New for this year is an unweighted
Superline Spring lock hook
Superline Spring Lock: We start off with the new Gamakatsu Superline
Spring Lock hooks. Prior to this Gamakatsu offered these in a weighted form
which was great for paddletail swimbaits, but many anglers who loved the spring
lock feature also wanted a version to fish weightless plastics like flukes and
stickbaits.
The Superline Spring Lock is great
for fishing weightless plastics
These hooks feature a stress relieved steel spring
making it easy to rig plastics for a more subtle presentation for fishing
weightless. They will be sold three hooks per pack for $3.99 and will be
available in a variety of sizes that can accommodate finesse worms all the way
up to mag-sized plastics.
The Short Shank Treble hooks are
designed for hardbait anglers
Short Shank Treble: This is a product that we are particularly excited
about as this is the year of the crank here on TackleTour. Designed for the
discerning hard bait angler the new Short Shank treble features Gamakatsu's
"Magic Eye" design which opens split rings without the aid of pliers, making it
easy to change out your hooks in the field.
Gamakastu's Short Shank Treble
makes use of the tapered "Magic Eye" so you don't need pliers to open split
rings when changing out hooks
When rigged these hooks will run parallel to the
bait creating a perfect balance point, so whether it is a crankbait or a
swimbait these hooks are designed for optimal performance. They will be
available in sizes 6, 4, 2, 1, and 1/0 and will sold in packs of nine that
retail for $6.99 per pack.
A new size for topwater frog
fishing
EWG Double 3/0 size: One of the lure types that we definitely saw a surge
in this ICAST was topwater frogs. Seems everywhere we looked a new frog,
endorsed by a different professional angler, was being introduced. Gamakatsu
arms a lot of these frogs including the Spro Bronzeye with their new EWG 3/0
size double hook. These hooks are designed specifically for soft bodied frogs
and the angle of the hook makes it ride weedless while the wide gap increases
hook up ratios. These hooks are already being used on the new frogs and are
available now in packs of three for $3.99.
Gamakastu's new Cat Fish rigs make
it easy to get to fishing quickly
Catfish Rigs:
With so many bass offerings it is easy to forget that Gamakatsu has hooks for
just about every species, and that includes catfish. This year Gamakatsu
introduced a new pre-tied catfish rig that is ready to fish right out of the
package. These rigs are tied with 28" of 50lb. premium Japanese monofilament and
make use of a SPRO power swivel. There will be two options available, the first
tied on a NS black Octopus hook in sizes 5/0, 6/0, 7/0 and 8/0. The second tied
on an NS black Octopus hook in sizes 5/0, 6/0, 7/0, and 8/0. There are two rigs
per package and each will retail for $3.99.
Thanks to Joe Quiocho and Jeff
Roberts for showing us all the latest Gamakatsu products
Conclusion: Gamakatsu puts a lot of research and development time into
their products and it really shows in the detail in which they address each and
every hook offering. This year at ICAST subtle refinements in the product line
like the new weightless Superline Spring Lock actually change the way anglers
can approach techniques, while products like the EWG Double 3/0 arm
manufacturers and anglers with a new tool to modify their topwater frogs. But
the product we are most excited about has to be the Short Shank Treble armed
with the company's ingeniously designed "Magic Eye," there are simply no more
excuses for damaged or dull crankbait hooks in the field after this.
