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Featured
Article: Show Coverage |
TackleTour's "Best of Show" storage, lures, innovations, and watercraft
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Date: |
7/28/02 |
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Location |
Las Vegas,
NV |
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Admission |
Buyers/Press
only |
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Reviewer: |
Team
TackleTour |
Introduction: Our final day of ICAST 2002 coverage includes a wealth of
Best of Show products that include flexible storage solutions, new lures,
exciting innovations, and feature packed watercraft.
The "Best of Show" storage solutions, lures, innovations and
watercraft: The following are manufacturers at ICAST that really stood out by displaying something unique and/or truly
exciting.
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Jeff Jost,
President (right), and Dan Moynihan, Director of Marketing (left) showcase
a booth full of flexible high quality tackle storage solutions |
Albackore
(storage solutions):
Three weeks ago Albackore blew our socks off with the introduction of their
flexible and feature packed Albackore II fishing bag. So good in fact that the
Albackore II was awarded TackleTour's Editor's Choice Award. Never one to rest
on their laurels Jeff Jost, President, and Dan Moynihan, Director of Marketing,
showed us samples of their newest tackle solutions. Most exciting of all was a
new "Bass King" bag designed specifically for Bass Anglers. This new bag (shown
above) features many of the same innovations we saw from the Albackore II with a
new quick draw velcro system that holds transparent or netted bags, perfect for
a variety of lures. This new system allows Bass Angler's increased control over
the lures they want to reach quickly.
In addition
Albackore will be introducing branded "fish clips" useful for strapping items to
the bags and also as keychains, and also the nicest license holder we have ever
seen! With so many exciting products in the lineup, anglers that appreciate
premium tackle solutions full of features and flexibility are in for a real
treat.
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Casey
Sowers, President, took time to show us the latest hi-tech Yo-zuri lures
that included new "hardcore" lures featuring the advanced magnet transfer
system |
Yo-zuri
(lures): Casey Sowers, President of GBS Distribution..the exclusive
distributor of Yo-Zuri, showcased the entire line of high quality Yo-Zuri
products that includes the new "Hardcore" series which really caught our
attention. We have had experience with the highly effective Yo-Zuri magnetic
transfer system, and was very pleased to see the technology implemented on
down-sized crankbaits. Casey explained that the weight transfer system in these
new hardcore baits serves three purposes: 1) Maximizing distance and accuracy,
2) On the retrieve the weight shifts to center providing perfectly balanced
swimming action, 3) The weights also emit subtle attention getting rattles and
vibration. Casey was kind enough to provide 2 transparent samples so we could
examine the entire system and get a first hand account of how these new hardcore
lures function. From our initial tests we just have one word to describe the new
hardcore baits....AWESOME!
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New Doc
Water's Helix lures feature a unique spiral light refracting shape that when
moved has a unique action to imitate the motion and flash of wounded prey. |
Doc Waters
(lures): One of the most exciting plastic lures at the show comes from
newcomer "Doc Waters" lure company. Doc prescribes a series of exciting new
lures that includes a weighted swivel hook, and the new Helix lures. The Helix
is a spiraled plastic worm that has a unique movement that mimics wounded prey.
To further increase effectiveness Doc Waters also produces a highly concentrated
Bass Attractant called "Stink." Perhaps most notable about the attractant is the
unique sponged tipped applicator and valve that loads the sponged when pressed
against the lure. No more getting that pungent attractant all over the boat.
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Real Lures
features the most realistic looking lures that can be customized based on
the environment your fishing in. The lure in the right hand corner has been
colored with permanent marker |
Real Lures (Lures): Real Lures has developed a series of new plastic
lures that very closely resemble real shrimp, crayfish, and crabs. The
interesting thing about these detailed lures is that come transparent and can be
customized with any permanent marker. With a little creativity these lures can
be adapted to look just like the natural prey in the environment you are fishing
in.
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Rodney
Williams, President, shows the 3rd Grip in action. Comfortable and durable
the 3rd grip can be used for many applications including shore, boat, float
tube, and surf fishing |
3rd Grip
(Innovations):
Rodney Williams, President of 3rd Grip, has designed an innovative tool that is
your own personal rod holster. With a unique patented design the 3rd Grip can
attach to your lower leg and provides a convenient place to holster your pole,
knife, and pliers. This is perfect when you land a fish and need a quick place
to put your rod while keeping it in a upright position as you remove the lure.
Shore anglers can stand or sit with the rod held at the perfect angle. In
addition the 3rd grip comes with a versatile accessory strap that allows you to
use the holster on your hip, or as a rod holder on a float tube! This innovative
product costs only 19.99, and might just be your new favorite fishing partner!
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Daniel
Morken, President) and Becky Morton, Communications Director showed us just
how it easy it was to forever eliminate bird nesting in junior angler tackle
with their innovative Tackle Tamer kit. |
Tangle Tamer
(Innovations): Apex Outfitters has designed a product that any parent is
sure to appreciate. This innovative product is called the Tangle Tamer. Daniel
and Becky Morton walked us through the 2 minute installation of the Tackle Tamer
which forever eliminates bird nesting in junior angler tackle. The majority of
all problems young anglers encounter are due to line tangles in the upper
portion of the rod. The Tangle Tamer uses a transparent tube that extends
through all the guides to the tip of spincast reel. Interestingly, this
innovation also can be adapted for traditional tackle so that as younger anglers
graduate to more advanced tackle they can still benefit from tangle free
performance thanks to the Tamer. What the Tangle Tamer truly does is provide a
better experience for young anglers, and more time for dad to do some fishing on
his own, now that he doesn't have to worry about working out all those nests!
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The Rhino 10
is an affordable pontoon boat packed full of features |
Pelican Boats (Watercraft): Pelican boats has come a long way in the design and
manufacture of their mini pontoon boats since we first looked at the Bass
Tracker 8 a year ago. Pelican's new Pontoon boat the Rhino 10 brings the idea of
the "mini bass boat" to reality with an affordable rigid platform that sports
built in rod holders, a covered battery box, live well, padded seats, drink
holders, deck draining, and pre-wiring for the trolling motor/fish finder. While
not the most portable solution, the Rhino 10 is perfect for those who want great
stability from a boat which can fit in the back of a truck or on top of a SUV.
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John Hoge,
Vice President of Sea Eagle and Panther Martin showed us the extremely
diverse solutions that ranged from the affordable "surf mat" to the
"Fisherman's dream kit." John also introduced us to the popular Panther
Martin spinners in new holographic colors (lower right) |
Sea Eagle (Watercraft): Harrison Hoge Industries is the parent company to some of the
most recognizable fishing branded products including Panther Martin, and the
ever popular Sea Eagle boats. This year John Hoge, Vice President, showed us an
extremely diverse range of products. Sea Eagle boats impressed us earlier this
year with the very flexible Paddleski. At ICAST John proved to us that Sea Eagle
produces a boat for every occasion. Sea Eagle is known for ultra-portable boats
that are durable, flexible in application, and yet are amazingly affordable. To
show us just how vast the Sea Eagle line was John walked us through products
that ranged from a fun "surf mat" to top selling Kayaks, and well appointed
fishing boats.
In addition, we were introduced to old favorites
like Panther Martin spinners and Superior frogs in new transparent and
holographic colors. Overall Harrison Hoge Industries sported the greatest range
of products at the show.
Conclusion: ICAST was quite a show, and though it wasn't open to the
public it was a great opportunity for manufacturers to show off a variety of
products to buyers and the press. TackleTour wants to thank everyone at the
show, especially the 8 manufacturers above that really got our attention with
products that allow us to fish longer, more effectively, and easier. All of the
manufacturers above have products that are real winners thanks to intelligent
design, high quality construction, and prices that make it possible for all
anglers to get in on the latest and greatest solutions that help make fishing
the great sport it is today.
Thanks for a great show
guys!
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