Best of ICAST - Fishing Line: Seaguar Gold Label Fluorocarbon Leader: This is one that Cal lobbied hard for, and being our resident line expert he described Seaguar Gold Label as the domestic version of the Grand Max, and how it is the best of the best when it comes to leaders. This is the leader that he personally uses for a lot of his pairing with braid for fishing everything from jigs to swimbaits. This exciting new fluorocarbon leader material manufactured using a dual extrusion process to unite a strong, sensitive core with a soft, supple exterior. This process is proprietary to Seaguar and allows the manufacturer to produce a fluorocarbon leader that's thinner, stronger with better knot strength than anything they've offered before. Previously only offered in strengths that benefit saltwater anglers (15-40lb), the manufacturer is introducing strengths for freshwater anglers (2 to 12lb). Bass Pros Mark Daniels Jr. and Brandon Palaniuk have been using Gold Label over the past year to up their leader game and marvel over the small diameters yet incredible strength and suppleness. Gold Label comes with an MSRP of $16.99 to $18.99 for a 25 yard spool and is already available at Tackle Warehouse.

Best of ICAST - Terminal Tackle: Z-Man Pro BulletZ™ Weedless Jighead: The new Z-Man Pro BulletZ™ Weedless Jighead offers anglers a new tool that is essentially a Texas rig and a weedless jig in one. This piece of terminal tackle features a built-in bullet sinker and a custom size 3/0 and 4/0 heavy duty VMC extra wide gap hook. A molded keeper holds ElaZtech softbaits securely, and allows for quick, easy rigging. Its snag-free, bullet shaped jighead is designed to pair seamlessly with popular ElaZtech baits, including the new Pro CrawZ™, as well as a variety of Z-Man swimbaits, worms, creatures, and craws. While optimized for the ElaZtech lineup it can also be easily used with other branded baits that can benefit from the hybrid design. The Pro BulletZ will be available in September in a wide range of weights and sizes in either black or green pumpkin finishes and will retail for $6.49 at Tackle Warehouse.

Best of ICAST - Fishing Apparel : Diffuse AIR-O Mesh Fishing Shorts: One of the reasons major reasons why we wear shorts is because they are more comfortable in hot weather conditions and Aftco takes ventilation to the extreme with the AIR-O Mesh shorts. Last year, at ICAST 2019, AFTCO's Yurei AIR-O MESH Hooded Performance Shirt was a big hit. This year, they're taking that same, super breathable fabric to create the Diffuse AIRO-O Mesh fishing short complete with a reinforced utility pocket for pliers, AFLEX 4-way stretch for mobility, and DWR treatment to prevent stains. This water repellent short will be offered in three colors and retail for $59 when it debuts this upcoming Spring. The AIR-O mesh has just the right blend of functionality and style and looks like the perfect pair of shorts to fish in all day long, and kick back in, preferably with a cold one, when back on shore.

Best of ICAST - Fishing Apparel Foul Weather Gear : Simms Pro Dry Jacket and Bib: There are a lot of good foul weather gear options out there but Simms Pro Dry is a great one. No it isn't cheap, but it is the company's flagship rainsuit for bass fishermen for a reason. It is over-engineered in the very best way and has now been updated with a more waterproof, yet breathable fabric than any previous generation. By using two different fabrics in this new ProDry generation from the Gore-Tex portfolio, Simms has tailored protection and comfort to suit the angler's needs reinforcing areas like the hood and shoulders of the jacket with heavier denier Gore-Tex, then using a lighter, Pro Shell elsewhere for better range of motion, fit, and comfort. Other improvements include their new Shingle Cuff in the sleeves constructed of a stretch material allowing a better, water-tight seal around the wrists. Each piece in this suit, the jacket and bib, are sold separately for $599.95 each and will be available later this season.

Best of ICAST - Storage : Plano EDGE FLEX Series:  The EDGE tackle series was already a major upgrade from traditional boxes offering easy one handed latch design, o-ring seals, pre-separated vented dividers, Rustrictor™ technology for rust protection, an easy label system, and a moisture wicking packet to keep lures in top condition after use. This ICAST the company added to the line with the even more configurable Flex Series, the first StowAway to allow the user to customize the entire internal divider system. The new 3600 and 3700 Flex boxes are like a blank canvas, and allow literally endless options for anglers to personalize their storage for any particular fishing application, technique, lure type, species, or trip. Like the previously launched EDGE boxes the Flex Series makes use of heavy-duty steel-pin hinges, a one-hand opening latch, a durable ribbed base and a lid that lends itself to stacking multiple units. These boxes are built tough and are designed to last a lifetime. The EDGE 3600 Flex will retail for $29.99 and the 3700 Flex will retail for $39.99, and both of these boxes will be available for purchase in the Nov-Dec timeframe from Tackle Warehouse.

Best of ICAST - Watercraft : Old Town Sportsman 106 Motorized Kayak Powered by Minn Kota: Kayak fishing is absolutely blowing up and watercraft manufacturers are creating new kayaks that are specifically designed for anglers to get to the fish faster, navigate bigger water, and back home safely. The Old Town Sportsman 106 is designed to do exactly that but there is nothing old school about this new watercraft. This kayak is designed to be fast, maneuverable, and easy to transport and by equipping the 106 with a 45lb. thrust 12V saltwater class Minn Kota motor it is designed to get anglers where they want to go faster and with less effort. The throttle is just like what you would find in a boat and is intuitively designed and has a battery meter to ensure that anglers know how much juice they have left. This motor combines with foot brace steering so that anglers can enjoy hands free fishing and still maintain maneuverability. When it comes time to transport the 106 on land the motor can be lifted and the low profile kayak can easily be car-topped. The assembled hull weighs 104 pounds and the motor console weighs 17 lbs., and usable capacity for people and gear is 404lbs. total. This hi-tech kayak measures 10'6" in length and has a width of 37" making it a manageable size for most anglers, and a good solution for anglers in fresh and inshore applications. The 106 will be available in Photic Camo (green) and Ember Camo (Orange) and is priced at $2499.99 dollars, which is pretty reasonable considering the integrated Minn Kota motor, and will be available on September 1st.

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