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Explore the Latest Sportfishing Gear at iCast 2024: Top Innovations and Upgrades

Join us as we dive into the most exciting new sportfishing gear unveiled at iCast 2024.

July 15, 2024
 
4 out of 5 star rating 7 Reviews
Explore the Latest Sportfishing Gear at iCast 2024: Top Innovations and Upgrades

iCast is the ultimate destination for the sportfishing community. Retailers, wholesalers, independent shop owners, buyers, pro-staff, custom tackle builders, and industry representatives from around the globe converge to explore the latest products and emerging trends. As your trusted source forfishing gear, I'm here to highlight some exciting new items that promise to enhance your fishing experience. Let's dive in!

Daiwa Tatula SV 100/150 Baitcasting Reel icast

Daiwa Tatula SV 100/150 Baitcasting Reel

One of our favorites got a refresh! The new Tatula SV incorporates even more technology into a stellar baitcasting reel. The biggest upgrades are the incorporation of Daiwa's HyperDrive gearing design and new SV Boost technologies. What does this mean? 


  • With the Hyper Drive gearing, you are getting constant contact between the gear teeth, allowing your reel to cast super smooth! This also allows the pressure on the gears to spread wider, which will ultimately give you longer life of the reel.


  • SV Boost spool now has 2-stages of control, at the beginning of the cast and at the release of the cast. This means you will have better backlash control during the beginning of your cast, which is the first and most forceful stage. At your cast release and when the spool becomes stabilized, the second stage, the influence of force is reduced, and the spool will ride solely on its bearings, allowing for a longer distance cast.
Rapala Mooch Minnow icast

Rapala Mooch Minnow

The newest addition to Rapala's CrushCity line up. The Mooch Minnow combines exceptional action with durability and is a force to be reckoned with regarding a Forward-Facing Sonar (FFS) soft plastic. The CrushCity series of soft plastics has been on fire, and I think this minnow/swimbait hybrid bait will do well in any application it is presented in.

Okuma Coldwater A Linecounter Reels icast

Okuma Coldwater A Linecounter Reels

My favorite trolling reel just got better! Outside of the fresh cosmetic upgrade with a darker toned finish, Okuma has seriously upgraded the Coldwater's spool and drag systems in a now more compact body design.  A bulk of the upgrades come from a more efficient Multi-disc, Carbonite drag system that will reduce drag creepage. A new drag tension release design allows the angler to adjust the drag anytime. A new spool engagement design has a new pin system, which will be more durable over time, and an improved one-way clutch bearing now with 11 stainless steel pins compared to the six pins in the previous models. These are precisely the upgrades you wanted to hear for those who troll! 

Lowrance Eagle Eye™ Fishfinder with Live Sonar icast

Lowrance Eagle Eye™ Fishfinder with Live Sonar

Sit down and take a deep breath you will need it before reading this one. Lowrance just launched the Eagle Eye ™ Fishfinder WITH Live Sonar. One unit, One transducer, and four different sonar views with no additional module needed. I am talking Live Forward, Live Down, CHIRP Sonar, and Down Scan Imaging™ w/ Fish Reveal™ for UNDER $1,100!!! No, this is not a typo finally, a bulk of the angling population can get a new fish-finding unit with live sonar at a completely reasonable price! On top of the sonar features, this unit comes out of the box auto-tuned, so you do not have to mess around with settings to hone in your live sonar. This unit comes with detailed C-MAP® charts feat. Genesis® Live, has a 9 IPS Screen, viewable from all angles, even in polarized glasses. Are you looking for a new unit this Fall to prep for next spring? It looks like these will start to ship to retailers this year!

Shimano Vanford FA Spinning Reels icast

Shimano Vanford FA Spinning Reels

One of the most iconic spinning reels in the last four years just improved! So what is new exactly? One addition to this reel would be Shimano's InfinityXross technology a refined gear design that enhances your winding efficiency and an incredibly smooth retrieve. You will feel this Finesse fishing when you can manipulate the lure precisely in a delicate presentation. The next big callout here would be the Infinity Drive, which reduces contact between the spool shaft and pinion gear to enhance smoothness and efficiency during retrieval. Finally, DuraCross drag technology allows for additional durability when battling bigger fish. A for sure Home-Run spinning reel for any application. I love seeing new technologies added and keeping the same starting price point of $249.99.

Z-Man Tungsten Chatterbait Elite EVO icast

Z-Man Tungsten Chatterbait Elite EVO

We had huge success with the Z-Man Chatterbait Elite EVO that launched at last year's iCast at a stellar retail of $9.99, so I am excited about a Tungsten version that Z-man just came out with. This one is a lower profile, higher density tungsten jig head that will allow for a faster sink rate when getting to the fish deeper in the water column. This will come in 3/8 and 1/2-ounce options. This one will retail for around the $14.99-$15.99 range. Spoiler alert, some new trailers are also coming out that will pair nicely with this! 

St. Croix Black Bass Series Rods icast

St. Croix Black Bass Series Rods

The primary thing I like about this new series of Bass rods from St. Croix is that you can now get into a rod with their proprietary SCIII Carbon Fiber blank for about $40 less than what is currently offered in the Victory series, which starts at around $190. The Black Bass rods start at $145. There are similarities in components, as you would find in their latest Bass X series, but again, there is a better carbon fiber blank here, which, in return, will give you better sensitivities. Plenty of lengths and actions are available to allow for a diverse range of techniques. One final note is that the cosmetics are clean and simple. A sleek black blank with primarily an EVA grip with some cork rubber accents where you need some durability.

Reef Runner F28 Flash Deep Diver Crankbaits icast

Reef Runner F28 Flash Deep Diver Crankbaits

These are a 4'' banana-shaped deep divers like the ones we have all seen before; however, they feature offsetting-recessed mirrors on both sides of the lure body. This will allow for more reflection in the bigger, clearer waters and potentially mesmerizing to fish. I think it is exciting, something we have not seen before, and Reef Runner has had some great momentum after re-evaluating their tuning process on crankbaits the past year or two.

Stay tuned for more updates and new product launches, and don't forget to visit our website for pre-orders!


Tight Lines,

Joe Rohlfing Merchandise Manager, Fishing/Marine

Sportsman's Guide Fish/Marine Team

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