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Jesse's Hunting > Fishing Articles > Fishing Gear > Reviewing New Gear at ICAST
Reviewing New Gear at ICAST
Xavier Limon - JHO ProStaff
- San Diego, CA
August 25, 2005
This past month I had the opportunity to attend the ICAST show for the first time. If you are unfamiliar with the ICAST show, it is International Convention of Allied Sportfishing Trades - the fishing industry’s trade show. It is not a consumer show and therefore is not open to the public. This is the time and place where retailers and media alike will interact with manufacturers to see and place orders for the latest and greatest products to hit the market.
I’ve listed five companies and a product of theirs that I liked or disliked. I must make you aware that none of the following products have been field-tested - they are merely observations from the show.
THUMBS UP! |
Fishwork’s Lawrance Quigley has designed a new short with a great feature that I think all anglers can appreciate. For those times when a rod belt is overkill or just not available, he has designed shorts which have a pocket on the inside. This pocket is strategically placed right below the hip – an area where you would normally place the butt of your rod. And to protect you from “rod rash” is a dense foam square that sits inside the pocket. And for those unfortunate souls who are right handed, the pocket is on both sides and the pad is interchangeable.
THUMBS UP! |
Mountain Cork is maker of fishing rod travel tubes. They have teamed up with XXX COMPANY to make a product that is a sure winner. This new line is lined with a copper based material which absorbs all possible corrosion. Your reels will last longer as a result.
THUMBS DOWN |
The Spinmaster company has “launched” the Jet Cast 3.0. Whatever happened to the days of handing a kid a Zebco and teaching him to cast? Well, I guess those days are gone. In its attempt to get more kids out on the lakes and seas, the fishing industry would rather sell a gimmick of a product like the Jet Cast rather than really teach kids to fish. Sadly, this product won a Best of Show award. It resembles a super soaker and with a pump action similar to a shotgun its function is to launch a spring loaded bobber about 15 feet into the water. Note to the parent who buys this for their kid: your young one still isn’t going to learn to cast, buy them a regular reel and spend a day with them learning.
THUMBS UP! |
A new baitcaster from the Diawa Corporation is Viento. Daiwa has integrated a “twitchin’ bar” into the gearing, which will allow you with the tap of your thump to reel in your bait about 4-5 inches at a time. By using the “twitchin’ bar”, you create a consistent, thus realistic, motion with you bait presentation. Good idea as long as the “twitchin’ bar” does not jeopardize the overall performance of the reel. You know, this reel would make a good squirrel fishing setup.
THUMBS DOWN |
I’ll apologize in advance for this one. Shimano released a new conventional reel called the Torsa. Now, I’m sure it’s a great reel, but I just don’t understand it. First, it has interchangeable drag system that is called the Rapid Fire Quick Change Drag Cam System. I’ll compare it to the power band of a motorcycle. These cams provide a different “power band” which are applicable to difference species you are targeting. With these interchangeable cams, the Torsa appears to be marketed as a reel that can be used to target all species. That sounds great, one reel for the job, and at $700, that had better be the case. But let’s think about it. In my local saltwater backyard, you have the opportunity to target yellowtail, yellowfin tuna, marlin, albacore, white seabass, sand bass, calico bass, and halibut all in the same afternoon. With each species, you may and sometimes must, use different line. Not only different line, but each species may, and again must, require a different rod. What good is an interchangeable drag system going to be when you have to change out your line and rod? It doesn’t make sense to me, but if the Shimano public relations would like to differ, please email me and I’ll be happy to give the reel some action in the field.
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