In a sea of baitcasting devices and saltwater fishing rigs, ICAST 2024 was hooked on the fly … and deck boots. A once-tiny area of interest class on the Orange County Conference Heart, fly fishing now dominates a wall-to-wall stretch of the present flooring, together with an indoor casting pond. Not solely that, nevertheless it was a fly fishing model that dominated the stage on the awards banquet, securing extra awards than another firm.
Oh, and there have been piles of recent deck boots. Everybody made a brand new deck boot. ICAST felt like an Oprah Christmas episode in relation to dang deck boots. Extra on that later.
The Rise of the Trout
Simms Fishing’s domination secured 4 ‘Better of Class’ Awards and one very prestigious Better of Present award from us right here at GearJunkie. Certain, two of the ICAST classes have been fly fishing particular, however two of them weren’t and nonetheless noticed the Montana-based fly model scooping them up.
The model’s ICAST Class awards embrace:
- Finest Chilly-Climate Tech Attire: Simms Professional Dry Swimsuit
- Finest Fly Fishing Backpack, Bag, and Baggage: Simms Tailwind Rod and Reel Vault
- Finest Heat-Climate Tech Attire for Girls: Simms Girls’s Latitude Hoody
- Finest Fly Fishing Chest, Sling, Hip, Pack: Simms Headwaters Sling Pack
On that notice, let’s dive into the GearJunkie Finest in Present Awards for this 12 months, with the obvious place to begin.
GearJunkie’s Better of Present ICAST 2024 Awards
As a result of most of those merchandise are unveiled on the present, the bulk aren’t fairly accessible to buy but, so we’re right here to construct the hype for a number of the new treasures you may pinch your pennies for and get enthusiastic about when 2025 rolls round. Drum roll, please.
Finest Girls’s Technical Gear: Simms Fishing Girls’s G3 Information Jacket
Accessible spring 2025: MSRP $600
Kicking it off with the present’s large winner of the 12 months, the crew at Simms Fishing spent extra time strolling to the stage than it in all probability had on the water this season. Although the Girls’s G3 Information Jacket didn’t snag any class awards from ICAST, it did earn high honors with us right here at GearJunkie.
Luckily, a torrential Florida thunderstorm rolled in in the course of the New Product Showcase Preview at this 12 months’s present, leaving me to have the entire flooring to myself within the remaining hour. I spent it sporting this jacket across the showcase. It wasn’t my unique selection for this class’s winner, however dang it, it feels good on.
Constructed with waterproof three-layer waterproof GORE-TEX, it’s about as bulletproof of a river jacket because it will get. With an adjustable storm hood, watertight sleeve cuffs, and loads of pockets (together with pass-through pockets), it’s every little thing I search for in a late-season fishing jacket.
Finest Males’s Technical Gear: HUK Professional Sequence Jacket and Bib
Accessible spring 2025: MSRP $500 every
HUK could also be a type of manufacturers you consider whenever you consider heat water and good instances, however the model is critical about efficiency. The Professional Sequence Jacket and Bibs are a testomony to that. This set (offered individually) is about as high-tech, performance-driven, and thought-out because it will get.
Granted, they aren’t accessible in my dimension (I ought to have eaten my greens as a child), however that didn’t cease me from slipping into them and getting a really feel. Every little thing from the double, adjustable cuffs to the absolutely seam-sealed building all however ensures consolation on the water.
Among the best options: this pair will price you many lots of lower than most of the comparable choices. They aren’t low-cost (MSRP $500 every), however they’re extra inexpensive than most of the comparable units.
Finest Watercraft: ISLE 12’6 Flywater Inflatable Kayak + Micro-Skiff Hybrid
Accessible autumn 2024: MSRP $1,695
This pet scoots throughout the water. Within the phrases of the model, this hybrid inflatable is “designed to fly over the shallowest of waterways with an ultra-efficient, low-draft catamaran design that maximizes velocity and vary whereas paddling or beneath energy,” and that’s precisely what it does.
The ISLE 12’6 Flywater Inflatable Kayak + Micro-Skiff Hybrid won’t seem like it’s a lot completely different than most of the different inflatables available on the market, till you are taking a peek beneath. The 6-inch middle elevate means far much less drag on the water. It feels much less such as you’re pulling or pushing your self by means of water and extra such as you’re gliding over it since you are.
I spent a while buzzing across the water throughout ICAST on one in all these dangerous boys, and I can inform you firsthand that it strikes with ease. Whether or not powered with a motor or paddle, it feels easy, and I can’t wait to check one in a bit extra harsh situations.
Finest Sun shades: Costa 580G Gold Mirror Lens in Grand Catalina
Accessible now: $292
This shouldn’t be a shock. We’ve already sung our praises for the Costa 580G Gold Mirror lenses and the revamped Grand Catalina frames. That love continues now. Hear, the frames are rad and have a really retro, cool child vibe, however for me, it’s all concerning the lenses.
It’s arduous to explain, however the gold mirror lens looks like a comfy blanket on your eyeballs. It’s like wanting by means of them makes seeing much less tiring. I do know this may sound odd, nevertheless it’s actual and can’t be described till you set them on.
Be at liberty to learn our full evaluate of them, however truthfully, discover a place that sells Costa shades and go attempt them on your self.
Finest Rod & Reel Combo: Toadfish Elite Sequence Close to/Offshore Spinning Combos
Accessible now: MSRP $346
Sure, Toadfish makes fishing rods and reels, not simply kitchen shellfish instruments and rad drink holsters. Additionally they appear to be doing them with some intention.
The Toadfish Elite Sequence Spinning Combos are candy little rigs with critical consideration to element. The rods really feel substantial in hand with out being heavy, if that makes any sense in any respect. All the angler/rod/reel connection factors really feel tight and ergonomic, from the rod deal with/grip to the reel seat. It looks like a way more costly setup than it’s.
What’s to not like about that?
Finest Fly Rod: TFO Elevare
Accessible now: $499
This one shocked me. I went into the showcase with a preconceived concept of which fly rod would get my vote. I stood there for a number of minutes, evaluating it to the TFO Elevare on the present flooring. Ultimately, as soon as I had them each in hand, the Temple Fork Outfitters Elevare simply felt balanced and responsive with significantly tight particulars that overshadowed the opposite rod … at half the worth.
Granted, the 2 rods have very particular jobs, this one being a euro nymph specialist and all, however the high quality at this value level simply speaks volumes.
I’m not a lot of a ‘nympher’, however I may need to get this sucker in hand and on the water to present it go.
Finest Sort out Administration: YakAttack 16×16 ShortStak Improve Package for BlackPak Professional
Accessible now: $65
This one is simply easy, so I received’t go on and on about it. The ShortStak is basically an extra field you may slap on the lid of your BlackPak Professional to extend your storage choices.
I’m only a sucker for a superb boat/kayak/canoe field, and I occur to actually just like the BlackPak setup. It’s easy and customizable, and it makes storage and use on the water fast and simple.
It’s a plastic field with a heap of attachment factors … and we dig it.
Finest Fishing Accent: Benchmade Water Assortment
Accessible now: Costs range
Benchmade determined to hop into a wholly new style of knives when the model launched the Water Assortment and oh boy, did the model do it proper.
I’ve used each knife on this assortment, and in the event you’re on the lookout for knives that may maintain as much as moist situations, with a stable, safe grip and MagnaCut metal that may maintain an edge longer than you’ve held a job, these may be the knives for you.
I received’t drag you thru every knife as a result of this text is already lengthy sufficient, however I do break them down within the full lineup evaluate.
With a class as obscure as “Finest Fishing Accent,” this wasn’t a shoo-in win. However, when it comes right down to it, there simply wasn’t one other merchandise on the desk as deserving as this lineup of knives.
Accessible spring 2025: MSRP $115
And eventually, we get to the boots. It appeared each main model got here out with a brand new, progressive deck boot this 12 months. Nobody did it fairly like UA.
Below Armour won’t be the primary model you consider in relation to fishing, however the model identified finest for athletic attire makes significantly technical fishing (and looking) gear. It is smart. The corporate has constructed a fame for creating high-performance athletic gear. Why would they not make high-performance fishing gear?
The Charged Shoreman Deck Boot is a pleasant mixture of your typical waterproof boat boot and your favourite pair of athletic footwear. It’s time somebody lastly made an ergonomic deck, and Below Armour has achieved it fantastically.
Not solely that, however these items are gentle. In response to the corporate, at 15 ounces, they’re the lightest weight of any deck boot available on the market.
ICAST 2024 Wrap-Up
That’s a wrap for ICAST 2024. Fly fishermen proceed to see the enlargement of merchandise on the showroom flooring, attire and footwear proceed to dominate the brand new product showcase, and all of the devices and gizmos you can probably dream up have been accessible to play with. There was even a fishing drone, which is a subject I’m positive we’ll dive into in relation to ethics and what constitutes precise fishing.
Till subsequent 12 months, Orlando.