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ICAST 2011 Wrap Up

July 26, 2011 by ·

So now that ICAST 2011 is over and the dust has settled, what did we take away from all that we’ve seen? A few things stand out in my mind.

The first being, it wasn’t all that long ago when the idea of having a premium casting reel weighing less than 7 ounces, at a reasonable price was nothing more than a wish or a rumor. Add all the new offerings that will soon be available and it is now a reality. Not only that but the choices of gear ratio, right or left hand retrieve and line capacities has never been greater. There will be no reason to settle for anything considering all the options that will soon be on store shelves everywhere.  [Read more…]

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ICAST 2011 Winners

July 25, 2011 by ·

Now that we’ve given you a brief overview of some of the new gear that was presented at  ICAST, here is a list of the winners and in what category they garnered their award.

ICAST Overall Best of Show Winner, Berkley’s Nanofil line. It also took home the honors in the Best Line Category, a double winner!

Winner, Best of Show -Boat …  Hobie Cat’s new Mirage Revolution 11. This Kayak is shorter, lighter and can go into tighter spaces than the original Mirage. It still has the pedal system and other features specifically for anglers.  [Read more…]

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ICAST 2011: Lucky Craft

July 25, 2011 by ·

Lucky Craft seems to come up with new products every year that are well thought out and fit a niche that anglers are looking for. This year they are introducing two new shallow running crankbaits that will fit specific conditions. The first being the 0.5, which is a very small crank for when the fish are chasing new hatched shad or for heavily pressured water when they are skittish. [Read more…]

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ICAST 2011: Sebile

July 23, 2011 by ·

Sebile is introducing a new bait called the D&S crankbait. This is a deep diving crank with an unusual hook configuration. Typically, cranks have two treble hooks dangling from the belly and butt of the bait. In the case of the D&S, there is a single, wide-gap worm style hook that is attached to the interior of the belly pointing upward but with the hook point in line with the butt of the bait. [Read more…]

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ICAST 2011: Optimum Baits

July 23, 2011 by ·

The big news from Optimum this year is the BLT series Top Of The Line Swimbait. Optimum has been producing swimbaits for a number of years in various configurations and this one is designed for when you don’t want a hook below the bait.   [Read more…]

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ICAST 2011: Rapala

July 23, 2011 by ·

Rapala is expanding their colors this year, particularly the craw colors. They have launched the molting craw colors in several of their popular cranks as well as a new size in the Clackin’ Crank series. The new 55 square bill crank will give you that one knocker sound in a shallow running, square bill crankbait. This lure should excel in off colored water as well as spring time when the bass can be keying on smaller baitfish.  [Read more…]

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ICAST 2011: Berkley

July 23, 2011 by ·

Berkley introduced their Havoc series to the world at the Bassmaster Classic this year. These baits have now been out there for a while with the pro’s figuring out new ways to fish them. The Ike’s Devil Spear was originally designed as a flipping bait but is gaining popularity as a trailer and, turned sideways, as a swimbait.

The Bottom Hopper is a finesse worm that comes in two sizes, a 6.25” and a 4.75”. It’s a slender bodied worm with a flat bottom that helps the bait glide in the water.   [Read more…]

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ICAST 2011: Okuma Fishing

July 23, 2011 by ·

In the past Okuma was known for their spinning reels. The last few years they have been building some respectable casting reels and this year they are pushing the bar higher than they ever have. The new big cheese in Okuma’s product line is the Helios LP Casting reel. This reel weighs in at 6.3 ounces, has a 10 bearing system, carbon fiber handle, EVA foam grips and will be priced around $220.00. It will be produced in right hand retrieve only for the moment and in just one gear ratio.  [Read more…]

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ICAST 2011: Koppers

July 22, 2011 by ·

Koppers, the company who has produced the Live Target series of baits is at it again this year, expanding and fine-tuning their baits. To begin with, they are introducing new colors in the Live Target Crawfish Crankbaits. The idea is to get even more realistic with the use of transparent palettes. These baits should be more effective in clear water than they have been up to this point.   [Read more…]

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ICAST 2011: Pinnacle Fishing

July 22, 2011 by ·

Pinnacle has been putting out value priced reels for the last year and this year they are upping the ante with the new Optimus XiHX Hand Tuned Casting and Spinning reels. Hand tuned means that every one of these reels is tuned by an individual before it leaves the factory to Pinnacle’s specs. When you get it, there is a card inside the box that allows you in one year to send it back to them for a one time free “tune-up”. [Read more…]

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