2018 ICAST Sneak Peek
New products to debut this week in Orlando
ICAST, the largest trade show in the fishing industry, kicks off tomorrow in Orlando, Fla. We will have the FLW media team there to give in-depth breakdowns of new products throughout the week. In the meantime, check out some of the products that have already been revealed.
Abu Garcia Revo Rocket
The new Abu Garcia Revo Rocket packs a punch when it comes to delivering high-speed performance. Featuring the new 10.1:1 rocket gear ratio (delivering 41 inches of line per turn), the new Revo Rocket gives anglers speed, compact design and power all in one package. The Revo Rocket also features an extended handle with oversized EVA handle knobs, 10 stainless-steel HPCR bearings and an Abu Garcia Infini brake system.
Berkley Choppo
Adding to the company’s tackle product portfolio, is the Berkley Choppo, which is part of a lineup of new and exciting topwater lures. Designed in partnership with Berkley pro-staff angler Justin Lucas, the Choppo is an easy-to-use plopping topwater lure.
PowerBait Jester
Japanese inspiration meets proven PowerBait formula in the 4-inch PowerBait Jester, whose crawdad profile mimics key forage and explodes with action on the smallest movements to grab the attention of the wariest bass.
Shimano Curado DC Baitcasting Reels
Utilizing a microcomputer to control brake force at every moment of the cast, Shimano brings its I-DC4 digital control technology to a new series of Curado baitcasting reels. Built upon a reel already known for its durability, dependability and versatility, the new Shimano Curado DC reel will quickly allow all anglers to cast smarter by monitoring spool speed 1,000 times every second and applying the perfect amount of braking to prevent backlash and maximize distance.
With the I-DC4 braking technology, anglers can fish a variety of lures and in any weather conditions, with limited-to-no adjustments to the reel. There are four external adjustable brake settings depending on fishing situations. The settings are "max distance mode" for ultra-long casts in calmer conditions; a "braid/mono mode" when using those types of lines on the reel; a "fluorocarbon mode" that is best when using these stiffer lines and a "skipping mode" for putting lures in hard-to-reach spots like under docks or when flipping laydowns.
Available in August, the DC series includes the Curado DC150 and left-hand retrieve DC151 with 6.2:1 gear ratios and 26 inches per crank (IPC), the Curado 150HG and 151HG with 7.4:1 gear ratios and 31 IPC, and the even higher speed Curado 150XG and 151XG with 8.5:1 gear ratios and 36 IPC.
Designed within the Curado series, the new DC reels include key Shimano features including MicroModule gears, rigid HAGANE body, CI4+ material side plate, X-Ship and A-RB anti-rust bearings. All six reels will hold up to 105 yards of 40-pound-test PowerPro braid, or up to 90 yards of 14-pound-test mono. Paying homage to its Curado roots with green accents to the handle and spool, reels in the series retail for $249.99.
Z-Man Bait BinderZ Doublewide
The futuristic elements in Z-Man’s ElaZtech also necessitate specialized storage to keep the ElaZtech material separate from other types of plastics. Storing Z-Man baits in their original packages is best, and it's now easier than ever thanks to the Bait BinderZ Doublewide, Z-Man’s newest soft-bait storage solution. With twice the bait-storage capacity of the original Bait BinderZ, the Bait BinderZ Doublewide offers ample real estate to house two side-by-side stacks of Z-Man ElaZtech bait bags — up to 20 packs or more.
Within the tough 500 denier nylon satchel, two sets of corrosion-resistant nickel-plated rings align to accept pre-punched holes on all standard-size Z-Man bait bags. Re-sealable bait bags allow anglers to access individual baits without removing packaging. The Bait BinderZ Doublewide is further outfitted with clear plastic pockets sized to store an array of jigheads, terminal tackle, leader spools and other essential tools.
13 Fishing Concept Z3
Make room for the Concept Z’s big brother, the Concept Z3. Manufactured with American made CZB (Concept Zero Bearings) polymer technology bearings and built tough as nails, this is one of the lightest reels of its size on the market at 9.7 ounces, but it’s no lightweight. The Concept Z3 boasts an incredible 30-plus pounds of drag and huge Hamai cut hardened brass H.A.M. gearing to handle big fish. The Z3 is built tough for big fish and big bait situations.
2018 Outdoor Edge ReelFlex Pak
ReelFlex is crafted for the professional fisherman to get the toughest fillet jobs done right. Some features include:
- Double-tempered blades for superior flex
- Corrosion resistant V-ground stainless steel
- Rubberized TPR handles to ensure a nonslip grip when wet
- 2-Stage carbide/ceramic sharpener to maintain a razor edge
- Hard-side case with English/Metric rulers to size your catch
YUM Tip Toad
The Tip Toad was built to take over the buzz frog game by combining multiple features into one unstoppable, soft-plastic frog.
The design of the Tip Toad allows it to plane quickly. The precisely-placed tails and feet provide maximum water displacement, which creates a unique sound equivalent to fleeing prey. And, rigging the Tip Toad is easy thanks to the hook bend placement notches that perfectly fits a 4/0 or 5/0 frog hook. Arriving in 10 pro-selected color patterns, the YUM Tip Toad is sure to be a mainstay with topwater anglers.
Riot Baits Probe
The Probe is 5 inches long – 5.5 inches including the tip antenna – featuring an ample body thickness for easy rigging with a fast-tapering tail and scepter-shaped tip that is adorned with a quivering antenna that will respond to even the subtlest rod tip action.
Culprit Water Dragon
The Water Dragon is designed with more action features than a standard lizard. First, the head is designed with gills and gill filaments for a new look and extra gliding function on Carolina rigs. The body is filled with detail and contour to make a more realistic presentation, reflecting light in many directions and breaking up the image. Raised ribs make for easier Tex-posing your hook, a lateral line that can be easily adapted with a marker-style pen for added color and a large flat spot on the tail that really pushes water and creates a seductive tail wave.
It's available in a 7-inch size (8 per pack) and 12 colors.