2017 ICAST Category Winners

Here's the list of the 2017 ICAST Winners!

Best of show: BOTE Rover 

Freshwater rod: 13 Fishing Fate Black
Saltwater rod: St. Croix Legend Tournament Inshore
Fly fishing rod: G. Loomis IMX-Pro
Freshwater reel: Shimano Curado K
Saltwater reel: Shimano Sustain C400/5000
Fly fishing reel: Pflueger Supreme QRS
Freshwater soft bait: Lunkerhunt Prop Series
Saltwater soft bait: LIVETARGET Hollow Body Mullet
Freshwater hard bait: Okuma Fishing Savage Gear 3D Bat
Saltwater hard bait: Rapala X-Rap Magnum 40
Rod/reel combo: Lew’s Mach Crush Speed Spool
Electronics: Johnson Outdoors Marine Electronics SOLIX 15 Chirp Mega SI GPS
Line: Berkley Fireline Ultra 8 Carrier
Terminal tackle: Trapper Tackle Round Bend Treble
Tackle management: Daiwa Tactical Backpack
Kid’s tackle: 13 Fishing Ambition Combo
Technical apparel: Frogg Toggs Sierran Transition Wader
Lifestyle apparel: Frogg Toggs Prym Series Pilot II Jacket and Bibs
Footwear: HUK Performance Fishing Attack
Eyewear: Costa Sunrise Mirror Lens
FishSmart: Eagle Claw 2017 Flounder Sample Pack
Fishing accessory: YETI Coolers Panga Duffel
Fly fishing accessory: Simms G3 Guide Stockingfoot Wader
Boats: BOTE Rover
Boating accessory: YETI Coolers Loadout Bucket
Giftware: Catch and Release Fish Print

2017 ICAST The Lunkerhunt Prop Frog

The Prop Frog is available in 8 fish catching patterns.

The Lunkerhunt Prop Frog is an extremely efficient fish catcher. It has been designed to fish where other prop lures with exposed hooks cannot. Pads, wood, and slop are no match for the Lunkerhunt Prop Frog. Its unique design enables it to cruise over the top of cover, re-enter the water, and start churning up water without skipping a beat.

Its double prop feet make a lot of noise and disturbance on the water surface, which make it an easy target to track down. Active and reactive fish cannot resist its call. When they hit, a full set of weedless hooks is ready to greet them. The hook system on the Lunkerhunt Prop Frog has been designed to deflect from cover, but hang on to fish. It has an integrated hook system that encases the body and sits perfectly between the prop feet.  This results in optimum performance and high hook up ratios.

MSRP $8.99 USD.

2017 ICAST G. Loomis & Shimano Present Conquest Rods

G. LOOMIS DESIGN PLUS SHIMANO TECHNOLOGY

PROVIDES ANGLERS A WHOLE NEW WORLD IN BASS RODS

Bringing together G. Loomis design expertise and proven rod actions with Shimano’s core blank technology provides bass anglers with Conquest – a 12 rod line-up introduced through a joint collaboration between G. Loomis and Shimano product development staffs. The new Conquest series includes eight casting rods with G. Loomis’ original ‘Mag Bass’ fast action tapers, and four ‘Spin/Jig’ fast action spinning rods.

With blanks rolled to exact G. Loomis specifications by Shimano incorporating its proprietary Spiral X and Hi-Power X processes, and then hand-finished at the G. Loomis facility in Woodland, Wash., G. Loomis’ rod engineer David Brinkerhoff calls Conquest “the most technologically advanced bass rods on the water. Depending on the model, these rods are up to 10-percent lighter than even our NRX rods, and due to the Shimano Spiral X and Hi-Power X blank manufacturing, anglers will experience a whole new set of performance standards in a bass rod.”

Through the combined Spiral X and Hi-Power X technologies, the Conquest (CNQ) rods provide longer, more accurate casts, along with increased fish-fighting power and solid hook-setting leverage. Brinkerhoff notes the blank construction process reduces unintentional rod twist, “adding not only to casting distance and pinpoint accuracy, but also makes the Conquest rod much more durable due to an increased resistance to blank ovalization. When hooked up, anglers will quickly notice the rods don’t twist – you’ll experience better hookset, plus more rod control when fighting and pulling on big fish.”

Suggested Retail: from $650 to $675

ICAST 2017 Z-Man Trick ShotZ Drop Shot bait

Thanks to their remarkably soft, pliable, buoyant, and 10X Tough ElaZtech construction, 3.5" and 4.2" Trick ShotZ— Z-Man’s first specifically designed drop shot baits—feature limber, ribbed bodies and spade-shaped tails that produce ultra-lifelike action with little rod movement, and are impregnated with salt for taste and texture. 

Accurately mimicking a variety of forage including shad, leeches, gobies, and minnows, their ElaZtech makeup provides exceptional tear resistance when nose hooked and facilitates a more natural, tail-up position that won’t sink to the bottom on slack line like other competitive products. Trick ShotZ are available in 10 colors—including the new Twilight, Meat Dog, and White Lightning patterns—and retail for $4.49 (6 baits per 3.5" pack, 5 baits per 4.2" pack).

2017 ICAST Berkley PowerBait Max Scent

PowerBait® MaxScent line of baits releases a super-charged scent field attracting fish in a way never before seen. This all-new material is perfect for finesse presentations with ultra-realistic texture and natural matte colors to fool the hardest to catch fish. The soft yet durable material provides for life-like action and easier hook-ups producing multiple fish on each bait. Coming this fall

2017 ICAST Minn Kota Reveals New 15 Foot Talon!

Introducing the all-new Talon shallow water anchor. Up to 15' deep, with multiple anchoring modes, and control from the bow, transom, console, remote or mobile app. Unlock more water, and never miss another fish. Only with Talon.

2017 ICAST Shimano's All- new Curado K Baitcasting Reels

With a new look and technology focused on reliability and durability, Shimano’s all-new Curado 200 K series baitcasting reels are ready for anything from hardcore tournament use, to day-after-dayweekend-after-weekend performance.

A long-time favorite among bass anglers and also for coastal saltwater use, the six new Curado 200K reels – both left- and right-hand retrieve models offered - include the 200K and 201K with 6.2:1 gear ratios, the 200KHG and 201KHG with 7.4:1 gear ratios, and the 200KXG an 201KXG with 8.5:1 gear ratios. Each now features a host of new innovative Shimano baitcasting reel technology, most notably MicroModule gears, SVS Infinity braking system, and a smaller platform ergonomic shape.  

MSRP: $179.99 - all six versions

2017 ICAST VMC Weedless Neko Hooks

The brand new VMC Neko weedless hook. Offset point, resin closed eye, long shank and wide gaps make is perfect for cover and open water. The 2 strands of Fluorocarbon make it a super weedless hook. The closed eye works well with all sizes and styles of fishing line.

ICAST 2017 Z-MAN's New CrossEyeZ Flipping and Power Finesse Jigs

Designed by B.A.S.S. Elite Series pro and noted jig-fishing specialist David Walker, CrossEyeZ Flipping Jigs are built around heavy duty, 4/0 VMC^® flipping hooks hand-picked by Walker, as well as wire trailer keepers and copper wire-tied 100% silicone skirts not found on other widely available jigs. Their unique head design performs flawlessly around all types of shallow-water cover, and their durable, color-matched head paint schemes and hallmark ‘cross eyes’ elicit close-combat strikes when other ‘ordinary’ jigs simply won’t. Available in 3/8-, 1/2-, and 5/8-ounce weights, and eight color patterns, CrossEyeZ Flipping Jigs retail for $4.99/each.