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Event Article:
2005 ICAST Rod Coverage |
ICAST Coverage Day 2 - Its getting hot in the Rod Market
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TICA:
TICA is better know
for providing some very nice and affordably priced reels, but also carries a
whole lineup of rods that range from ultralight to big game. This year there are
two of their rods that really caught our attention. TICA introduces a new line
of Muskie rods that are outstanding. They are made from the company's powerful
TC3 graphite blank and make use of quality Fuji components. The longer models
have a telescoping section at the foregrip that’s not even noticeable until you
retract the blank. Being able to shorten the rod will be very useful for those
traveling to remote lakes in the hunt for trophy Muskie.
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Tica had
some excellent Muskie rods that can collapse into the cork handle |
TICA’s big game reels
are well complimented with their big game rods, and this year they introduced an
entirely new line of TICATEAM boat rods. These new models are amazing in built
and have an incredibly nice feature. These boat rods are very easy to transport
on the plane or in your vehicle thanks to the ability to take the handle off.
This makes a solid two piece big game rod that you can take along with you to
those international deep sea adventures along with your favorite matching reel.
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TICATEAM
Breakaway big game rods allow anglers performance on the go |
Ahi: Ahi USA
isn’t known to be a rod company but they do offer many useful and innovative
fishing products from nets to squid jigs to bait catching tools. New for 2006 is
their Sabiki Bait Maker Rod. This new rod is designed to be used for fishing
with any Sabiki bait rigs. Right now there’s only one model with one action but
can be used with both spinning and baitcasting reels. The rod is designed with
one feeder guide near the reel and then threads through the center of the
tubular rod. When a Sabiki rig is tied on it can be retracted completely inside
the rod for no hassle and tangle-free storage on the boat. The rod is a 3 piece
design that can be easily packed and transported when not in use. We gave the
Ahi USA’s Sabiki Bait Maker Rod a quick try and the hooks slid in and out of the
rod smoothly.
Ben Hong shows Zander the new
Sabiki rod that is able to retract the entire rig into the blank
Conclusion: With the weather scorching hot outside on the Las Vegas strip
the competition had also heated up within the walls of the convention center in
the rod category. It is getting harder to create truly new rod solutions with
each passing season. A rod is no longer just a rod, and rod companies are going
farther then ever in 2006 to separate themselves from the pack with use of new
exotic materials, and downright spectacular designs and finishes. The rods we
saw at ICAST are a good example of manufacturers designing and producing tackle
that not only address current needs but help foster contemporary techniques to
catch more fish, and fresh new ways to approach the sport as a whole.
