Man Versus Fish

Plano’s been making tackle boxes, bags and other storage gear for a long time. This year at ICAST they are introducing a new line of Elite Series boxes that further maximize space and cover every genre of lure you can think of including crankbaits of varying sizes, spinnerbaits, buzzbaits and everything in-between. They will come in 3600 and 3700  series to fit your existing tackle box or bag.

Plano is also introducing new Worm Files and Bags to hold all your soft plastics. There will be several sizes for the angler all designed to give you quick access to your baits and keep them neatly organized until you need them.  [Read more…]

Reins is a company that you may not have heard a lot about but judging by what they had in the booth, you will be in the near future. They showcased some baits designed for shaky-head  and drop shot applications, the first being the Bubbling Shaker Worm. These baits are very soft and supple and will be offered in two sizes, a 4 and 5 inch version.

Another versatile bait from Reins is the Swamp Mover. Again designed with multiple applications in mind but using a firmer plastic which gives it a different action in the water to entice wary fish. This will come in a couple of sizes including a magnum for flipping around heavy cover and brush.  [Read more…]

ABT lures has enjoyed success with their Banshee series and are expanding their product offerings this year which will include the new Multi-Rig system or an umbrella rig. Their head comes apart so that the angler can choose how many baits are attached to the rig as well as how many are teasers and how many have hooks.

They mate this rig with a new swimbait that is designed to work with their jig-heads and of course, their multi-rig system.

To enhance these new offerings, they are introducing a new rod series called The Long Distance Series that utilizes micro-guides that are spiral wrapped around the blank called Micro Spiral Technology. [Read more…]

Lucky Craft has been a name for a while now and at this years ICAST they were once again prepared to make a splash. They debuted the Lucky Craft Twisted Rosie. This bait has a prop on the back, a body like a crankbait but is in reality a top-water plug. Designed to dive head first and then to float back to the surface, it offers some interesting possibilities.

Another new bait is the Lucky Craft Blade Cross Bait. This bait is like a jerk-bait with a spinning blade attached to and underneath the head of the bait. The Blade Cross is intended as a cold water bait and should excel in lakes that have blue-back herring and similar bait-fish as a primary food source.  [Read more…]

Lazer Trokar is introducing an entire line of salt water hooks as well as new fresh water models including a 4X strong treble, a new wacky hook with or without a weed-guard. They have also added some new sizes to their already established product line.

If you have yet to try the Trokar hooks, you might be surprised at how sharp they really are. That being said, that fine edge comes at a price. Remember though, you only go around once and why not throw caution to the wind and at least give one pack a go. Who knows, you might just be surprised.

Lew’s is another company that has made a lot of progress in a short amount of time, and that was on display at ICAST. This year they have a lot of new product which include the new Super Duty Speed Spool Casting Reel. Specifically designed to handle braid and big baits, the Super Duty comes with a lot of muscle packed in a nice, neat reel.

The Team Lew’s Pro Speed Spool Casting Reel is their flagship. Weighing only 5.9 ounces this reel comes with a dual braking system, EVA foam grips, carbon fiber handle and other high end bells and whistles.

The new Lew’s Gold Speed Spool features titanium deposition coating on both sideplates, has 11 bearings and is built to take abuse. It will come in two gear ratios and won’t set you back all that much for a quality piece of gear.  [Read more…]

Okuma has made some headlines lately with the introduction of some quality, reasonable priced sticks including their Helios series. The new rod is the Okuma C3-40X. This rod is a double-extra heavy stick make to take on the meanest, ugliest cover you can find. With an open reel seat and beefy guides, the angler can put this thing through some major abuse on the water and it’ll come through without a whimper.

The new Okuma Helios Spinning Reel is their new, lightweight offering that features carbon-fiber construction throughout the reel and is highlighted to match the Helios rods. The rods feature a mini guide system beyond the stripper guide. Furthermore, this series of rods weigh only about 4 ounces and will come in medium light, medium and medium heavy.  [Read more…]

6th Sense Lures is a company that tests many of their baits on Lake Fork in Texas, and are hanging their hats on a new line of hard and soft baits.

The first being the Crush 50X which is a square bill that has a narrower bill than most that leads to a tighter wiggle when retrieved. These baits have high quality finishes as well as a rattle chamber that muffles the sound to some extent giving the 50X a quieter sound than most.

They are introducing a new deep diver called the 300DD that weighs a full ounce which provides for long casts and will run 14 to 19 feet depending on line size. 6th Sense prides itself not only on the finishes of their plugs but also on their baits running dead true out of the package. The 300DD will come in about a dozen colors all meant to mimic natural shad.

Like most companies this year, they have their own version of the A-rig or umbrella rig. However, the head on theirs in produced in colors to match their soft plastic swimbaits which are named the Core-X. [Read more…]

Livingston Lures truly fit the bill of unique and out of the ordinary—which is what we were looking for at ICAST.

They didn’t just bring your standard baits to the table. They combine a unique use of cutting edge science with tried and true engineering to create something all their own.

Their trademark bait combines the use of sound (no, not just rattles!) with a proven topwater design.

Let’s take a look at three styles of baits that Livingston brought to the table. [Read more…]

Trigger X is introducing several new baits which include the new Goo Bug, a beaver style bait that is designed to glide as well as having the “claws” when split, stand up when rigged on a jig-head.

Another new bait is the Drop Dead Minnow which is a fluke style bait. According to Davey Hite, the minnow can be reeled quickly but when you kill your retrieve, the bait will fall horizontally with a quivering action that mimics a dying shad.

Davey Hite also helped develop what is called the Slop Hopper which is for all intents and purposes a paddle tail swimbait that is said to produce a lot of thump when retrieved.

Trigger X is producing a new worm called the Buzz Tail Worm. This is similar to a speed worm with a paddle style tail that can be left intact or split for more action.

Of course all the new baits will feature the Trigger X scent and will be available soon.