Navigating the floor of ICAST is a daunting endeavor. The show floor is as large as a couple city blocks, so visiting every booth in just two-odd days would be impossible. But we tried our damnedest, in hopes of tracking down the most cutting-edge and useful new fishing gear for 2018. Here’s what we found.
Rapala made a statement this year with their newest scale. Weighing can inflict injury on a fish, due to the hooks that have been traditionally used to hold down the catch. But Rapala has replaced these standard hooks with fish-friendly grippers, so the scale is a must-have for catch-and-release anglers. Other key features include a reverse-image screen that makes reading the display easy in bright light.
2. Aquatic Nutrition Mojo Carp and Mojo Cat
The folks at Aquatic Nutrition know how to feed fish. While the company already has a solid lineup of food and chum to feed everything in saltwater, they had yet to offer anything for freshwater anglers until this year, with the release of the new Mojo Cat and Mojo Carp baits. The catfish bait is a specially designed punch bait that stays on the hook well and disperses scent only in the water—not on your clothes. The Mojo Carp is a dough bait, with boilies available in the very near future. Both baits are available in 16-ounce sizes.
3. Lew’s Mach Speed 8-Inch Carbon Steel Pliers
For one reason or another, anglers tend to go through pliers quickly; mine seldom last for more than a couple seasons. The trouble is that buying high-end pliers adds up fast, and value-priced tools are usually not durable enough to make it through a single season, or single trip for that matter. Lew’s Mach Speed 8-inch Carbon Steel Pliers offer the best of both. They’re made of durable, corrosion-resistant steel, and sport a comfortable Winn grip, a wire cutter, crimp slots, and a line cutter that will make easy work of braiding. The best part? They’re reasonably priced, especially given their quality.
4. 13 Fishing Concept Z
Saying that a reel will revolutionize fishing tackle is a bold statement, but the Concept Z may do just that. The latest addition to the 13 Fishing line, the reel is the result of extensive research and engineering, and ultra-precise manufacturing. Though the baitcaster is not the first no-ball-bearings reel, it is the first among high-performance models. So why does this matter? Ball bearings are prone to corrode and suffer in quality over time. The reel’s so-called Concept Zero Bearings are made of polymer and designed for lasting performance, durability, smoothness, and strength. They never need oil, and will self-lubricate with use. The reel packs 22 pounds of drag to boot.
5. Yak Gear Fish Stik
The popularity of kayak fishing has exploded in recent years, and more and more companies are entering the market to meet the demand. One of the latest ’yak-specific products is the Fish Stik from Yak Gear, a…
