It is amazing how one can spend all day standing in a bass boat and not complain. But spending a few hours walking around a large trade show will do terrible things to your feet, knees and back. Luckily it was worth it.
Knowing there are many resources, both online and in print, that report on the new products introduced at ICAST each year, I tried to focus on smaller manufacturers that are often over shadowed by the Berkleys, Strike Kings, etc. I looked for the smaller booths that often harbor the real innovators. The following are a few of the things that caught my interest:
Culprit - Tailgate Special
It's fun to see how soft plastics develop and change from year to year. A new jig trailer from Culprit call the Tailgate Special is almost a time-line of jig trailer history all in one lure. Pork frogs to the plastic chunk to the grub-bodied flappy-claw trailers - all can be seen in this one design. I for one was never fond of the plastic chunk - never sure whether to impail them on the jig hook like a pork frog or to thread them on like a grub. The Tailgate Special answers this question by adding a bit of grub body to the chunk. This can easily be trimmed to adjust to differing jig sizes. The Tailgate Special's varied thickness in the flappers along with raised dots appear to be perfect for adding good vibrations to most any jig.
Culprit - UTS
With a number of manufacturers trying to capitalize on the Bronze Eye frog success, the Culprit UTS (Ultimate Top-water Shad) takes froggin' in a different direction. The UTS is a hollow-bodied weedless topwater bait similar in concept to the Bronze Eye or Snag-Proof frogs but in the look and shape of a shad, bait fish or bluegill. It boasts a high quality double hook, durable nose and a walk-the-dog action that should work equally well in open water and the heaviest of cover.
Gene Larew - Biffle-O Jr.
The Biffle-O and Biffle-O Lizard have been out for a while, but this year Gene Larew introduced the smaller 5.5" Biffle-O Jr. In essence it is an extended length tube with the lower half of the tail cut off and the remainder of the tail tapered to a point. Seeing is believing, as they say: I was amazed at the stand-up action of this bait. Forget shakey head worms! Fish this instead... The difference is that with each lift of the head, the concave tail forces a swim/glide off to one side or the other. Shaking a worm causes it to wiggle in place but the Biffle-O Jr. will go side to side! I was impressed and can't wait to give it a try.
MegaStrike
This appears to be a huge year for MegaStrike. Bobby Uhig has gone all out. In a year that many manufacturers are slimming down and tightening their belts, MegaStrike introduced an innovatitive spinnerbait design along with an entire line of soft plastics. Besides being unique in design, all of the soft plastics will have the added advantage of having MegaStrike fish attractant cooked in to each bait!
The StrikeBack Spinnerbait
The most obvious feature of this spinnerbait is the articulated head design. The head is actually two pieces with a hinge point similar to many swimbait designs. Bobby claims this 180 degree of movement reduces the ability for bass to throw the bait during head shakes and jumps. Bass naturally jump and thrash to expell spinny-backed forage such as bluegill that have been inhaled tail first preventing the bass from swallowing. The same reaction often occurs when the bass is hooked by an artificial lure. The hinged head on the StrikeBack spinnerbait removes much of the leverage and absorbs these forces meaning the angler has an advantage when using the StrikeBack. The free swinging hook also means that no matter what angle a bass attempts to inhale the bait, the hook will be the first to swing towards the fish insuring more hook-ups.
Other features of the StrikeBack include bright red 3-D eyes and a uniquely faceted, two-tone willow-leaf blade behind a standard Colorado Blade. The StrikeBack will be available in 5 color combinations and in 3/8, 1/2 and 3/4 oz. sizes.
The MegaStrike WingDing
Soft stickbaits have proven their effectiveness ever since the original Senko was introduced by Gary Yamamoto. Most anglers either Texas-rig or wacky-rig a soft stickbait. The new WingDing combines these two techniques! Basically it is two stickbaits molded as one. Texas-rig the WingDing and you now have a wacky rig that can be fished in the thickest cover! The possibilities are endless... Rig it weightless or with a slip-sinker. Swim it on a Carolina Rig or even on a jig. The WingDing caught my interest and I'm guessing it will catch the interest of many bass!
The MEGA-Bug
This little 4" bait looks to be a cross between a twin-tail grub, a beaver-style bait, and a lizard. It is a compact bait but with six tweedlie appendages that put out a ton of fish attracting vibes. This bait looks to be good for a variety of techniques including flipping, punching and swimming. I am looking forward to giving it a try.
The MEGA-Tube Craw
Tubes have long been a part of bass fishing. What sets the 4 inch Mega-Tube Craw apart is the fine crawfish detail molded into the body of the tube. Extremely life-like in appearance this detail may just be the difference between getting bit and getting ignored, especially in clear water.
The MEGA-Dog
The MEGA-dog is another version of the popular beaver-style baits. But the MEGA-Dog's variable thickness flat tail is oriented 90 degrees from it's body. Rather than a flat horizontal tail it is vertical. Although it doesn't have the look of the standard swimbait, I am guessing it may replace many of the soft swimbaits in angler's arsenals. Versatility is this bait's forte. It can be rigged weightless and cause quite a commotion on the surface similar to a toad-style bait. Or rigged with a belly-weighted hook it becomes a swimbait. Fished as a jig trailer or Texas-rigged it is an excellent bait for flipping heavy cover or punching through matted grass. No matter the situation, I believe this MEGA-Dog will hunt!
One other note about these new designs: Each one was designed to be a great addition the MegaStrike e2 Shakey Head Jig. Take the technically designed e2 and add any of these new soft plastics from MegaStrike and I'm guessing Bobby Uhig has developed a winning set of MegaStrike products!
A couple additional notes...
Although I have not been a big fan of Berkley Gulp Alive, mainly due to its need to be stored in liquid, a new set of containers by Plano developed specifically for Gulp products may go a long way in helping anglers deal with the popular Gulp products. But for now I am still happy with Berkley Power Baits.
The second day, I had the pleasure of speaking with Aaron Martin about drop-shotting, Michael Murphy about the Ima Flit and a Jackel rep. (I've misplaced his card - I think it was David). He was willing to spend time with me and I got a 45 minute personal lesson on the Jackel Flick-shake. As many of you know, I have been a big fan of wacky jigging - now, even more! But I must keep some info in reserve for my own use. :)
Along with running into old friends and acquaintances, I also was able to meet a number of people/clients I have worked with over the years but have never before met face-to-face. And one 3.5 hour dinner on Thursday evening proved to be worth the price of the trip alone! Italian food and good fellowship that just kept coming, course after course!
Oh yes, one other observation. The Gary Yamamoto booth... In contrast to the huge Pure Fishing (Berkley), Strike King, Zebco, Shimano. etc. booths with all their lights and glamour, Gary Yamamoto Custom Baits had a simple 10 foot booth with a backdrop and a table with three people seated behind the table. The interesting thing about the GYB booth was the line of media and buyers waiting to ask questions and make orders for the 2010 season! Amazing how a great group of products just keeps on being great! Late on the second day, I had opportunity to sit down with “Chief” George Braswell with GYB and talk fishing. I was amazed to see that what he was excited to talk about was what I had always thought to be a little Indiana secret: Rigging a Senko on a Charlie Brewer Slider Head. I guess the secret is out!
ICAST 2009 is now history and I look forward to next year.
Rod Yoder
RedShad.com
Was the Jackall pro-staffer David Swendseid? I would love to get a lesson like that. I like the technique but feel like there is probably more versatility in it than some realize (including myself). The Jackall Super Pin-Tail looks like a great dropshot lure, and their proto-type swim jig looks good, too.
I love looking at all the new stuff from ICAST, but I have to remind myself that I need to fish more and become a better angler more than I need the latest and greatest tackle to fish with. But it's still fun to look at :)
Posted by: Jeremy S | July 30, 2009 at 08:50 AM
Thank you, yes it was David Swendseid. The first day of ICAST is "Media Day" but the second day is much more relaxed. My timing happened to be just right I guess and I ask the right questions because he was full of information and just kept giving. I wish I had a recording of it because my retention power is only so so. Jackal also had a soft plastic bluegill prototype jig that will be introduced next year. Its one of those things you look at and just think it would be unfair to use... the bass wouldn't have a chance! :)
Posted by: RS | July 30, 2009 at 09:11 AM
OK the Biffle-O has me curious.
I love new lures, but I have a ton already. Where does practical leave off and obsession begin?
Posted by: Paul Roberts | July 31, 2009 at 10:36 AM
I like the "Mega Dog" in particular. Versatility ! You betcha ! He didn't specifically mention split-shoting or free fall. Peg it with a short piece of red coffee stirrer just behind the body so the tail rises slightly off the bottom. This is going to be an absolute killer.
Send me 6 dozen in various colors (gratis - of course) and I'll let you know how it turns out. ;>)
Posted by: richard ziert | July 31, 2009 at 11:10 AM
I hope to carry all the MegaStrike stuff on RedShad.com just as soon as production gets going for Bobby. I am also looking to get a few colors of the Biffle-O Jr.
Posted by: RS | July 31, 2009 at 01:33 PM