July 16, 2020
By In-Fisherman Staff
Some of the smallest pieces of fishing gear can make the biggest difference out on the water. From jig heads to hooks and even specialized weights and sinkers, the creativity across the fishing industry never stops – all in an effort to make anglers’ lives easier and increase their catch rates.
At the same time, fishing line, an angler’s main connection to the fish, remains a vital part of the equation. Companies continue to push the boundaries in terms of engineering lines that give us the confidence we’ll land anything that bites.
Check out some of the new introductions in the line and terminal tackle categories from ICAST 2020.
Acme Tackle – Kalin’s | Sling Blade Jig A new twist, er, swing on the classic ball head jig. A patented design features a slot cut into the jig head, which allows the hook to freely swing back and forth on a single axis giving the bait maximum movement without moving your bait up and down in the water column. Available in 4 sizes (1/16 oz., 1/8 oz., 1/4 oz., 3/8 oz.), 12 colors and come 2 per pack.
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Big Bite Baits | TRU-X Swimmer Head A recessed 3D reflective eye, double wire keeper, fish scale patterns and hand-painted finishes highlight the new member of the Swimmer Head family. Built around a 3/0 Gamakatsu hook. Available in 4 sizes (1/8 oz, 3/16 oz, 1/4 oz, and 3/8 oz.) and 4 colors (Gizzard Shad, SS Shad, Magic Purple and Bare Shad).
Eagle Claw | Lazer Sharp Pro-V Jig Fitted with an American made L570V Pro-V Needlepoint Jig hook to provide greater penetration and holding power. The hydrodynamic head design allows a faster fall rate. Features premium chip resistant paint and 3D holographic eyes. Available in 6 colors and 3 sizes (1/4 oz., 3/8 oz., and 1/2 oz.).
Eagle Claw | AXS Keeper A new way to secure and present baits, the AXS Keeper is engineered to lock the bait on while allowing it to travel 360 degrees around the hook shank, offering bait motion fish haven’t seen before. Available on Lazer Trokar TK25 dropshot hooks and Lazer Sharp L25P. Available in sizes 2 though 1/0.
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Missile Baits | Neko Weights New weight shapes for a hot finesse technique. The pointed end of the bullet-shaped weight slides into your soft plastic bait and locks into place. Available in 4 sizes (1/32 oz., 1/16 oz., 1/8 oz., and 3/16 oz.). Sold as 8- or 10-packs. MSRP: $3.99.
Berkley | Fusion19 EWG Treble Hooks Needlepoint sharpness, EWG bends and a light wire design, the Fusion19 EWG treble is ideal for high action, small-profile baits. New colors allow anglers to further customize favorite baits and presentations. Available in 3 sizes (4, 6, 8) and 5 colors (black nickel, chartreuse, orange, red, white).
Spearpoint Hooks | GP Finesse Hook Designed to eliminate the most frustrating experience in all of fishing – lost fish – Spearpoint’s VGrip Technology aims to create more torque to give anglers the ultimate upper hand, especially when fishing finesse techniques like wacky rigs, dropshots and Neko rigs. Available in sizes 3 through 2/0 and sold six to a pack.
Z-Man Fishing Products | NedlockZ EWG Jighead The explosion in popularity of bite-sized Ned Rig style softbaits has triggered a need for various rigging options. Enter the NedlockZ EWG Jighead, which features a heavy-duty #1 VMC wide-gap hook paired with a traditional mushroom-shaped jig head and a molded keeper to pin baits in place.
Gamakatsu | G-Power Flip & Punch Hook A new addition to the pro-driven G-Series, the G-Power Flip & Punch Hook starts with Tournament Grade Wire and is finished with a Nano Smooth Coat and a custom tin bait keeper designed by Aaron Martens. Ideal for larger baits and for powering through heavy vegetation and around timber. Available in 2/0 through 5/0 sizes.
Gamakatsu | Gika Rig A blend of power and finesse, the Gika Rig is a technique that has caught on in places where anglers want to maintain bottom contact while allowing their bait to move freely. Gamakatsu’s version features an elongated weight clipped to a solid ring that also connects to the eye of the offset worm hook. The weight can be changed to adapt to any condition. Available in 2/0 (1/8 oz or 3/16 oz.), 3/0 (3/16 oz. or 1/4 oz.) and 4/0 (1/4 oz. or 3/8 oz.).
Daiwa | J-Fluoro Samaurai fluorocarbon line Premium fluorocarbon that offers invisibility, strength and reliability combined with small diameters. Available in 2- to 25-pound test strengths in filler and bulk spools. The 2- to 12-pound test versions are formulated stouter for better sensitivity while the 14- to 25-pound versions are softer for better spool management.
P-Line | Topwater High-Performance Co-Polymer line Formulated with a blend of nylons that increase buoyancy, suppleness and enhances casting distance, all attributes critical to effective topwater fishing. Also designed to be highly abrasion resistant and allow for increased knot strength. Available in 10- to 25-pound in 300-yard spools.
Berkley | Fluoroshield line Making the switch from monofilament to fluorocarbon just got easier after Berkley scientists discovered how to infuse fluorocarbon in a copolymer, combining the manageability of monofilament with the abrasion resistance and near invisibility of fluorocarbon. Available in 4- to 30-pound test strengths.
Sufix | 131 G-Core x13 Braid A 12-carrier HMPE braided line plus a single GORE performance fiber in the center results in a braided line featuring optimal roundness, smoothness and reduced internal abrasion. The 13 total fibers guarantee consistently strong construction with no weak points. Available in 150-yard spools in 6- to 80-pound test strengths.
Seaguar | Gold Label Leader Seaguar’s thinnest leader allows for stealthier and more natural presentations, leading to better catch rates on finicky fish. Made with an exclusive double-structure process, two custom fluorocarbon resins are combined to create a leader with smaller diameters without compromising knot and tensile strength. Available in 2- through 12-pound test strengths.
Vicious Fishing | Tora fluorocarbon Formulated using a state-of-the-art extrusion process, Tora fishes much like mono but delivers the all the advantages of pure fluorocarbon. It provides unmatched castability, high tensile strength and excellent sensitivity. Available in 11-, 14-, 17-, 19- and 24-pound test strengths.
