ICAST 2021 -- Items for the Traveling Angler
I haven’t been to ICAST—the sportfishing industry’s largest trade show—for over a decade, not necessarily because I don’t want to go, but rather because it’s not the most efficient use of my time. I’d have to take two or three days of vacation from my full-time job, spend the money to go to and stay in Orlando, all without a direct payoff. While I have occasionally used vacation time as a “loss leader” (for example, the 2004 through 2009 Bassmaster Classics, which I paid to attend with no guaranteed resulting income), I increasingly try to use my annual leave exclusively either for fishing travel or moneymaking writing opportunities.
That’s a long way of saying, “I’d like to be there but I can’t.” At the same time, I’m a keen observer of all of the online coverage that ensues from the show. I’m an unabashed tackle junkie and I want to know what’s out there, even if some of the products won’t be on store shelves for more than a season or two.
Every year something comes out that I think I’ll love but ends up being worthless, and every year there’s a sleeper product that surprises me. The lures, rods, and reels are the sex symbols that get all of the glory, and I’ll examine some of the new tackle introductions in a future column, but there are also some items that I think could be of particular use to the traveling angler. In case they’ve escaped your attention so far, below are some of my favorites. Please note: Obviously I have not had a chance to utilize any of these yet, so while these items have piqued my interest they don’t yet have my endorsement.
Rapala Compact Line Remover
Before every bass fishing trip Hanna and I take to Mexico, I have to respool somewhere between eight and fourteen reels. All of those holding monofilament, copolymer or fluorocarbon automatically qualify for new high-quality line, while those with braid are respooled on an as-needed basis. Sometimes I’ll do this in the boat in the garage, but typically it’s less painful to do it in the living room, in front of the TV as it takes a decent chunk of time to get them all done properly. One way that I cut down on the time that the process requires is by using an old-school Berkley saltwater line stripper to remove the line to be discarded. It’s faster and more powerful than most of the smaller models, but it’s also larger and heavier (and requires D batteries), so it’s simply not practical to pack it for Mexico, let alone for a weight-restricted trip like peacock bass fishing in the Amazon. This smaller, five-inch version (which utilizes AA batteries), may be the ticket for that purpose. If you’ve ever had to replace line in the boat, in a hotel room, or in an airport to carry your reels on the plane, this one could be a lifesaver and I’d trust it because Rapala has really upped the overall their accessory game in recent years.
High-Tech Ziploc Bags
Bass Mafia may have been the first mainstream tackle company to market durable and virtually tear-proof clear locking bags for tackle storage (with their “Money Bags”), but it was such a good idea that now others have joined the fun. This year Plano added “Stowall” clear bags in 3600 and 3700 sizes, and SPRO introduced mesh soft bait pouches. The Plano versions have gussets at the bottom to make them wide, and the SPRO has that as an option. I’m a cheap son of a bitch but I bet if I calculated how many grocery store Ziploc bags I’ve ripped or overstuffed over the years I might’ve been better off investing in some of these. I’ve been meaning to invest in several more Money Bags (I won one loaded with baits in a raffle several years ago) and now I have options.
Sunline Line Coat
We use a lot of braided line on our travels—everywhere from Mexico to Brazil to Guatemala and beyond—and while I do occasionally change it out (see the blurb recommending the line remover, above) I probably keep my braid a bit longer than I should. I rarely have trouble with it breaking, but many brands do tend to lose their color, get a little bit rougher, and start to absorb water after heavy usage. If that happens on vacation, particularly if you haven’t brought spare spools, you can lose efficiency and you may end up losing the fish of a lifetime. I’ve always been impressed with Sunline’s products and if this spray coating allows my braid to last longer, and fish better, it’ll be worth the investment.
Megabass Triza Travel Rods
The Triza Travel Rods from Megabass aren’t inexpensive at $369-449, but Megabass quality and artistry typically speaks for itself. If you’re looking for a multi-piece rod and you want the best JDM technology that’s available domestically, this may be it. I’m particularly intrigued by the 7’2” Dragoon baitcaster, which Is rated for ½ to 3 ounce lures. It’s longer than the 6’9” Cast Division and Legit Design heavy-action rods I’ve obtained, but still capable of winging some decent-sized swimbaits or saltwater lures. Not surprisingly, these travel rods (which many other manufacturers consider an afterthought) utilize “natural bird’s eye peacock wood reel seats” and other enthusiast touches.
Okuma Travel Rods
Okuma has long been a player in the U.S. travel rod market, and while I haven’t pulled the trigger on 7’11” heavy or extra-heavy rods (which I suspect could be good choices for 10XDs and swimbaits, respectively), I am pleased by the company’s continued commitment to the genre. That commitment has once again been demonstrated through their new Voyager Signature Travel series, which consists of three baitcasting rods and two spinning rods. Four of them are 7’2”, while the heaviest casting rod is 7’5”. They’re all four pieces, which means that no section should be longer than 2 feet, making them fit easily within conventional rod tubes. The guides have zirconium inserts to reduce abrasion and the whole package comes in a soft sided travel bag, right at the $200 price point.
A Note on Sustainability and Responsibility
As Hanna and I have expanded our travels, we’ve become increasingly impressed with lodges and outfitters who walk the walk on conserving the resources (natural and human) that their businesses depend on. Those examples include: Casa Vieja Lodge’s commitment to the “Kick Plastic” campaign; the efforts of Bear Trail Lodge owner Nanci Morris Lyon to protect Bristol Bay from the Pebble Mine project; and our friend Steve Yatomi’s work at King William Adventures in Guyana, where he’s shepherded the development of a sustainable lodge that is run by local villagers and incentivizes them to protect the land, the river, and the arapaima within it.
We already loved our extensive collection of clothing from AFTCO. Indeed, an AFTCO t-shirt and pair of shorts has been my pandemic, work-from-home go-to outfit, and their Reaper Hoodie has become my can’t-live-without cold weather apparel. They upped their game this year with products like the Econyl Rescue Fishing Shorts, which are made of nylon regenerated “from ocean and landfill waste including decommissioned fishing nets, industrial plastics and fabric scraps.”
Similarly, Costa Del Mar, a mainstay in the industry and perhaps the most popular fishing sunglasses on earth (yes, I have a pair), won a Best-of-Category award for Eyewear for their Untangled Collection in which the frames are constructed from old nets.
