Tackle Show Updates...

[Feathers and Fins]

OHHHHHH that minnow looks like a creek chub walleye around here will love it

[kjackson]

The show is sort of winding down a bit, thank heavens. Thought I would post this for those who like to fish for predators. This is a display by a Danish company looking for a distributor. These are all swim baits...

Other things I've come across: Mustad has a new version of the Slow Death hook intended for plastics instead of crawlers. Of course, Northland's Crawler Hauler hook, spinner and floater are here. Lots of crankbaits, articulated jigs, wobble heads (everybody has one) and rods, reels, etc. There isn't much new in top waters except for frogs and frog hooks, but then I've not been there yet. Lots of boats here-- Hell's Bay flat boats, big ocean boats, kayaks, fishing canoes, fishing paddle boards, etc.

[kjackson]

Here's an addendum to the Flicker Minnow-- talked to one of the Berkley guys, and he said that shipping won't be until October when they can fill 80% of the pre-orders. He said they could ship 40% in June, but the plan is to wait until they can fill 80.

And here's a correction to what has been going on elsewhere-- Lindy announced a couple of months ago that it was introducing three "new" crankbaits--rebadged lures from other PRADCO companies with new finishes. A couple of days before the show, the cancelled the intro.

[Feathers and Fins]

October? so the guys up north will be in Ice Out when they get filled? did I read that right?

Berkley may well have angered many anglers with that one, I understand the demand was more than any other lure in recent memory and they were not prepared for it but this is only my opinion mind you, they should start filling orders ASAP and not hold out to fill 80% because those order may well keep coming in and 80% could be next spring.... Just get them out and fill them as they can people will wait knowing the backlog but to not put them out has me concerned is there something else wrong with the bait which now has me wondering if I shouldn't hold off getting them till the revues on forums from anglers are in on them.

[rps]

October? so the guys up north will be in Ice Out when they get filled? did I read that right?

Berkley may well have angered many anglers with that one, I understand the demand was more than any other lure in recent memory and they were not prepared for it but this is only my opinion mind you, they should start filling orders ASAP and not hold out to fill 80% because those order may well keep coming in and 80% could be next spring.... Just get them out and fill them as they can people will wait knowing the backlog but to not put them out has me concerned is there something else wrong with the bait which now has me wondering if I shouldn't hold off getting them till the revues on forums from anglers are in on them.

If they follow your advice we will see a repeat of the Big O phenomenon from the 70's. People will pay wildly inflated amounts to the retailers and re-sellers (none of which Berkley will get) and a veritable hellstorm of accusations will emerge as to market distribution. On second thought, that could be fun. Listen to him Berkley....

[Feathers and Fins]

I just have major concerns when I keep hearing of delays on a product. The longer they sit on product the more it cost them and it makes me wonder is it the product? I would much rather have to wait till next year at this point to hear revues now before buying them. If they would have released them on time and then told everyone they would be releasing more as they can get them out I would have bought a bunch as soon as possible. I really am having concerns over is it product problems.

[Ham]

I just have major concerns when I keep hearing of delays on a product. The longer they sit on product the more it cost them and it makes me wonder is it the product? I would much rather have to wait till next year at this point to hear revues now before buying them. If they would have released them on time and then told everyone they would be releasing more as they can get them out I would have bought a bunch as soon as possible. I really am having concerns over is it product problems.

Heck Scott, You catch every fish in the darn lake as it is. Why do you need that stinkin bait?

[Feathers and Fins]

Same reason I keep buying more decoys, and when I can figure it out I will tell you lol

[Quillback]

I see TW has the Rapala BX Waking Minnow in stock - fingers are getting itchy..

[kjackson]

First, yeah it is an October delivery on the Flicker Minnow. And, yes, I did point out that it might be a burn for the company. The guy did kind of a shrug with an "Oh, well," look. I think they might figure that it is such a good product that the burn will be insignificant. Dunno, y'know. Since Tom Bedell sold the company, though, it has been doing some strange stuff. Often enough that's because you get managers in who aren't fishermen.

On the itchy finger side-- while I didn't walk the show beyond what I needed to, there are some really sweet things that had me almost reaching for my Amex card. Edge Rods, designed by Gary Loomis, may well be the best rods to date. They seem incredibly sensitive and are very, very light.

There is a G.Loomis rod designed for "twitching" jigs for coho salmon that I will have. It will be a dynamite rod for walleyes and bass.

Then there was a rotomolded skiff--17 feet long, weighs in at 480 pounds and floats with a moderate load in three inches of water. Also Nucanoe's Frontier a menage-a-trois between a canoe, kayak and rowboat.

And even for those on a budget-- the Berkley rods (in two new series) are what G.Loomis rods were 10 years ago, and at paper-route prices. Yakima Bait has the 3.0 Mag Lip coming out for those who like to troll...and there are a ton of wobble jigs and fun lures. It was a mid-year introduction, but the Northland Crawler Hauler will be a must-have. There is a video on youtube that shows it in action. And for slow-death fans, there is a new Mustad hook designed to be used with plastics. I'm thinking I might have a review on that next week.

It would have been a treat to simply walk the floor without an agenda.