ICAST 2010 was held on Las Vegas Nevada on July 14-16, 2010. Every year it’s bragging grounds and a culmination of the newest and best products that our industry has to offer. So, if you didnt make it…what did you miss, and what should you be on the lookout for? Here’s a few of our favorites.
G Loomis NRX Rods
Available August 13, 2010 in USA and Canada
Winner of the ICAST 2010 Best of Show. The last rod that G Loomis introduced was 16 years ago with the GLX. Now, we have a rod that is the new poster child for G Loomis. It weighs at least “15-percent lighter than similar GLX rods, plus offers the durability to make them up to 20-percent stronger and more impact resistant” according to G Loomis’ chief rod designer, Steve Rajef. There are 13 new rods in all. 8 casting rods with an MSRP of $450 to $500, and 5 spinning rods with a MSRP of $450 to $475.
Shimano Curado E50
Available Mid-Late Fall 2010. Get it at TackleWarehouse
You may remember our Curado 200E review. Well, we just got smaller and lighter. The Curado 50E is 6.9oz (compared to 7.6oz 200E), and is easily palm-able for pitching those smaller baits. In fact, Shimano has designed the Curado 50 E Series Casting Reel especially for light line and finesse applications. The price point is slightly higher, at $199.99, bur you still get the 6:4:1 gear ratio, HEG gearing, 10lbs of drag, aluminum frame, and Magnumlite spool. It’s identical to the 200E in every aspect, except the weight and size being smaller. It looks to me like we finally have a price-worthy replacement for the discontinued 50mg Chronarch lovers.
Minn Kota Talon
Available Fall 2010.
With the success of the Power Pole, I figured it was about time we had a company follow with their own version. After all, isn’t that how this industry operates. Talon’s innovative engineering and design provide many performance advantages, leading with the fastest deployment time compared to any product in its category. The Auto Up/Down feature needs only a quick press of a button for fully automatic deployment. It doesn’t use any hydraulics, just electricity. This leads to a quieter, quicker, and easier to install solution. To gauge the depth of the deployed spike, the angler can simply glance at the unit’s LED indicator lights which display deployment in one-foot increments. When ready to move to the next location, Talon’s notification alarm warns users if they start their outboard engine while the spike is still deployed. Suggested retail prices for Talon are $1,299 with a six-foot, four-inch spike and $1,449 with an eight-foot, four-inch spike.Watch the video below to see it in action.
Sebile Soft Weight System
Winner of the ICAST 2010 Terminal Tackle category was this gem idea. You can now easily add weight to your bait via the hook shank. These gum-like weights are made of soft tungsten and can be easily removed, added, or repositioned without cutting your line. Ideal for soft plastics, and available for 1/0 to 6/0 hook sizes. Retail price is going to be from $7.75 to $10.75 for a pack depending on hook size. Genius idea Sebile!
2010 ICAST New Product Showcase Award Winners
Overall Best of Show – G.Loomis – NRX Series Rods
Apparel – Frabill, Inc. – FXE Stormsuit
Combo – Ardent/Lamiglas – C400/XC704 Fishouflage Bass
Electronics – Lowrance Navico – Lowrance Elite-5 DSI
Eyewear – Maui Jim Sunglasses – Guy Harvey Collection
Fishing Accessory – Adventure Products, Inc. – EGO S2 Slider Landing Net
Giftware – Boating Expressions, Inc. – Fishfenders
Kids Tackle – Pure Fishing – Pflueger-Spinning Combo-Apprentice
Line – Rapala – Sufix 832 Advanced Superline
Soft Lure – Koppers Fishing & Tackle Corporation – Live Target Hollow Body Frog
Hard Lure – Shimano American Corporation – Waxwing Sub-Surface Swimming Jig
Marine – Minn Kota – Talon-Shallow Water Anchor
Freshwater Reel – Shimano – Stella FE
Saltwater Reel – Shimano – Trinidad A
Freshwater Rod – G.Loomis – NRX
Saltwater Rod – Shimano American Corporation – Terez
Tackle Management – HYI, Inc. – Openwater Tackle Backpack
Terminal Tackle – Sebile Innovative Fishing – Soft Weight System
