Just like last year, gave all the Elitists, FLWers and whoever else 5 seconds to say whatever about a new product — because I can’t shoot or listen to another “I’m [insert name] here at ICAST 2018 and this is the new [product name].” Nothing wrong with it, just not my deal so:

Stuff:

> It’s about 10 minutes, with great info and fun all the way through. Ends with a bang!

> Couldn’t believe Randy Howell actually did it it 5 seconds — typically Howell doesn’t even know what he’s going to talk about in the first 5 seconds. HAHAHA Howell! He actually kinda raps in the first one….

> Zona’s were a little long but they’re money so…. Dude who couldn’t get it done in anywhere remotely close to 5 seconds: David Fritts, even after multiple tries. But his “5 seconds” are in the vid. #waitforit #toofunny

> One of my fave lines was Wes Strader on a Lew’s reel: “It looks like a spaceship and it spins.” Never heard that before….

> All this stuff and then some is on Tackle Warehouse already, for order or pre-order! Here’s the link or click you this:

> Bummed I missed getting Greg Hackney on vid, but he did sell me one of these for $500 — I think I got a good deal?

Next year after ICAST we’re a-headin’ out after the skunk ape….

Electronics will change the way we fish…even more. Garmin’s new Panoptix LiveScope is ridonkulous (here it is on TW), and stuff like Humminbird’s Mega Down Imaging plus the whole all of it linked together stuff is crazy.

Given all that, wondering if:

> With more video-game fishing, will “drop” techniques like the dropshot and Neko become a bigger deal?

> Will fishing for suspended fish now be a higher-percentage deal?

> I assume bed-fishing will never be the same because now (with Panoptix) seems like you will know 100% if/when a fish bites?

> With watching being more important in vid-game fishing, will that decrease our feel (feeling bites)? I think it has to but some folks disagreed with me on that. In a few years I’ll tell them ‘I told you so” lol.

> If you now can see exactly what species are down there, how does that change tournament fishing…meaning no more wasted time fishing for carp, catfish, walleyes, etc?

> What’s the line between extra-fine sonar and video — or is there one anymore?

Noteworthy: Jim Lindner of the famous Lindner feeshn clan told me he feels techniques like the dropshot and Flanders Rig could be making it easier for more folks to get into fishing — cuz they’re a whole lot easier to do than flipping or skipping docks or whatever. Innerestin’.

General stuff

1. Wow there’s a lot of fishing rod companies. Crazy thing is, pretty much all the rods are good. BUT there’s still some that are better…for you individually. Remember, your hookset is unique to you so find what works best for it — rod/line/hook.

2. Wow there’s a lot of sunglass companies. Keep your eye out for Mako, coming here from Australia. Have worn the Mako glasses for a bit and a) they’re dang good and b) call me crazy but I think their infrared blocker helps big-time with eye fatigue…which I didn’t even know I had before? Don’t get me wrong, I’m not hangin’ up my Costas but check ’em out and lmk.

3. Seems like more and more companies are getting into rain gear.

4. Say it every year so here you go again: Pro bassin’, and especially the Elites, drive most of the freshwater market. That’s a big statement and a big deal.

5. Interesting that the Googans are now selling baits — and FLWer Scott Martin is a partner in the deal. If that works, I guess Elitists can try the same thing. You hear that Johnny Crews? Timmy Horton? Boyd?? Just an idea for ya….

6. Mossy Oak Elements seems to be catching on.

7. Economy is up, biz is good so everyone is:

Disappointments

1. Raymarine has a new drone. Maybe I’m just gonna be dragged kickin’ and screamin’ into drone world, but man the last thing I want when I’m a-feeshn is a drone (or 2 or 3…) buzzin’ around. Aerial lake views are great but….

2. Swimbait bassin’ scene was big-time missing from the show. Did hear that the folks who make the Davinci swimbait were there, my guys found ’em but I didn’t dang it!

3. No Megabass booth. 🙁

Other stuff

1. Best hard bait winner was Westin’s Freddy the Frog. Interesting win because Westin is a Euro company new to the U.S. market and didn’t do any pre-ICAST product seeding/lobbying, which is often how the game is played (nothing wrong with that either):

Slow-mo vid of it swimming.

2. Best Terminal Tackle was the VMC Neko Skirt, and if you haven’t seen Swindle’s 5-sec video on that one you need to here.

3. Other beeg weeners:

4. Huk might have had the coolest “booth” — was a walk-through deal. Did not take a pic (doh) and can’t find one so you’re gonna have to picture it….

5. Most Elitist feedback I got on the 2019 schedule was about the time and cost involved. No one I spoke to was outright negative about it.

6. The American Sportfishing Assn puts on the ICAST show, and the new-ish head of the ASA is a guy named Glenn Hughes. When I met him, I told him every time I hear his name I think of the former Deep Purple bass player/singer who still has pipes.

Funny stuff

1. Seems like the fly fishing crowd has the grunge/Pearl Jam/Seattle deal happenin’. Ragged beards, untucked shirts, sippin’ beers — the whole fly section of ICAST had that vibe. I kinda liked it…for them….

2. Closeup of Seth Feider’s ‘stache just because: