I love this stuff. ICAST 2015 is about six weeks away. What have you seen? What have you heard? What would you like to see?

I'll go first..... known fact: shimano citica I, which ready launched. Enigma's icast reveal, which I think will be uneventful.

Let's hear it!

Possibly the production Phenix K2 and the high end *** Archangel. Don't think we all see the Dobyns Zayta

after going to iCast last year i will say this  , the best in show or best of icast awards do not mean anything, period.  

My predictions?  

Live target will show horrible defective products that don't work by an army of guys in red polo shirts

The guys at the livingston booth will still be dicks but have the best free sandwiches at lunch

*** will have the best draft beer in the afternoon

the megabass booth will still be the most amazing place ever to test rods.

bill dance will be drunk in a hotel 

Minn Kota will have the most amazing soft carpet in their megabooth, but still have the noisiest turning crappy ilink motors

DUO realis have some nice stuff

Possibly the production Phenix K2 and the high end *** Archangel. Don't think we all see the Dobyns Zayta

The Archangel is up on TW.

I am wondering what we'll see in the Rage line of plastics.

My prediction is that several somebodies will be introducing tackle systems super similar to the Ned Rig.

The Archangel is up on TW.

I am wondering what we'll see in the Rage line of plastics.

 

Good catch, I checked probably a day or two ago and didn't see it. Must have just added it. Sharp looking rods but they carry an NRX/Megabass type of price tag. I am sure they will be stellar rods among the folks that treat themselves to a rod or 2.

Good catch, I checked probably a day or two ago and didn't see it. Must have just added it. Sharp looking rods but they carry an NRX/Megabass type of price tag. I am sure they will be stellar rods among the folks that treat themselves to a rod or 2.

I have been checking as well, and I believe they just put it up the afternoon or evening of 06/08.

Yea, definitely a huge price tag. I really want one, but can only swing the one...now to decide if I should go with the 6'11 M or the 7'2" MH.

This is the year - All reel manufacturers will start making good ceramic bearings stock! Pffft..... I wish.

Good catch, I checked probably a day or two ago and didn't see it. Must have just added it. Sharp looking rods but they carry an NRX/Megabass type of price tag. I am sure they will be stellar rods among the folks that treat themselves to a rod or 2.

What's this you say? I should have two more coming, you say?

I'll let you know when I get my 7-2 in hand next week my thoughts.

What's this you say? I should have two more coming, you say?

I'll let you know when I get my 7-2 in hand next week my thoughts.

Can't wait to hear what you think.

I predict a bunch of companies will be showing the same products, but in different colors or sizes so they can call them "new".

 

I predict many new products will debut under much hoopla, but nobody will be able to buy them until next year.

 

I predict ICAST will be held in Orlando....again.....and again..... and again....until at least 2020.  Maybe next year they'll check for conflicting big conventions first before announcing dates.  Just a thought.

 

I predict Bobby and crew will be thrown out of their hotel for being too rowdy. 

 

I predict we won't be doing 130 ICAST videos again.....ever.

New stradic should be there as well

Rage Ned

I can't wait to see what Daiwa releases for the US market.  I've seen some of the new reels Daiwa Japan has, I just wonder how many are coming here.   

 

Daiwa is also now the US distributor for Evergreen International.  I'm hoping we see a bunch of new Evergreen stuff too.  

I predict it'll be boring

Possibly the production Phenix K2 and the high end *** Archangel. Don't think we all see the Dobyns Zayta

What ever happened to the Zayta? I remember hearing rumors about the Zayta being made 2-3 years ago but nothing was ever made/released.

What ever happened to the Zayta? I remember hearing rumors about the Zayta being made 2-3 years ago but nothing was ever made/released.

Shhhh it was swept under the rug

The Zayta fell victim to that proprietary resin I believe that another company owned the rights to. Perhaps it was Pure Fishing but the name escapes me. The guys at Dobyns were near the final phase of the release when they hit that hurdle. Guessing it was back to the drawing board of perhaps they had second thoughts and scrapped the idea. Maybe they will draft up another design and put a top flight rod out within the next 2 years.

The higher end market segment ($400-$800) is quite small. From a profitability standpoint the Champion line is probably there "cash cow". I realize the $500+ NRX has done very well but for a good while there were lots of rep samples and dealer demos that were under $400. The Archangel is $650 putting it $250 above a NRX rep sample price. It will likely compete with higher end Megabass rods from a visual and performance standpoint. Still some what baffled how *** chose to jump from a rod that was $250ish in the *** to $650. A $400 jump is huge but they obviously feel like they will sell enough to warrant their investment.

Sorry for the ramblings. I may just call Gary or Rich and ask them what will become of the Zayta concept...

Anybody know what Lews will be coming out with??? I'm hoping for an 8.1 tournament pro. I'm seeing alot of discount Lews reels at the moment too

I would love to see Dobyns put something in that $400+ range the DX IMO already performs better that some of those rods in that price range and I would love to what else they can offer.

 

I wonder if St. Croix has something planned it seems like on TW and a few other places are not restocking some models which makes me wonder if they are beginning to "make room"

Could be. I did see a video a while back that Croix was planning on adding more lengths and actions to the avid x lineup, which I would absolutely love, but haven't heard anything other than the avid x

I would love to see Dobyns put something in that $400+ range the DX IMO already performs better that some of those rods in that price range and I would love to what else they can offer.

 

I wonder if St. Croix has something planned it seems like on TW and a few other places are not restocking some models which makes me wonder if they are beginning to "make room"

Not for bass, but St. Croix has a new LE musky series.

I can't wait to see what Daiwa releases for the US market.  I've seen some of the new reels Daiwa Japan has, I just wonder how many are coming here.   

 

Daiwa is also now the US distributor for Evergreen International.  I'm hoping we see a bunch of new Evergreen stuff too.  

I'm surprised nobody has posted this so I will.

 

http://tzlure.com/2016-daiwa-casting-reel.html

 

North American market / Icast 2015 / Daiwa

New Fuego, Zillion HD, SV spool equipped 103/105. Google translate is your friend. 

That Fuego looks........ unexciting.

Dobyns threw out a teaser saying they're working on a new chatterbait rod. They didn't mention what series but I'd venture to guess Champion. I don't think we'll see it at iCast but you never know. As far as the new Fuego goes, the aesthetics may not be the prettiest but from the specs I'm thinking it's targeted at being a workhorse like the OG Zillion. Only time will tell of course, but this iCast will be better for Daiwa (in my opinion) than last year.