ICAST 2023

[Leprechaun]

As with every season, I'll be dropping new product announcements in this thread, as I find them.

First up is a splash from Daiwa - open the link and you can scroll thru the different rods and reels under each header. So far nothing really jumps out at me from Daiwa, maybe the Free Swimmer 3000 would be an interesting choice for light spinning tackle bunker drifting.

iCast

Our flagship model, Exist has personified excellence throughout Daiwa's history, and now the new Exist LT introduces even more ground-breaking Daiwa technology. The all new Exist LT features our brand-new Light & Tough (LT) concept, reducing reel size while at the same time increasing strength...

daiwa.us

Also, I'm seeing chatter that Penn is blowing out their Clash II inventory at a solid discount. If so, this would be a nice pickup, if you want a good quality light spinner - for tog jigging and the such. Mine has been flawless for a couple of seasons - and of course I paid full boat. You can read my specific Clash II thoughts in the Hands-on Tackle thread, pinned to the top of this board.

 

[Leprechaun]

The new Stradic FM looks like it has (needed) gear train improvements, called InfinityX Cross Drive, and a drag disk material improvement. Both of those, along with a couple of other somewhat lesser tweeks have migrated downward from the top of the line Stella. In Japan its called Stradic PV, here it will be the Stradic FM.

 

[Leprechaun]

More from Shimano. Note the new Curado.

 

[Leprechaun]

New Shimano Curado M:

 

[Leprechaun]

Better pic of the new Stradic FM. Looks like its painted white, like the original couple of Stradic versions from 20 years ago. But no, its silver aluminum, as all the recent version were. It does seem that Shimano addressed a couple of the issues I had with the FL - mostly the 2023 Micro-Module II gears, with their small-ish teeth. Shimano kept the MMII gears, but beefed them up with one or another of their new technologies. They have so many names for their tech, I just can't keep up. Anyway this makes the new Stradic much more desirable to me. They were always about the prettiest of spinners. I know, I'm shallow.

 

[Leprechaun]

A solid walk-thru of the Shimano ICAST booth. The reels are first, the FW rods begin at 4:07 of the videon and the SW at 7:49.

 

[Leprechaun]

Here's the new Penn Spinfisher VII.

 

[Leprechaun]

More on the new Stradic FM.

 

[Leprechaun]

A nice rundown of the new Daiwa goodies

 

[Leprechaun]

A full accounting of every product category winner. Amazingly, American Tackle won the overall Best of Show - for their new carbon rod handle design - hard to believe. It must be SOME handle, to beat the new Stradic with all its migrated-down Stella technology.



A dedicated video of this "Wonder Handle." It IS very nice, indeed.

G2 Tsuka Carbon Handle System

Winner of ICAST 2020's Best Fishing Accessory, the G2 Tsuka Handle System is the most advanced rod handle ever produced. While fishing rod blanks have improved through modern advances in carbon and resin systems, handles have remained relatively static using EVA or cork grips with nylon/plastic...

www.americantackle.us

 

[george]

Hey Pete, are there any new or redesigned reels youre excited about?

 

[Leprechaun]

Not really. Seems to be a down year for stunning releases. No need to look further than a feakin' rod handle winning Best of Show to see that.

The Stradic FM and Curado M are more evolutionary than revolutionary. I do like the change of gearing that Shimano made to the new Stradic - it was needed. So that's something, anyway.

 

[Leprechaun]

Here's a link to Alan Hawk's Blog page concerning ICAST 2023. You will not find a better critical thinker in the world of fishing reels. No one I know of puts more effort into his reel reviews. Here's his in-person recounting of what he saw at ICAST. Its long, but very comprehensive.

ICAST 2023 - AlanHawk.com

ICAST 2023 - AlanHawk.com

www.alanhawk.com

 

[longcast]

Here's a link to Alan Hawk's Blog page concerning ICAST 2023. You will not find a better critical thinker in the world of fishing reels. No one I know of puts more effort into his reel reviews. Here's his in-person recounting of what he saw at ICAST. Its long, but very comprehensive.

ICAST 2023 - AlanHawk.com

ICAST 2023 - AlanHawk.com

www.alanhawk.com

Great read, great writer.

 

[Leprechaun]

And right on time, here's Tackle Tour's quick take/rundown of the new Stradic FM's upgrades over the last version. I like what Shimano did with this reel:

Shimano Stradic M spinning reel #shimanostradicm #stradicm #icast23

The anglers source for tackle news and reviews. 100% independent review site.

www.tackletour.com