Article by Larry Jock
Each year during the summer in Las Vegas, all of the fishing product manufacturers convene to display their products and vie for the coveted “Best New Product” award in several categories. Here are some of the winners:
Best Saltwater Reel
No stranger to winning awards, Shimano took top honors with their new Stella SW 30000 saltwater reel at ICAST 2013.
Stellas have been around for 20 years, and are not for the faint of heart, especially when it comes to the pocketbook. But many serious fishermen swear by them, both from the surf and on offshore boats as well.
The huge, good looking SW 30000 has set itself apart from the competition through pure beef. With the constant introduction of new, smaller and smaller diameter braided line, more anglers are looking to head offshore to fight large fish on spinning gear and need enhanced line capacity to handle the job. Landing in a class of “super spinners”, the 30000 can hold 300 yards of 50 lb. PowerPro or 250 yards of 60 lbs. PowerPro.
Shimano didn’t just beef up the rigidity of the exterior of the reel, they also enhanced its smoothness with the larger washers of the X-Touch Drag. The reel is designed to take on large tuna and can handle a maximum drag of 44 lbs. Its Power Aluminum Body, X-Rigid Rotor, X-Rigid Body and X-Rigid Hangle are designed to prevent reel flex and loss of power.
The reel also has Shimano’s Propulsion Line Management System, a cold forged aluminum spool, a stopperless design that eliminates the anti-reverse switch, 14 ball bearings and a beefed up gear system and a weight of 34.9 oz.
There are currently 12 models in the Stella SW line-up, and like I mentioned earlier, they are in a price range that will definitely take a bite out of your bank account. The cheapest in the line, the STL5000 retails for $1,059.99 and the big STL30000 sells for around $1,400. Although this seems like a lot of money, if you want to head offshore for big fish on spinning gear, this is your ticket to stardom!
Best Saltwater Rod
St. Croix topped the competition with their LegendXtreme Inshore fishing rods. These are considered the top of the line for St. Croix and have been re-engineered to improve sensitivity. The graphite rods are reinforced with “super high modulus SC-VI graphite” for added weight reduction and increased strength and power. The most noticeable feature on these rods is St. Croix’s TET (Taper Enhancement Technology) blank design with curved patterns and a split reel seat that the company claims improves actions and increases sensitivity.
The rods also feature the Fuji K-R Concept Tangle-free guides that are smaller than standard rod guides but still make for easier threading than micro guides. The entire line is designed to handle fluorocarbon, monofilament and braided lines.
St. Croix offers 17 spinning rod models and another 12 casting rods in their LegendXtreme family in lengths ranging from 5’9” to 7’11”. The casting rods can handle line weights ranging from 6 lbs. up to 12 lbs., while the casting models go from 8 lbs. all the way up to 30 lbs. on the 7’11” model.
Like most products in the fishing world lately, the LegendXtreme rods are murder on the wallet, starting at $350 and work their way up to $430. Check with your favorite local tackle shop for availability.
Best Tackle Management
Is there really any company out there better than Plano Molding Company when it comes to making storage systems? I don’t think there is. The company continues to come out with new products that make it easier to keep your things organized and in good shape.
At the 2013 awards, Plano took 1st place with their new 3700 Series Guide Series Tackle Bag.
After listening to professional anglers, guides and customers, Plano redesigned their entire line of Guide Series Tackle Bags to include a readily available top box and 5 other StowAway boxes underneath, all secured with elastic ties on a molded top. When the bite changes all you have to do is rotate out the top box with one of the other boxes and all your tackle becomes easily accessible.
The Guide Series Tackle Bag line comes in four sizes. The award winning 3700 Hydro-Flo Guide Series Bag measures 20”Lx13”Wx13”H and comes with 6 3600 Series ProLatch StowAway boxes with one quick access box secured on the molded top. Sunglasses, cell phones, watches and other valuables can be stored in two padded pockets and there are large, dual compartment side pockets that are deep and wide. The bag also features a pocket for your pliers and a wallet sleeve between the end pockets and the main body.
The Hydro-Flo Bag also comes with the Hydro-Flo base so water can flow right through when fishing in bad weather or other wet situations.
You can purchase the 3700 Guide Series Tackle Bag for around $100 and you can always count on Plano to give you a well made product.
Best Eyewear
I must confess, I am a huge fan of Costa sunglasses and currently own several pairs, so I wasn’t surprised to see Costa take the top prize in the Best Eyewear category for their new Tuna Alley model.
I own a pair of Tuna Alley sunglasses and they quickly became my favorite. They feature a large, nylon frame (for us with big domes), a wrap-around fit that reduces glare, vents to cut down on fogging and sturdy hinges. Like most Costa sunglasses, the interior has a no-slip lining that keep your frames snug and in place even when it is hot outside and sweat is pouring off you.
The Tuna Alley frames come in tortoise, matte black, white (ugh!), crystal and the new blackout frame colors. You can get the frames with the 400G, 580G (glass) or 580P lenses.
All Costa sunglasses come with a lifetime warranty against manufacturer’s defect. A few years ago, a pair of mine cracked and all it took was a phone call to Costa and the frames were replaced with no hassle at all.
Tuna Alley frames paired with the 400G and the 580P lenses will run you between $169 and $179, while the 580G lenses can cost around $250.
If you are looking for a great pair of sunglasses that not only look good, but also give you excellent eye protection and clarity on the water, check out Costa’s Tuna Alley or any of their other sunglasses. They are definitely worth the money.
Best Line
You have to figure that it must be a challenge for fishing line manufacturers to come up with some change or gimmick to attract anglers to get them to switch over to their product. I mean, it’s fishing line! How can they improve on it? Monofilament disappears faster than it ever has and braided line keeps getting thinner and thinner. So what can they come up with next? Well, the scientists at PowerPro have developed a braid that gives you 100% knot strength when tied in a certain area of the line. PowerPro Zero-Impact, winner of the Best Line category at ICAST, is a superline that when tied in the black “Termination Zones” provides just that.
PowerPro Zero-Impact is available in Hi-Vis Yellow and Aqua Green in 20 lb., 30 lb., 50 lb., 65 lb., 80 lb. and 100 lb. spools. You can also buy large spools in 150 yards, 300 yards and 500 yard spools.
I haven’t had a chance to check out the Zero Impact line myself, but I know it will be tough for me to switch from my current favorite braided line, PowerPro’s Super 8 Slick. That braid, like the Daiwa Saltiga line, is like silk, making it easy on your guides and casts like a rocket.
A 150 yard spool of the Zero-Impact line retails for $25.99 (compared to $19.99 for the Super Slick 8) and the 500 yard spools of 80 lb. line will run you around $79.99.
Best Boat
It is not hard to see that more and more anglers are hitting our local bay waters in kayaks and we are even hearing of offshore anglers launching kayaks from larger boats in order to fight offshore pelagics. Kayaks are certainly a lot cheaper than buying a fishing boat and if you tend to fish alone it is an option to get you out on the water.
At the 2013 ICAST show, Johnson Outdoors Watercraft won top honors for their Predator 13 kayak.
The Predator 13 features a stable multi-hull design, extra-wide beams and adjustable, removable seats that rate high in comfort. The kayak is large and the slip-resistant Exo-Ridge deck allows you to stand up while fishing. As with most new kayak models coming to market, the 13-foot Predator 13 is lightweight (72 lbs.) has a lot of cargo space for coolers, livewells and various fishing gear. Six mounting plates provide you the opportunity to attach rod holders, GPS mounts or other accessories without drilling holes into your hull. It was also designed to accommodate trolling motors.
The Predator 13 has an MSRP of $1,199 which is half the cost of its competitor, and winner of the 2012 ICAST Best Boat Award, Hobie’s Pro Angler Kayak.
Best Apparel
Shimano took an additional award for their Dryfender Insulated Raingear. The Dryfender is waterproof and breathable raingear that is lightweight and fully seam sealed to keep the water out.
The jacket features water-resistant pocket zippers and an adjustable cuff with inner adjustable sleeve gaiters for warmth. The bib and suspenders are removeable in case you want to wear them as pants. You will also find zippered side legs, a side leg plier pocket and a side leg cargo pocket.
The Dryfender Insulated Raingear come in red/black and blue/black combinations. The bibs retail for around $219 and the jacket goes for $249.
Chef’s Choice Model 710 Marine Sharpening Station
I was recently sent the Chef’s Choice Marine Sharpening Station to try and I must admit, I was pretty impressed. The knife sharpener put a great edge on my fishing knives and also worked well sharpening my fishing hooks.
The station has 3 sharpeners, one for knives, a removable one for scissors and another removable one for fishing hooks. The process has 2 stages. The first stage uses 100% diamond to put more of a sharp, rough edge on your blade. You then follow-up with a finer edge on both your straight and serrated knives.
One feature that I liked was the tight, precise angle guides that take all the guess work out of running your blades through the sharpener. Just slip the knife in the guide and gently run it through. Pretty simple.
The sharpener operates on either 120V-AC or 12V-DC and the removable hook sharpener uses 2 AA batteries. The unit also has suction cups on its base to provide increased stability.
You can find the Chef’s Choice Marine Sharpening Station at various locations for around $189.99.
Please remember to shop with local tackle shops and retailers for all your fishing needs. These businesses are vital to the local fishing community and deserve our support. Make sure you check with them first for all your tackle and apparel purchases.
