The annual International Convention of Allied Trades in Sport Fishing or “ICAST,” as the acronym Tortured goes, was held this week at the Orange County Convention Center in Orlando, Fla., Showcasing all of the new fishing gear that will be available. in the coming months for fishermen across the country.

As always, there are plenty of new goodies that will make Alabama anglers happy, including possibly Berkley’s “Best of Show” lure, the “Gilly” Powerbait. It’s a soft plastic bluegill infused with the company’s scent attractor, and with a series of bumps and fins on the sides and tail that make it swim like crazy when rigged on. a single hook with a wide gauge.

The lure is likely to be a real killer in the spring both during bass spawning, when female bass attack the flying sunfish that invade their nests, and also in early summer when one of the main bass food becomes baby sunfish. The foldable head allows for better hook sets and also keeps the bait straight in most rigs, although it can be rigged to run flat and fished like a frog in a thick mat of weeds. The addition of Berkley’s scent attraction should also cause the fish to hang on to the bait long enough for strong hooks. Berkley has repeatedly tested this product in its tanks and found that the bass clings to Powerbait lures much longer than standard soft plastics. It is available in three sizes.

Berkley also won the Best Saltwater Lure category with a saltwater version of their Choppo, a surface water with a spinning tail that makes it sort of a buzzbait – should be good for sea trout and rockfish. – see all their news on www.berkley-fishing.com.

Another product that is sure to be huge with anglers who can afford it is the Humminbird Mega-Imaging sonar / gps system from Humminbird, a company in Eufaula, Alabama. With the new system, anglers can see the fish and structure in real time, and even watch the fish on the screen as they move to bite the lure. This is a video game fishing, which will certainly give a huge advantage to tournament competitors who will have it whenever the fish are in water deeper than a few feet as you no longer waste time fishing in areas. where there is no fish. The system could also be useful in determining the effectiveness of a lure – if you can see a fish approach the lure and then turn away, it means it’s time for a change of color, action or recovery; www.humminbird.com/learn/imaging/mega-live.

Another award-winning lure in the ICAST category that Bama bass anglers are likely to love is the new Strike King “Chick Magnet” lure, a flat design with a PCB lip and balsa wood action that combines the best of the lure. ‘old and new, according to the company, providing long casts as well as huge swing-attracting fish at depths of 3 to 6 feet; www.strikeking.com.

For the many kayak fishermen who now enjoy the state’s fresh and salty waters, the Lono Aero Inflatable Kayak might be of interest. It’s a 12′6 ″ inflatable that weighs just 51 pounds, much lighter than composite fishing canoes of similar size, and yet the company says it’s more stable and offers more comfort. That’s about $ 1,500 for the ‘yak, and $ 800 more for the propulsion and pedal rudder system that most will probably want; www.boteboard.com.

Abu Garcia’s new Zenon series rods dominated the freshwater rod category. They’re pricey at around $ 400, but incredibly light and sensitive, while also having higher breaking strengths and better impact and fracture resistance according to the company. The guides are made of titanium alloy with silicone nitride inserts, the handles in carbon for minimal weight; www.abugarcia.com.

Daiwa won both categories of freshwater and saltwater reel. The Zillion SV TW was best for freshwater, with the T-wing wind system for minimal casting friction, a floating spool for long casts with minimal kickback and a weight of just 6.9 ounces – the price is around $ 310. The Daiwa Saltist MQ won the award for best saltwater reel. Available in sizes ranging from 2500 trout size to 20,000 marlin size, these spinning reels have a one-piece aluminum frame and body that reduce saltwater intrusion, reduce weight and allow for oversized gears. for more power and durability. Prices range from around $ 300 to $ 390; https://daiwa.us.