There are probably a lot of folks who have yet to take a new generation Pinnacle reel or rod for a ride around the lake. They have really stepped up their game in the last few years by producing good quality offerings.

This year they are introduce the Optimus LTE Casting Reel. This reel is intended to be a workhorse tool with a value price. It will come in three gear ratios to suit your style of fishing and will match esthetically with a lot of rods out there. [Read more…]

I know that we’ve discussed the new Rage Tail baits from Strike King, but there are others that were presented at ICAST.

Let’s start with the Squadron Head. A jig-head that is designed for multiple purposes including A-rigs, as a standalone head or for rigging with hollow body swimbaits internally. They will be available very soon and come in a variety of sizes.

Another intriguing product is named the Slither Rig. This is a skirt combined with a tungsten punch style weight that the angler slides up their main line prior to tying your hook and rigging your bait. The purpose is to get your bait through all kinds of slop without fouling it before the fish can get to it. The weights start at 1/2 ounce and go up from there.  [Read more…]

We’ve reviewed a couple of Luck-E-Strike baits and it appears as though we’ll be looking at some more in the near future. They have introduced some new plugs the first of which is a smaller version of the STX Jerkbait called the RC STX Jr.

As the name implies, this bait has undergone shrinking but maintains its three hook configuration and will be value priced like its beefier sibling.  [Read more…]

Gambler has been making some noise lately on the tournament trail and they are expanding their soft plastic base with some new baits including the Ledge Worm. This worm is a big bait with the intent to put some big bass in the boat.

A bait that has seen a lot of success is the Ugly Otter, a creature style bait that continues to produce with a proven action as well as color choices to fit almost every body of water.   [Read more…]

VMC is introducing an entire line of new hooks this year with most almost all of them sharing one feature. That being a 3 degree off-set in the hook point. If you make a habit of bending your hook-point out slightly than this line of hooks may be what you’ve been waiting for.

Included in this line-up are a Flippin hook, a line of heavy duty flippin hooks, a heavy duty worm hook, a new swimbait jighead that also features a built in keeper, trailer hooks, a wide gap hook which will come in various sizes, widegap spinshot hooks to complement their existing line-up, a new wacky weedless jig-head style hook, rugby jigs that utilize a recessed line-tie, are shaped like a rugby ball as well as having the off-set hook point, and a new weighted swimbait hook that has a keel shaped weight that is movable up and down the hook shank. [Read more…]

We spent some time at the Tightlines booth with Byron Velvick as he explained that not only are there new products, but the plastic has been made softer which will increase the action while maintaining the UV color enhancement.

New for this year are a couple of trailers designed for use with spinnerbaits or swim jigs. One a split tail for more subtle presentations while the other is similar to a twin tail grub. These will come in multiple colors and will be available soon.  [Read more…]

As most of you are aware, Koppers has for the last two years taken home best of show honors in the soft bait category.

Well, I guess the third time is the charm as they take home the best of show this year in the hard bait category with their new Frog Popper.

Like all the Live Target baits, the paint job is very realistic, comes in two sizes, features a feathered treble and will be produced in five colors.  [Read more…]

We always like to see what’s happening in the Quantum booth as they seem to have the ability to keep new product under wraps until the show.

This year they debuted the new Quantum Tour Tactical Series spinning and casting rods. These sticks are designed without inserts in the guides, lightweight blanks and small guides, not micros for improved distance and accuracy.

Last year Quantum introduced the Smoke and EXO PT spinning reel in two sizes, a 25 and 30 in both. This year, they have added models to both lines all the way up to 50 series and down to a 15 series.  [Read more…]

One of the booths that was really hoppin’ at ICAST was the Rapala booth.

Ike was there talking about how he came up with his custom colors for the DT series. He discussed how in the old days they left baits out in the sun to fade the colors for clear water or heavily pressured fish.

With his help, these Ike’s Custom Ink Colors are ready to go out of the package and don’t require all the tweaks that us old bass hounds used to use.  [Read more…]

Z-man, maker of the original chatter-bait is debuting their new Chatterbait Elite. This now carries a premium hook, a bait keeper on the shank and a new head configuration that won’t allow the blade to get caught between the eye and head. They will also add some new colors to their line-up.

Z-man has been producing quality soft plastics for some time and this year they are adding new products to their stable. The FattyZ is a stick worm with a fat tail that is made of their proven, hyper durable elastic formula. This is billed as a power finesse bait that will take a beating and keep coming back for more.  [Read more…]