Off To Icast

[kjackson]

Tomorrow, I fly to Las Vegas for the ICAST show--probably the 25th or so time for me. It will be interesting to see all the new fishing gear on display and talk to old friends. If I didn't have to work the shows, it would be a kid-in-a-candy-store event for me, but instead i'll be rushing to get things done before the close of business on Friday. Not that I won't be looking at some cool stuff, mind you.

This year, the big tackle show is joining with the annual fly show; the two trade shows will be side by side, and that will be an interesting mix. I'm also seeing a big PR push from a lot of companies, and that speaks well for the fiscal health in the industry. I do know that there is a bunch of pretty trick gear coming out this year, a lot of which will be oriented toward the Alabama-rig category. But there will be bunches of new hard baits, soft baits, rods, reels, lines--you name it. There are even two inflatable, stand-up paddle boards.

If anyone else from here is going, perhaps we can meet up. I'll be flying out of Branson.

[Guest]

It's invite only, otherwise I would take a weeks vacation to go

[Hojo]

I've wanted to go to this for years. It is by invite only?

[Quillback]

Bassmaster slide show of new products. Warning: lots of sunglasses. Also there's several lures that have been out for a while, for example the Rapala Scatter Rap.

http://www.bassmaster.com/slideshow/icast-2013-sneak-peek

[RSBreth]

Yes - it's for media people or people in the industry - kind of like what the SHOT show is for guns and hunting. One of these years I'll have to go but my funds are short this summer.

[Quillback]

This crank is an interesting concept, but $20 is a little high for a crank.

http://www.wired2fish.com/icast-2013-koppers-livetarget-unveils-baitball-lures/

[kjackson]

At the airport in Las Vegas, heading for Branson. First, about attending...this is a trade show, so the people who can go are manufacturers, reps, retailers, media (me), and those who are invited by the manufacturers and reps--guys like pro staff who work with the exhibitors or dealers. It isn't open to the public, so it is kinda "invitation only." However, that doesn't make it terribly exclusive--there were 9500 attendees and something like 700 exhibitors. It lasts three days with the pre-game show starting the Tuesday before.

This year for the first time, the trade fly show co-located with ICAST (not Icast as the autospell headline says). I've been covering ICAST and its predecessor for over 30 years or so, and this may well be the largest in that time. At least after the size the last few years, it seems the largest.

I wish I could say that there were some fantastic things in store, but that isn't really the case. However, there was a lot of new gear that I can't wait to play with. One theme I saw this year was expansion of the A-rig category with a number of interesting spinoffs. Booyah has a few new rigs that look interesting, and if you go to the lurenet site, you'll probably see them there. One item that needs fishing is the fluorocarbon rig that is intended to be used in front of a single crankbait. As I remember, it has two spinner blades, fluorocarbon leader, and then the snap for the bait. You can fish it shallow or deep or even troll with it. It gives the impression of a fishing running under a pair of shad.

Another from Strike King is one with titanium wires that are extremely flexible--it should allow more movement of the baits or spinners or whatever you're using.

There also were a lot of soft baits introduced for both A-rig use and for dropshot. One of the most unique soft plastics I saw was a super skipper from lick-em lures. It basically looks like a tongue, but it can be rigged in a bunch of different ways and excels at skipping.

There were a lot of new reels, of course, and Lew's is bringing out a deep line of spinning reels. Abu has a Revo with a retrieve ratio of 9.1 to 1. Mitchell introduced the 300 Pro that has what it calls a "bail halo" that looks to be good for keeping the line, especially loose braid, from sneaking under the spool.

I didn't do much with the terminal tackle end of things as I was covering soft plastics and wire baits (spinner baits, A-rigs and so on). The jika rig and its spinoffs were everywhere with Mustad having some very interesting versions. Its new dropshot hook/swivel combo is on my list of must haves because it allows the bait to move around freely. There were a number of versions of the Biffle Hardhead from several companies.

One of the best things for walleye guys was Northland's use of its new slow-death hook in combination with spinners and the little float. I think that will also work for crappie, but I could certainly be wrong.

I didn't have time to look at rods, reels or line, but each category had a lot of new items.

Overall, the show was busy for everybody with third day attendance strong, something that seldom happens. The industry seems to feel confident about business in general, so we should see even more products introduced during the course of the year.

The plane is boarding in a few minutes, so I'll let the ICAST report end peacefully.

[MOsmallies]

Great report... Sounds like a neat experience

[J-Doc]

Sounds like a fun time. I'd love to go one day if ever given the chance.

[kjackson]

ICAST is one of those shows that has to be seen to be believed. This year's show was one of the biggest in recent history. There were approximately 9500 attendees, 458 exhibitors and 700+ media. There also was a waiting list of companies that wanted in, but booth space was sold out.

When I started the thread, I expected to go to the show and in the course of covering it, pick maybe three or four things I thought would be of interest, take pix of the gear and then post them here each day. However, when I got the hotel, I found that there was a $14 a day charge for internet access. Well, I have to admit I'm cheap. Given that my standard show day started at 7:00 in the morning and saw me returning to the room around 10:00 at night, I decided to not do the internet thing as I could do email off my phone, and I wouldn't be using the net enough to justify the cost.

As I get into my assignments, I'll post some items that I think would be of interest--like the four-armed spinnerbait from Z-Man (it's on the Tackle Warehouse site already, though) or the dropshot hook from Mustad. However, there are some things I've got to finish first.