ICAST Cup and On-the-Water Demos
Tuesday, July 16
ICAST 2024 in Orlando, Florida, unofficially kicked off with the ICAST Cup on Lake Toho and the on-the-water demos at the Orange County Convention Center. The word of the day was “heat,” with a high of 102 degrees with the adjusted heat index. Despite the intense conditions, enthusiasts braved the weather to test new kayak products and cast new lures and rods. Notably, I landed a giant Florida largemouth with the new FishLab Nature Series Soft Swimbait.
Stay tuned as we release several new ICAST videos on the BAM YouTube and Facebook
Innovations in Tackle Storage and Fishing Gear
After retreating indoors, the BAM crew joined tackle storage innovators Buzbe to learn about their new products for 2024. Buzbe has made waves in the tackle management arena with their Colony Modular Internal Bins and HEXLOK grid systems.
Pure Fishing’s New Releases
Pure Fishing (Berkley, Abu Garcia, Ugly Stick, etc.) unveiled new products, including a purpose-built spinning line designed specifically for forward-facing sonar. This line features a thinner diameter for faster and more consistent falls through the water column, targeting suspended fish.
LIVETARGET’s Freestyle Frog 2.0 Launch
LIVETARGET hosted a media lunch featuring frog legs to launch their new Freestyle Frog 2.0. Utilizing Injected Core Technology (ICT), this soft-plastic frog features an anatomically accurate profile with multi-colored metallic hues within a translucent exoskeleton, enhancing realism and durability. This topwater frog displays lifelike leg pushes when retrieved on the surface.
ICAST New Product Showcase
The highlight of Tuesday evening was the New Product Showcase, where media and industry professionals viewed and voted on unreleased products. Many new bass-related baits and products this year were designed specifically for forward-facing sonar. New ICAST products at Tackle Warehouse
Wednesday, July 17
Cortland Line’s Braid Making Process
Cortland Line shared fascinating insights into their braid-making process. Weaving multiple strands for one bulk spool of 200-pound braid can take approximately 10 days, while a spool of 4-pound braid can take up to four weeks. Notably, their new 16-carrier flat (silent) flipping braid is designed to move silently through rod guides and vegetation.
Lowrance’s New Releases
Eagle Eye live sonar unit, a competitively priced live sonar graph with 2D, downscan, down live, and forward live views. They also revealed the Recon trolling motor, a brushless, whisper-silent, powerful motor with a wireless foot pedal and joystick remote.
Yeti’s Dishwasher-Safe French Press
Yeti unveiled a dishwasher-safe French press available in 34 or 64 ounces. The dual-layer filter catches any grounds that may sneak through, and the GroundsControl Filter stops the brewing process to lock in flavor. The DuraSip™ Ceramic Lining and double-wall vacuum insulation ensure durability and optimal temperature maintenance.
Okuma’s X-Series Spinning Reel
Okuma introduced the X-Series Spinning Reel, boasting an aluminum frame for superior strength and rigidity. The reels feature a multi-disc Carbonite drag system, CNC precision-cut anodized aluminum components, and stainless steel bearings for smooth operation. The X-Series also includes CFR Technology for optimal airflow and corrosion resistance.
FishLab’s New Lures
FishLab released new lures, including the Nature Series Soft Swimbait with a hybrid ribbed belly design for a lifelike swimming action and the BBZ Hard Swimbait, designed by Bill Siemantel. The BBZ Hard Swimbait features a four-piece design, tournament-grade BKK treble hooks, and a hybrid tail for lifelike swimming action.
Bajio Sunglasses’ Tattoo Studio
Bajio Sunglasses had an impressive booth complete with a tattoo studio offering original ICAST flash pieces for attendees to choose from, making for memorable and lasting souvenirs.
Thursday, July 18
Norsk Lithium’s Smart Batteries
Norsk Lithium showcased their smart lithium batteries with user-friendly features. The Guardian™ app provides a Bluetooth connection to monitor battery health, charging status, and real-time alerts. The Emergency Start Reserve (ESR) feature allocates 25% of the battery’s capacity as a reserve, and the Deep Sleep feature disconnects power to prevent fully discharged batteries.
Shimano’s Vanford FA Spinning Reels
Shimano introduced the Vanford FA Spinning Reels, highlighting an MGL Rotor, CI4+ body, and technologies like InfinityXross and Infinity Drive for unmatched smoothness and sensitivity. The DuraCross drag technology offers tenfold drag durability for battling big fish.
Connect-Ease® 36V PRO Kit
The Connect-Ease® 36V PRO Kit offers hassle-free installation with tinned marine-grade wire and materials for corrosion-proof reliability. The kit provides up to 150 Amps of power and is lithium battery compatible, ensuring optimal performance for high-output trolling motors.
St. Croix’s New GXR Bass Systems
St. Croix introduced GXR Bass Systems, offering eight technique-specific precision-matched models with SCII carbon fiber blanks, stainless-steel hybrid guide trains, and SEVIIN GXR casting and spinning reels. These combos promise elevated fishing experiences for various bass presentations.
Daiwa Tatula SV150 Casting Reel
Offering greater line capacity and more power, the Daiwa Tatula SV150 Casting Reel is tuned for heavy-duty applications and power fishing. Built around an A7075 SV Spool, the Tatula SV150 Casting Reel combines SV technology (stress-free versatility) with the infamous T-Wing system to provide unmatched casting performance that has been optimized for braided line, but also performs exceptionally well with fluorocarbon and monofilament. Internally, it houses Daiwa’s HyperDrive Design, which provide bigger gears, more support, and a rigid housing that creates buttery smooth reeling and robust cranking power. On the outside, the Tatula SV150 Casting Reel features Magforce Z Cast Control braking system to make quick and easy adjustments for different size lures or changing conditions. The Ultimate Tournament Drag also provides the power needed to remove big fish from cover when needed. Finished with a super comfortable 100mm swept handle for additional power, the Tatula SV150 Casting Reel is perfect for heavy line techniques where anglers want to take advantage of increased line capacity and power.
Daiwa PX Bait Finesse BF Casting Rods
Specifically designed for ultra-lightweight lures, the Daiwa PX Bait Finesse BF Casting Rods offer precision-tuned actions that will increase your efficiency with popular bait finesse baits. Depending on the model, the Daiwa PX Bait Finesse BF Casting Rods use composite or SVF Nanoplus blank materials, which help the rods properly load to improve casting performance and bait manipulation when using very small and lightweight lures. A set of Fuji Light K guides with Alconite inserts also keep the weight down, making them feel feather light in hand and a dream to fish all day. Finished with a custom Daiwa reel seat and EVA foam handle, the Daiwa PX Bait Finesse BF Casting Rods are perfect for pairing with your favorite bait finesse reel and lures.
Yamamoto Shad Shape Swimmer Swimbaits
Built for light spinning and bait finesse applications, the Yamamoto Shad Shape Swimmer Swimbaits excel on small swimbait heads, dropshot rigs, and hover-style rigs with forward-facing sonar techniques. Super subtle and molded using the same skinny ribbed body design as the popular Shad Shape Wom, the Shad Shape Swimmer Swimbaits have a paddle tail construction for a lifelike swimming action that attracts fish with many different retrieval speeds. Available in multiple bass-catching color options, the Yamamoto Shad Shape Swimmer Swimbaits come in three natural baitfish sizes to match the hatch for virtually any water that you are fishing in.
Friday, July 19
Spotters’ Australian Sunglasses
Over the last 25 years, Spotters has been built on the ideals of Australians. Our mission is to offer a uniquely Australian product. We are 100% Australian owned and are a 2nd generation family run business. We design and develop our sunglasses to survive Australia’s harshest conditions. Our sunglasses are designed to protect us from some of the harshest UV exposure in the world, combat extreme glare, while still being stylish and supremely comfortable. Our passion for innovation is unsurpassed and our dedication to the best quality and most technologically advanced materials drives us ever forward. Like you, we believe in operating with honesty and integrity. Australians are deeply passionate about being outdoors. Whether you enjoy the salty tang of our marine environments or the pristine waters of our freshwater lakes and rivers, water runs through the veins of all Australians. We fish, hike, bike, and camp. If it has an engine, we’ll drive it, on road or off road. We thrive on long weekends, spending time with family and hanging out with friends. We love nothing more than experiencing the wonders Australia has to offer. Savage is exactly as its namesake suggests – a fiercely good-looking pair of sunnies. Savage showcases an ultra-light weight, super flexible 6-base frame and is complemented by rubber temple tips and a very on-trend logo. Style it with our signature Crown Glass lenses and you will be the envy of all your friends!
Plano’s New Weekend Series™ Bags
Experience unmatched functionality with our new Weekend Series™ Bags, crafted for fishing enthusiasts seeking durability and organization. Featuring molded water-proof base provides a sturdy, waterproof foundation to keep gear dry on wet docks, boat decks, and shorelines; large main compartment provides secure, organized gear storage for easy visibility and quick access; die-cut tool sleeves provide secure storage to prevent shifting during transport and offers efficient retrieval to easily locate tools; quick access slip
Conclusion
ICAST 2024 in Orlando showcased numerous innovations in fishing gear and technology, providing anglers with exciting new tools and products to enhance their fishing experiences. From advanced sonar systems and smart batteries to cutting-edge lures and durable sunglasses, the event highlighted the industry’s ongoing commitment to innovation and excellence.