Top fishing gear honored at ICAST 2010
Lean times spurred by a lingering economic recession have been especially tough on the sportfishing industry and for those who make their living playing the game. But the money crunch might not seem so apparent when you consider the turnout last week in Sin City for ICAST 2010.
More than 7,000 sportfishing reps, including over 2,000 buyers and 500 media types, punched tickets to the International Convention of Allied Sportfishing Trades held at the Las Vegas Convention Center last week.
Billed as the "the world's largest sportfishing tradeshow," ICAST is where makers of lures, rods, reels, apparel and other sportfishing toys gather to display their latest wares for the coming season.
The idea is to generate buzz, publicity, valuable contacts and make money through sales to tackle distributors and other outlets who in turn will make the goodies available to you, the consumer.
While I didn't make the show this year, a number of my colleagues did. From what I could gather through phone interviews, the general mood on the floor was upbeat with literally thousands of products -- some good, some bad -- on display for critique.
As always, the gloves came off at ICAST's flagship event, the "New Product Showcase." The Showcase is where the tackle industry debuts its latest inventions and recognizes the top dogs in 17 categories. Winners are selected through a media-buyer popularity vote.
The Showcase competition was especially brisk this year as 210 exhibiting companies entered 750 tackle and accessory products into the mix. What follows is a rundown of a few of the Showcase winners.
* Overall Best of Show: G. Loomis NRX Bass Rods
G. Loomis has never been one for cutting corners, and they certainly didn't pull any punches here. Built using high density graphite and a new resin called "nano celica," NRX rods are advertised to be 15 percent lighter and 20 percent stronger than the company's top-end GLX line. Guides, reel seats, cork and other components are high quality. Available in 13 spinning and casting models that are technique specific, the NRX is pricey. MRSP starts at $475. The NRX also won Best of Show in the Rod category. For more information, visit gloomis.com.
* Best Marine: Minn Kota Talon
Three years in the making, Minn Kota's Talon is an electric boat anchor that's sure to be a hit with hardcore fishing junkies who can justify spending the money to hunker down on a sweet spot. The 33-pound unit mounts to the transom or outboard jackplate using an adapter bracket and removes easily from a quick release bracket. The whisper quiet operation is fully automatic. The fiberglass anchor spike deploys vertically and stows with the press of a button on the control panel or wireless remote; an alarm sounds if the outboard cranks while the spike is deployed. Available with a 6-foot-4 ($1,299) or 8-4 spike ($1,449). Can be used in fresh or saltwater. For more information, visit www.minnkotamotors.com
* Best Soft Lure: Koppers Live Target Hollow Body Frog
Koppers prides itself on making some of the most realistic-looking baits on the market, and its hollow-body toad is no exception. It features a high quality body that compresses when a fish eats it, exposing ultra-sharp hooks on both sides. Available in 2 1/4- and 2 5/8-inch sizes and four colors. For more information, visit livetargetlures.com.
* Best Terminal Tackle: Sebile Soft Weight System
Sebile has designed this unique hook-weighting system that allows you to adjust the fall rate and action on all sorts of soft plastic baits by adding or removing tungsten rubber weights from the hook shank. Available in sizes ranging from 1/0 to 6/0. For more information, visit www.sebileusa.com.
* Best Freshwater Reel: Shimano Stella FE
Shimano always find a way into the winner's circle. This year they did it with a high quality spinning reel. The gutsy Stella FE is packed with all sorts of cool features, including an X-Ship double bearing supported pinion gear, which makes the handle easier to turn with or without a load. Available in 5.0:1, 6.0:1 and 6.2:1 gear ratios and three drag settings, 7 to 24 pounds. For more information, visit fish.shimano.com.
* Best Hard Lure: Shimano Waxwing
The Waxwing subsurface swimming jig darts side-to-side with an irregular kicking action on a steady retrieve that brings out the bully in many different saltwater species. Available in 3.5 and 4.65 inches and 14 colors at $17.99 and $19.99. For more information, visit fish.shimano.com.
* Best Combo: Ardent-Lamiglas Fishouflage Bass
USA-built Ardent Reels and Lamiglas teamed up to win the Best Combo category with a package set-up that includes a 7-foot Lamiglas Certified Pro rod and a Ardent C400 reel with a 6.3:1 gear ratio. Camo fans will like the "fishouflage" pattern. For more information, visit www.ardentoutdoors.com.
* Best Electronics: Lowrance Elite-5 DSI
A high quality fish finding unit that provides GPS-chartplotting capabilities along the Lowrance's new DownScan Imaging technology in a small package that is simple to use. It has a 5-inch 480x480 color screen and built-in antenna with an external antenna option. Available with or without Navionics Gold mapping. Comes in three package options for $549, $649 or $719. For more information, visit www.lowrance.com.
* Best Line: Sufix 832 Advanced Superline
The world's first fishing line with Gore-Tex technology. The 832 title stems from a complicated braiding process that bonds seven Dyneema fibers and one Gore fiber so tightly that it takes 32 weaves to complete 1 inch of line. The super-strong line maintains its round shape, repels water, resists fading, is small in diameter and is very resistant to fraying and abrasion. The Gore fiber works to make the line slide through guides quietly and improve castability. A 150-yard spool of 50-pound test retails for $19.99. For more information, visit sufix.com.
* Best Accessory: Adventure Products EGO S2 Slider Net
Adventure Products has built an innovative landing net equipped with a push-button mechanism that causes the handle extend and retract. The net removes and can be interchanged with optional gaff, boat hook and slider knife attachments. Sells for around $70. For more information, visit adventureproducts.com.
Matt Williams' e-mail address is mattwilliams@netdot.com.
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