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

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.

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! 

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.

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.