Gear

World’s Largest Fishing Tackle Show — A GoPro Gallery of New Gear, Part II

The 2016 ICAST Tackle Trade Show in Orlando was the biggest in history. As in the ICAST GoPro gallery, Part I, we offer enthusiasts a peek at the show and some of the new gear.

By Doug Olander

Updated: July 24, 2016

Buff USA’s Arm Sleeves Deliver an Anglers’ Salute

World's largest fishing tackle show -- Buff USA arm sleeves

“Power to the sport fishermen!” seems like a fitting rallying cry for these upraised arms showing Buff USA‘s new Coastal Arm Sleeves. MSRP is $26.99. Doug Olander / Sport Fishing

ICAST 2016 — A Very Busy Convention Center

## World's largest fishing tackle show -- ICAST 2016 crowd

Looking down just one aisle (of 40 aisles; that’s the HUK booth in the foreground) offers some idea of the magnitude of this international tackle show. Doug Olander / Sport Fishing

Halco Lures — A Rack of Roostas

World's largest fishing tackle show -- Halco lures

An array of Roosta Poppers by Halco; long a favorite of topwater enthusiasts in the Indo-Pacific, these are now available in the United States. They range from 1.7 inches to 7.6 inches; the latter is available online for $23.99. Doug Olander / Sport Fishing

Sport Fishing on the job at Simrad

World's largest fishing tackle show -- Simrad electronics

Executive editor Chris Woodward shares with SF fans via a live stream on Facebook a demo of Simrad‘s StructureScan 3D on an NSS evo2, courtesy of Daren Cole, with Simrad. The evo2 (not new this year) retails for $1,199 to $4,999. Doug Olander / Sport Fishing

Shimano’s New Nasci Spinners — Superb Affordability

World's largest fishing tackle show -- Shimano NASCI reels

Shimano promises the quality that anglers associate with its name at a $99.95 to $109.95 price for its new NASCI spinning reels with upgraded drag, X-ship and Hagane gearing. The reels are available in sizes from 1000 to 5000, Doug Olander / Sport Fishing

A Sea of Swimming Lures

World's largest fishing tackle show -- Westin lures

Danish lure manufacturer Westin has large, well-lit plexiglass displays like this every year at ICAST, and they never fail to catch my eye. Doug Olander / Sport Fishing

Tuf-Lines — Creating a Super-Braided Line

World's largest fishing tackle show -- Tuf Line

In a display at the Western Filament Tuf-Line booth, bobbins of Spectra are woven together. This year, Tuf-Line introduced several new braids, including 4orce (a four-carrier braid) and Domin8 (an 8-carrier braid). Doug Olander / Sport Fishing

REALFISH — An Aquarium of Floor Mats

World's largest fishing tackle show -- Realfish floor mats

A variety of game fishes, replicating both photography and artwork, bring floor mats to life in the Realfish booth.Prices range from $50 to $175. Doug Olander / Sport Fishing

Pelagic Gear Socks It to Anglers

World's largest fishing tackle show -- Pelagic Gear socks for fishermen

Pelagic Gear is covering all the bases — by covering anglers’ feet, with their new Performance Socks utilizing cool designs from the Pelagic line including fishfinder and dorado. I wore a pair of these moisture-wicking, quick-drying socks and have to say they felt considerably more substantial than my “regular” socks. The price is expected to be about $15 per pair. Doug Olander / Sport Fishing

Phantom Lures’ Hard-Bait/Soft-Bait Crossover

World's largest fishing tackle show -- Phantom Lures Softails

True — these big, good-looking glide Softails were originally designed by Phantom Lures with muskies in mind, but there can’t be much doubt they’d entice stripers and other saltwater game fish as well. Sizes range from 4 to 12 inches; cost from approximately $20 to $43. Doug Olander / Sport Fishing

Alutecnos’ Killa Gorilla

## World's largest fishing tackle show -- Alutecnos 20 reel

Alutecnos has packed an awful lot into a very light package. The new, 31-ounce Gorilla 20 Veloce offers a 6.2:1 retrieve ratio, more than 45 pounds of drag (with free spool), stainless-steel ball bearings, and a capacity of about 440 yards of 30-pound mono (more than 1,000 yards of 50-pound braid). MSRP is $675. Doug Olander / Sport Fishing

Ultraskiff Offers a New Way to Get Out on the Water

World's largest fishing tackle show -- Ultraskiff round boat

Ultraskiff offered arguably the most unusual fishing boat at the ICAST show. Among the many virtues touted by the manufacturer is its amazing stability whether one is seated or standing, and no one can argue with the claim of 360-degree fishability. The MSRP is $1,595 to $1,695. Doug Olander / Sport Fishing

Hobie’s Kayaks Can Now be Pedaled in Reverse!

World's largest fishing tackle show -- Hobie's Mirage Drive 180

Hobie‘s popular and unique MirageDrive pedal-driven propulsion system for its kayaks just got even better, with the advent of its new MirageDrive 180 that, with a fingertip flip of a shift allows full power in forward or reverse, which is bound to be useful in many applications such as allowing anglers to back up out of weeds or structure, or to help hold place in a current or wind. The unit will be standard on all 2017 models. Doug Olander / Sport Fishing

Bay Rat Lures — An Unusual Perspective

World's largest fishing tackle show -- Bay Rat lures

An interesting look at a Bay Rat Lures display, with each lure suspended atop a tall, thin, plexiglass pedestal. Doug Olander / Sport Fishing

Mann’s Mann-Jo Puts a New Spin on the Old Mojo

World's largest fishing tackle show -- Mann's Mann-Jo Lure

Mann‘s new Mann-Jo puts some heavy mojo into trolling for big stripers and other predators feeding deep. A wobbling minnow lure is attached to a 16- or 24-ounce skirted lead jighead. MSRP is $40 and $50, per size, and should be available this fall. Doug Olander / Sport Fishing

Humminbird Helix 10 — Award Winner

## World's largest fishing tackle show -- Humminbird Helix 10Si

Humminbird‘s Helix 10 Si GPS and multi-function display took the ICAST 2016 award for Best Electronics. It comes with side- and down-iimaging and 360-imaging compatibility and is Ethernet-capable which will enable a Minn Kota I-Pilot Link connection. Retail ranges from $999 $1,499, depending upon features. Doug Olander / Sport Fishing

Sea Striker Cedrus Lures

New Cedrus lures from Sea Striker feature a natural cedar-wood body with VMC black nickel cutting-point hooks. Floating models can be worked with a walk-the-dog action while sinking Cedrus lures offer a gliding motion with a slow jerk/pause retrieve. MSRP not available. Doug Olander / Sport Fishing

HUK Kryptek All-Weather Jacket for seriously foul conditions

World's largest fishing tackle show -- HUK foulweather jacket

Good things can indeed come in small packages, such as this Kryptek All Weather Jacket from Huk Performance Fishing. Seams and welds on the single-layer, breathable waterproof shell are taped; the visor bill hood is removable. And it all fits into the small pouch as shown here. Retail is $224.99. Doug Olander / Sport Fishing

Hanta Rods for Hardcore Popping and Jigging

World's largest fishing tackle show -- Hanta Rods

Hanta doesn’t make trolling rods or light inshore finesse sticks; its rods are all about popping and jigging for bigger fish, using high-tech Japanese modular blanks. Some models add additional Aramid Kevlar wraps mid-backbone for even more strength. MSRP is $485 to $697. Doug Olander / Sport Fishing

Savage Gear — Lure or Museum Piece?

World's largest fishing tackle show -- Savage Gear Hybrid Pike

Yes, yes — this is a freshwater northern pike presumably designed by Savage Gear to catch big northern pike (cannibalistic devils!), but I just thought it was a really cool-looking lure and figured I’d share it. If, whatever you’re fishing for, you want to buy one, the retail is $15.99 or $24.99, depending upon size. Doug Olander / Sport Fishing

Penn Slammer III on Display

World's largest fishing tackle show -- Penn Slammer reelsd

At the Penn booth, an army of Penn fishing reels, with the new Slammer III spinners in the vanguard. The new Slammers are characterized by a host of key features and retail for $250 to $350. They’re available in November, 2016. Doug Olander / Sport Fishing

BigFish Skelefish — Scary!

World's largest fishing tackle show -- BigFish Gear Skelefish shirt

The badass fish are back, shown here in another BigFish Gear Skelefish shirt design. Made with Australian knitted polyester and offering UPF 50 sun protection, the Skelefish tech shirts retail for $59.99. Doug Olander / Sport Fishing

Daiwa BG Spinners — Striking Gold Again

World's largest fishing tackle show -- Daiwa BG spinning reels

A longtime favorite of saltwater spinning enthusiasts, Daiwa‘s BG series (for Black Gold) has had a makeover for 2016. Within the black anodized machined aluminum housing are a wealth of features including an over-sized Digigear system, air rotor, waterproof drag system and more. The new BGs are available from a 1500 size to an 8000, with max drag from 4.4 to 33 pounds, respectively, and are available from online retailers from $99.95 to $129.95, depending upon size. Doug Olander / Sport Fishing

World's largest fishing tackle show -- Sebile Magic Swimmer

Amazingly versatile and popular with anglers around much of the world, the Sebile Magic Swimmer was introduced at the ICAST 2016 show as a Second Generation upgrade with more colors; stronger bodies, hooks and split rings; and a lower price (now $12.99 to $19.99). Doug Olander / Sport Fishing