What’s Hot at ICAST 2024
by Richard Simms, CrappieNOW Editor
ICAST, the world’s largest fishing tackle show, wrapped up a week ago in Orlando, Fla. The annual show of the International Convention of Allied Sportfishing Trades, is the largest fishing tackle show in the world – typically featuring every new fishing product made, so far anyway.
Here are just a few of the latest and greatest products revealed of interest to crappie anglers at the famous ICAST show
NEW LURES
ACME Tackle Kastmaster Moonshine Glow Spoons
Acme Tackle and the newly acquired Moonshine Lures have combined the best of both worlds for this coming ice fishing season. They have taken the top 3 selling sizes of Acme Kastmasters (1/12 oz, 1/24 oz and 1/8 oz) and added the best Glow/UV paint colors to create 8 stunning color options. Use these on your favorite large or small body of water to catch crappie, bluegill or walleye. (MSRP $5.49 – $5.99)
American Baitworks Nanosnak
The NanoSnak—part of the NanoCrappie Series, with its innovative Pintail Design creates an erratic, enticing action that triggers aggressive strikes from Crappie and Panfish. The Ribbed Body adds subtle micro vibrations, enhancing the bait’s lifelike appeal and effectively holding scent for a longer-lasting crappie snack. Supercharged with BaitFuel. (MSRP $3.79)
Berkley Fusion19 Hybrid Jighead
Building off the success and premium components of the Fusion19 swimbait jighead, the brand new Fusion19 Hybrid Jighead has all of the same great features with a roundball jig construction and 90-degree line tie. This versatile jighead gives provides anglers with a low center of gravity to maintain precise balance and the opportunity to pair it with a variety of soft bait shapes and sizes to help weary fish commit to bite. It will come in 1/32nd up to 3/8th ounce sizes in colors including Pearl White, Chartreuse, Firetiger, Fish Head, Chrome or unpainted. (MSRP $5.99-$6.99)
Berkley Powerbait Drip Minnow
The PowerBait Drip Minnow was meticulously designed to mimic shiners and other baitfish with an internal core and over-molded body creating contrast and adding unmatched detail to the bait. The unique drip-shaped tail provides anglers with a subtle and responsive action depending on how the angler moves their rod. For anglers looking to up their finesse fishing game, Berkley’s newest softbait features their proven HD Tru Color technology with never-before-seen colorway options. (MSRP $8.99)
Bobby Garland Head Turn’R Jig
The Head Turn’R Jig is a first of its kind for the crappie market. Twin willow blades keep spinning no matter what direction the bait is moving, allowing for 360 degrees of action. The Bobby Garland Head Turn’R was designed with multiple techniques in mind. Paired with a small plastic swimbait, the Head Turn’R can be rigged for long line trolling, casting and retrieving, vertical jigging and dock shooting. The jighead’s design keeps the blades free from tangling at impact or during the fall. (MSRP: $6.99)
Road Runner Slab Spanker
The folks at Team Crappie/Road Runner revealed the new Slab Spanker. Ron Stallings, Marketing Director for TTI Blakemore said, “The Slab Spanker will be available is 1/16th and 1/8th ounce sizes with sickle hooks in 1/0 and 2/0. It comes with the Stroll’R body from Bobby Garland in nine different colors.” The unique button curly tail provides the action and thump that crappie love. The blade is an Indiana blade that provides sound and flash. You can cast, jig or troll this intense crappie lure! The Slab Spanker will be available Sept. 1, 2024. (MSRP: $3.69)
Z-MAN GUPPY GRUBZ
The 2” Micro Finesse Guppy GrubZ offers unmatched durability with 10X Tough ElaZtech, making it a top crappie-sized twister tail bait. Its broad, thin curly tail and natural minnow body attract crappies, perch, trout, and panfish. Compatible with Micro Finesse ShroomZ and Micro Shad HeadZ jig heads, these baits ensure lifelike buoyancy, softness, and durability. Available in 10 colors, including glow and high-vis hues. (8-pack MSRP $4.99)
Z-Man Micro WormZ™ Ice Fishing
USA-made with Z-Man’s exclusive ElaZtech® superplastic, the new Micro WormZ gets eaten by trout, crappie, perch and sunfish. Slender, segmented, tapering body & egg sack yield the perfect micro annelid imitation. The softbait’s wormy anatomy starts with a meaty head section for easy jighead rigging or wacky- or dropshot rigging. Delivering soft texture, buoyancy-driven action—and all-day durability—the Micro WormZ features 10 select colors. (MSRP: $4.99)
FISHING RODS
ACC 15′ Scopin’ Stix Freshwater Rods
Introducing the all-new 15′ Scopin’ Stix from ACC Crappie Stix. Designed for forward facing sonar, this vertical jigging crappie rod provides the extra reach needed to target highly pressured slabs. The 3-piece rod weighs only 9.6 ounces. It is medium action with a fast tip but strong backbone. MSRP: $159.99
Beaver Dam ‘Busch Light’ Ice Spinning Combo
The Acme Tackle Beaver Dam® Busch Light Ice Spinning Combo is a one-of-a-kind setup for the serious angler targeting bluegill, perch, and crappie. But this gear is as distinctive as it comes, available in 26″ or 32″ rod length. The lightweight rod is sensitive but strong, with a brightly-colored tip for detecting bites. The foam rod handle is extremely comfortable and the reel comes pre-spooled with 4-lb. mono, ready to hit the ice. Come by the Acme Tackle booth #3442 to see these combos. (MSRP: $39.99)
Okuma TEC Custom Crappie Rods
Introducing the new Okuma TEC Custom Crappie Rods, designed for superior performance and precision. Featuring ultra-sensitive carbon blanks and UFR tip technology, these rods provide unmatched sensitivity and strength. The comfortable EVA split grip handle ensures all-day comfort, while stainless steel guide frames with zirconium inserts offer smooth line flow. Lightweight and durable, the Okuma TEC Custom Crappie Rods are perfect for dedicated crappie anglers. MSRP: $149.99
FISHING LINE
Berkley FORWARD Braid
The new Berkley FORWARD braid is optimized and purpose built for forward-facing sonar technology. This proprietary line technology provides unique longitudinal construction which casts farther than conventional braid. Longitudinal construction also provides higher sensitivity than conventional braid. FORWARD Braid will have smaller diameters and weight ratios that will allow for the angler to cast their bait with less resistance, as well as pack more yardage on a reel. It will be available in November 2024 in line sizes from 4 lb. up to 17 lb. (MSRP beginning at $29.99 for 150-yard spools)
P-Line Panfish Line
This line was developed specifically for the crappie, sunfish, bluegill and yellow perch anglers of the world. Whether you’re swimming a jig, huddled over a hole on the ice or soaking worms or minnows under a float, HP Panfish will exceed your expectations with its easy casting, memory-free line, which works great on spinning reels. Available in Clear and Hi-Vis Yellow, in 2- to 8-pound test in 150-yard spools.
ACC SmoothX Braided Fishing Line
ACC Crappie Stix SmoothX started with a super-strong, abrasion-resistant line and added their unique ultra-smooth coating to make this the best-casting, easiest-handling braid we have ever tested. This 8X Strand braided line is available in 10/15/20lb, 300-yard spools. (MSRP: $29.99)
FISHING ACCESSORIES
Frabill Collapsible Bait Bucket
The Frabill Collapsible Bait Bucket was designed to meet the needs of anglers who require compact and efficient bait storage solutions. This innovative bucket collapses to the size of a standard Plano 3700 size StowAway, which is ideal for fitting into boat storage lockers, storage trays, or even in soft tackle boxes. When expanded, the 6-quart capacity allows ample space for bait while the easy-access compartment makes it easy to integrate an aerator to keep it fresh all day long. The bucket’s handles feature a unique design that allows for handle rotation and easy packing down for storage when not in use. During use, the handles securely clip into the base of the bucket, preventing unwanted collapse while you’re on the water. It’s available with or without an aerator. (MSRP: $49.99 Bucket – w/ Aerator | $29.99 Bucket – no Aerator)
Garmin Panoptix™ PS22-IF Ice Fishing Bundle
The Panoptix™ PS22-IF Ice Fishing Bundle was the winner of the 2024 ICAST New Product Showcase in the Ice Fishing Category. The PS22 Bundle is Garmin’s newest live sonar solution for hard water anglers. With a first-of-its kind transducer bracket and a rotator design, it eliminates the need for a pole mount. To help anglers determine where to drill the next hole, the PS22-IF bundle includes an ECHOMAP™ UHD2 73sv touchscreen combo with keyed assist and offers two types of Panoptix sonar – LiveVü Forward and LiveVü Down – that shows live sonar images up to 100 feet in any direction below the ice. The bundle’s rugged, glove-friendly carrying case includes a customized pocket to hold the PS22-IF transducer. It’s outfitted with everything needed for the ice, including a 7Ah battery with charger and power cable and the ECHOMAP UHD2 73sv chartplotter. Preloaded with industry-leading Garmin Navionics+™, the ECHOMAP UHD2 73sv offers mapping with up to 1-foot contours on more than 23,000 U.S. lakes, along with a one-year subscription to daily map updates. It also features built-in Wi-Fi® connectivity that lets anglers wirelessly share sonar, waypoints and routes with another UHD2 unit. (MSRP: $1999.99)
Railblaza Gear Hub
Do you find yourself wrestling with the chaos of tackle, rods, and gear every time the call of the wild beckons? Cast those worries overboard, because the Gear Hub™ is here to revolutionize your fishing escapades. It is billed as a 14x14x14 inch fishing fortress which includes four rod holders standing guard at the corners. Inside it is a sanctuary for your gear with room for your tackle boxes – keeping them handy and from sliding around. It comes with nine integrated TracLoader and MiniPort mounting tracks to attach your accessories. Whether in your boat, kayak or on a paddleboard the Gear Hub is ready to go. (MSRP $80)
Most of the products shown here will start popping up in tackle shops and online in September or later. Find many more newly introduced fishing products on the ICAST Web Page.
