First of all I would like to apologigize for not posting this earlier but July was hectic from travel, work and fishing. I will make sure to post to ctach up with all my travels this month as its been a wild ride so far.
ICAST 2012 REPORT

AWARDS


Apparel – Columbia Sportswear, Airgill Chill Zero Long Sleeve Shirt

Boating Accessory – JL Marine Systems, Inc. – Power-Pole Drift Paddle

Combo – Pure Fishing, Inc., Penn Battle Combo

Electronics – Johnson Outdoors, Humminbird 360 Imaging

Eyewear – Costa, Costa 580 P Sunrise Lenses

Fishing Accessory – American Premier Corporation, The Ultimate Line Winding System

Fly Fishing Rod – G. Loomis – NRX Fly Rod

Freshwater Reel – Pure Fishing, Inc., Abu Garcia Revo

Freshwater Rod – St. Croix Rods – Legend Xtreme

Kids' Tackle – Pure Fishing, Inc. – Shakespeare Hide-A-Hook Bobber Kit

Line – Pure Fishing, Inc. – Berkley Trilene XL/XT

Hard Lure – Koppers Fishing & Tackle Corporation – Live Target Frog Popper

Best of Show - Soft Lure – Lunkerhunt LP – Bento Baits

Tackle Management – Magnetic Marine Products, Inc. – Gear Grabbar Lure Hangar Kit

REVIEW OF SHOW

St Croix
Change in rod blanks again for our present inventory no more NSI. Rods being done with new resin available Aug 1. New is the new Legend Extreme Line up which is really nice and won award. New Mojo Cranking 6’10” rod, 2 new Wild River 13’6” rods, new high end dispey rods in the $225 range, new triumph 7’6” rod, New legend Ice rods. Legend Xtreme rods are considered some of the best rods on the market so redesigning this series was a tall order. To accomplish their goals St. Croix mixed their exclusive IPC® tooling technology and ART™ reinforcing material for the first time to create a premium rod that is designed to be not only stronger but more sensitive.
The result is a rod that is 33% stronger than previous version, thanks also to Fortified Resin System (FRS). St. Croix combined this resin with new high-tech, computer-controlled curing ovens to create perfectly cured blanks. Carbon fibers are kept in proper alignment, which means uniformly strong blanks, no weak spots, no microbucking.
To further improve the process they eliminated hand-cutting rod blank patterns and utilized Taper Enhancement Technology (TET), which basically utilizes a computer controlled machine which cuts curved blank patterns with surgical precision. The patterns are then rolled onto Integrated Poly Curve® (IPC®) mandrels with the goal of building better and more uniform actions and maximizing sensitivity.
St. Croix also moved to high-modulus/high-strain SCV graphite with carbon-matte scrim for increased strength, durability and sensitivity in the new Legend Xtreme. The company also utilized super-high-modulus SCVI graphite in the lower section to increase hook-setting power and reduce weight. The new series comes loaded with Fuji K-R Concept Tangle Free guides and Fuji SK2TM split reel seats which provide complete access to the blank.
The most striking cosmetic aspect of the rod is not the green blank but the sculpted handles which are hourglass shaped for comfort and balance. The handles are coated with St. Croix’s Xtreme-Skin which provide a nice tactile feel while offering the added advantage of repelling water, dirt and fish slime, and can be easily cleaned.
The new Legend Xtreme rods also feature slim-profile ferrules, machined-aluminum wind checks, handle trim pieces and butt caps with a St. Croix logo badge. All thread wraps are protected by two coats of Flex Coat slow-cure finish, and the rods come with protective rod socks. The series includes 17 spinning and 12 casting models and will retail between $340 - $420.

Gamakatsu
Swivel Shot THIS IS GOING TO BE HOT FOR THE DROP SHOT GUYS!!!!!!!!!!
2X EWG Treble Look Sharp

OWNER HOOKS
Jig Rig Components:
Both the hooks and the weights for the Jig Rig will be available for purchase separately, but only the lead version of the weights will be sold for now.

BRUISER BAITS NEW PLASTIC COMPANY
This new company is being promoted by Scott Martin on WFN every week. Fishing World has ordered 196 packages of these new baits and they will have 3 new baits available for 2013.

LUCKY CRAFT
Some nice new baits out this year. The Blade Cross 110 & 90, Flash Pointer 115, Screw Pointer, Twisted Rosie, Bevy Rig, and some new colours also to look at.

Lunkerhunt
Their work paid off in a big way this ICAST with a “Best of Show” Award in the soft bait category for their minnow Bento Baits. The Bento Baits are a minnow styled minnow with a split tail design. What sets these baits apart are their anatomical realism combined with a soft yet durable body that comes to life with the slightest twitch of the rod tip. The lures also put out extra flash with a holographic core. These baits are available in two sizes 3 inch and 4.5 inch in 5 color patterns. This looks like an absolutely killer drop shot baits. A pack of these baits will retail for $7.99.

Megabass - Vision 110 FX series with collapsing lip and new square bill

RIVER 2 SEA
River2Sea introduced a umbrella rig at ICAST called the Bumbershoot., Bully Wa frog new colors, Scott Martin's Rover , The S-Waver swim bait new colours

Jackall
New for this ICAST are the 50 and 70 sizes of the company’s ASKA silent crankbait. Jackall also introduced a topwater lure called the Boil Trigger 100. This topwater bait looks like a combination between a jointed ripbait, pencil bait, and a popper. The lure can be walked or popped and the segmented body gives the tail section additional life, or death rather, as the tail is designed to flip the lure ever so slightly to better mimic a injured baitfish. Like other Jackall lures the bait comes armed with sharp Owner hooks and the rear hook will be dressed. Jackall also debuted a new bait called the Glossy Shad. This 3.8” long paddletail is extremely realistic and features an ultra slim tail that tapers past the body so the tail will move back and forth at even extremely low speeds. In addition to these offerings Pro Angler Cody Meyer also showed us a new prototype slash style jerkbait simply described as the “prototype” or “Jokey” and an official name will come when it is officially launched later this year.

Daiwa
Daiwa rounded out their reel offerings this ICAST with the introduction of the new Lexa Series reels which are designed to target everything from bass to knocking down trophy Muskie. These reels boast a low profile design coupled with high capacity, and for the first time Daiwa has a low profile reel that can go head to head against the Shimano Curado 300.
The Lexa 300 comes with an oversized swept handle with massive weight reducing cutouts, and though the reels are so large they weigh in at only 10.5-11.3oz. depending on model. One of the most exciting things about these new reels is the inclusion of the “Ultimate Tournament Carbon Drag” which is designed to deliver up to 22lbs. of drag pressure, which is more than enough for most big fish applications. These reels are available in both left and right hand retrieve in 6.3:1 and 7.1:1 Hyper Speed gear ratios, and the Hyper Speed 300 reels feature a counter balanced power handle for extra leverage.

Okuma
While the Helios reels garnered plenty of attention the company also surprised attendees with the unveiling of another carbon fiber based reel called the RTX. The RTX also features long strand carbon fiber framing and the same basic form factor as the Helios. The RTX also featured an anodized aluminum main gear, oscillation gear and slider as well as a brass pinion gear for smooth mesh and a fluid feel.
The RTX has a 7+1 bearing count and makes use of Japanese oiled felt drag washers versus the carbonite washers employed in the Helios. The RTX also makes use of more traditional aluminum components for the handle and comes with a two toned machined and ported aluminum spool.
The RTX looks like a compelling offering and features a lot of what we liked about the Helios, but what really makes this reel so exciting is the aggressive price point. The RTX delivers carbon fiber design and performance for only $99.99 dollars! When it comes to bang for the buck the new RTX is going to be hard to beat.

G Loomis
GLX is the graphite material that really put G.Loomis on the map when it came to premium blanks and later utilized in a highly popular rod series that has been selling for nearly 20 years. This ICAST the company is introducing an update to the series and unveiled a completely new series utilizing not only the material but a new split grip and reel seat design.
The new GLX graphite is designed to offer improved balance and fishability and Justin Poe, Global Brand Manager for Loomis explained that the rods are 23 to 35% stronger than current GLX series rods yet still deliver the same sensitivity that the rods have long been known for. The rods feature a green finish with silver threading and rather than use a standard reel seat Loomis decided that they needed to create a new ergonomic reel seat to better balance and match the look and feel of the new rods. This custom reel seat has sculpted edges and a blank through and is more traditional looking than the skeleton seat employed on the NRX.
The rods also feature a blank through handle design which were designed with ergonomics, balance and overall rod weight in mind. The split grip features sculpted cork and cork composite grips that are also ergonomically shaped for comfort in hand and against angler’s forearms.
All the new GLX rods will feature lightweight Fuji titanium SIC guides and the first new rods that will be available will be new crankbait and flipping sticks. This line-up includes 12 crankbait rods (CBR) in 6’6”, 7’, 7’1” and 7’11” lengths, and six flipping rods (FPR) in 7’5” and 7’11” lengths.
The GLX CBR rods leverage the dynamic features of the new graphite , making it lighter and more sensitive than fiberglass and yet still able to deliver a soft, moderate action necessary to effectively fish crankbaits.
G.Loomis GLX Crankbait Rod Descriptions
GLX 781 CBR - A light crankbait rod designed to throw small lures. Works well with 1/8 to 1/4 – ounce baits like the small Rat-L-Traps, small deep divers and 3.4” minnow imitators. It loads easily, allowing you to cast light lures with accuracy, a long ways. It’s perfect for small topwaters and extremely effective for using light line on clear-water impoundments and stream when fish get spooky.
GLX 783 CBR - A really good, all around crankbait rod designed to throw medium-sized crankbaits of all sizes and shapes. It’s handles the mid-range diving baits exceptionally well, especially when fishing around docks and the edges of heavy cover. It’s quick, accurate and light as can be. GLX lets you know if and when a bass engulfs your offering because they just don’t get anymore sensitive than this and that makes it a great choice for small jerkbaits as well.
GLX 785 CBR - When you start fishing slightly larger lures, especially around more cover where accuracy is more important that sheer power, this rod is a great choice/ The shorter length makes it perfect for tight places where you don’t have a lot of room for casting, but need a little more power for those bigger bass. An excellent alternative for medium-sized jerkbaits and topwaters.
GLX 841 CBR - A slightly longer, light-duty rod designed to throw small to medium-sized crankbaits where extra distance is helpful. It’s just right for small deep-diving and lipless crankbaits. If you prefer casting to spinning, this is a really good rod for stickbaits like the Rapala or Long-A. It’s light in power as well as weight and is surprisingly powerful. A great clear-water, long-range cranking rod.
GLX 843 CBR - A rod designed to throw medium-sized crankbaits. It’s a great choice for diving lures like the 3/8-ounce Fat Free Shad or Wiggle Wart, and will throw a Rat-L-Trap or a LuckyCraft LVR across the county. It’s surprisingly powerful and will get a big largemouth away from trouble and moving to the boat quickly. Probably our best alternative for smallmouth and spots. It is a really good, all around crankbait rod!
GLX 845 CBR - When you need a little more power for casting larger crankbaits, this is the rod you’ll want. It’s very light, and thanks to GLX, so sensitive you can feel a big bass watch your bait! It’s responsive and recovers quickly when a bass decides to dart under the boat or jump. If you like a slightly longer jerkbait rod for larger baits, this is an excellent choice. It’s responsive, sensitive and resilient... a great rod for all but the largest crankbaits.
GLX 847 CBR - When you’re throwing big deep divers like a 3/4-ounce Fat Free Shad or a DD-22, this is the rod! It’s powerful, slow-tapered enough to let those big baits do their thing and provides just enough give to allow the bass to engulf the bait. It’s designed to fish big baits in and around heavy cover and keep you out of trouble. When in big bass waters like Lake El Salto, this is our rod of choice. Distance, accuracy and ‘fishability’ all make it a very good big bait, big bass cranking stick.
GLX 855 CBR - It is a specialty crankbait rod, designed for ripping lipless crankbaits like Rat-L-Traps or an LVR D-10 in the grass. It has a moderate-fast action that’s slightly stiffer than our standard crankbait taper to help move the bait enough so it can break free of the grass and still have some room to work it’s magic without just flexing the rod. It will handle virtually any size bass and for those that may prefer a little stiffer crankbait rod, and some do; it’s a good choice for deep diving baits as well.
GLX 954 CBR - When distance is important and you’re looking for a great lipless crankbait rod, this is an excellent choice…Thanks to GLX, it’s extremely light and so sensitive you can feel a big bass watch your bait! It’s responsive enough to yo-yo baits, recovering quickly when a bass engulfs the bait on the fall. It’s a great choice for virtually any sized bait so if you had to pick one rod for every style of crankbaits, this would be our winner.
GLX 955 CBR - When you need a little more power for casting slightly bigger crankbaits, but the water is clear and the fish are ultra-spooky, this is a great option. It’s light, responsive and recovers quickly, plus it will throw a lure as far as you can imagine. If you’re looking for a real rocket launcher this is the rod... a great rod for 1/2-ounce and 5/8-ounce lipless cranks and medium-sized deep-diving baits. Thanks to GLX it won’t wear you out and you can almost feel a bass look at your bait!
GLX 956 CBR - A good choice for the larger crankbaits and covering a lot of water quickly. The 7’11” length gives you unbelievable casting range and lure control. Need to get your bait a little deeper? You can use the old kneel and reel routine easily with this one. It’s the perfect big-water crankbait rod for giant smallies or big largemouth. Handles all but the biggest crankbaits with perfection!
GLX 957 CBR - The Mack-Daddy of all crankbait rods. When the baits you’re fishing are big and bass are tough to handle, this is the one you want. It will handle the giant deep-diving crankbaits easily and with the extra length can pitch them as far as you can see. It’s surprisingly light thanks to GLX, but don’t let that fool you. It will handle giant largemouths, whether they’re in the trees or headed for the hydrilla. A real advantage when you come across a school of big stripers!
Flipping
GLX 892C FPR - A versatile light-duty flipping stick that works just as effectively as a power pitching rod. It has the power to move big fish from cover and the tip is soft enough to cast comfortably, but it’s designed mostly for the flipping technique where presentation is the key to success, especially in clear water where the fish are spooky and you need to drop down in line or lure-size to get a bit. In GLX it’s especially sensitive and light as a feather.
GLX 893C FPR - It is our in-between flipping stick. It's still forgiving enough to fish smaller baits and lighter line, but it’s plenty of power. It’s a great option for fishing edges where a stealthy approach is key! It’s length lets you swing your bait into likely spots and still gets that vertical, close-in presentation that has become so effective, especially when fishing gets picky.
GLX 894C FPR - Our best all around flipping stick. It’s powerful enough to help you to manage big fish without fear of breaking slightly lighter line. A real plus when fish get a little shy and back into the brush just a little more. Equally effective with a jig or soft plastic bait, this rod will give you total control when fishing in tight quarters, whether it’s thick brush or matted vegetation.
GLX 895C FPR - It is the rod you want in your hands when the fish are back in the brush or the back edge of the weeds and you need to beef up your line and lure size. It’s light for all that extra power and the sensitivity GLX provides will surprise you every time you get a bit. It will handle larger bait and big fish with ease and it’s so light, you’ll hardly remember holding it at the end of a long day. It is the tournament angler’s choice, no matter if you’re a serious pro or a weekend tournament angler.
GLX 896C FPR - When the cover gets nasty and you need to pull a fish no matter how big. Up through all that stuff with authority, this is the rod for you! It is the power flipping stick made for ‘the ugly, how am I gonna get a fish out of there, water.’ It is power personified and still light in weight! If the bite is light you’ll be amazed at its sensitivity thanks to GLX. When you want to give them the ‘no treatment’ you want this powerhouse on the deck.
GLX 953C FPR - Here’s a unique rod that many anglers will find appealing. It’s not overpowering, but it’s more than powerful enough. It’s longer –almost 8’- giving you tremendous line and lure control. It will give you total flexibility, handling a variety of line and lure sizes. The butt section is very powerful, but the tip is slightly softer which will allow you to pitch when the fish are too far back flip effectively. If you only want one rod that can do a lot of things, this would be our choice. Flipping is the main deal, but it will fish soft-plastic swimbaits, oversized spinnerbaits, and talk about a super-sensitive, deep-water Carolina RIG rod… it is a dandy!

Shimano
The new Saros FA spinning reels now make use of a new graphite called XGT7 to provide rigidity for the frame, sideplate and rotor. According to Ken Iida with Shimano’s product development team, XGT7 provides superior strength and durability, plus an exceptionally solid feel. The Saros also leverages the X-Ship double supported pinion gear to provide more solid cranking power and a lighter handle rotation feel. The Saros also features Shimano’s rapid fire drag which provides quick and easy drag adjustments when making changes during the heat of the battle.
The Symetre series has been around for nearly 20 years and has always been regarded as a quality workhorse reel. These reels are made out of a graphite material called XT-7 (not to be confused with XGT7) which is strong but not as robust as the material employed by the Saros. The big difference is that the Symetre has a much smaller profile with the company’s new “M Compact Body” design which is quite different from the company’s other reels in form factor, with a design that is so compact in the back it seems to arch upwards. Included on all four Symetre FL reels are X-Ship is, Propulsion Line Management, Paladin Gear Durability Enhancement, SR Concept, Aero Wrap II, Dyna-Balance and Super Stopper II. They all have four stainless ball bearings, and a one-way roller bearing.
Moving another step down we get to the Sahara, the mainstream reel that is all about delivering more value for the money. While the existing reels benefitted from Shimano technologies like propulsion line management this year the series gets a makeover with the same M compact Body Design we witnessed on the Symetre and benefits from “varispeed II” oscillation which moves at two variable speeds to lay the line flatter on the spool with the goal of providing better line management and longer casts.

Abu Garcia
for 2013 with a revamp of the popular Vendetta rods, a new inshore series called Volatile, and some extensions to two other lineups.
Volatile Inshore: Abu Garcia enters the inshore market with their new 30 ton graphite, nano-tech infused Volataile Inshore rods built with stainless steel framed, hardloy insert guides and Fuji reel seats. There will be eleven rods in the series targeted for release in September with a price tag of somewhere around $100 each.
Veritas Schooling Rig Rod: Last but certainly not least, Abu Garcia answers the call to the current crazy, umbrella rig fishing, with their own technique specific rod. It is a 7'-9" stick built in the Veritas line and rated for a lure range between five eighths (5/8) of an ounce on up to three (3) ounces. This rod comes outfitted with Abu's own titanium framed, SiC guides, Extreme Exposure reel seat, and high density EVA handles for $119.95.
New Vendetta: Abu Garcia has totally revamped their Vendetta series of rods for 2013 introducing a technology they term "intracarbon" that involves weaving a thin layer of carbon fiber material into the blank during the rolling process to increase durability of the blank. The rods will be built with stainless steel framed aluminum oxide insert guides and Abu's own Extreme Exposure reel seat. There will be 22 models total in th lineup each featuring a high density Eva handle. Availability is expected in September of this year with a forecasted retail price of $79.95.

Abu Garcia is poised to re-REVOlutionize the market yet again with newly redesigned Revo casting reels which will be available Fall 2012.

Revo Premier Casting: The current generation of Revo Premier reels are already a hallmark of performance and ergonomics when it comes to a non-magnesium based ultralight reel, weighing in at only 6.7 ounces. The new 2013 Revo Premier pushes the envelope even further and the team at Abu Garcia shaved almost a full ounce off of the reel making it only 5.87 ounces. The new reel is more compact and thanks to the use of the advanced C6 carbon sideplates and carbon fiber handle with EVA knobs, Abu is able to produce a reel below 6 ounces without making performance sacrifices.

Revo STX Casting: Every Revo reel is getting lighter in this next generation series and the new Revo STX sees a weight reduction of over 2.5 ounces, a 29% weight shavings compared to the previous model. You can attribute the weight reduction to the similar design features as what is being implemented in the Revo Premier. The Revo STX has the same set of features as the Premier such as the EVA knobs but with a metal handle versus the carbon fiber one you would find on the Premier, same number of HPCR bearings (10), X2-Craftic alloy frame, C6 carbon sideplates, D2 Gear Design, Infini II spool design, but when it comes to cast control it uses Infini brakes which is a combination of magnetic and centrifugal brake systems.
Revo SX Casting: Again, using a similar design, the new Revo SX will also receive a weight reduction of over 2 ounces. It uses the same X2-Craftic alloy frame design, D2 Gear Design, and the durable but lightweight C6 carbon sideplates.
The stealthy looking Revo SX gets an all magnetic braking system called the MagTrax. The MagTrax system allows you to externally adjust the braking power needed by moving the magnets closer or further away from the spool. This mainstream workhorse will retail for $159.95.

Revo S Casting: The improved design is shared even with the lowest of the Revo series giving it a 15% weight reduction from the previous model. The Revo S which retails for only $129.95 gets the X2-Craftic alloy frame and D2 Gear Design. The difference is that this aggressively priced Revo uses 7 stainless steel ball bearings plus 1 roller bearing, graphite sideplates, and the "Pitch" centrifugal brake system which uses 6 brake blocks (3 spring loaded and 3 non spring loaded). The spring loaded brake blocks act only when the spool is under high revolution (1st part of the cast) and will then disengage to give maximum distance. The non spring loaded brake blocks act on the entire cast to give maximum control throughout the cast.

Revo Winch Casting: One of my favorite reels when I need sheer power is the "Winch" Revo Series which is great for deep cranking or tossing large high resistant baits thanks to the low 5.4:1 gear ratio. Like the Revo siblings this reel will benefit from all the good traits such as the D2 Gear Design, X2-Craftic alloy frame, C6 carbon sideplates, and the Carbon Matrix drag system resulting in a weight reduction of 19% over the previous Winch.
Anglers will find a longer handle with larger EVA knobs for improved power and comfort and the new Revo Winch will utilize the Infini brake system which is composed of both centrifugal and magnetic brake systems. Eight stainless steel ball bearings are used for this powerful reel and unfortunately anglers will have to wait all the way until December 2012 for the Winch and it will retail for $199.95.

Berkley
New Bait Binders, Jar Binders, Gulp Heads, knife combo’s, Bds Minnow, Bewkley solutions, new XL and XT, hide a bobber.

Live Target
New Crappie series of hard baits look good, Frog Popper ICAST AWARD looks amazing new colours in frog, swim bait, walking frog, smelt, banana bait,

QUANTUM
New smoke sizes 10, 15 40, 50, SMOKE RODS WILL NOW HAVE 2PC. Lh Exo available, new Accurist PT RH only very nice, Vantage combo nice looking

SPRO
New colours in jerk baits, frogs, new Fat PAPA crank, and arku size 60 available in 6 colours.

FLAMBEAU
New 5003 VFF, 4003 VFF. NEW ICE GEAR, NEW COSEMTICS ON BOXES 3 TRAY PINKS AND GREEN

RAPALA, NORMARK
New lures BX Swimmer and Minnow, IKES CUSTOM INKS Cranks, Jointed Shallow Shad Rap, X-Rap Countdown, ICE FISHING new SNAP RAP, new UV Jigging Raps, Jointed Husky Jerk larger size, Shad rap new UV Colours and 3 others, Deep tail Dancers New UV Colours, STORM Rattle Tot, SMASH SHAD, Rocking Shad, Twitch Stick, Flat Stick Jointed, New Live colors , Vibrax Super Bou Mucsky bait, New UV for Vibrax, Trigger X new Slop Hopper, Goo Bug, Paddle tail minnow 2.5” size now, SUFFIX 832 Lead Core, VMC new hook line up.

STRIKE KING
New KVD Slash bait, New Tungsten drop shot weights, new Tour Grade Slither Rigs, New rage Twin tail menace grub, New Colours in Crankbaits, New KVD Sexy Dawg and JR, New Mr. Crappie baits, New KVD Sexy frog colours, New swim bait head

Ima, Optimum, Zappu
New Opti Shad, Zappu Wicked Bull, Captain Hook, Jig Spin, Yajirobee Spin, 3” victory tail, Pin Jack, D,N Rubber, vagabond Air baits, Abare Dama, Bone Flit Floating, Victory tail.

Hildebrandt
New packaging coming very nice looking. New Double deep spinner baits look HOT!!!!!!!!!.