ICAST Coverage Day 2 - Its getting hot in the Rod Market
 

Introduction: As we stepped outside of our hotel to make our way to the convention center for day two we immediately were confronted with what felt like a  solid wall of heat, it was if someone turned on a giant hair dryer and aimed it right at our faces. It was in fact a near record temperature day in Las Vegas with the thermometer tipping out near 100 degrees, but we had no idea that the temperature wasn't the hottest thing in Vegas that day, it would be the competition in the highly contested rod market. 

Shimano: Shimano has arguably made more moves in the rod category in the last three seasons than just about anyone. The company went from having what most anglers regarded as just mainstream and value rods to having some of the best rods in the industry when it comes to quality, value, and warranty. Thanks to exceptional product design and product management Shimano is now giving both fresh and saltwater anglers a premium quality rod that pairs perfectly with high end products like the Calcutta TE DC and the new Torsa. This ICAST the company put the whole puzzle together, introducing the Torsa and Trevala jigging rod. The company didn't just engineer a brand new rod they created a system that allows anglers to fish a broader range of new techniques. It was this type of forward thinking that rewarded Shimano with the ICAST Best of Show Award in the rod category for the Trevela.

Trevala "ICAST Best of Show": Would you have put your money down in Vegas that Shimano would walk away with the Best of Show in the rod category? There was one person that never had a doubt, and that was Shimano Rod Product Manager Robby Gant. Shimano pushed saltwater jigging with Butterfly jigs with the introduction of both the Trevala jigging rod and their own line of butterfly jigs at the show. The technique was developed by Japanese anglers just a few years ago and has revolutionized deep water jigging. Anglers were fishing depths over 500 feet with superlines coupled with fluorocarbon shock leaders and original jig designs. Shimano saw an opportunity and created a new jig design. This new jig no longer has a hook at the bottom and instead has a circle hub on top of a flat jig with two stinger hooks extending outwards and down. These swinging hooks (more information about these in our ICAST lure coverage)

"By using our proven TC4 construction process, we're able to offer an extremely slim blank design, and yet still achieve powerful blank strength," stated Robby Gant. "The sensitivity from the wrapped graphite helps anglers feel every movement of the butterfly jig and every movement of the fish, while the inner and outer wrapped T glass provides the needed durability from the direct fight with the fish." The Trevala rods feature extremely ergonomically shaped EVA grips that prevent the rod from rocking side to side when vertically jigging. These rods are dedicated to butterfly jigging action, and the rods design makes it extremely easy to hold the rod and get the precise motion necessary to bring these jigs to life. Eight rods are available in the series and the casting models are designed to balance out perfectly with the Trinidad or Torsa, and the spinning versions feel perfect coupled with a premium Stella. In Shimano rod tradition the Trevala rods are an exceptional value at 99.99 to 149.99.