ICAST 2017
New Product Showcase
Saltwater Winners
Best of Category – Saltwater Reel
Shimano Sustain FI
Company: Shimano American Corp.
Product: Sustain Reel FI C4000 and 5000
Retail Price: $299-$309
Availablity: Late Summer 2017
Description
The Shimano Sustain FI is the newest version of the Sustain family of reels and is currently available for pre-order at the time of this article. The Shimano Sustain FI finds itself lodged in between the top of the line Shimano Stella and the Shimano Stradic ci4.
Geared toward the avid or professional angler, the Shimano Sustain comes in 4 sizes that range from 2500 up to a 5000 and offer between 20 lbs and 24 lbs of drag. New this year to the Sustain FI is the inclusion of Shimano’s Hagane gear technology and body design along with X-Protect, Cross Carbon Washers, and the MGL Rotor.
Overall this looks like an excellent addition to the Shimano lineup of spinning reels geared toward the saltwater angler. Read the full Shimano Sustain Fi Review HERE.
Best of Category – Saltwater Rod
St. Croix Legend Tournament Inshore
Company: St Croix Rods
Product: Legend Tournament Inshore
Retail Price: $280 – $340
Availablity: End of November 2017 – Pre-Order Now!
Description
Designed for the avid angler or tournament fisherman, the St. Croix Legend Tournament Inshore spinning and casting rods are constructed of high-modulus/high strain SCIV graphite material with FRS for unparalleled durability and strength along with being extremely lightweight rods. Features include a Fuji TVS reel seat with built-in hood for spinning and a Fuji PST reel seat for casting. Kigan Master Hand Zero Tangle guides with slim, strong aluminum-oxide rings and titanium frames are used to ensure maximum protection from saltwater corrosion.
I was able to test this rod at the On The Water ICAST event and its performance was simply “Amazing”.
Read the full St. Croix Legend Tournament Inshore Review HERE
Best of Category – Saltwater Soft Lure
Live Target Hollow Body Mullet
Company: Live Target
Product: Hollow Body Mullet
Retail Price: $13.49 – $14.59
Availablity: Now
Description
The LiveTarget Hollow Body Mullet soft lure was the winner of the Saltwater Soft Lure category at ICAST for 2017. LiveTarget has created a realistic profile and a lifelike color pattern that allows you to fool even the smartest of fish. This lure is easy to skip under the heaviest of mangrove cover, docks or other brush. Walk the dog with ease or flip it across the surface for a bubble trail. The hollow-body is a snag-proof design with a proprietary hook that allows anglers to fish it through mangrove cover, floating grass or any other situation that would normally get you caught up.
The Hollow Body Mullet is available in three sizes 3 3/4″ 3/8 oz, 4 1/2″ 1/2 oz and 5 3/8″ 5/8 oz. Each is available in three color patterns of Natural/Black, Natural Brown, and Silver.
Best of Category – Saltwater Hard Lure
Rapala X-Rap Magnum 40
Company: Rapala
Product: X-Rap Magnum 40
Retail Price: $24.99
Availablity: Now
Description
This years winner of ICAST “Best Saltwater Hard Lure” is the Rapala X-Rap Magnum 40, used for off-shore trolling for big game fish. The massive diving-lip takes the X-Rap Magnum to depths of 15 – 40 feet depending on your speed and can be trolled at speeds of up to 13 knots. Features include a textured, translucent, x-style plastic body and internal scale pattern. The Rapala X-Rap is 7 inches long and weighs nearly 3 1/2 ounces. It’s available in 20 big-water color patterns and comes with two steel hooks.
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