I-Cast 2017 New Product Showcase Highlights

After flying in from our homes in Montana and Idaho, we arrived in Orlando, Florida just in time to sneak into ICAST’s new product showcase, where we stole some looks at the fishing industry’s most anticipated new products.

After inspecting the loot, we decided to share with you the products that looked most promising, the ones that really caught our eyes. Here is our list from the New Gear Showcase on Day 1 of ICAST 2017.

13 Fishing’s Fate Black Rod

Look at the picture, not the name. It’s not black at all--it’s all chartreuse from tip-to-butt and stands out on Facebook and Instagram.  Whether you like the color or not, this rod felt great in our hands and it’s coming in at the right price, just under $100.

Shimano Curado K

This newest edition of the Shimano Curado , decked out in a matte black, is the coolest looking Curado from Shimano we’ve seen in a while (IMO). Bonus: the Curado K offers an SVS Infinity breaking system, and comes in both left and right-hand retrieve. Want the latest in one of the most reliable platforms to ever hit baitcasting reels?  This one fits the bill.

Berkley Max Scent The General stickbait

We know that everyone has a stickbait and that Gary Yamamoto won’t be dethroned from the Senko army anytime soon. However, Berkley’s new Powerbait lineup, called Max Scent, sounds intriguing.  The stickbait version is called “The General--I’m just excited to fish this bait  and say, “It ate the general.”

Bill Lewis Stutterstep

We’ve been looking at this bait for a while, and are familiar with its attributes, but the new Stutterstep 4.0 has to have mention here. If you haven’t walked the dog with this topwater bait you are missing out. Bill Lewis Lures claims you can walk in place with this bait, leaving it in the most fishy looking spots longer.

Lunker Hunt Prop Series

The prop bait craze is real now. It may have started with the Whopper Plopper and now the innovations in this category are endless.  The new Lunker Hunt prop series combines the weedless frog with the plopper-style propeller action, which could prove irresistible.

Rapala RipStop

I have no idea how this product snuck in on us. We met with Rapala earlier this month and thought we had everything covered for their newest baits.  SEE Rapala blog for new baits HERE.  The micro jerkbait has a “ripstop tail” design that allows it to stop on a dime with a slight shimmy.

13 Fishing’s Concept Z

Biggest innovation in fishing reels in a few years? A decade?  No ball bearings?  What?  That’s right, this fully orange baitcaster has no ball bearings and is a perfect pairing for your fully chartreuse Fate rod.  13 Fishing says it casts further, quieter, and with more control than traditional ball-bearing reels.

Yo-Zuri 3DB Knucklebait

It’s not a spinnerbait and it’s not a jig. Yo-Zuri says, “It’s a whole new category,” and they could be right.  The bait is aerodynamic, has great weight, and can be thrown into tight spaces, and even skipped under docks.

River2Sea Phat Mat Daddy Frog

Ish Monroe created this frog so it could fish in in the thickest cover. And why wouldn’t we believe them: These guys invented the Whopper Plopper, so they kinda know how to do this kind of thing.

Sunline Siglon PEx8 Fishing Line

“Just touch it,” says one of our category managers for fishing. Pure sensitivity, and low diameters have been Sunline’s claim to fame, and this new eight-strand braided line is going to upset finesse bass.

Strike King KVD Supa Fry

I don’t like soggy french fries. Unless they are salty, taste like plastic, and Kevin Van Dam cooked them.

Trapper Tackle Treble Hooks

These are cool. Similar story to the Trapper Tackle worm hooks we now have. The “trapper box” pierces quickly and locks hook-sets in tight.

Follow us on Instagram and Facebook @north40.fish for updates and news as we dig into ICAST 2017.