Toadfish's new Stowaway Fish Gripper. (Photo courtesy of Toadfish)
July 26, 2024
By Alan Clemons
New fishing products trickle out during the year, but the big debut is the annual ICAST show each summer when companies turn the spotlight on their newest gear.
For 67 years, the ICAST Show has been the world’s top coming out party for the fishing industry. This year’s show had more than 635 exhibitors showing products under 900 brands. Thousands of attendees from at least 70 countries attended during the week-long show at the Orange County Convention Center in Orlando.
Accessories comprise, arguably, the largest number of new fishing-related products each year. Some truly are new, while others are “refreshed” or updated. These are some, although not all by any means, of the new fishing accessories that caught our eye this year.
Frabill Collapsible Bait Bucket Frabill's Collapsible Bait Bucket Frabill has a long line of products for live-bait angling that now includes the very cool Collapsible Bait Bucket , which collapses to the size of a standard Plano 3700 StowAway. When collapsed, it will easily fit into soft tackle bags, boat storage lockers or even an angling backpack. It has a 6-quart capacity and is available with or without an aerator. The handle rotates to pack more easily when collapsed yet snaps securely into place when expanded. $49.99 | frabill.com
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Smith’s Dehooking-Venting Tool Smith’s Dehooking-Venting Tool Removing hooks is easier, as is venting a fish caught from deep water, with Smith’s new Dehooking-Venting Tool . It’s 7.5 inches long and has a retractable, 1.75-inch stainless steel venting needle that locks into place if not needed. The needle helps reduce the impact of barotrauma on fish such as smallmouth bass or saltwater grouper or snapper. The dehooker is a firm, bent wire that flips the hook and helps remove it so a fish can be released quickly and with less handling. The tool’s ergonomic handle has a TPE textured non-slip grip and lanyard hole. $14.99 | smithsproducts.com
Toadfish Grippers, Nippers Toadfish Nippers with lanyard Toadfish has several cool new things, including some super-sharp Nippers and the Stowaway Fish Gripper . The nippers are lightweight machined aluminum and have tungsten carbide blades. They can cut small fly-line tippet or 80-pound braided line. They come on a retractable lanyard. For easier gripping of big, wriggly or toothy fish, the Stowaway Fish Gripper collapses from 7.5 inches to 4.5 inches and is made from corrosion-resistant aluminum. $24-$30 | toadfish.com
Kastking Bait Capsule Kastking Bait Capsule. (Photo by Alan Clemons) The Bait Kapsule from Kastking isn’t a new idea to protect baits with exposed hooks, but it’s a better one. It snaps securely so it won’t open when bouncing on the deck of a boat, while you’re walking to the pond or after hitting a road pothole on the way home. The hard plastic is ventillated, and the concave back rests easily against a rod. Rod sleeves fit over it, too, and a built-in hangar fits to a rod keeper or reel. The Bait Kapsule comes in four sizes from small to jumbo. $9.99 | kastking.com
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Promar Angler Release Net Promar Angler Release Net The Angler Release Landing Net from Promar has a lightweight, aluminum body with a hexagonal handle design. It’s easier to handle when landing fish and has a one-piece design with a rubber net with a flat bottom. The rubber net helps protect fish by reducing abrasion on the slime coat, while the flat bottom helps the angler during hook removal. The net is great for freshwater or saltwater, with three sizes: 17-inch hoop with 18-inch handle, 20-inch hoop with 30-inch handle and 24-inch hoop with 36-inch handle. $17.99-$29.99 | promarahi.com
Rapala High-Vis Digital Scale Rapala High-Vis Digital Scale When you need a solid, dependable way to weigh your big fish, the new High-Vis Digital Scale fits the bill. One of many scale options from Rapala , it’s rated for up to 20 pounds and has an oversized, LED E-Ink display visible from all angles, in bright sun and even if you’re wearing sunglasses. It has three weight display options, a tournament setting for five, eight or “every fish” events, and is accurate to +/- .2 percent. The clamp securely holds fish, while you can securely hold the scale thanks to a large handle that has a trigger finger button. IT’s waterproof and works on four AAA batteries. $179.99 | rapala.com
Plano Weekend Series Plano’s Weekend Softsider tackle bag If your old tackle bag is ready to be replaced, take a look at the three new Weekend Series bags from Plano. The series includes the Weekend Tackle Bag , Weekend Softsider and Weekend Sling Backpack . These come in a variety of sizes to store 3500, 3600 and 3700 size Plano StowAway utility boxes. The series includes a molded waterproof base, die-cut tool sleeves to hold pliers or other items, and enough pockets to store everything from sunglasses to swimbaits. Each has a large compartment with box divider to hold four StowAway boxes, underlid pocket, adjustable shoulder strap and more. $16.99-$79.99 | planooutdoors.com
Bajío Sunglasses Bajío’s new Rigolets sunglasses Among the latest models this year from Bajío Sunglasses is the Rigolets , named after the famed fishing spot in Louisiana. Like other models in the Bajío family, the Rigolets come with keeper holes on the eyepiece, vented rubber side shields, Ergo rubber nose pads and temple tips and spring hinges. They’re available with glass or polycarbonate lenses in seven colors that block blue light, harsh yellow light and UV light. Lenses also can be ordered with a prescription or in readers. Starting at $209 | bajiosunglasses.com
Cablz Shade Savers Cablz Shade Savers. (Photo by Alan Clemons) This is one of the coolest, smartest things I’ve seen in years at the show, along with being one of the easiest things to use. Shade Savers uses small, powerful nanomagnets that snap securely into holes in a thin band that fits in your cap’s headband. Soft rubber tips with a magnet that slide over the end of the earpiece will securely hold the sunglasses on your cap when not being worn. If you want to add a Cablz retainer, that’s still easy to do, too. If not, no problem. The magnets hold securely enough to shake your head or bend over without your glasses falling off. They’re also super for golfers or other outdoors activities. $24.95 | cablz.com
Dhukr Hook Remover Dhukr Hook Remover Ever seen someone remove a hook with fishing line? It’s easier to do with two people but can be done solo. It can be a tricky scenario, though. The “Dhukr” dehooking tool is a simple, portable hook removal device that works for almost any hook. It was designed by Michael Pisano, an ER doctor from Marco Island who for more than 20 years saw myriad hooks embedded in different body parts. The tool securely slips around the hook shank and, with pressure applied, helps it slip out the way it went in. Pisano demonstrated several times on firm silicone anatomical feet and hands, which was kind of creepy but also greatly illustrative of how easily it works. If you fish, even walking around ponds or neighborhood lakes, the Dhukr is a great addition to your tackle bag. It’s one of those “I’d rather have it and not need it” items. $59.99 | dhukrtool.com
Rugged Road Coolers Rugged Road 45-quart V2 cooler Three sizes of V2 coolers from Rugged Road come with standard features that include Rigorite coating designed for military use. It is fire- and blast-resistant, so dropping it off the boat or at camp probably won’t be an issue. Rugged Road claims ice lasts up to seven days thanks to its Fridgite insulation, which also aids with the “heads up” floation if you drop it in the water. The reversible Kick Flip Lid, which has cup holders, detaches and can be used as a cutting board. The coolers have a removable internal divider, shelf and come in 45-, 65- and 85-quart sizes in five colors. One of the coolest things? They weigh just 9 pounds, 13 and 17 pounds. $299.99-$399.99 | ruggedroadoutdoors.com