Here you go, one guy's 2c on the coolest stuff from ICAST – part 1. Reminder that this is just my opinion, I and the other folks I talked to didn't see everything that was there, and...I'll probably forget something somewhere. 😅 Plus who knows what will happen with these deals til we all fish the heck outta 'em.

Hope you enjoy! Part 2 coming Thursdee....

A $1,000 FFS package? That's a big deal.

Includes a 9" unit (pushbutton) + transducer + all the wiring. Not saying $1,000 ain't a lot of money because it is, but all of a sudden FFS became MUCH more affordable.

Couple shots of it:

Some deets:

• Transducer has 1 array vs 3 on ActiveTarget2
• You can still see a fish/bait 80' out
• Forward mode for bass (not the same full cone as AT2), Down mode for crappie
• You can't network the unit
• Also has 2D, down scan and mapping (no shading)
• Available late Sept

Does this mean FFS is going to be everywhere now or soon? No idea but what it does do is make it affordable for some of the families whose kids want to get into competitive fishing but don't because they can't afford FFS – there's a bunch of those folks.

Does it change the game for guys who don't want to fish that way? No but if it stops some folks from running for the exits – especially in tournaments – great.

Now someone just needs to make a simple, non-intrusive mount for co-anglers to bring with 'em...which will have to happen to reverse the co-angler decline.

One mo'

These guys...

...figured out a way to get FFS on a phone/tablet – using their custom transducer. I spent some time with them. Bottom line is seems likeit works but it's not ready for prime time – and word is they'd have to make sure they're not violating any patents here to sell it here.

BUT...one way or another, something like that is coming, which might cut the price of FFS even more. Real interesting part of their deal: Much lower voltage/power requirements = smaller battery, less heat, longer runtime. Here's a tablet showing the FFS, their transducer and I believe the battery which is a lithium:

Bet you're surprised! 😆 Okay but the last couple years the new FFS stuff has been mostly FFS itself and jigheads + minnows. This year's ICAST it was way beyond that, just like you would expect to happen. Yep more jigheads and minnows – some good stuff I will talk about – but the show (and this year in general) also had a bunch more, and yep, you DO NOT need FFS to fish with it all!

FFS hard baits

Like the 2 Berkley baits announced earlier this year (the Krej and the Finisher) and the ICAST-launched Bill Lewis Depth Charge:

Word is the depth charge quivers on the fall, can be walked underwater and you can do the rip/fall with it like a spoon.

Hard swimbaits

One thing designed into the new FishLab BBZ Hard Swimbait is an "air bladder"-type space so it gives a good sonar return.

Rods, reels and line

• FFS rods are spinning, quick-launching, accurate, some with different tips for minnow-jiggling and more
• FFS reels are spinning and some are faster-retrieve for fishing deep
• Line – Braid is getting thinner for loooooong casts, and fluoro leader material is getting more varied (harder, softer, thinner, thicker, etc).

Even things like batteries are being constructed with FFS in mind – the load that X number of screens and Y number of transducers being on all day needs, and being able to have detailed resolution all day in all weather.

In fact, the top 3 product trends at ICAST I saw were:

1. FFS baits 'n gear

2. New types of lines

3. Lithium batteries and power systems (including chargers)

2nd-biggest overall trend

Still a bunch of new stuff! Maybe not as much as in some years past, but still very cool to see – because everyone in the fishing biz has been feeling the effects of the recession we've all been in for at least 18 months now. Very cool – props to 'em!

3rd-biggest trend

"Systems." More about this on Thursdee.

Top "reverse trend"

The top "reverse trend" I saw and heard about from a few folks was...crankbaits. Tough to believe since crankbaits are so sexy 😍 and so fun to fish, but seems like the $$ that's being spent on FFS stuff is for now replacing some (not all) crank sales.

Just means that at some point that pendulum will swing back. In the meantime, maybe we'll get the chance to buy a lotta cranks on sale? 😁

What makes a bait good? Obviously it catches 'em, a lot, for a lot of folks, for a long time. No way to tell that with brand new baits – if the pros have fished 'em first, which is happening more now, that does help – so please bear that in mind.

Going from what I and a couple other peeps saw, plus what has happened this season already, here we go – in no particular order:

BOOYAH Flashpoint Jerkbait (110 mm)

Called the Flashpoint because it has that metal blade on the head that reflects sonar AND gives the head some flash with attracts the bass, similar to the principle behind the VMC Bladed Hybrid Treble Hook.

Deets:

• Jason Christie and Stetson Blaylock heavily involved
• Blade is inset into the head and sonic welded to you gotta break the bait to get it out
• Cuts good left and right, not much forward movement – "because as you pull a bait away from a fish, the longer a fish has to follow, the less interested they get"
• Just a regular (non-deep) version for now but expect a deep version soon and "Jr" versions after that
• Gets to 6', up to 8' on a longer cast
• #6 BKK satin-finish SS Super Slide trebles apparently are real good so no hook swap needed

One unusual deal is Jason wanted it to be able to be reeled fast – like if you're scanning, see a fish, cast past the fish and quick reel it up to it and then start working it.

4.25", 1/2-oz, 12 good colors (nickel blade on 10 and gold on 2). In stock in Sept, MSRP $14.99.

FishLab BBZ Hard Swimbait

I fished this bait in 2 sizes a bit in a pond outside the ICAST show. Looks good and swims well at any speed. BUT the most mind-blowing deal about this bait was when you stop it and throw it a little slack (point your rod tip at it), it turns 90-180 degrees and – this is the key part – slightly rolls over (the top turns out and down). So it 100% looks like a dying or stunned baitfish. I'll try to show it on vid in this week's Sea Foam Top 5 of the Week.

I believe it also has an internal space designed into it so it shows an even better sonar return if that's your bag. Comes in 4.5" and 6" – slow sink (1' every 3 seconds) and super-slow sink (1' every 5 seconds) respectively. Baits are heavy enough to cast real well so not real sure how they pulled off that sink rate but it's cool.

Baits were designed by Bill "crazy man" Siemantel and Japan's Hide Iwasaki, who also painted the colors which are good. Fwiw the saltwater paints won the Hard Saltwater Lure category at ICAST.

Baits will retail at $17.99 and $19.99 so highly affordable for a swimbait.

Honorable mentionin's

No particular order

1. 100-size Berkley Stunna jerkbait – Real good jerkbait downsized from 112. Berkley bait designer and bait nerd/geek/hoarder Dan Spengler says this is the best jerkbait he's ever fished. Knowing Dan, I believe him. We might end up disagreeing – all good – but I am for sure gonna fish 'em and bet they will be legit.

The Stunna 100, 100+1 and the new 112+2 sinking model should all be available mid-Sept.

2. 6" Bucca Trick Shad – The trick Shad isn't a new bait, but this is GSM's first offerin' with Mike Bucca: a 1" shorter hard-plastic Trick Shad. Big deal is it retails at a mere $39 🤯 – which is why it's 100% sold out on the GSM site. Expect it to sell out fast when Tackle Warehouse gets it too.

Mike's baits are amazing, Jennifer Kravassi's paints have rocketed 'em into a new dimension and now with GSM involved...let's see what happens man!

3. Rapala OG Big Rocco 6 – Bigger version of the OG ("Ott's Garage") Rocco squarebill and I personally love it. To me it seems "right" – the right size, even if it's a little bigger than the "standard" squarebill size. All the OG cranks have been real good, so gotta figure this one will be too. Here's Ott Talkin' 'bout this one on YT.

You can pre-order it on TW, says it should be available mid-Dec.

4. Berkley Magic Swimmer – Looks like this hgih-demand bait will finally be available/in-stock in Sept in 3 versions and I think 8 colors:

• 95 SK (sinking) -- 3.75" -- 3/8-oz
• 110 FL (floating) -- 4 3/8" -- 3/8-oz
• 125 SK -- 5" -- 3/4-oz   

$11.99 at TW.

5. Berkley FFS Science baits – These are the Krej "reverse jerkbait," which won Best Freshwater Hardbait, and the Finisher. These were launched at the beginning of the year, but technically are still ICAST new. FFS Science = baits with various properties designed for you to interact with the fish you see on the screen.

6. KVD elite colors are coming on Strike King cranks – Believe these colors were just on the jerkbaits before, but now will be rolling out on all the crankbaits.

A lot more baits in this category. Again in no particular order...

1. 6" Rapala CrushCity Janitor

Yep the new Mooch Minnow already is a winning bait, but for me and a couple pros I talked to, the Janitor is the lurking star of the new batch of CrushCity baits. When I picked it up and held it by the collar, it hung just right if you know what I'm saying.

Bob Downey pointed out that the ribs make the tail look bigger than it really is, meaning it has more action more than you would think....more. 😁

Made for a Neko, dropshot, shakey head and I guess maybe even a finessier weightless wacky rig (comes in merthiolate) or smaller TX rig.

14 colors, $6.49 a pack of 8. TW says you can pre-order 'em for a mid-Dec availability.

2. Berkley PowerBait Drip Minnow

PowerBait colors have come a looooooong way and those Drip Minnows look 100% amazing in person. They literally look like a baitfish – especially that different belly color. Come in 3", 4" and 5", flatter sides, and that "drip"-shaped bulbous tail works like you think it would. Stroll it, dropshot it, swim it – you git it!

$8.99 a pack and you can pre-order 'em on TW, says they will be available Nov 1. Another version – the Drip Swimmer – comes with a little swimmer tail.

3. 2.75" Great Lakes Finesse Hover Minnow

Ooooo this deal looks really good. Covered it in a previous BB and mentioned that concave belly that should make it fall slower and more erratically, which it does.

GLF bait designer Dan Miguel told me at ICAST he made it because he was getting frustrated by followers that would not commit. So when you stop this bait, it will sorta spiral and end up (on the bottom?) facing the fish = trigger.

Only deal is it's real small – I sorta insisted that they make a 4" version ASAP! 😁 Will it catch all black bass at 2.75"? Sure but....

4. 7" Big Bite Baits Nekorama

You already know the deal with this Drew Gill-designed worm:

• Drew loves the Neko rig
• It's designed for Neko/wacky and TX rigging
• All matte colors

I had one in hand at ICAST and will add that it's real soft-feeling in the hand, so not a stiffer plastic. Already available on Tackle Warehouse, several colors already sold out...but not matte black yet. 😎

5. Z-Man Shadtron LT swimbait

Last year Z-Man came out with the Mulletron swimbait which implies saltwater but wasn't just for that, and at ICAST it came out with the Shadtron – which won the Best Freshwater Soft Bait at ICAST. The Shadtron has a different shape and high-def finishes like that ^.

Comes with that sickle-type hook, 4.5" and 6" each with a slow-sink and fast-sink option, and you can also belly-rig it with a treble.

I fished it a bit – good tail wobble and slight head roll. Should be available before the year ends....

6. 3.5" Yamamoto Nuki Bug

Heavy soft-plastics are a new(ish) thing and the clawless Yamatanuki for sure catches 'em, but I'm glad Yamamoto now has one of these baits that has claws on it. In some situations (I'm liking it for rockpiles, riprap and docks) this will be gold.

TW says it will be in stock in about 3 weeks....

7. 3.5" Berkley PowerBait Clatter Craw

Are rattles back? I know some peeps don't like 'em but I do so I'm stoked about this. Pre-rigged, fluoro weedguard, HD/realistic finish and:

> Replicating the correct profile, sound, action and taste of an actual crawfish, the Clatter Craw is equipped with a stealthy fluorocarbon weed guard for fishing around cover. Your new secret weapon when you're clamorin' for a bite, the Berkley PowerBait Clatter Craw deceives even the wisest bass to slurp down your presentation without thinking twice.

Yep the pointy-headed gentlemen 😁 at Berkley Labs actually can replicate "the correct profile, sound, action and taste of an actual crawfish"!

2 for $9.99, available in Oct. But...do Johnny Cox and Keith Carson know it doesn't come in "baby bass"?? 🤔

Honorable mentionin's

1. Berkley PowerBait Unrigged CullShad – The pre-rigged CullShad came out last year and established itself on the tour level pretty darn fast. John Cox had a high finish on the new unrigged version earlier this year, and if rigging your own is your deal, here you go. Comes in 5" and 6", should be available in Oct.

And did you know that TW sells the saltwater pre-rigged CullShad, which comes with a bottom treble and a top hook.

2. Berkley Gulp! Dragon Tail – Real intrigued by this deal and I guess Tackle Warehouse is thinking the same because this is supposed to be a salty bait but TW is selling it (available in Oct). Simple-looking, Gulp! which is deadly and sounds like you can fish it from the top to the bottom. 3.7" – I want to rig it exposed, heave it out there and twitch it back:

3. Yamamoto Shad Shape Swimmer – The Shad Shape Worm now has a paddletail version, comes in 3.2, 3.7 and 4.2:

4. Z-Man Drop Kickerz – Big deal on this to me is the "bulbous" wedge-shaped tail that gives a different swim action even at slow speeds...which Z-Man seems to be using more and more. Also:

• 20% salt content for a natural horizontal posture on dropshots
• Ribbed belly section that creates turbulence and quivering action
• Top and bottom hook slots

Should be available at TW at the end of Aug.

5. Z-Man Big Ballerz – Designed for the salt but no doubt will work for bass. Comes in 4" and 5" in just a couple colors right now – I couldn't stop playing with this deal in the Z-Man booth. A Fluke-type alternative....

1. Lunkerhunt Furenzy Mouse

The kings of fun topwaters once again lived up to their rep with this bait. Yep it looks realistic and even has real fur-ish stuff – that's cool but it's not just eye candy. When I got to fish it in the pond, what I noticed right away is it's heavier than most frogs so you can launch it, and that also means that you can walk it without it moving forward as much, which I happen to really like in a frowg-type bait.

The different shape/silhouette and worm-like tail also make it different than frogs. Lunkerhunt assured me that it compresses fine too, so sounds like it could be a winner. Comes in the middle size right now – 1.5" and 1/2-oz – but the smaller (2", 3/8-oz) and bigger (3", 3/4-oz) sizes will be out this fall.

2. Rapala PXR Jowler 127

This is the knockin' walkin' bait with cheeks that Patrick Walters and other Rapala guys have been fishing this season. Patrick says it's the deal so that should be enough! Important to note: Has a "long cast" system built in and comes with ultra-sharp, tourney-grade VMC RedLine Series Trebles. YT vid on it here.

Honorable mentionin's

1. Teckel USA Slashkicker – You know what style of bait this is. Teckel's Hideki Maeda "rebirthed" his original design for this new version. Get 'em while you can!

Also Teckel has a new version of its Kicknocker Pup that's rear-weighed for easier walking in rough water.

2. Yo-Zuri has new/good colors (ALL their colors are good!) for their 3DB topwaters. They're all on TW already, YT vid about 'em here.

3. Snag Proof Zoo Wake – Tadpole-shaped topwater obviously with a moving tail instead of skirt legs = different look.

1. KVD is the new US Bass Team coach?

Because it sounds like some want bassin' to be an Olympic sport.

2. Here's the 2025 MLF Bass Pro Tour schedule

• Conroe, TX -- Jan 30-Feb 2
• Harris Chain, FL -- Feb 13-16
• Lake Murray, SC -- Mar 6-9 -- aka the Gagliardi Family Fund Tourney lol
• Guntersville, AL -- Redcrest Championship -- Apr 3-6
• Chickamauga/Nickajack, TN -- May 1-4
• Smith Mountain Lake, VA -- Heavy Hitters -- May 17-22
• Kentucky Lake, KY -- Jun 5-8
• Potomac River, MD -- Jun 26-29
• Saginaw Bay, MI -- Aug 7-10

3. BAM is starting another tourney trail: the Super 60

Real good idea: 60 anglers, $50K cash for 1st, 30-angler championship, more deets at that link ^. Mark Lassagne might have to change BAM (Bass Angler Magazine) to BATT: Bass Angler Tournament Trails...and live in the BATT cave...

😁

4. New Travis Ely Memorial Scholarship

Honors the young man, a Purdue U basser, we lost last fall in a car accident on the way back from a tourney:

> The Travis Ely Memorial Scholarship is an honor that will be awarded at the Collegiate Bass Fishing Championship presented by Bass Pro Shops, with applications starting in 2024 and continuing into the future. This scholarship will be awarded to a student angler who exemplifies great success, character, sportsmanship, and work ethic, just like Travis, both on the water and around the community.

More info on the scholly is here. Lord please bless the Ely family with peace in you. ✝️🙏

5. Bill Lewis Zig Zag is like the old Norman Frontrunner

Goes ahead of your walking bait, YT vid on it here.

6. Kistler now has fishing lines

2 fluoros and an 8-carrier braid. Is Trey Kistler building an empire in TX? 🤔

7. New Alpha Angler 6' 7" M XF ShAAkr Rod

For skipping and scoping. Here's the one 'n only Brandon Palaniuk talkin' 'bout it on YT.

8. Jeni Swanson new CFO at KSE Media Ventures

KSE is one of billionaire Stan Kroenke's companies and includes stuff like the Outdoor Channel, BassFan, In-Fisherman and a lot more. Believe they still own at least a piece of MLF too.

9. Quantum is all saltwater now

I heard Tommy Biffle shed a tear over this...😁 Kiddin'!

Headline of the Day

Goodbye, 'largemouth bass.' Florida's popular game fish has a new name.

New name is "Florida bass" – aka the whole genetics deal that is already messing up bass records everywhere. My 2c right now is: No thanks. Maybe I'll change my mind down the road, who knows.

5 years from now they'll probably split more genetic hairs and we'll have 12 "species" of largemouths...that all look and act the same! Some day I'm gonna catch the 6-lb-test northern hybrid strain "formerly largemouth" bass with the XBS gene caught by a male using a backhanded cast with a bamboo pole and a spincast reel with no electronics out of a pond of less than 2 acres IGFA world record. 🤣

Having said all that, in my mind this makes FL's decision to allow commercial raising of largemouths even worse – and proves all the arguments against it.

Ish Monroe: A frog isn't just a frog

I guess it could also be a toad? 🐸 Just messin' – good stuff from a frog master:

> The reason my colors are so basic [black and white] is because a frog doesn't always look like a frog to a bass. Sometimes it represents a shad, a bluegill, a duck, a mouse, a bird or anything else that might be struggling in the water. A frog is a lure, not necessarily a frog.

> Because of that I'll fish a frog almost anywhere the water's less than 10' deep. Sure, I target mats, grass and pads – but I also fish my frog over open water, around wood and against riprap. A frog is a universal bait.

> I'd say that 90% of the time I walk mine. That's the best way to get their attention, especially the giants. But when there's a chop on the water or they're not responding to the walk I'm not too good to chug one [poppin' frog].

> When they bite you should set the hook hard and keep reeling. Do not stop. I've had several bass come all the way to my boat just holding the frog in their mouth. They were never hooked. If I'd have let up on them, or tried to play them, they would have opened their mouths and swam away.

Back when that was posted Ish's frowg was the Snag Proof Phat Frog...

...but now it's the River2Sea Ish Monroe Phat Mat Daddy which comes with a rattle:

👆 From the new FishInsider email....

How great is this shot! I hope we all catch one like this soon. That's 8-year-old Theo with a 25" Barrett Lake, CA fish he caught on a wacky-rigged Senko, credit WON:

Terrified teens spot 'Bigfoot' with 'glowing eyes' in Louisiana forest, call 911 for rescue

Hey that's not far from me! 👀 Looked it up and that forest is 600,000 acres – a dang dinosaur could be in the middle of that deal and never be seen.

Ever wonder why the gov't set up all these National Forests? Just for "preservation" (impossible) and recreation or maybe there's more to it... 🤔 Don't get Hackney talking about it...🤣

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