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Rigged and Ready? Z-Man Shadtron LT Swimbait
The Shadtron LT is the newest addition to Z-Man’s soft
plastic swimbait lineup, engineered to deliver a lifelike shad profile with
exceptional durability and versatility. Crafted from Z-Man’s signature ElaZtech
material, it features outstanding longevity while maintaining a soft, natural
feel. But how does it perform on the water? In which scenarios does it shine,
and where might it fall short? Let’s rig it up and dive in.
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Casting that Screams: The Innovative Trika Ti100 Baitcaster
Trika’s Ti100 baitcaster marks the rod brand’s entry
into the reel market, offering anglers a blend of performance and innovation
that stem from use of advanced materials and a precision CNC machined frame. Use
of full ceramic bearings in the casting system aim to enhance both casting
performance and overall feel. But how does Trika’s debut reel stack up against
the industry’s established reel leaders? |
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Gomexus Stepping Up
their Metal Game with
Spools, Swimbaits, and
Tools
Once known primarily for
their reel handle and
knob upgrades, Gomexus
has fully embraced metal
craftsmanship -
investing in tooling,
design, and even
acquiring a swimbait
manufacturer to expand
into precision-made,
metal-based tackle. |
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Precise Lure Control – Shimano’s Finesse Oriented Vanford FA Spinning Reel
Shimano continues to distinguish its CoreSolid and
Magnumlite spinning reels, expanding each lineup with models tailored for either
precision lure control or sheer strength. The new Vanford FA reels further
define what it means to be a Magnumlite series reel, incorporating refinements
and performance upgrades over the previous generation. |
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New Gold Standard? – Costa’s 580 Gold
Mirror Polarized Lenses
Costa’s 580G lenses are a popular
choice among anglers, known for their exceptional polarized performance and
durability. Earlier this season, the company introduced a new addition to its
lineup - the "Gold Mirror" lens, featuring a rose-colored base. But how do these
new lenses look and perform in real-world conditions? |
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Built for the cold, but a
solid option year round, Bass Union Finesse Jigs
Bass Union finesse jigs are designed to excel in various conditions,
especially when a subtle, refined presentation is needed to trigger a bite.
While it’s easy to overlook a jig as just another jig, Bass Union proves that
quality matters - delivering results when every small detail can make the
difference in tough conditions.
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New Rods and
Reels at the 2025 International Sportsmen's Expo
The International Sportsmen's Expo in Sacramento
marks the start of event season for many West Coast manufacturers. This week's
show provided the perfect platform for leading reel and rod brands to debut
their new products for the 2025 season. |
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Light
yet Powerful - Daiwa Saltiga Rods and Reels
Daiwa has unveiled the new Saltiga rods, crafted for anglers seeking an
enthusiast level of balance of precision and power in a lightweight setup
tailored for saltwater light jigging. Engineered to handle heavy jigs and big
fish, these rods feature a slimmer, lighter profile that enhances both
performance and the overall fishing experience. |
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Shimano Ups Their Swimbait
Game with Gravitator Glides and Outlier Rods
Shimano expands on their Armajoint swimbaits with a new glidebait that
incorporates the same Boost technology, now enhanced with features that allow
anglers to adjust the gliding action on the fly. To complement these baits,
Shimano introduces the Outlier Rod Series - a line of high-performance rods
designed for casting full-sized swimbaits. |
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Shimano Launches New Antares 100 B Halo Reel and the First CoreSolid Tranx
Baitcaster
Shimano is starting the new year strong with major product launches,
including the latest iteration of their flagship baitcaster, the Antares.
Additionally, the Tranx series has received a significant upgrade, now featuring
a more compact and rigid CoreSolid design. |
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Missile Baits Extends Their Arsenal with the Chunky D
There is nothing quite as ubiquitous or versatile in bass fishing tackle boxes everywhere as the soft plastic craw imitators. They come in a wide variety of shapes and sizes, but one profile in particular, no doubt evolved from the old school pork rind days, is that flattened beaver style bait. Today, we take a look at the second such profile from Missile, the Chunky D. |
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Out of Control? - Daiwa
Steez's Real Control Enthusiast Rods
Daiwa's Steez rods are widely regarded as the
brand's flagship series, but the Real Control lineup elevates both performance
and price to unprecedented heights. As the first Steez rods to retail for $1,299
in the U.S., they raise a critical question: Are they truly worth the
investment, and who would be willing to purchase such a premium offering? |
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It's Legit - ARK Fishing International's Glide Bait Stick
From its first introduction
to Pro to Limited to the latest Tour edition, Invoker has been the virtual
backbone with which ARK Fishing International has pinned their place in the
industry. Amongst their non-signature series of rods, Invoker sits beneath
Reinforcer and Essence, and above Lancer and Catalyzer. It is the core of their
offering, the most dreaded seat on an airplane, and the neglected child all in
one... |
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A Hot Swappable
Jerkbait - The Baitsanity Explorer BCS 120
Baitsanity's latest release in the Explorer series is a fresh take on
jerkbaits, featuring an innovative interchangeable weight system. This design
allows anglers to effortlessly adjust the lure's behavior—transforming it from
floating to fast-sinking - and customize the amount of rattle sound, all within
seconds. |
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Winding Back the Clock with Shimano's 2024 Scorpion 200/201 MD
Monster Drive, or MD for short,
is the motto in a series of Shimano JDM reels developed in support of those who
enjoy throwing monster baits in the hopes of landing that catch of a lifetime.
2024 actually marks the second Scorpion to receive this upgrade. |
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Shallow Only in Capacity, Abu Garcia's Revo5 SX SS (Shallow Spool)
Shallow spooled casting reels don't always have to
be about finesse. Anglers who spend the majority of their time probing close
quarter targets can certainly benefit too, and that's what Abu Garcia's Revo5 SX
SS is all about, so we acquired one for a closer look. |
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TT Interview: JDM Brand Dranckrazy to
Introduce New Rods and Lures in the US Market
Not too many US anglers know about the Dipsy and Crazy Anglers Network,
or Dranckrazy. This JDM brand is popular internationally, and under the guidance
of industry veteran David Swendseid, is poised to make a significant push in the
US market. With a proven track record of success with brands like Roman Made and
DUO, Swendseid is well-equipped to introduce Dranckrazy to American anglers. |
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A Reliable Check Down when Fishing the Blitz of Pressured Water : O.S.P.'s DoLive Beaver
Beaver baits lend their namesake label to the flat, cone-like, oval tail at the end of the bait. In most of these profiles, that tail is split down the middle, but attached at the ends so it can be fished either as a solid piece, or, with that attachment broken, as two flailing appendages. O.S.P.'s DoLive Beaver has no such option. In fact, the bait looks more like a craw than it does an ambiguous creature.
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It’s Reaper Season – AFTCO’s Leveled Up Hoodie
If bass
anglers had an official uniform, a hoodie would be essential. Nothing matches
the versatility of an integrated hood on those chilly mornings, and AFTCO's
Reaper takes it up a notch. With its innovative hood anchoring system, built-in
face mask, and neck warmer, the Reaper is designed to keep you comfortably
shielded from the elements.
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The 2024
Shimano Twin Power, Solid to the Core
Over the last season there has
been one spinning reel that our Editor-in-Chief, Zander, has been raving about
since he fished it earlier this season at Lake Champlain and a field day on the smallmouth. He liked the reel so much he
has since purchased two of them. Given his enthusiasm for this latest entry
into the Shimano CoreSolid lineup I felt it was about time to see what this
refreshed Twin Power reel was all about. |
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Surviving the
Swamp with Megabass's X-10 F7-71XT Power Playing Frog Rod
Never one to be confined to the status quo, Megabass
continues to offer anglers intriguing options for their bass fishing arsenal.
Their latest venture resurrects an approach to blank technology we saw back in
2007 using organic fibers in the design of a new blank. |
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Baitsanity and Leviathan
Rods Collab to Create a "Tuggin" rod for Glidebaits
Collaborations, or "collabs," as they are affectionately called are
becoming increasingly popular in the swimbait world. Swimbait manufacturers
often join forces with painters and rod builders to introduce custom products.
Last season one such product was the Leviathan X Baitsanity Tuggin rod which was
designed specifically for the Baitsanity Antidote TUG... |
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Redesigned and Still
Affordable - Pflueger's President XT Reels and Rods
Building on the success of the President XT spinning
reels, Pflueger has refreshed their President XT low-profile lineup. These new
reels are designed to deliver enhanced performance at an affordable price. To
complement the reels, Pflueger is also introducing new President XT rods and
even a few rod-and-reel combos. |
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Prototyping Rods and a
Novel Approach to
Tackle Development - Protos : Danny Uribe
Creating a brand given these challenges
has become only more complicated with today's rising material and labor costs.
So how do both large established fab-less tackle companies and aspiring up and
coming brands address this? |
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Not a Traditional Jig: RedRum Tube Cracker Jigs
Have you ever looked at a bait and
wondered, “What’s all the hype about?” That’s exactly what I thought when I
first laid eyes on the RedRum Tube Cracker. At first glance, it may seem like
just another simple tube jig, but don’t let its appearance fool you. The Tube
Cracker's unique action, sound, and versatility, along with its ability to
attract multiple species, prove that looks can be deceiving.
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ARK Fishing International's Wes Logan Signature Series - the 100K
Wes Logan is one of the rising stars of BASS's
Elite Series tour. He claimed his first victory in just his second year and
followed that up with a second place finish on the very next tournament. He's
finished in the top ten at least seven times. With a resume like that, how could
he not have his own signature series fishing rod? Well, that wait is over... |
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An EDGE for Enthusiast Frog Anglers - Plano's Frog Box
Plano’s EDGE series stands
at the forefront of modular utility boxes, designed with precision to offer
superior tackle protection and organization compared to traditional options. A
standout in this line is the new EDGE Frog Box, featuring an innovative
removable post system that allows anglers to neatly store and organize up to
fifty frogs vertically. |
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Abu Garcia's Formula for BFS Success - Part Two : The Reels
Abu Garcia's Zenon MG-LTX casting reel is already considered a finesse reel, but like the rods in part one of this series, the Zenon MG-LTX BFS reels are built with more intent to facilitate presentations with thin diameter line.
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Z-Man and Evergreen Launch Fresh JackHammer Fall Patterns
Including Morning Dawn and Black Jack
There is no disputing the effectiveness of the Z-Man
and Evergreen Chatterbait JackHammer, and this Fall the two companies are
collaborating once again to deliver four fresh new patterns designed to coax
fish that have seen it all to strike. These new bladed jigs feature some never
before released patterns and blade treatments... |
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Ready for Deployment, Evergreen International's Combat Rat
From the Timberflash to the Noisy Dachs, Evergreen International is no stranger to topwater wake baits, but up until this year, the manufacturer has stayed away from the one topwater profile that has infested big bait slingers' mindset - the rat. This profile is so popular, it's become a sub-classification of big baits all of its own. |
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Trika Readies T100 Baitcaster
with Ceramic Bearing Supported Casting System
Trika is gearing up to launch their new reel line,
beginning with the T100 baitcaster. While this compact baitcaster shares some
obvious similarities with another existing CNC reel, it quickly becomes apparent
that the T100 delivers a distinct experience. This is due to its unique
features, including full ceramic spool bearings and a range of surprising
refinements aimed at enhancing long-term performance and durability. |
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All About the Treble
- Weighing in on Treble Hook Options
Fishermen like to tinker. Whether it is with their rods, reels, or baits, there's something fundamental about the desire to customize your gear to perfect an intended presentation. One of the sub-groups of bass fishermen where this might be most prominent is with those who enjoy throwing big baits. With those baits specifically comes the desire to achieve the perfect behavior when the bait is paused.
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Abu Garcia's Formula for BFS Success - Part Two : The Reels
Abu Garcia's Zenon MG-LTX casting reel is already considered a finesse reel, but like the rods in part one of this series, the Zenon MG-LTX BFS reels are built with more intent to facilitate presentations with thin diameter line.
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Gomexus Expands Swimbait and Tool Offerings, Debuts Second
Cyberbait
Primarily known as an aftermarket upgrade component
manufacturer, Gomexus has quickly expanded their product offering by branching
out into the swimbait, reel, and tool segments. This ICAST the company unveiled
an array of new products that leverages their expertise in CNC manufacturing. |
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Rocking the Northland Minnesota Mullet for Kickers
Hair jigs have been employed for bass fishing for years, and especially when
fishing for smallmouth, but hair jigs designed for largemouth often taken a
backseat with so many lure options. Northland, a specialist in jigs, has created
a new jig with all the best attributes of a tiny marabou jig but with some extra
features designed specifically for largemouth. |
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FishLab Goes Hard with BBZ Swimbaits
When Bill Siemantel of BBZ fame joined the Fishlab team
we all knew it was just a matter of time before the company would be introducing
hard bodied BBZ swimbaits. This ICAST the company launched the FishLab BBZ Hard
and took home a category award in the Best of ICAST event. |
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Okuma Launches New Flagship X-Series Spinning Reels
This ICAST Okuma launched a new halo-reel in their
spinning lineup called the X-Series. These new reels are designed to deliver the
performance and reliability of aluminum versus going to carbon, with a design
that maintains strength while cutting weight in the frame. |
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Still Ugly? The Ugly Stik GX2 Gets a Makeover
America's favorite fishing rod received a makeover this ICAST with the introduction of the GX2 Series, and the changes are
more than cosmetic and designed to improve both durability and sensitivity. But
the big question is are they still Ugly?
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Jackall and Shimano
Launch New Poison Adrena Rods and They Are Solid
When it came to high-performance rods one of the most interesting introductions
this ICAST came from Jackall, in the form of the co-branded Shimano-Jackall
completely refreshed Poison Adrena B Series rods. There are even two very
special rods in the new lineup that are designed specifically for forward facing
sonar and strolling style lures. |
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Daiwa Spins Out Two New Tatula Baitcasters, adds SV Boost
There was a time when you had to get a Zillion to
access Daiwa's higher end features but the company has gone all-in on the Tatula
mainstream line and this ICAST is introducing two new Tats, starting with the Tatula SV100
which features the latest ergonomic form factor with a number of upgrades including
their SV BOOST casting system.
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Z-Man Launches a Tungsten Chatterbait EVO and Realistic
Shadtron Swimbait at ICAST
Z-Man always goes big at ICAST and this year the company expands their portfolio
with a range of new baits including a heavy metal tungsten Chatterbait EVO,
realistic Shadtron swimbaits, and even a few products for BFS and inshore
anglers.
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First Casts with the Magnumlite Series Shimano Vanford A
Spinning Reel
The Vanford gets a complete makeover this season and
the new Vanford A Series inherits a number of features from Shimano's flagship
series, but with a focus on finesse applications with a MGL rotor and
lightweight CI4+ carbon infused body. A week before ICAST I had the opportunity
to fish these new reels and these are the first impressions.
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Shimano's Conquest 30/31HG Delivers a Joy and Enthusiasm Not Felt Since...
In 2022, Shimano Japan introduced a shallow spool variant of their popular Metanium platform. I wasn't very interested in that model waiting instead for the update to the Metanium
DC. I also didn't see any benefit to having a reel that sat between conventional
and finesse applications. Then, this year, Shimano Japan did the same thing in
another platform, Conquest. |
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Sunline's Next Generation Braided Line
In the world of fishing line manufacturers, if
there's one that can be accused of resting on their laurels, Sunline is not it.
Case in point, if there's a technique or presentation that could benefit from a
specialized extrusion of fluorocarbon, with close to twenty different skus,
Sunline likely has the solution. However, the category of fishing line where the
manufacturer has me most excited recently isn't fluorocarbon, its braid. |
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Feeling the Most Significant Fenwick Rod Refresh Ever
- 10 Takeaways
The new Fenwick rods have
arrived at TackleTour, and instead of just one rod from each lineup, we were
surprised with an extensive selection spanning all four newly
refreshed series. After commencing testing these rods for three months, we are
ready to share our initial impressions with ten key takeaways before delving
into detailed standalone reviews of some of the various key models. |
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Dialed In - Shimano's Metanium DC A Baitcaster
Shimano
unveils its lightest DC reel to date with the new Metanium DC 70A, constructed
on a familiar one-piece CoreSolid magnesium frame. This innovative reel features
the advanced I-DC5 digital braking system and an MGL III spool, yet weighs a
mere 6.2 ounces. Could the Met DC 70A be the most refined Metanium ever?
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