Awards were handed out yesterday at ICAST for "Best of Show." Here's a look at the bass-related winners.
Overall Best of Show
> E21 Fishing freshwater rods
> Rod executive Ken Whiting had won a Best of Show 3 years in a row with Airrus rods. He's now with E21 – the Toronto-based company that recently signed Boyd Duckett as its first pro-staff member – and he's part of the winning team again. E21 debuted its Boyd Duckett Classic Gold rod (left), as well as the Carrot Stix (right), which are cranking rods that feature a graphite core wrapped with synthesized carrot fibers (yep, carrot fibers). It seems to have the properties of a glass rod at a fraction of the weight.
Boating Accessory
> Bert's Custom Tackle Track System
Electronics
> Lowrance-Navico 38C HD Sonar fishfinder
Eyewear
> Costa Del Mar Man-O'-War
> We tried these babies on and all we can say is "wow." Let's say that again, "wow."
Fishing Accessory
> Berkley Tec Pistol Trigger Grip
> Berkley likely could have won for any number of its new high-end Tec tools. The industrial design is killer, the grips seem perfect, the metals are super-quality, and everything just seems to be designed "smartly." Watch for more on these new tools at a future date. To see a photo of the TEC shears, click here, then scroll to the bottom of the story.
Freshwater Reel
> Shimano Stradic F1
> Shimano wins in big categories every year, and this new spinning machine's a winner. More coming on this product.
Freshwater Rod
> E21 Carrot Stix
> As noted above, carrot cellulose is synthesized then wrapped around a graphite blank. It felt cool, and light.
Line
> Stren Microfuse (blue glacier fluorescent)
> This is a superline with the same clear/blue-fluorescent coloring that has been a Stren trademark for decades. Nice.
Soft Lure
> Gulp Alive
> For more on this killer new product, click here.
Tackle Management
> Shimano Bristol Bay Portable Livewell Bag
