September 24, 2024
By Shane Beilue
FFS (forward facing sonar) techniques dominated the new lure offerings at ICAST 2024, with multiple versions of the small jig head minnows on display from various lure manufacturers. Of course, tackle companies are still producing gear for traditional “chunking and winding”, as seen in new swim baits, skirted jigs, and various crankbaits.
The sheer magnitude of the new product offerings at ICAST 2024 creates a challenge when trying to provide an overview of new fishing tackle released to the angling public, so here’s only a small sampling of intriguing new products.
The new Pinger Minnow from Strike King is their version of the jig head minnow with a 90-degree line tie designed for use with FFS. What makes the Pinger Minnow unique is the wedge-shaped tail that quivers when suspended in the water column. The jig head of the Pinger Minnow is encapsulated into the soft plastic body. MSRP $6.99 for a 3 pack.
The Strike King “Final Copy” is a great-looking swim bait with an internal magnetic harness that keeps the treble hook attached to the underside of the soft plastic body. The Final Copy is designed to maintain its balance and prevent rolling in the water when retrieved with fast retrieves. The smaller profile, available in 4.75” and 6” lengths, makes it easy to cast and wind with a medium-heavy action rod. MSRP is $9.99 for the 4.75” and $10.99 for the 6” version.
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The new Strike King Hardliner is a flat-sided plastic crankbait with a tight wobble intended for cold water or highly pressured situations. Internal weighting makes the Hardliner easier to cast than the popular balsa counterparts on the market today. MSRP $8.99
The new Z-Man Graph ShadZ is their latest version of the jig head minnow but made from a high-stretch ElazTec body that won’t tear after repeated fish catches. Another unique aspect of the Graph ShadZ is the line-through design of the jig head, that ties to the bottom of the jig head, keeping the lure horizontal in the water column. MSRP $6.99.
Z-Man continues to build out the Chatterbait franchise with the newest version, the Tungsten EVO. Tungsten is denser than lead, making the jig head smaller and offering a stronger vibration return through the rod tip with a different acoustic profile in the water. An oversized 5/0 hook rounds out the upgrades to the new Tungsten EVO. MSRP $15.99.
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Seaguar recently introduced a JDM (Japanese Domestic Market) finesse braided line for US consumers that is considerably thinner than their popular Smackdown braid. The thinner 8-count braid also has more sensitivity and is designed to fall through the water column faster when trying to reach suspended bass on FFS. MSRP $37.99
Pounce is a budget-friendly fluoro leader designed to be utilized in braid-to-fluorocarbon applications. Seaguar representatives consider this an all-purpose leader material available in sizes from 6 to 15-pound tests. MSRP varies with line size but starts at $7.49
With the addition of their Bulk Line Management Bag and the Line and Leader Management Bag, these new bags from Seaguar keep your line spools in a convenient soft-sided case when re-spooling line on the water. MSRP of the Bulk Line Management Bag is $69.99, while the Line and Leader Management Bags start at $18.99.
Berkley’s revolutionary Forward Finesse Braid may be classified as a “braided line”; however, the strands are twisted and thermally fused, rather than braided. The result is an incredibly smooth, thin, and highly sensitive line that easily descends through the water column when implementing lures on FFS. MSRP $29.99 per spool.
- Shane Beilue also hosts Game & Fish's Bass Crash Course video instruction series. Click to watch.
