Another ICAST in the Books!

ICAST 2020 has come and gone. Normally I loose a few pounds at ICAST, walking countless miles up and down the isles of the Orange County Convention Center, trying to soak in a dizzying array of new fishing tackle. This year COVID-19 turned me into a couch potato. ICAST went virtual. I sat on my couch watching video press conferences and chatting with tackle reps on my laptop. It was definitely not as fun as seeing the products first hand and talking face to face, but the tackle nerd in me still enjoyed seeing the new gear. I can’t say I saw everything, but I saw a lot, and here is my rundown of the good, the bad and the ugly from ICAST 2020.

The GOOD

The Savage Gear Dragon Tail is the lure I’m most anxious to try

The Dragon Tail is a new slug style bait from Savage Gear. Much of the lure is deeply ribbed giving it a chunky profile without all the bulk. It’s not the sexiest looking lure at ICAST, but watching a video of the Dragon Tail in action sold me. When twitched, it darts around like a fluke style bait with a nice little shimmy of the tail. On a steady retrieve, it tracks straight with a seductive wiggle in the back end. Savage Gear says it is scent infused and made from a material called plastisol that is more durable than standard soft plastic baits.

Daiwa has a solid new spinning reel.

The Daiwa BG MQ spinning reel didn’t win any awards at ICAST, but it caught my attention. For decades, all spinning reels had basically the same design, a body with a cover held on with screws. The MQ in the BG MQ moniker stands for monocoque, a fancy term that means the body is one piece. There is no separate side cover held on with screws. Daiwa says the monocoque design is stronger and stiffer than traditional reels, and the lack of cover screws means there is more space in the body to fit bigger, stronger gears. The BG MQ is fully sealed to inhibit water intrusion and is available in sizes from 2500, perfect for flats fishing, all the way up to a 20000 that is big enough to tackle the biggest, meanest fish on the Space Coast.

Line Cutterz offer a nifty little fishing gadget.

I admit I don’t need another pair of line clippers, but that doesn’t mean I don’t want the Line Cutterz Dual Hybrid Micro Snipper. This little device with a long name has three separate blades that cut mono, fluorocarbon and braid. One end sports a pair of patented ceramic blades for quick cuts while the other end has serated, stainless steel micro scissors that are perfect for precision cuts. The Dual Hybrid Micro Snipper is made from corrosion resistant materials and includes a handy lanyard attach loop on one end and a stainless steel belt clip.

Environmentally Friendly Styrofoam from RebelFIN.

A lot of fishing products like coolers, bait containers and floats are made from styrofoam. It is nice to see companies like RebelFIN take their environmental stewardship seriously. RebelFIN’s styrofoam products are now made from REFOAM which includes an additive the allows the foam to oxidize and then biodegrade. REFOAM products stored in a dry, controlled environment like a garage or house can last for decades, but one exposed to sun, heat and moisture could degrade in as little as two years. REFOAM products can still be recycled, but if one ends up in a landfill, or even worse, on the shores of our Lagoon, REFOAM will degrade in a few years compared to conventional styrofoam that will last for centuries.

The BAD

This is NOT fake news!

These lures from Line Cutters could be good, bad or ugly depending on your political affiliations. If you are so inspired, you can get yourself a genuine Donald Trump lure, or for the Democrats, a Joe Biden lure, or for the bipartisan, a Trump, Biden combo pack. Both are hollow bodied, weedless topwaters that can be dragged through the thickest, slopiest weeds. I could add some political puns, but I think I’ll just stop right here.

Solar Powered Fishing Lures from Bite ‘Em Solar Lures

I’ll give Bite ‘Em Solar Lures credit. They have created the first solar powerd fishing lure. I’m not a fan of mechanized lures, but if you are, here is one that doesn’t require batteries. Once a little sunlight hits the lure, it starts vibrating and making a rattling sound. I’m not sure what to think of these lures, but if you like the idea of a vibrating, rattling lure that doesn’t require batteries, then check out Bite ‘Em Solar Lures.

The UGLY

The new reel line, “Ugly Tuff,” from Pure Fishing.

Pure Fishing won’t mind if I call their reel ugly. They call it Ugly Tuff, a new line of spincast and spinning reels they claim are tough enough to wear the venerable Ugly Stik name. “They’re not supposed to be pretty — they’re built to be tough,” says Ugly Stik Vice President of Marketing Jon Schlosser. Ugly Tuff spinning reels have aluminum bodies and spools and include five bearings. They are available in sizes ranging from ultralight up to a 60 size that holds 200 yards of 20 pound test monofilament. Perhaps the best part is they come with a wallet friendly $49.99 to $59.99 price tag.