Interesting New Stuff at "Virtual ICAST 2020"

[Leprechaun]

First up is the new ABU Zenon spinner with a magnesium body and rotor:

Doubtful that this one will make anyone's "must have" list, as magnesium and SW is a big no-no. The 499.99 List Price might be a bit off-putting as well. Isn't that around the same List Price as the Van Stall VR-50? Yeah, I think I know where I'd spend my half-thou.

Next up is the new Abu Zeta baitcaster. I believe this one has a new type of "carbon" (meaning plastic) frame. Don't see this one displacing any of the big Shimano or Daiwa players in the $180 price range. Not at its $500 List Price, anyways. . .

Now this one shows more promise - its the new Lews KVD baitcaster. With an aluminum frame, brass gears and a 20lb-rated drag system, it might be a best buy in the $90 - $139 range. Its a pretty little thing as well. Looks like a cross between a Gen4 Revo and a Curado K.

So by now just about everyone knows about the Accurist reels from Quantum; in no small part because of the fluke fishing vids put out by a certain YouTube personality, as well as the near endless email spamming from a popular NJ tackle vendor. Hmmm, do I smell a bit of "collusion" here? Quick, someone call Shifty Schiff! Investigate! Anyway, last season I took one apart and reviewed it on this board, and found it pretty nice for the $99 List Price. Here, have a look-see at that write-up:

New Quantum Accurist S3 Bait Caster - Not Bad At All!

So, I am "lucky" enough to see plenty of reels come across my bench (some bench - its actually the top drawers of my Snap-on top cab, with a towel across them), LOL! Most of these are in pretty dire shape, but I get more than few every season that are brandy-new, with a request for some sort of...

nyangler.com

The problem with Quantum has always been the inconsistent level of parts availability. Eh, maybe they've addressed this, I can't really say, as I normally don't take in Quantum reels for service any longer. Not if I can avoid it, anyways.

And here's Garmin's latest wristwatch-style GPS. I like anything Garmin and this looks to be just the thing to pinch top-secret drop locations from your favorite charter captain. Hey, no worries, they LIKE when you do that sort of thing. Only $1,150, so not quite a best-buy.

Anybody try a lithium battery in your boat yet? No one? Me neither, and I never will, after seeing a series of $100K Tesla's burned to the ground, due to weird lithium battery issues. I think I'll pass, in perpetuity. But hey, for a mere $2,899, you can have the very latest in marine battery technology spinning over your trusty 1975 Evinrude 40. They say it can replace THREE Group-31 batteries, so maybe it IS a best buy. For the Zuckerberg/Bezos-income level crowd, that is.

Seaguar Gold Label Fluoro leader material - stated to be the thinnest and strongest leader on the market. Available on 25-yd spools. Not crazy-expensive at around $18. I'm not a "fluoro-guy," but for that price I will probably give it whirl to see what the fluoro-fuss is all about.

I'm a huge fan of anything Sufix, and this new braid "ProMix," is said to retain its color twice as long as other braids. That is actually a step forward, as even my fav, Sufix 832 will bleach/leach much of its color after a full season's use. No word on whether its a 4 or 8-thread weave though. More investigation needed:

So HERE'S something I might actually buy. Sufix's new "131" braid. Woven with 12 fibers plus a central Gore-Tex core, this is the logical step-up from my fav line, "832." Claimed to be the smoothest, quietest, most round braided line out there. Sufix is a good as it gets, so I don't really doubt them. Not insanely expensive at $40/150 yds - at least not in the context of JDM-available super braids, which can go up to (and over) $100/100 yds.

This one is obviously not for the "Power-Pro is good enough" crowd. Rather, its really intended for the more discriminating angler. Is that you? Good! Then you're like me! Meh, though it IS an incurable illness, its nothing to be ashamed of, believe me. I've learned to live with it. You can too. Seriously, I really do want to try it. Well, maybe when my business returns to pre-COVID levels. . . whenever THAT is. I hope they're still making it by then.

This one is interesting and looks to be an upgrade to the older-style Plano plastic boxes we all own. I like the much more substantial dividers, which has always been a peave of mine. Also, it appears that the crummy old hinges and chinsy snap lock tabs have been upgraded as well. Available in the popular 3600 and 3700-sizes. No List Price stated, but come on, how bad could it be? Its freakin' plastic, after all.

 

[Leprechaun]

Here's something that might fill a need for many, including me. Sick and tired of having multiple ring terminals cluttering up the top of your battery posts? This new item looks to be a solution. Called the Hydra Cover, by THMarine, it not only de-clutters your Batt posts, but provides an excellent cover, keeping sparks (or errant dropped tools) from immolating your beloved vessel. I like it:

How's about breaking the hammer-lock that Helly Hansen and Grundens have on the foul weather gear market? Wanna try something else, from an excellent manufacturer of rugged work and outdoorwear? Carhartt Shoreline Waterproof Breathable Jacket and Bib would fill that mid-season requirement for a set of skins that wont cook you to death on a hot, rainy August day. I hate that. Around $130 per top or bottom, its got all the correct construction features, fully-taped triple-stitch waterproofed seems, poly-mesh lining, Full zip fronts, yada, yada, yada, you know, the works. Every piece of Carhartt clothing I've every owned has exceeded my expectations, and so I do not doubt this set will give a very long service life.

And finally, as I get on in years, something like this next item is starting to make more sense. Particularly so these past few seasons, as I do like to get out in the boat by myself once in a while. I have to admit, my balance is not quite as strong as it was 10 years ago, not nearly so. And so for the first time I'm giving serious thought to wearing an Auto-inflating life vest. One that is not so intrusive or confining. This one looks to fill the ticket nicely. Around $189.

So of what I've seen so far from the ICAST 2020 show, these are the goodies that struck me as interesting. I'll add more as I see them put before the public.

 

[holty]

Good stuff Pete!

regards Holty

 

[Snapprhead27]

I'm interested in seeing how those Carhartt's work out. Would like something different then the HH I have now that indeed do cook you on those certain days. Great write ups!

 

[george]

This is great Pete! Thanks!

 

[Leprechaun]

How about another 300-sized Daiwa bait caster to go with their Lexa lineup? This is the latest, the Tatula 300. Its a more sophisticated reel than the Lexa 300, built more for casting, has the T-wing swing-away line guide, an aluminum frame, and come in at an ounce lighter than its Lexa 300 cousin. It is available in 6.3:1 and 7.1:1 gear ratios and carries a list price of $269.95 - which I believe is double what Daiwa asks for the Lexa? Is it twice the reel the Lexa is? Who knows? It won't be available to the public for another month or so.

But if its as good as most of the other newer Daiwa offerings, it could be just the thing for fluke jiggers that are looking for more reel than the more or less "standard" 200-sized reels, and also a higher-end "user experience" than the Lexa 300 provides. I'm sure we'll see actual use reviews in the coming months.

 

[Leprechaun]

New Daiwa BG- MQ salt water spinners - It looks like Daiwa's proprietary one-piece Monocoque aluminum body system is migrating down-line from their very high-end Certate reels, in this case to a complete re-vamped BG series. Priced start from $199.99- $279.99, available in all the popular sizes: 2500-20000. The body is anodized, not painted, so that's a good thing. I need to find out what the gears are made of. I can deal with aluminum gears, but pleeeze Daiwa, for the love of God, no zinc gearing!!!

Also, I am NOT a fan of their Mag-seal bearings, as Daiwa has steadfastly refused to make their mag-seal oil available to the public. This means that if your mag-sealed bearing-equipped reel needs service, and every reel must be serviced eventually, it MUST be returned to Daiwa or a Daiwa-certified service shop. Yeah, ahh, no thanks.



EDIT: This reels does indeed carry a set of zinc gears, but no mag seal bearings, thank the Lord! So, its a kind of a Lose/Win. Sort of.

 

[Leprechaun]

New Daiwa updated Harrier slow pitch rods. I own one of the original blue Harrier slow pitch spinners - the 63MS, and its a particular favorite of mine. These new rods update the blank construction and come in an interesting new paint scheme - though that means nothing performance-wise, of course!. I see the baitcaster in the vid, still researching whether or not there will be spinning versions. Look to be priced around double what the original blue rods were/are, at $199. I think these are Daiwa’s response to Shimano's introduction of their new mid-market Grappler slow pitch series.

 

[CaptFP]

Any of Abu Garcia's low profile baitcasters made in Sweden or are they all Chinese imports?

 

[Leprechaun]

None are "Chinese imports." They are all built in Korea, by Doyo, a very well-respected OEM manufacturer, that also provides Daiwa and Shimano with some of their reels.

 

[NoFlukenName]

Great read - thanks for taking the time to do these overviews.