magnesium body and titanium shaft combine to create a reel that weighs only 5.6 ounces for the smallest 9525 model, while the largest still only tips the scales at 8.1 ounces. That weightlessness means the reel will balance well with almost any rod.

Inside the body, the reel features 10 XCR (Extreme Corrosion Resistant) shielded bearings, a 5.2:1 gear ratio and a sealed carbon drag system. Four sizes are available, with the smallest size able to hold 110 yards of 4-pound-test monofilament. Retail price is $199.95.

Daiwa AccuDepth IC Digital Line Counters

Line-counting reels have just reached the digital age. The two models in this series display the amount of line out on waterproof, digital screens that won’t become loose or break as traditional rolling line counters sometimes do. Plus, the Solar/Battery Hybrid model comes equipped with a solar panel to extend the battery life.

The reels’ low profiles make them more comfortable when fighting fish, yet Daiwa didn’t sacrifice line capacity. The smaller ADICV15 model holds 150 yards of 10-pound-test line, while the larger Solar/Battery Hybrid model holds 350 yards of 12-pound test. Both reels feature four bearings and have 5.1:1 (ADICV25W) and 6.3:1 (ADICV15) gear ratios. The smaller model retails for $149.95, while the Solar/Battery Hybrid sells for $219.95.

Abu Garcia Revo Premier Spinning

The frame on the Revo Premier is touted as 300 percent stronger than normal graphite and 50 percent lighter than an aluminum frame. How can this be possible? NanoShield technology. The coating doesn’t add any weight, but it is extremely strong. This was demonstrated at ICAST by coating a normal straw with NanoShield and then hanging a 10-pound weight from the center of the straw.

Outside of durability, the reel features 11 stainless-steel bearings, a stainless-steel main shaft and hardware, and a sealed Carbon Matrix Drag system with 12 pounds of maximum pressure.

The reel comes in two sizes. The smaller PRM20 has a 5.1:1 gear ratio and holds 130 yards of 8-pound test. The larger PRM30 features a 5.8:1 ratio and can hold 140 yards of 10-pound test. Both sizes retail for $249.95.

Shimano Caenan

The Shimano lineup of low-profile reels is one of the best, if not the best, on the market. However, it seemed to be missing a reel between its higher-end Citica and midrange Chromica. Not anymore; the Caenan fills that void.

With the components of a high-end reel and the price of a midrange reel, the Caenan has an aluminum frame, weighs 7.2 ounces and has seven bearings. It comes with a 6.5:1 gear ratio for versatility. The spool holds 110 yards of 14-pound test. But the real key is the price: $89.99.



Rods

Abu Garcia Verdict

Expanding its rod lineup, Abu Garcia released the new Verdict series for 2011. Verdict rods use titanium guide frames, graphite blanks and EVA handle material for overall lightness. Most interesting, however, is the extendable rod butt. The butt extends several inches for exact balance with various reels or for when the technique requires it.

Four spinning rods range in length from 6 foot, 6 inches to 7 foot in medium-light, medium and medium-heavy action. Eight baitcasting rods are available in lengths from 6 foot, 6 inches to 7 foot, 6 inches in medium, medium-heavy and heavy actions. The Verdict retails for $129.95 to $139.95.

Lamiglas Excel SM and CM

The Excel series from Lamiglas now includes several models with mico guides, the most notable being a spinning rod. Currently, the only spinning rod available with micro guides is the 7-foot, fast-action SM, which handles lures from 1/16 to 5/16 ounce. There are also two 7-foot, fast-action casting rods available with the guides. The rods are constructed with American Tackle Micro Lite guides, Fuji reel seats for casting rods, ergonomic Aero Comfort Touch reel seats for spinning rods and split-grip cork handles, bringing them in at less than 4 ounces. All are made in the United States. Retail price is $170.

e21 Carrot Stix Wild

Carrot Stix continues the trend of producing lightweight rods with telltale orange finishes with the introduction of its Wild series. The rods are made with semi-micro guides and a foam grip, like the original Professional Grade models, but the difference is the price. At $99.99, the Wild rods are $50 less than the Professional Grade rods, without sacrificing durability and performance. Carrot Stix made the price drop by scaling back a few of the nonessential frills, but you won’t notice. The rods still come in between 3 and 4 ounces, with a new metallic orange look to boot. They’re also backed by a lifetime warranty.

G.Loomis NRX

G.Loomis NRX Bass rods are the new top-of-the-line sticks from one of the industry’s premier rod makers. G.Loomis markets the rods as 15 percent lighter and 20 percent stronger than its previously high-end GLX rods, something attributed to the use of Nano Silica resins and “stiffer, lighter and higher density carbon.” In short, the designers combined the most high-tech materials to create some of the lightest, strongest, most-sensitive rods available.

NRX rods are available in eight casting and five spinning variations. They are not technique-specific, although G.Loomis offers recommendations for matching rods to techniques on its Web site. Retail price ranges from $450 to $500.

St. Croix Eyecon

Eyecon rods follow in the footprint of the St. Croix Mojo Bass series. They’re affordable, at a price range of $100 to $120, and they are all technique-specific to guarantee you get the right action for the job.

Eleven spinning rods in fast and extra-fast, medium-light to medium actions and one medium-heavy, moderate-action casting rod make up the series, which covers 10 fishing techniques (some rods cover multiple techniques). All rods are accessorized with aluminum-oxide guides, split-grip cork handles and Fuji reel seats.

Castaway Microwave

CastAway has redefined micro guides. Designers of the Microwave rod replaced the traditional first, largest line guide with a new Microwave guide, which is actually a combination of two line guides. A smaller guide is mounted so that it “hovers” in front of and on the same center axis as a traditionally sized first line guide. The result is a funnel that collects line as it comes off the spool, guiding it on a straight path out the remaining eyes. The rod casts more like a baitcaster, with the line “pulling” off the reel, rather than “pushing” through the eyes. As of August, there are six rods in the series: two freshwater and four saltwater. All are medium power in moderate to moderate-fast actions. Retail price is $199.



Lures

Damiki Slim Jack

The slender design of the Slim Jack gives the lure a very erratic action when jerked, coupled with the ability to suspend. However, walleye anglers will like the 4-inch lure’s tight, rolling wobble when retrieved straight. The lure will wobble at even the slowest speeds, making it perfect behind a three-way rig or for handlining.

The minnow-imitator weighs 3/8 ounce to help its casting ability, and it dives 2 to 3 feet. It is available in five colors and retails for $11.99.

Storm Deep Baby ThunderStick

The proven bloodline of the Storm ThunderStick now has a deeper package. The Deep Baby ThunderStick has all the positive traits of the originals. Its tight action still runs true even at fast speeds, but now that action can get down to 10 feet, depending on the model, which makes it a perfect trolling lure.

Equipped with VMC Black Nickel hooks, the lure comes in 1 3/4- and 2 1/2-inch sizes. It’s available in 14 colors, including UV colors, and retails for $5.49.

Salmo Frisky

Featuring a jointed design that won’t roll, tangle or deviate off course, the Frisky is quickly getting anglers’ attention. Made of high-density foam, the lure has similar properties to balsa wood, which is why it has such a fast, yet subtle rolling wobble. However, the foam also gives it the durability of a hard-plastic lure.

The 2-inch Frisky runs 4 to 5 feet when cast and down to 9 feet when trolled. It is available in four colors and retails for $9.99 exclusively through Cabela’s.

Koppers Livetarget Gizzard Shad Crank and Trap

Any more real and these lures could swim on their own. The LIVETARGET Gizzard Shad Crank and Trap continue Koppers’ tradition for realistic lures, right down to the rear belly fins. The suspending Crank comes in three sizes (2, 2 3/4 and 3 1/2 inches), with diving depths ranging from 3 to 10 feet, depending on the model. The Gizzard Shad Trap has a similar, though not identical body shape to the LIVETARGET Golden Shiner lipless crankbait. It comes in 1/2-, 3/4- and 1-ounce models.

Both lures are available in four colors and feature Daiichi hooks. Retail price for both is $12.99 to $13.99, depending on size.

Northland Live-Forage Series

How excited is Northland about its Live-Forage line of lures? Excited enough to create nine new lures with the Live-Forage finish in its first year. The new finish makes use of Digital Imaging Technology to replicate the exact look of a baitfish or young of the year and put it on a lure with an HD Fish-Photo-Image pattern. Combine the realism with Northland’s quality and these lures will catch fish.

Some of our favorites include the Moxie Minnow, Minnow Spoon and Minnow Jig, which will all be stellar come hard water. For open water, the Spinner and Crawler Hauler will be perfect for matching the hatch, especially in clear bodies of water where the fish can be picky.

Jackall Sierra Minnow 80s and I Shad

Most lures are designed to have some sort of action or swimming motion. We say “most” because these new Jackall products don’t. The lures were built on the concept of I-Motion – the idea that baitfish swim in straight lines and don’t move their tails violently like many crankbaits and lures do. Instead, just point the rod at one of these lures and crank it in, with the lure barely moving at all. It’s an interesting concept, but it’s one that many anglers across the country are embracing.

The Sierra Minnow 80S features a custom-wrapped treble hook to add to the technique, while the I Shad has a bulge in the end of its tail to keep it stable and a split-tail design to create small vibrations in the water. The soft plastic is also injected with two different salt compositions, with the top side infused with less salt than the bottom to make it heavier on the bottom for more stable swimming. Retail price is $14.99 for the Sierra Minnow 80S and $4.99 for the I Shad.



Gear

Lowrance Elite Series and Mark Series

Lowrance enters 2011 with a pair of budget-minded electronics series packed with features.

The Elite Series includes seven versions of color units. Most notable to readers are the Elite-5 and Elite-5 DSI. The Elite-5 is a standard GPS-depth finder combo with a 5-inch, 480-by-480 pixel color screen. It has an internal GPS antenna and built-in mapping, and is compatible with Navionics software. The retail price is $549. The Elite-5 DSI is identical in size and appearance, but instead of traditional sonar it is equipped with DownScan Imaging to provide picture-like images of what’s below the boat. Along with DSI comes the TrackBack feature, which allows the user to scroll back through previously viewed content. The retail price is $649.

The Mark Series depth finders from Lowrance are sonar-only, black-and-white units. Three models are available with a single-frequency sonar transducer, a dual-frequency sonar transducer or DownScan Imaging. Retail prices for the Mark Series range from $159 to $299.

Plano Waterproof Stowaway

Plano has introduced an enhanced version of the industry-standard StowAway boxes: the Waterproof StowAway. Utilizing what Plano calls the Dri-Loc Seal and three cam-action latches, the box locks down tight and seals out moisture to protect tackle from rust. Additionally, the tight fit keeps tackle where you put it, so you’re not left picking apart hooks and other tiny pieces.

The Waterproof StowAway is available in Plano sizes 3440, 3540, 3640, 3740 and 3741 to match many of the most popular tackle-storage products the company makes. Retail price is $6.99 to $14.99.

Northland BIONIC

BIONIC fishing line from Northland is designed to help multispecies anglers take the guesswork out of selecting the right fishing line. Northland created four distinct lines for four distinct styles of fishing: BASS, PANFISH, WALLEYE and ICE.

BIONIC WALLEYE comes in seven pound tests from 4 to 12 pounds and two colors: clear and green camo. Retail price for a 350-yard spool ranges from $4.99 to $5.99. BIONIC ICE comes in six pound tests from 2 to 8 pounds and two colors: clear and blue camo. Retail price for a 125-yard spool is $2.99.

Sufix 832 Advanced Superline

Sufix 832 Advanced Superline is the first braided line to incorporate GORE fibers into its weave. The 832 Advanced Superline has seven Dyneema fibers and one GORE fiber woven together at 32 weaves per inch. The result is a consistently round, water-resistant braid with unmatched castability and abrasion resistance. It is available on 150-, 300- and 600-yard spools in low-vis green and neon lime in 6- to 80-pound tests. Retail price ranges from $19.99 to $69.99.

Frabill FXE Stormsuit

The FXE Stormsuit is designed for the most extreme weather conditions anglers encounter. It starts with a completely weatherproof, seam-sealed shell with a DuPont Teflon fabric protector and YKK Aquaguard zippers. The material was then molded by ergonomics experts for the movements anglers typically use. Throw in plenty of internal and external waterproof pockets, a hood and visor designed for a customized fit (with a vent to prevent the dreaded “parachute effect”), a completely waterproof crotch in the bibs, and padded knees.

The Stormsuit comes in two colors and small to 4XL sizes. The combo retails for $429 to $459, depending on the size. The bibs and jacket are also available separately.

Bert’s Custom Tackle Rod Corral

Originally designed for Florida flats boats with little to no rod storage, the Rod Corral tightly locks in up to eight rods – from ultralight to heavy Luhr Jensen Dipsy Diver rods – in a vertical position. Once in place, a rubber gasket and sliding locking mechanism ensure that those rods aren’t going anywhere. Then the entire unit, rods and all, can be hauled from home to boat and back.

Three versions are available, depending on your mounting preference. There is a model that matches each of the two most popular pedestal seat mounts, and another that installs into Bert’s Track, which can be mounted anywhere on your boat, your truck or even your home for a cool rod display. The Rod Corral is made of durable stainless steel, anodized aluminum and marine-grade starboard. Retail price is $189.99.

DuraSafe BOLT Codable Locks

The DuraSafe BOLT one-key technology made its debut at ICAST 2009, but for 2010, DuraSafe came to the show with a complete series of locks for anglers. What makes the BOLT series unique is that all the locks can be fit to match the user’s vehicle key. To fit the lock, simply insert your vehicle key into a new lock, turn the key once and the lock will remember it. The system eliminates the need for a bulky keychain full of keys.

Locks in the series include the Padlock, Cable Lock, Spare Tire Lock, Swing Away Trailer Tongue Lock and Receiver Lock. Locks are specific to brands. Check the DuraSafe Web site to find the right version for your vehicle. Retail price ranges from $29.95 to $39.95

EGO S2 Slider Landing Net

The biggest advantage of the EGO S2 Slider Landing Net is that it’s not just one net. Its collapsible handle allows it to be multiple nets in one for up-close work or long-distance reaching when necessary. To operate it, simply push the release button and pull back on the handle. The handle extends in both directions simultaneously, with several locking points to help achieve the perfect length.

Three hoop sizes and three mesh types (nylon, PVC-coated and rubber) are available on three handle lengths (18 to 36 inches, 29 to 60 inches and 48 to 108 inches). The yoke is rounded to prevent boat or line damage. Retail price varies from $64 to $79.

Cannon Electric Downriggers

Although we don’t typically include redesigned products in the new product Buyer’s Guide, the changes made to Cannon’s line of electric downriggers – the Magnum, Digi-Troll IV and Digi-Troll 10 – are significant enough to warrant review. Most notably, they have been reworked to be more user-friendly.

Cannon swapped out for an easy-access spool for quick spool changes. Switches and plug protectors have been moved for easier access and better protection. The Digi-Troll models have redesigned LCD keypads, and all electric downriggers come equipped with new ratcheting rod holders that can rotate 360 degrees. Retail prices in the series range from $399.99 to $1,499.99.