2010 Fishing Gear Worth the Wait
By: Ray BladesThe International Convention of Allied Sportfishing Trades, better known as ICAST, the world's largest sportfishing trade show, was held this summer in Orlando, Florida. There were aisles of great products to play with, but here are a few new items to keep your eye on for 2010.
Swim n JerkLunkerhunt's Swim n Jerk hybrid combines the characteristics of a swimbait and jerkbait. It's designed to produce a tight, upright swimming action on a fast retrieve and a wide, slow action on a slow retrieve. Available in seven colour combos and a 4- and 6-inch model. Three 4-inch and two 6-inch baits per pack, with swimbait hook.
MSRP $9.79.
www.lunkerhunt.com
Release the HoundsYum's new Money Hound is a weedless soft-plastic topwater that walks the dog. It was designed to be fished in heavy cover without getting hung up, and comes with a belly slit to improve hook-up when rigged weedless. Available in both 3.5- and 4.25-inch models, in six colour patterns.
MSRP $7.99
www.yum3x.com
The 'Eyes Have itG. Loomis introduced its new Walleye Series rods with not only technique-specific taper actions and lengths, but in eight models with proprietary graphite blend and eight with GLX graphite blanks. Within the 16-rod series, walleye anglers will find one-piece models for vertical jigging, pitching jigs, bait rigging, and bottom bouncing.
MSRP $299
www.gloomis.com
Get the NetA new design makes Frabil's Hiber-Net fast and easy to use. A simple push of the grip opens the net to land fish. With a pull of the grip, the net stores inside the handle. It's 52 inches in length, with a 22 x 22- by 24-inch deep triangular-shaped hoop.
MSRP $79.99
www.frabill.com
Reel FinesseThe new Stradic CI4 reels from Shimano are constructed primarily of carbon fibre, which makes them lighter, and because they contain no metal, they're impervious to rust. The CI4 1000F and CI4 2500F feature Shimano's Paladin Gear Durability Enhancement, Propulsion Line Management System, and shielded A-RB anti-rust ball bearings.
MSRP $249.99
http://fish.shimano.com
Power to SpareSerrano low-profile baitcasting reels from Okuma are designed for smooth performance from 10 ball bearings incorporated throughout the reel. Despite the Serrano's compact size, they still dish out 11 pounds of drag, all while providing a 6.2:1 gear ratio for increased line pick up.
MSRP $199.99
www.okumafishing.com
Salmon and Steelhead BewareSt. Croix's Legend Elite salmon and steelhead casting and spinning rods are available in 19 new models for the most popular salmon and steelheading techniques. Their Integrated Poly Curve tooling technology allowed the rod designers to create continuous curve tapers, avoiding inherently weak spots found at the junction points of traditional straight-line compound tapered blanks. The result is a lighter, stronger blank that transfers energy from the butt to tip, for longer casts and sensitivity.
MSRP $400
www.stcroixrods.com
The Distance Crusher
The MaxRap 13 is a high-performance lure injected with Rapala's patented internal MaxCast mechanism, which lets anglers cast an unbelievable distance and then some. Designed with a short lip and a slightly arched back, this thin-bodied minnow-profile lure cruises just below the surface at 1- to 2 feet, with a seductive rolling action, just like a living, breathing baitfish. It's 5 1/4 inches long, weighs 1/2-ounce and is available in eight finishes.
MSRP $20.00
www.rapala.ca
See Like a Fish
The HDS-10 is the finest of new Lowrance fish-finding and GPS navigation technologies, with high-definition 10.4-inch Super VGA colour viewing. The display renders detail in sunlight, with wide-angle viewing available, while adjusting to zero-dim for night viewing. Fully ready to build your complete stand-alone or networked onboard system.
MSRP $2,999.00
www.lowrance.com
Spinning FireDaiwa's Aggrest 7.3 Hyper Speed is lightweight for quick casting, with a 7.3 to 1 retrieve, the fastest retrieve ratio of any baitcaster, picking up 32 inches of line with every crank. There's less wasted time between targets, and more time in productive water. The Aggrest is available in both left- and right-hand models.
MSRP $199.99
www.daiwa.com
Where Did it Go?Trilene TransOptic is a new monofilament line that's taken Berkley four years to create, with transition technology activated by UV light. It's a bright gold in sunlight, offering you a hi-vis line, but changes to clear underwater, so fish can't see it. It's available in 4- to 25-pound-test spools.
MSRP $14.99 for 220-yard spools
www.berkley-fishing.com
Spoon Feeding Fish
Thundermist Lure Company introduced its Boa Jig'r jigging spoon. It's designed to accommodate both live- and cut bait or artificial soft plastics. It also features clacking beads and an erratic fall. The spoon is available in Silver Spottail or Gold Spottail, in 1/2 oz., 1 oz., 2 oz., 3 oz., and 6 oz.
MSRP $7.99 to $16.99
www.thundermistlures.com
