ICAST Day Two:
Our Favorite New Fishing Gear
Top picks for innovative tackle, rigging and accessories from the show floor
In today’s newsletter: After kicking the tires on new kayaks and kayak motors, the Kayak Angler crew set out on the ICAST show floor to find the newest tackle, gear and accessories to rig the latest generation of fishing kayaks.
🎣 Here are the top products making waves at ICAST Day Two:
👟 Simms Drifter and Drifter AT Shoe: EVA foam shoes built for the most demanding conditions
💡 Yak Power ARGB: LED light system and customizable smartphone app
🧰 YakAttack TracVault Gear Storage: Secure and protect gear in the worst conditions
Simms Drifter And Drifter AT Shoe
EVA foam shoes built for the most demanding conditions
Injection-molded EVA foam shoes (think Crocs) are light, simple and shock-absorbing, but they don’t have great traction or security. Building off the idea, Simms Drifter and Drifter AT take EVA shoes to the beach, river and launch ramp. To secure the Drifter, a wrap-around web strap cinches the shoe to my foot. For on-the-deck traction, the Drifter has a gum rubber outsole with sticky tread. The Drifter AT adds a lugged rubber sole for wading traction and a removable neoprene sock to improve comfort and protect my feet from abrasive sand and gravel. In cold water, I remove the neoprene bootie and wear the Drifter AT with waders or a drysuit.
Columbia PFG Snug Corner 35L Backpack
Transport and store gear in a waterproof and breathable roll-top backpack
This backpack has all the features I look for in a great fishing backpack, including tool pockets and straps for a rod case.
Yeti LoadOut Go Box Gear Case
More sizes and shapes for gear cases and a unique insert to protect fragile gear
One of my favorite products from Yeti isn’t a cooler. The LoadOut GoBox is a gear case built with the same durability, innovation and versatility as Yeti’s famous coolers.
Smith Riptide XL
Popular performance sunglass frame now available in a larger size
One of Smith’s most popular frames is bigger and better. The popular Riptide frame is now available in a larger XL size for big faces.
Okuma Helios XT
High-performance baitcasting reel at a great price
There’s a new premium baitcasting reel without the premium price tag. Okuma’s new Helios XT baitcasting reel is built on a lightweight and stiff aluminum frame for maximum hook-setting and fish-fighting power.
Yak Power ARGB
LED light system and customizable smartphone app
Yak Power continues to stay ahead of the competition with innovative lighting and control systems to tie electronics, lights and accessories together. The big news this year is the ARGB light system.
YakAttack TracVault Gear Storage
Secure and protect gear in the worst conditions
One of YakAttack’s most popular kayak accessories has been their TracPak Stackable Storage Cases for adding more storage space to gear tracks and BlackPak gear crates. For next year, YakAttack is adding the TracVault storage cases. Similar to the TracPak, the TracVault adds a cam latch and silicone gasket to secure and seal the box. To attach the box to a gear track or crate, I simply twist the box on the mounting base. The new gear case is sturdier and more protective, so gear stays safe and dry if I get caught in a rainstorm or flip my kayak, but the contents remain easy to access.
Exclusive ICAST Subscription Special
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