The fishing industry’s biggest trade show, ICAST, debuted several new items well-suited for anglers just getting started in this engaging sport. From lures, to rods and reels, to clothing and tools, the event introduced a host of products that’ll help you advance your fishing career.
Leland Lures Creek Fishing Kit: Youtube content creator John Dalton of Creek Fishing Adventures hand selected this assortment of jig heads, plastic bodies and floats. Packed in a sturdy double-latching tray, this tackle is ideal for small water fishing. ($14.99, lelands-lures.com)
PRADCO Rebel LIVEflex Tadpole: Rebel Lures expands its LIVEflex soft-plastic lineupwith the 2½-inch LIVEflex Tadpole, which realistically mimics this early stage of a frog’s development with its bulbous head, sprouting legs, bulging eyes, and a long tail that creates subtle movement. Made of floating, scent-infused LIVEflex material, this bait is a good bet for ponds, creeks, backwaters, and shallow cover where developing frogs and tadpoles are common forage for bass and panfish. Offered in four colors, each LIVEflex Tadpole package includes a 1/16-ounce and 1/10-ounce Rebel KEG Headprerigged, plus one spare 1/16-ounce KEG Head Jig. ($5.99, lurenet.com)
Crush City Sizzle Shad: Crush City’s new Lil’ Crushers line includes downsized versions of popular CrushCity baits — the Lil’ Mayor, Lil’ Freeloader, and Lil’ Mooch Minnow — along with three new designs, the Sizzle Shad, the Fryball and Trident. Made of floating TPE material, this 2 1/4-inch bait is defined by an ultra-responsive hinged tail section that moves enticingly, even at slow retrieves. Offered in 10 colors, this bait fits VMC’s new 1/32- or 1/16-ounce Tungsten Microscope Jig. ($5.49, rapala.com)
Bobby Garland Head Lock’R: Made for crappie and panfish baits, this jig head’s wire-form “screw-lock” bait keeper threads into a soft plastic and holds it straight. Built with a super-sharp BKK 9050 black-nickel hook, the Head Lock’R is offered in 1/24-, 1/16-, and 1/8-ounce sizes. ($6.99, www.lurenet.com)
Mr. Crappie Crush’R: You can bet that any bait designed by Wally “Mr. Crappie” Marshall is the real deal, and this tiny spinnerbait prerigged with a Mr. Crappie Lil Suck’r on a Teen-Zee Sausage Head Jig is no exception. The gold-plated blade and wire create fish-attracting vibration, while the broad head and slim bait profile smoothly navigate cover. Offered in 1/16- and 1/8-ounce sizes with eight colors. ($2.99, www.strikeking.com)
Z-Man ChatterTail: A modern adaptation of a classic fish-catching bait, Z-Man adds a vibrating willow-leaf blade to an in-line spinner. Maximizing flash and motion, this blade style resists the occasional fouling that may affect a traditional in-line spinner. Offered in 1/16-, 1/8- and 1/4-ounce sizes with eight colors. ($4.99-$5.49, Z-manfishing.com)
Rapala Crush City The CEO: The urchin bait craze has delivered several high level wins, but this bait’s also incredibly beginner-friendly. Made with durable Super TPE material, the CEO includes a weighted glass powder core that makes the bait fallsmoothly, even without an inserted weight. Offered in 15 and 21 mm sizes, the scent-infused bait features tapering segmented legs for subtle twitching action on the fall. ($12.99-$14.99, www.rapala.com/us_en/rapala)
Baitfuel Nano Spike: Taking the urchin bait down to a 9mm size, the Nano Spike offers a tiny option for crappie, panfish, small white bass, and even rainbow trout. The Nano Spike comes in eight colors and attracts interest with BaitFuel’s F.A.S.T. (Fish Active Scent Technology) appeal. ($4.99, baitfuel.com)
LIVETARGET Goby: Made with Injected Core Technology, this lifelike goby imitator has a rigid inner core that locks the weighted harness and Mustad 2X strong hook in place, while the clear exo layer creates eye-catching glimmer. Ideal for bottom hopping or dragging in northern smallmouth waters, the bait’s fin design creates a weedless form. ($9.99, mustad-fishing.com/livetarget/us)
Bill Lewis Snap Stik: Jerkbaits are a staple for bass pros, but they’re also a great choice for anyone looking to level up their game. Made to mimic common baitfish, the Snap Stick is a shallow, suspending jerkbait. That makes it a great choice for land-bound anglers, as well as boaters, fishing near stumps, brush, submerged vegetation, etc. A built-in transfer weight system improves casting distance and accuracy, while an L-shaped bill keeps the bait running on a level plane, while making the bait erratically dart with each rod twitch. ($12.99, baits.com)
Z-Man Chatterbait Elite EVO HD: Z-Man fortified its popular EVO model for heavy cover use with a solid welded teardrop line tie, reinforced head‑to‑blade interface that resists torque and impact, a custom super heavy-duty 5/0 nano‑coated hook that stands up to braided line, and upgraded hybrid molded split‑grip and double‑wire trailer keeper.Available in 20 colors with 3/8‑ and 1/2‑ounce size options. ($12.99, Z-manfishing.com)
Zebco Bottomland Spincast: Dressed in the Mossy Oak Bottomland camo pattern, Zebco’s compact, spincast combo offers the ideal tool for teaching kids to cast without the stress of tangles or baitcaster backlashes. The Bottomland Spincast starts with a 30-inch medium fiberglass rod and adds a size 20 spincast reel (2.6:1 gear ratio) pro-spooled with 6-pound Zebco line. ($24.99, www.zebco.com/en)
BnM Little Mighty Rod: Crappie anglers commonly use poles of 10-plus feet to drop jigs into gaps in grass lines and lily pad fields, but carrying these long poles is cumbersome and often impractical for kayakers and anglers on foot. BnM Poles offers a handy option with compact telescoping rods from 10 to 24.5 feet that you can stow in your vehicle, pack in your vacation luggage, or carry in a backpack. These rods feature a Japanese “Tenkara” style tip, with rigging instructions included. ($44.99-$119.99, www.bnmpoles.com)
Zebco RHINO Combos: Unmistakeable with its distinctive RhinoGrip EVA handle, this combo’s rod is made with a TriAx Core high density fiber blank that provides consistent strength, one-piece stainless steel guides and a solid tip. Geared for consistent fish-fighting power, the reel’s HydroShield seals protect gears, drag, and handle from water and debris. Winning the overall ICAST Best of Show award, this multi-species combo is offered in six sizes, including 4-foot-8 ultralight and 5-foot light versions that’ll serve a lot of panfish and small trout targets. ($69.99-$89.99, www.zebco.com/en)
HUK Rogue Island Flip-Flop: A comfy casual option for an afternoon on the dock, pier or kayak, HUK’s new lightweight shoe features a Grip-X outsole with multi-directional traction and water-dispersing micro-channels for a secure step on any wet, slick surface. The comfort-stretch strap ensures a secure fit, while the Waveform footbed delivers provides cushioning and support. ($85, huk.com)
Under Armour Floatable Cap: Wind has claimed many fishing hats, while rain often turns headwear into a wearable sponge. Under Armour solved both issues with a cap that floats and repels water. Made with a comfortable Iso-Chill sweatband that disperses heat, this cap includes UPF 50 sun protection. ($40, underarmour.com/en-us)
Bajio Cocho Sunglasses: Bajio offers serious face coverage with this stylish frame that measures 140 mm wide and 59.5 deep. Made of durable bio-based nylon, the Cocho includes rubberized temple tips, which minimize slipping, vented rubber nose pads, removable sun shields, and sun ledges that prevent peripheral light from sneaking past the frames. Polycarbonate and glass lens options both utilize proprietary Lapis technology, which blocks 95% of blue light, 90% of harsh yellow light and 100% of UV light. ($219-$269, bajiosunglasses.com)
Under Armour BlacktipH Tide Chaser Shoe: Featuring an Adaptive Fit System that blends easy on/off with locked-in solidity, Under Armour’s new shoe includes a fast-drying, breathable upper, Charged Cushioning for lightweight, responsive comfort and rapid drainage channels underfoot, which allow water to escape quickly. An outsole with Shark skin textured lugs with EXOGRIP rubber ensure traction on wet surfaces. ($80, underarmour.com/en-us)
Cling Tool Stick Mini: Keeping track of loose hooks, jig heads, or line cutters can be a hassle, especially in small boats and kayaks, but Cling’s Tool Stick Mini solves that problem with over 75 pounds of magnetic force. An adhesive backer mounts this slim profile bar practically anywhere you want and holds fast to anything made of steel.($29.99, clingfishing.com)
Ventral Inflatable Fishing Kayak with Smart Mid-Mount Drive: Offering a lot of fishing functionality at a moderate price, Ventral’s new model features an inflatable twin-chamber hull, removable smart mid-mount drive system, built-in foot controls, and active GPS position control. With this setup, you can hold position, maintain course and speed, record tracks, follow recorded tracks in either direction, and use Drift Mode. The base, drive unit, and 1.15 kWh battery module detach for transport and storage. ($2,999.99, ventral.com)
Suspenz Tow & Go Bike Trailer: Some of the best spots for kayaking are tucked beyond automobile access. For these and any casual outing that’s a little too far for pulling your kayak on a cart, the Suspenz Kayak Bike Trailer allows you to pedal your way to the launch site. ($299.95, suspenz.com)
TurtleBox Cub: Offering loud, premium sound in a compact form, this waterproof cube-shaped design lets you take the tunes wherever you fish. With 5.4 bluetooth connectivity, the Cub provides 14+ hours of sound on a single charge. Offered in white, gray, tan, and orange. ($330, turtleboxaudio.com)
Lee Fisher Sports Essential Bucket Top: A 5-gallon bucket plays a key role in many fishing scenarios, but Lee Fisher Sports elevated the basic functionality with a specialized lid that includes air holes (for holding live bait), tool holder, cup holder and storage slot, accessory holder, magnetic pad, and line holder. ($18.99, flfishingoutfitters.com)
Z-Man Sling PackZ: Pack a tackle tray, a few bags of plastic baits, and your snacks in this water-resistant pack designed for easy access and a comfortable carry. Made with apadded back, adjustable shoulder strap, spacious main compartment and outer pocket, the Sling PackZ includes an integrated plier sheath and water bottle holder. ($59.99, z-manfishing.com)
BUZBE Book and Box Combo: BUZBE teaches young anglers about organization, preparation and doing things the right way with a hardcover storybook about the Three Little Bees. Pairing this with a custom BUZBE storage system featuring interchangeable colored dividers and latches inspired by the book’s characters, the combo introduces kids to fishing and tackle concepts. ($39.95, buzbe.com)
MONSTERBASS Fish Quest Create a Bait Fishing Kit: After painting and customizing their own lures, kids learn to fish with them, thanks to a 20-page guidebook with activities and fishing skill lessons. Includes four blank lures and a full paint set. ($19.95, monsterbass.com)
Bait Hammock Hook Threader: If you have trouble threading fishing hooks, Bait Hammock’s helpful tool works on hook sizes 10-8/0. Simply lock your hook into the patent-pending adjustable jaw system, push the line into the funnel on the tool’s underside and the line feeds up through the hook’s eye. ($24.99, www.camoforgeinc.com)
Beyond Fishing 5-Piece Fishing Tool Kit: Even a casual fishing trip benefits from the right tools and this kit addresses the common needs with corrosion-resistant construction and comfortable ergonomics. The kit includes Pro Grip Fishing Pliers, a full-size fillet knife, long-reach hook remover, Lip Gripper and mini scissors that cut braid, monofilament and fluorocarbon. ($29.99, beyondbraid.com)
Bubba Pro Series Gen2 Cordless Electric Filet Knife: One of the best parts of fishing is eating your fresh catch (when local regulations allow). Bubba makes it easy to quickly clean your fish with its redesigned cordless electric filet knife that features a 20% slimmer handle, proprietary paddle trigger, next-generation brushless motor, & species-specific blade technology. Blades and battery are interchangeable with the previous generation filet knife. ($269.99, www.bubba.com)
