Finesse fishing and fluorocarbon lines go together like peas and carrots, but small spinning reels and the ever-springy fluoro do not. Abu Garcia believes it has fixed this conundrum with the Orra. This new spinning reel has a wider spool than most and the Rocket Line Management system, which incorporates a new spool lip design, improved bail angle and a slow oscillation system. The power comes in a 5.8:1 gear ratio, collecting 36 inches of line per turn. The Orra will retail for $99.95.
This is not exactly a new product being released at the Classic. However, the option to add a Rigid Industries E Series LED Light Bar as optional equipment on the cap is new. The MX Series truck caps sport an aerodynamic, raised roof design that provides extra storage space and headroom â and the perfect platform for mounting the light bar.
If you are sick of line twist with spinning reels, this product may become your new best friend. The new Pro Qualifier features an oversized, tapered steel roller and a 30-percent wider spool to reduce twist and provide better line lay. The end results are longer casts and no more hassle. Plus, the new design includes a skeletonized rotor, spool and frame for resistance-free performance and weight savings. Retail price will be $79.99.
This series of rods has been designed to combine performance and function with a best-in-class value. The blank is constructed of 100 percent carbon fiber and includes the High Energy Transfer Reel Seat Design, which is said to deliver more energy from butt to tip during hook sets. Eleven casting and four spinning rods are available at an MSRP of $79.95.
Although this isnât a completely new product launch, it is a very important update to one of the most popular hollow frogs on the market. Starting at the Classic, the Booyah Pad Crasher and Poppinâ Pad Crasher will be available in three new colors. Night train (black hue) will be perfect for night fishing; old smokey (yes, smoke colored) will do well in clear water; and sunburn (you guessed it, reddish) will work anywhere in between. All colors will sell for $5.79 each.
Want raingear you can pass down to your childrenâs children? Try this new series from the âworking manâsâ clothing company. The Shoreline Vapor features a nylon shell protected with Storm Defender and Rain Defender technologies. Storm flaps on the zippers make sure you stay dry, and the suit is very breathable. The jacket will retail for around $120, and the pants for around $110.
For anglers who donât always use concrete ramps to launch boats in bass waters, street tires simply do not get the job done. So, consider this radial mud tire from Dick Cepek. The Mud-Terrain Extreme Country features special chambers and notched inner and outer lugs for lug stability and responsive bite on irregular surfaces. The tire is available in 21 sizes from 15- to 20-inch rim diameter.
Weâve seen pictures of it, but have yet to see one in person. That changes at the Classic Outdoors Expo. This extreme-looking outboard is turning a lot of heads, not only with its looks, but with its performance, as well. The company is reporting 15 percent less fuel consumption than competitors, 20 percent more torque and 75 percent fewer total emissions. Plus, there is no break-in period.
This new rod series featuring a Multi-Taper technology will allow all bass anglers to experience G.Loomis. Until now, this brand has lived at the upper end of the price spectrum for rods. The new E6X series will start at $179.99 and still feature the performance platform the company is known for: weight, balance, sensitivity and action.
The camera that changed the way we document our fishing trips has just made the experience even easier with this new camera. The Hero 4 Silver has a built-in touch display. So, now you can control the camera, play back footage and adjust settings by simply tapping and swiping at the screen on the back.
When looking for performance outerwear, look at this piece closely. No, not because itâs camo, but because it is much more than just a shirt. The Icon is made of a poly knit that transports moisture away from your skin. An added mesh vent in the back helps with temperature regulation, and there is a stain release built into the fabric that helps get blood or other nasties out in the wash. Plus, the company has added a touch of spandex to make sure none of your movements are restricted ($44.99).
Built with insight from the best in the business, this Kevin VanDam-inspired unit has it all. This unit features a large 10.4-inch display with an LED backlight, side imaging and DualBeam Plus sonar, GPS chartplotting and two card slots to accommodate aftermarket maps. Humminbird is also releasing a new line of Helix units for those anglers wanting an economic option with the bells and whistles of higher-priced units.
With a 6-inch, triple-jointed body mimicking a nice-size lunch for bass, the Gantarel swimbait should be a hit with North American anglers. An interesting part of the design is the pectoral fin, which helps the bait dive down to 3 feet. Stop the retrieve, and the bait slowly floats back to the surface. The bait will retail for $39.99.
This unit becomes the largest in the companyâs CHIRP series, featuring a 9-inch widescreen SolarMAX Plus display. This sonar displays two user-selected ranges simultaneously, helping with target separation and better resolution while graphing at high speeds. The Elite-9 has a built-in GPS antenna and is compatible with the Insight Genesis map-creation service. It will retail for $1,399.
Honed and refined over the past two years, this bait generates a hard-hitting wobble and hunting action throughout its retrieve. The bait is also very buoyant, helping anglers to reduce hang-ups and fish where the fish are. Like most Megabass baits, it is high end, selling for $19.99.
Now available in 75-, 90- and 115-horsepower models, these engines are built similarly to the Mercury 150 FourStroke, but with a new gearcase that decreases drag by 15 percent to improve fuel efficiency and performance. Suitable for aluminum or smaller fiberglass bass boats, the engines feature a 2.1-liter, â¨4-cylinder, 8-valve, single overhead-cam design said to deliver more horsepower than competitorsâ models. In addition, the engines are said to weigh 20 pounds less than most other 4-strokes and reduce high-frequency exhaust noise and vibration. For bigger boats, you can substitute an optional âCommand Thrustâ (CT) gearcase on the 90 and 115 models. The CT delivers even more acceleration and better handling.
You should already know what a Talon is, but itâs likely youâve not seen one like this. Built not to be seen, the new Camo Talon will be the perfect shallow-water anchor for outdoorsmen who use the same boat for both hunting and fishing expeditions. It is available in both 10- and 12-foot versions and retails for $2,049.99.
Sick of your plastics slipping down the hook shank after a cast or simple retrieve? It will not happen if you are using the Grip-Pin series from this company. These hooks feature an oversize keeper that keeps plastics in place without affecting action. This new straight-shank finesse series is available in 1/0 and 2, which is perfect for drop shotting and split shotting tiny baits.
Built on a revolutionary 3-D chassis, this new PFD stays put at high speeds, lets you move freely and provides automatic inflation provided by exclusive technology. According to the Elite Series pros who will be wearing it at this yearâs Classic, it is so comfortable, you likely will forget to take it off before getting in the truck to go home. Swing by the Dickâs Sporting Goods booth to get one at a special âClassic promotion price.â
This new line of rugged trunks is perfect for anglers who like to stay organized. These are ideal for maintaining gear in your garage, or when packing for long trips. A water-resistant seal will keep the contents dry in the back of your truck while driving to the lake ⦠or on the boat if you simply need more storage space than your boat allows. The Marine Trunks come in three sizes that allow for stacking and have padlock tabs for added security.
PowerProâs new Maxcuatro fishing line is braided with new Spectra HT fiber from Honeywell that is up to 25 percent smaller than equivalent pound-test braid. Offered in 50- to 100-pound test in both moss green and high-vis yellow, the braid will be packaged in 150- and 500-yard spools retailing for $28.99 and $89.99, respectively.
This boat company has created an exclusive package to highlight the new Evinrude ETEC G2 outboard hanging off its transom. Along with the engine, anglers get a custom steering wheel; black, chrome-finished 17-inch trailer wheels; custom-painted consoles and setback plate; and an innovative cockpit floor liner thatâs soft, stays cool and dries faster than carpet. The Hero package is available on Z520C, Z521C, 620FS and 621FS models. It will debut in Rangerâs Classic booth.
The Shadow Rap shines when you get it in the water, and Rapalaâs engineers wanted to create the most realistic dying baitfish imitator to hit the lake. The weighting system in the Shadow Rap is placed so that when you have a slack line and twitch it hard, itâll spin 180 degrees, facing any fish that might be following it. The weights also give it a shimmying, quivering action on the fall akin to a soft stickworm.
Why would you buy a sonar that doesnât have a screen? Raymarineâs answer is simple: You likely already bought a screen with your wireless phone plan. The new Wi-Fish Wireless CHIRP Downvision Sonar for mobile devices is simply a transducer that wirelessly connects to your smartphone. And the best news is that it only costs $199.
The worldwide launch of these lights will be at the Classic, which will make the world championship even brighter. The big news is that these lights are DOT/SAE compliant, meaning itâs legal to drive with them on the street. Available in the Dually Fog Light set and the 6-inch E-series Auxiliary High Beam Driving Light set, these Rigid lights offer a brighter and smoother beam pattern than has ever been available in street-legal lights.
This companyâs newest rod series offers casting and spinning rods in actions and lengths for accuracy, long distance or finesse, depending on your need. All the rod blanks feature Hi-Power X construction, eliminating blank twist for both better casting distance and accuracy. Plus, Fuji semi-
micro stainless steel frame guides and CI4+ reel seats add to overall sensitivity and strength. The rods will retail from $189.99 to $199.99, depending on the model.
If you want to be tournament ready the moment you pull your boat from the dealership, this may be the rig for you. This package starts with a 20-foot ZX hull and Yamaha VF225 outboard. Plus, you get two Lowrance HDS-9 Gen 2 touch units, an 8-foot Power-Pole, 112-pound-thrust Minn Kota Fortrex trolling motor and a dozen more high-Âperformance features that used to be big-dollar add-ons. You will roll out of the dealership ready to fish for $48,995.
A boatâs hull isnât the only thing that needs to be protected to ensure a long life for the biggest investment you will make in this sport. The seats and other leather, rubber and vinyl sections of the interior will rot or crack if not protected. This new product is like sunblock for these areas. The Ultimate Vinyl Guard bonds to these surfaces and prevents UV damage and fading while repelling stains. Plus, this product will restore moisture to older vinyl to enhance its appearance. Remember, this stuff works on your truck, too. Retail price is $28.99.
The Bassmaster Classic will be your first look at this long-anticipated crankbait from Strike King. The 8XD fits neatly between the ever-popular 6XD and the great big 10XD. You will be able to crank in the 15- to 22-foot range, depending on the line size you are using. This crankbait weighs 1.3 ounces and will be available in 23 pro-selected colors.
This brand-new model from Triton was designed for serious anglers who may not have the garage space for a 22-foot rig. It shares the same super-wide 95-inch beam, massive casting decks and huge center storage as the 21 TRX. Plus, it comes with the full array of 21 TRX features. Add a custom trailer and 250-horsepower Mercury OptiMax Pro XS outboard and your price is $49,995.
This new frame is not only stylish, but extremely protective. Like all Wiley X sunglasses, the Tide is rated for high velocity and high mass impact safety standards. In other words, a bullet weight to the lens will not ruin your day on the lake. These frames also come equipped with a removable facial cavity seal â and they are prescription ready. Retail price is $150.
With technological updates to the original F150, this outboard features a new eight-tooth dog clutch that replaces the six-tooth clutch for smoother shifting. It also has internal machining and metallurgical improvements. The F150B offers better reliability and quieter operation, and it has an improved appearance thanks to lighter composite upper and lower cowlings that provide a sleeker profile.
Available in 115- and 175-horsepower models, this 2.8-liter 4-stroke offers clean, quiet performance with good Âthrottle response in low- to mid-rpm ranges. The 115 provides smaller boats with the same SHO performance proven in the VMax 200, 225 and 250 models. The 175 fills a gap Âbetween the 150 and 200, Âoffering anglers a powerful, yet economical, outboard for high-performance bass boats.
This is not a new bait from Yo-Zuri, but a series of baits that includes two patented features. First is a 3-D Internal Prism, which sends reflected light from the bait to elicit strikes. The second patented feature is the Wave-Motion Vibration Ribs. This ribbed belly is said to create multiple and distinct vibrations that fish can detect with lateral lines. The series includes the Crayfish, Wake Bait, Flat Crank and Vibe, each retailing for $9.99.
