New 3M Nano Matrix Resin Based Rods and One
Clever Marine Accessory
We pick up at the ISE show with the rod category and a number of manufacturers
rolled out new rods that leverage 3M's Matrix Resin which companies like
G.Loomis (NRX Series) and St. Croix (Elite Series) have already adopted.
Shimano Debuts the TranX Prototype and
Okuma Starts to Ship the Helios and Komodo The ISE show is never usually
a event to debut brand new reels but for many manufacturers it is a good
checkpoint to see just where they are in terms of shipping the latest ICAST
announced product for the upcoming season. Shimano bucks the trend by showcasing
prototypes of their upcoming "TranX"
Raining New Baits at ISE 2012
Sacramento
Rainy weather couldn’t keep hard-core anglers away from the ISE
Sacramento show, and though it was a cold wet day in Northern California there
were still plenty of manufacturers showcasing their new offerings for the 2012
season.
TackleTour 2012 : Welcome to the "Creature Fever" Is it any wonder why a bass
fisherman's collection of rod and reel combinations rivals the club selection
for a pro golfer? But in golf, you're only presenting one ball. Where as in
fishing, your rod, reel, and line combination is just half of a very complex
equation.
Amazon 2011 Part 2 : Venche Uma, No Chika
This year, to round out each parties'
experience, we rotated guides each day. So while having the opportunity to build
a rapport with our guide last year was great, the variety of fishing different
types of water and experience different styles each day with different guides
and personalities was fantastic!
Amazon 2011 Part 1 : Fishing the Headwaters
...similar to the experience of purchasing your very first piece of JDM fishing
tackle, once those barriers are lifted and the taste of that meat fed on the
grass from the other side of the equator is still fresh on your travel weary
mind, thoughts of returning soon dominate your very existence.
TackleTour
2011 Holiday Gift Guide (Part 2) Making our list, reviewing
it twice, what a luxury to have Casey encourage our fishing tackle vice. Time to
round out and finish up our gift buying recommendations for 2011 and just in
time for black Friday. Think you’re finished with your list? You might want to
look again as we’ve saved the best for last.
TackleTour 2011 Holiday Gift Guide (Part 1) 2011 is quickly drawing to an
end with the global economy continuing to spin in uncertainty. Nevertheless, the
day many consumers and retailers alike view as the kickoff to the Holiday
Season, Black Friday, a day retailers take the opportunity to cast their
umbrella rig of special prices and deals in search of big sacks of sales,
quickly approaches.
Debriefing Phenix's Recon : On the Water with Vince Borges Phenix has shown us glimpses of these rods for the past year with promises of “they’re coming” but delay after delay continued to push their debut off to later and later dates. They’re finally here and we met up with pro staffer, Vince Borges at Clear Lake, California to check out Phenix
Rod’s new Recon series.
Summer Buyers Guide Part 2: Hot Tackle for Warm
Weather Fishing
The weathers warming up and the girls are ready to showcase some more hot tackle
in the second round of our Summer Buyers Guide. We take a look at a range of
different products including enthusiast tackle, accessories, lines, and even
some fly fishing gear.
Summer Buyers Guide Part 1: Hot Tackle for Warm
Weather Fishing
The weather has finally seemed to turn a corner. We thought, what
better way to celebrate this occasion than to invite Ms. Casey, and new TT Girl,
Jess into the lab and show off some of the exciting tackle we’ve been using
enroute to giving your our recommendations on what’s hot for the Summer.
Targeting Smallies
in the Columbia River, G.Loomis Style After the conclusion of
the G.loomis plant tour we were joined by Pro Angler Renauld Pelletier to fish
for smallmouth in the Columbia River and surrounding tributaries. We armed
ourselves with an assortment of G.Loomis rods including sticks from the NRX
lineup...
How G.Loomis Rods
are Made – A Behind the Scenes Look at the Factory’s Secret Sauce There are few rod
manufacturers that still build all of their rods here in the U.S. and premium
rod brand G.Loomis is one of those companies on the short list still designing
and manufacturing rods stateside. G.Loomis agreed to open their doors for a
behind the scenes look at their entire manufacturing process...
WTF?!? : Tips on Finesse from Martens, Fukae, & Siemental Spro, Big Bite Baits, Gamakatsu, Sunline
and Gill got together to throw their second annual writers camp at Lake Lanier
Georgia highlighting both new and existing products. We were able to gather some
first hand tips on techniques and tackle from several big name pros.
A
Pro Angler Finesse and Big Bait Combo at Lake Pardee How fast time flies, less than
24 hours ago it was once again media day at Lake Pardee, and this year Pro
Angler Kent Brown put together another all-star roster including some of the top
pros that specialize in both finesse and power fishing techniques.
Tackling The Amazon - JIP's Tackle Report By now you’ve read all
about our recent trip to the Amazon, fishing for Peacock bass and whatever other
crazy toothy critters will bite in the Brazilian water. Now it’s time for me to
report back on the rods and reels that I personally used on this trip and how they fared
against those highly aggressive peacock bass of the Amazon.
ISE Show 2011 – Reels, Accessories and Watercraft
We return to the Sacramento show to check out the
latest reels, accessory and watercraft offerings. Like with rods most of the
reel manufacturers were holding their new tackle for the upcoming ICAST show but
Penn had a few new reels on hand to show us and there were more surprises still
to be had including an exciting new bass rig from Phoenix boats.
ISE Show 2011 – Striking rod and lure gold in
Sacramento
While many of the major manufacturers have already launched their entire
post ICAST lineup of products there are always a few custom tackle builders that
are on hand to showcase their latest products. This year we walked the aisles
and were able to find a few gold nuggets on the show floor.
Introducing the Advanced Angler.com, an interview with Managing Editor
Dan O'Sullivan
We sit down with Dan O'Sullivan, an industry veteran
and Managing Editor of a new site, officially launching today, called the
Advanced Angler. This project is designed to create a place for anglers to get
information about tournament news, angler communication, industry buzz as well
as techniques to help anglers improve their own fishing effectiveness.
TackleTour 2011, WTF!?! From the swim bait rod wars through our continuing search for one, one common factor resonates through the last three years here on TackleTour
: power fishing. Let's face it, given the choice, most bass fisherman would
rather catch one fish on a reaction bait than ten on a plastic worm...
Tackling The Amazon
Part 4: The
Logistics You've read our report, you've seen the photos,
you watched the video, and now you're ready to brave the Amazon, but you need
details. What's the trip going to cost you, what should you bring, how do you
pack, when's the best time to go, etc., etc., etc..
Tackling The Amazon
Part 3: Big Fish
You can watch as many peacock bass fishing shows on TV as you can find, and you can talk to anyone and everyone you know or have heard about who have been to the Amazon to catch these incredible fish, but until you experience the indescribable thrill and unbelievable excitement of that very first peacock bass annihilating the bait at the end of your line, you simply cannot comprehend.
Tackling The Amazon : Arrival
After an unusually smooth travel experience thus far, the next morning we were enroute to the airport to face our last bit of anxiety the flight to Barcelos
and the 40 pounds per person weight limit on luggage.
Tackling The Amazon : Preface If you're
an angler whose primary species of interest is black bass, then there is really
only one species of fish you can pursue using the same tackle and similar
techniques, yet that delivers unbridled, bone jarring, sensory overloading,
tackle destroying, strikes that no black bass on the planet can rival. And this
just describes the five pounders.
TackleTour Holiday Gift Guide
2010 Part 1 - Reels and Rods to Crank up the Season To
crank up the fervor and enthusiasm this upcoming holiday season, we’re doing our
part by doubling the enticement and bringing in not one, but two TackleTour
girls to help show you our recommended buys. So get out your lists, feel free to
look over ours twice, presenting TackleTour’s Holiday Gift Guide, for 2010 to be
precise.
Monster BassJam 2010: Part 4 -
Fishing Gear to Fit Your Style We come to our final coverage
from the BassJam 2010 and take a closer look at some terminal tackle and
maintenance products as well as a complete assortment of apparel options for
anglers that want to showcase their love for the sport.
Monster BassJam 2010:
Part 3 - New Lures of all Types There were plenty of other
exciting lures worth exploring at the show. Whether it was a new plastic, jig or
blade the common factor among all these products was the attempt to
differentiate themselves from the sea of competition either through innovation
or quality.
Monster BassJam 2010: Part 2 -
New Rods draw influence from Norcal
We get back to our coverage of BassJam with a few new rods, a number of
which were designed and tested right here in Northern California. Not
surprisingly many of these rods are designed for flipping and pitching but a
number were also focused on finesse applications.
Monster BassJam 2010: Part 1 -
Big Baits in the House
We traveled up to Cotati to attend
the second annual "Monster BassJam" which was full of manufacturers, pros,
anglers and of course, plenty of tackle. We kick our coverage of the event off
with what so many anglers came here to see and buy... bring on the new
swimbaits.
ICAST 2010 COMPLETE Coverage
Archive
Join us on our
complete coverage of the 2010 ICAST
coverage, with over
40 articles spanning
all the latest
tackle showcased in
Vegas.
Pro
Angler Jared Lintner debuts his new Shaky Fins Shad Swimbait
We hook up with the team at Tackle Warehouse including prostaffer and Pro Angler
Jared Lintner for a day on the water. We engage in a little friendly competition
and Jared uses his secret weapon, a new swimbait that he is working on which was
molded from an actual Delta Smelt.
A behind the
scenes look at the new and improved Tackle Warehouse It has been two years
since we first visited the team at Tackle Warehouse and since that time the
company has grown a great deal both in terms of total product offering as well
as moving into a new state of the art facility. We head back down for a behind the scenes look at
the new and improved TW.
The
Velvick-Clear Lake Reunion Part I
In the year 2000, Byron Velvick made a huge breakthrough on the tournament
scene. At the time swimbaits were popular on the trophy hunter scene, but the
tournament angler didn’t see it as a viable option.
Tex-Mex Big Bassin’
Lake Falcon Style We have all heard the
stories of the 2008 Elite Series and those colossal 130 plus pound weigh ins are
now legendary. We head to Zapata Texas and with the help of local pro Dan
Schoonveld I hoped to experience a little Tex-Mex bassing for myself and see if
Falcon, even in the middle of Winter, could still live up to all the hype.
Twilight of a new generation, Bassin' Young Guns Shoot it out at Pardee It is that time again, the
annual media day hosted by Ultimate Bass radio talent Kent Brown kicks off the
season at Lake Pardee, and this year the “Young Guns” came out to join the hunt
for trophy smallmouth and quality largemouth at this premier Northern California
fishing destination.
New
Lures at the 2010 International Sportsmen’s Expo We return to the ISE 2010
shows to check out the latest lures to make their debut this January. As
expected a number of new swimbaits were introduced as the big bait craze shows
no signs of slowing down, and while they were the easy pick for most exciting
new lures, there were other attention-grabbing baits on display as well.
New
Products at the 2010 International Sportsmen’s Expo We head to both the San
Mateo and Sacramento International Sportsmen’s Expos and were excited to
discover a few manufacturers that didn’t want to wait for ICAST 2010 to make
their new product introductions.
New terminal tackle and optics at the Big
Rock Show
We return to the Big Rock Show to check out some new hooks from Mustad as
well as the latest optics from Costa Del Mar. It is hard to innovate in both
these categories and yet both companies manage to do just that.
New Premium Lines at the Big Rock Show
The Big Rock Show offered dealers a few new lines ranging from premium
100% fluorocarbon to updated braids. Two of most interesting came from Seaguar
and PowerPro.
Here is to the next ten years... Letter from
the Editor: It
is hard to believe that ten years have gone by so quickly, what started out as
nothing more than an hobby site has turned into a huge community of anglers from
across the globe that share a passion for fishing and the tackle we employ in
that pursuit.
Chasing Winter Steelhead on the Smith River When winter rolls around
the warm water fishing often dies down but species like Steelhead on the West
Coast just begin heating up. We travel North to the free flowing emerald green
waters of the Smith River in search of early season steelhead that are just
beginning to enter the system behind the Fall run Salmon.
TackleTour's 2010, The Search For One ...
To help celebrate our 10th year anniversary, we
figured it’s time to get back to basics and embark on a year long journey. Our
focus will be to find that one rod, that one reel, that one lure, maybe even
that one fishing destination that if all we could have is that singular item,
“this” is what we would choose.
Bass-a-Thon 2009
Coverage Part 2 – A look at some upcoming new rods It wasn't just big baits at
Bass-A-Thon we were met with a number of rod manufacturers that had something
new to introduce at the show. This included some rod manufacturers refining
their lines as well as the resurgence of others.
Bass-a-Thon 2009
Coverage Part 1 - Big Baits in L.A. It seems like just
yesterday we were in Anaheim covering Bass-A-Thon and yet a full year has passed
and Anglers Marine once again hosts their popular show which attracts some of
the biggest swimbait manufacturers in the business.
Outdoor Pro Shop's BassJam 2009 (pt. 2) We arrived bright and early
to the event and the stars were out early. They included the likes of Skeet
Reese, Gary Dobyns, Ish Monroe, Matt Newman, Kent Brown, Bub Tosh, Randy
Pringle, and more.
Northern California's Inaugural Bass Tackle Event : BassJam 2009 (pt. 1) The folks at Outdoor Proshop,
MonsterFishingTackle, and Marine Unlimited decided it was high time NorCal
Bassers had an event of their own, needless to say, put on a big tackle show in
our backyard, and TackleTour will come. Presenting part one of our coverage of
the inaugural Bass Jam.
TackleTour's 2009 Holiday Gift Guide (Part 2)
Back
on the water Ms. Casey
gears up with the
remaining picks in this
year's Holiday Gift
Guide. We kick things
off with a look at the
swimbait category. It
isn't just big baits
that are the spotlight
of the conclusion of
this year's guide, if
your looking to splurge
the enthusiast category
is more alive than ever.
TackleTour's 2009 Holiday Gift Guide (Part 1)
It's about time to start roasting chestnuts over an open fire again as TackleTour goes retro in this year's Holiday Gift Guide. That's right, everyone's favorite TT Pinup Girl, Ms Casey, is back again and this time, she dresses the part to kick off the season of giving with recommended picks by our staff. So break out that Holiday spirit and let's have some fun.
Fishing Swimbaits for Delta Stripers with Professional Angler Kenny Schmitt The California Delta has
long been known as an exceptional striped bass fishery and is frequented by both
conventional anglers and fly fishermen hoping to boat a monster. Armed with a
full load of swimbaits we head out with Professional Angler Kenny Schmitt in
some challenging conditions...
Fishing for Rockcod Along the California Coast Onboard the Sportfishing Vessel Tigerfish!
For those individuals longing to get out on the water but are not fortunate enough to own their own boat or know anyone who does, party boats are a fantastic option. Of course, finding the right boat to climb aboard, with a knowledgeable skipper, friendly deckhands, and the like can be a challenge for those not familiar with the party boat experience.
Fishing through the algae bloom Clear Lake with Hi’s Tackle With all the gloom and doom
reported by the regional news about the so called “Toxic algae blooms” at Clear
Lake we decided it was time to see just how the recent blooms would affect the
fishing at the lake. We were invited by Jonah Li, owner of Hi’s Tackle Box to
join him and fish the lake.
Striped Bass Fishing Fun on Lake Powell with Sebile's new Lures for 2010 What do a trio
of guys who work in the fishing business do for fun? We just can't help it. We
confess. We love to go fishing more than anything else! Armed with Sebile's
newest baits from ICAST we head to Rock Creek Canyon on Lake Powell in Utah for
some Striped Bass fishing fun.
Trophy Bass Fishing in Florida, Lake Toho Style
With ICAST done we scheduled in a day of fishing before we flew back to the West
Coast and met up with Orlando bass guide Steve Boyd to target Trophy Bass on
famous Lake Toho for some largemouth fishing, Florida style.
ICAST 2009 COMPLETE Coverage
Archive
Join us on our
complete coverage of the 2009 ICAST
coverage, with over
40 articles spanning
all the latest
tackle showcased in
Vegas.
TackleTour's "Gear Up For Summer" Buyers Guide
(Part 2)
We return to our "Gear Up For Summer" Buyers Guide
and the TT Girls are eager to usher in more picks. Next up on our list are the
offerings in the big bait category. Starting us back up in part two of our
coverage is TT Girl Ms. Mari. Bring on the big swimbait gear!
TackleTour's "Gear Up For Summer" Buyers Guide
(Part 1)
Spring is here and with Summer just around the corner we decided it was
time to heat things up with our "Gear up for Summer" Buyers guide. Rather than introduce these products ourselves, we asked the TT Girls to
help ring in the Summer early.
Toplining for Elusive Lake Tahoe
Brown Trout
Lake Tahoe’s natural beauty is matched by its excellent trout fishery and while
many anglers are content to catch the lake’s resident rainbows or big lake trout
there are others that come here solely to pursue the Brown Trout. We
target these hard to catch fish in the shallow water with help from AC Plugs and
one of Lake Tahoe’s top trout guides, Tahoe Topliners.
2009 Bassmaster Classic
Expo Coverage: Part 2 I arrived in Shreveport for
the Bassmaster Classic expecting meager crowds and light spending, but had I not
known anything about the state of the economy, I would have left Louisiana
assuming that we were in the midst of a financial boom...
On Location: 2009
Bassmaster Classic yields some exciting products Often overlooked by
those less willing to travel the country is the Bassmaster Classic Outdoors
Expo. Icast is typically the biggest show, but only tackle retailers and media
are invited to Icast, so that leaves the Classic Expo for the outdoors consumer.
The Origins of Cal's Path to the Darkside : Hi's TackleBox New Location Grand Opening
Most who remember Hi’s Tackle Box’s recall the store’s former location at 33rd
and Clement Street in San Francisco, but the store actually got its start in a
very small retail location one and a half miles away at 10th and Geary – just a
fifteen minute walk away from where our very own Enthusiast Tackle Editor, Cal,
grew up.
2009 Japan International SportFishing Show, Yokohama Japan
A picture says a thousand words, and this time around we let your
imagination run wild in our photojournalistic coverage of the 2009 Japan International SportFishing Show courtesy of ProShop Otsuka, Japan.
Fishing with World Series winning Phillies
Shortstop Eric Bruntlett
Eric Bruntlett, you have just won the world series, what are you going to do? Go
fishing! When he isn’t playing ball 2008 World Series winning player Eric
Bruntlett loves to fish, and with just seven days before reporting to spring
training the team at TT go fishing with Eric at his favorite location….Clear
Lake.
The Bait Barn,
Catering to Tournament Anglers 24 Hours a Day Since when have you heard
of a tackle shop that specializes in high end product for tournament anglers
that is open for 24 hours a day? We take a trip to get the story behind this
distinctive shop located in Waterford, California.
It's Time to Crank it Up!
It is
officially time to unveil our plans for 2009, join us as we usher in “The Year
of the Crank.” Crankbaits have long been a staple for bass anglers and this year
we are seeing a massive resurgence in the category from both manufacturers and
consumers. It’s time to tie one on, toss it out, and crank it up!
Anglers Marine 22nd Annual Bass-A-Thon brings out the Big
Baits!
Anglers Marine puts on their 22nd Annual Bass-A-Thon show which brings together
a slew of manufacturers and pros to highlight new tackle and techniques. The team here at TackleTour
decided it was time to make a road trip and head south...
TackleTour's 2008 Holiday Gift Guide (Part 2)
TT Girl Ms. Casey is
back to finish what she started and countdown the remaining products in our 2008 Holiday
Gift Guide. Let's have some more fun...
TackleTour's 2008 Holiday Gift
Guide (Part1)
This season has been chock full of exciting products introductions and to cap
off the year we enlisted the help of TT Teaser Ms. Casey to present the products
in our Holiday Gift Guide. Let's have some fun...
Off to Clear Lake, CA, To See What's New With JSJ Bait and Tackle
It's a day of
picturesque
conditions but tough
fishing, and during the course of the day, what we discover is Josh St. John fits right in with the TackleTour crowd because he's a certified, superTTuning, tackle nut.
South of the Border Bassing,
El Salto Style
Throughout your angling
life there are a few fishing images that you just can’t get out of your head,
for some it may be their first topwater strike, for others it is the first
double digit bass, and for me the image of a 11.5lbr that completely cleared the
water seconds after I set the hook ranks high on my personal list.
Get Away and Fish for Beautiful River Brook Trout
There are bigger
trout, and there
certainly are harder
fighting fish but
there are few that
are as beautiful as
the elusive Brook
Trout. Also known as
the speckled trout
Brookies inhabit
some of the smallest
cold water streams,
mountain lakes, and
spring ponds on
North America.
Bassin Alabama Style at Dream Lake
The team heads to Alabama to fish alongside East Coast
dealers as Shimano showcases their newly released Curado and Citica E reels. At
the same time we learn about the exceptional bass fishing at Dream Lake Lodge in
Livingston.
ICAST 2008 COMPLETE Coverage
Archive
Join us on our
complete coverage of
the 2008 ICAST
coverage, with over
40 articles spanning
all the latest
tackle showcased in
Vegas.
Fishing
with Tackle
Warehouse and BASS
Elite Angler Jared
Lintner
The day after we toured
Tackle Warehouse’s operation we head out for a day on the water with Rich, the
TW team, and professional Bass Elite Series angler Jared Lintner. We head out to
Lake Nacimiento just north of the company’s headquarters in San Luis Obispo, CA.
A behind the scenes
look inside Tackle Warehouse
Over the course of the
last five years Tackle Warehouse has grown to become one of the most respected
tackle e-tailers on the internet. Recently we
were invited to take a behind the scenes look at what makes Tackle Warehouse one
of the fastest growing tackle outfitters out there.
An Ice Fishing Primer from Northwestern Ontario
TackleTour Gear Crew Member Matt Davis of Otterods, shares with us, some tips, techniques, and most importantly, gear, on his long overdue reintroduction into ice fishing.
Don Moorman's Double Hudd Rig
in Action Don Moorman is a
self taught trophy
bass hunter in
Northern California
who, in just a few
short years has
built quite the
reputation among the
big bait throwing
community as a very
humble,
approachable, down
to earth fisherman
willing to share all
he has learned,
including unique
rigging techniques,
and today he shows
us his Double Hudd
Rig.
Fred Hall Long Beach Show: Part 2 - Saltwater Coverage
While most shows in
California sport a
majority of bass
fishing tackle, the
Fred Hall Long Beach
show is split almost
50-50 on freshwater
and saltwater
tackle. This second
part of the show
coverage will
concentrate on the
Saltwater side of
the Fred Hall show.
Fred Hall Long Beach Show: Part 1 - Freshwater Coverage
Fred Hall Long Beach is the largest fishing and tackle show on the West Coast,
and manufacturers turn it up a notch both in the quality of their displays and
their product offering. This year there was enough at the show to break up our
coverage into fresh and saltwater separately.
Pete Robbins
Highlights Baits from the 2008 Bassmaster Classic Consumer Expo
Judging solely from
this past weekend’s
crowds at the
Carolina First
Center in
Greenville, South
Carolina, the
purported recession
has not yet hit the
fishing industry.
While some vendors
claimed that the
large numbers of
spectators did not
translate into
exuberant spending,
at times the endless
sea of humanity made
it difficult to move
within the building.
Japan's International Sportfishing Show 2008
Perhaps a sign of the slowing international economy,
Japan's International Sportfishing Show was less exciting this year than in years past. There were fewer manufacturers on display. Still, the stalwarts of the industry had quite a few things to show and the Shimano and Daiwa booths, in particular were the busiest of the lot.
Central California Rockfishing: Locations, Tackle, and tips
on how to catch
While many freshwater anglers are gearing up for spring bass fishing saltwater
anglers are already beginning to anticipate the upcoming rockcod season, and
while its still may be months away many West Coast anglers are starting to prep
there boats and gear.
Rain or Shine the
Smallies come out for the Pros on Pardee Lake
Winter fishing can
be tough at times,
but when the water
is still cold it can
be a great time to
change your focus
from largemouth to
smallies. Lucky for
us in NorCal there
are some lakes that
don't require
anglers to make the
tough choice between
one or the other.
Lake Pardee is one
such lake...
The ISE
Sacremento show
continues the rise
of the big bait
trend with bigger
sticks
Each of the many International Sportsmen Expositions have a
slightly different flavor, as they showcase region specific tackle offerings.
The ISE Sacramento show tends to be bigger than the San Mateo show due to
the venue itself, which is located at the Cal Expo grounds which is also home to
the state fair.
Kicking off the Season with the 2008 International Sportsmen's Expo San Mateo
We kick off the show season officially with the
first International Sportsmen's Show. The 32nd ISE continues to bring fans of
the outdoors
exhibitors
representing tackle
manufacturers and
fishing and hunting
lodges, plus
adventure outfitters
from around the
world.
TackleTour
Introduces Updated
Rating System
On
January 1st, 2008,
TackleTour is
updating the way we
score tackle in our
reviews. For years
readers have been
asking for a more
detailed, more
accurate, more
representative
rating system. That
is why this year we
are retooling with a
brand new appraisal
system.
Fishing the
Klamath River for Salmon and Steelhead with Gary Hix The Klamath river, still a prime
destination for both fly and drift bait anglers looking to hook into both King
Salmon and Steelhead. We take a trip to this legendary river with the hopes of
testing some of the latest tackle and hoping to land a trophy steelhead in the
process.
Raising Awareness and Fishing for a Cause: ICAST 2007 - ForHer
There was a definite undercurrent at this year’s ICAST and that was the message
that fishing isn’t just for boys anymore. In this industry of specialized
products, there have been few products developed specifically tailored to the
needs of the female angler. That is, until now...
The El Salto Experience –
Inside the Anglers Inn We received
so many emails after our initial beta test at El Salto with Shimano that we
realized the mystique of this lake truly transcends country borders. We take a
closer look at the El Salto experience, with an inside look at the legendary
lake and the Anglers Inn.
Evaluating new rods at Clear Lake with Gary Dobyns
We head over to Clear Lake
with professional angler Gary Dobyns to test Gary’s new signature line of
fishing rods, and get an inside scoop on a lake that Gary has won on so many
times. What ensues is a rock and roll of a good time filled with talk of fishing
rods, big fish, and plenty of laughs.
ICAST 2007 Special (Lures) - Berkley baits with winning
formulas PowerBait and Gulp!
Last year Pure
Fishing introduced
over 1000 new bait
and lure SKUs and it
appears that this
season they are at
it yet again. It
would be impossible
to cover all of
these baits, so
instead we decided to focus on the ones that
we believe are definite winners...
ICAST Coverage Day 4 (Lures) - Swimbaits
Reign Supreme
Want big fish, use a
big bait…..want big
sales, introduce a
big bait. While
there were a number
of other lure
introductions this
ICAST the recurring
theme was the
introduction of yet
another swimbait by
another
manufacturer.
Everywhere we turned
there was yet
another mammoth bait
to consider.
ICAST Coverage Day 3 (Rods) - Let the Rod Wars Begin!
It was here in the
rod category that
the battle lines
were really drawn.
The players here are
as different as can
be, with well
established
companies like G.Loomis and Lamiglas representing the "old guard," and brands
like Dobyns and e21 that are up and coming contenders.
ICAST Coverage Day 2 (Best of Show) - Ken Whiting powers E21 to the front of
the pack
The
votes are in for the
50th annual ICAST
and the man with the
golden touch proved
once again that when
it comes to rod
innovation he is the
one to beat. Ken
Whiting helps power newcomer E21 into the limelight with a sweep of the rod categories
and taking home the "Overall Best of Show."
ICAST Coverage
Day 1 (Reels) -
Better, Lighter,
Faster, Cheaper
(UPDATED 7/15/07)
All ICAST shows are
exciting on their
own, but this year
ICAST is celebrating
50 years of uniting
the world’s
sportfishing gear
and accessories
under one roof. Like
kids in a candy
store our editorial
team was cut loose
to report on the
latest reel
offerings from all
the manufacturers.
Fishing El Salto with pre-release Shimano Tackle and Jimmy Houston
We were invited to
famous lake El Salto
in Mexico by Shimano
to field test their
brand new
pre-release reels
and rods. El Salto
is on the short list
of top lakes, and it
seemed like a
fitting location to
see if the latest
crop of Shimano
reels and rods was
truly ready for
their upcoming debut
at ICAST.
Introducing Black Dog Bait Company...
We join Black Dog Bait Company on a field
testing trip so we could experience, first hand, some of the trials and
tribulations they went through bringing their new baits to market
A Peek into Japan's International Sportfishing Show 2007
No event in the Western world, gets those of us interested in tackle more excited than ICAST, THE event in North America where manufacturers showcase their latest products for the coming year. But before ICAST,
at the beginning of each year, in Japan, a similar debut takes place...
If you only can make it to one ISE show take a trip to Sacramento
Hosted in the state capital of California the Sac ISE is proving to be the biggest show on the tour. The
Sac show grew this year
and offered outdoor enthusiasts a little bit of everything. Whether you enjoy
fishing, hunting, off-roading, or simply introducing the kids to nature the show
had plenty to offer.
The Swimbait Craze was in full effect as
new baits were showcased at the Sacramento ISE
The swimbait craze is upon us with manufacturers offering up their
interpretation of big fish baits left and right, but those in the know realize
that the truly innovative and most sought after baits are coming out of the West
Coast, and at the Sacramento ISE, the swimbait
party was right here...
New products at the 2007 International Sportsmen's Exhibition, San Mateo, CA
We have had some abnormally cold weather for this time of year, but that didn't
stop anglers from coming out to the 2007 San Mateo International Sportsmen's
Exposition. This was the first show of the year for consumers to see the latest
tackle firsthand, much of which was first unveiled at ICAST
TackleTour Holiday Gift Guide 2006
This year before you hit the
stores, check out our Editor’s picks for the best products in each of the
following categories: Reels, Rods, Lures, Apparel, Fly, and Enthusiast tackle.
Whether it’s a gift for your fishing buddy or a well deserved toy for yourself
these products are sure to usher in a little more color and excitement into your
holiday season
ICAST Coverage (Lines) - A Line for every Occasion
There were a lot
of exciting new
lines at ICAST,
and
manufacturers
exhibited
everything from
fancy new braids
to advanced new
fluorocarbon
based lines.
Perhaps the most
talked and asked
about type of
fishing line
today is
fluorocarbon.
ICAST Special - Daiwa Wajima Specials,
functional works
of Art
At car shows
many auto
manufacturers
showcase
concepts that
may or may not
actually make it
to final
production,
others create
these prototypes
to highlight
their
capabilities,
and unique
technologies.
Daiwa did
something very
similar when
they brought a
complete
“Wajima”
showcase to
ICAST 2006.
ICAST Special (Lures) - Pure Fishing trucks in a boat-load of baits
Pure Fishing has always had a big booth at ICAST, but this year
it looked even more impressive with the boat-load of baits they introduced all
at once, so
many new baits
were released that we have to feature a special ICAST lure report just on Pure fishing
baits alone.
ICAST Coverage Day
3 (Lures) -
Who's the Mac
Daddy of fishing
lures?
Lure's are
always fun to
cover at ICAST,
as the category
has the most
room for
innovation. You
never know what
will be that
next "hot" lure.
This year as we
prepared to soak
in all that the
lure
manufacturers
had to offer we
asked ourselves
who would be the
"MacDaddy" of
all fishing
lures this time
around?
ICAST Special (Rods) - I want a "STEEZ" now...
After posting our initial ICAST rod coverage
we received questions ranging from "Tell me more about the
Air-Beam reel seats" to "I want a Steez now, where can I buy one?!" To help
satisfy your thirst we decided to follow up our initial
coverage with a second dose of of these new enthusiast level rods.
ICAST Coverage Day
2 (Rods) -
Perfectly
matching reels
in application,
balance, & style
More reel
companies are
solidifying
their position
in the rod
market, and many
are now
introducing rods
specifically
designed to
match up with
their premium
reels. In turn
custom rod
manufacturers
have had to
improve their
rods, and focus
on
differentiation
and innovation
to attract
consumers.
ICAST Coverage Day 1 (Reels) - Paradise for Reel Enthusiasts in Las Vegas Precision
engineering,
innovative
designs, and
improved
ergonomics are
all
characteristics
of the reels we
have observed
here in Las
Vegas at day one
of ICAST 2006.
It quickly
became evident
to us that this
year the reel
offerings are a
reel
enthusiast's
dream come true.
A Day on the Water with Andy "Cooch" Cuccia... Fish On!
What happens when a fishing enthusiast teams up with a tackle enthusiast? Cal
spends a day on the water with Andy 'Cooch' Cuccia and shares with us, their
catch of the day.
The ISE celebrates its 30 year anniversary in
style by showcasing new tackle in San Mateo
Whether you are a devoted bass angler, die hard saltwater fisherman, or dabble
in the fine art of flyfishing,
the 2006 San Mateo ISE has plenty of tackle offerings to see and play with
firsthand, lots of great deals to take advantage of, and even a few
surprises....
TT Editors
make their Holiday Gift Picks for 2005
It is once again that time of
the year. Time to find that picture perfect gift for your angling buddy, or
perhaps treat yourself to the product that you have been drooling over ever
since the first time you laid your eyes on it. We asked three TT editors to make
their top holiday picks when it came to four tackle categories and here's what
they had to say...
ICAST Coverage Day 2 - Its getting hot
in the Rod Market
It was in fact a near record temperature day in Las Vegas with the thermometer
tipping out near 100 degrees, but we had no idea that the temperature wasn't the
hottest thing in Vegas that day, it would be the competition in the highly
contested rod market.
ICAST Coverage Day 1 - Exciting Reels all across the show floor
What happens in Las Vegas stays in Las Vegas....but with so many exciting reel
solutions we're breaking that rule today. On this first day we focused our
attention on identifying the most exciting reels at the show.
A rare
opportunity...fishing For Humboldt Squid in Northern California When most of us
dream about catching big game we see visions of leaping marlin, majestic
sailfish, and hard hitting tuna. But the ocean is full of other predators that
are more than capable of putting up impressive fights, the mysterious Humboldt
Squid is one such creature.
The International Sportsmen Expo is back in
town, and so are the crowds
The ISE show is back in town, and with it come many of the latest angling
products and innovations that are either available now, or soon will be offered
at your local tackle shop. This year anglers and sportsmen came out in droves to
see, learn, and take advantage of great show deals.
Japan's International
Sportfishing Show 2005
This year, TackleTour, in Association with Jun Sonoda of JapanTackle is proud to
bring you coverage of Japan’s International Sportfishing Show. Jun reports that
there were many brilliant, new offerings amongst the array of 130 booths by
tackle manufacturers and other associated businesses, and the show did not
disappoint.
Welcome back to Fred Hall San Francisco,
bigger and better than before
Half of our editorial staff attended the show and what we found were plenty of
activities for both fresh and saltwater anglers, an assortment of exciting new
boats, and some very enthusiastic manufacturers eager to highlight their latest
2005 tackle offerings
Five to be enshrined into the IGFA
Hall of Fame
Have you ever stopped and wondered about the people that make it possible to
continue to pursue trophy gamefish, or transformed a pastime into a hugely
popular sport and multi-million dollar industry? This Fall the International
Game Fish Association Hall of Fame is inducting five such men into the Hall of
Fame.
Hooked on Tackle at the 2004 International
Sportsmen's Expo
The alarm clock sounds and we briskly jump out of bed, put on our well worn
jeans and lucky cap, hop in the truck with keen anticipation, not to go fishing,
but rather to drive to this year’s ISE show.
ICAST 2003 Best of
Show, a bounty of innovation
Let's all get to
the real reason why TackleTour is here...it's the tackle. This year's best of
show products were among the most innovative we have seen to date. From reels
with microelectronics to Spongebob combos, this year's ICAST offered plenty of
surprises.
TackleTour's "Best of Show" products from Fred Hall 2003
The
task to pick the "Best of Show" products is always a tough decision
for TackleTour, especially when it comes to the 2003 Fred Hall show where each
year more and more worthy manufacturers set up booths to display their countless
offerings...these are
the cream of the crop products that turned the most heads.
Fred Hall Fishing Tackle & Boat
Show (Part 1-Overview)
The
arrival of the Fred Hall show in Southern California marks the 57th time this
huge event comes to the West Coast. Aside from the exciting new reels, rods, watercrafts,
and lures, you have the opportunity to learn many new things from professionals,
manufacturers, and also to share fish stories with fellow anglers.
TackleTour's "Best of Show: Fly Fishing" products from ISE 2003
There
were many new cool and innovative products to hit this year’s San Mateo’s
Sportsmen’s Expo.Some products took last year’s successes and made
them a little better, while others took on a whole new look, style, and feel.Some of the best innovations could be seen in the Fly section of the
expo.
TackleTour's "Best of Show" products from ISE 2003
ISE 2003 was filled with hundreds of manufacturers, and
TackleTour had the daunting task of picking out the "Best of the Best" products out of many new and
innovative products and solutions. Here we showcase TackleTour's "Best of Show"
products that stood out from the entire crowd.
The Hottest Sportmen's Expo
(ISE
2003) returns to San Mateo, CA (Part 1-Overview)
Welcome
to the 28th annual International Sportsmen's Exposition (ISE) in San Mateo. The ISE located in San Mateo, CA is the largest
shows on the West Coast. Inside the many halls you will have the opportunity to
see and compare, put to test, and buy the latest in fishing, hunting, camping,
and boating gear.
Fishing for the Lingcod, the ugly king of all bottom fish
Lingcod are ferocious predators of the deep that have an appetite that is only
matched by their ugly appearance. These dwellers of the ocean bottom are prized
game fish that provide a great deal of action from the minute they hook up.
High Altitude Trout Fishing in California High Country
TackleTour goes on a 3 day field test into Yosemite High
Country for some amazing trout fishing. What started out as a field test of some of the newest
rods and reels quickly turned into an expedition to land some extremely exotic
high altitude dwelling trout.
To relax after work go shrimp fishing in downtown Taipei, Taiwan
Reeling from sheer fishing deprivation, and desperate to feed our fishing
habits we stumbled in a back alley "shrimp fishing club" where the two of us
discovered that we were actually the fish out of water.
The West's
Largest Sportsman's Expo Comes to San Mateo (Part 2 -Best of show)
Hundreds of manufacturers displayed their latest offerings at the ISE show,
and picking the top ten "Best of Show" manufacturers was a daunting task,
but in the end, the following ten manufacturers really stood out with unique
and exciting products.
