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A look at some of the best new fishing products from ICAST 2025

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Orlando, Fla. — America’s largest sportfishing show, the International Convention of Allied Sportfishing Trades (ICAST), ran July 15-18 in Orlando, Fla., and attendees witnessed an upbeat 2025 industry rendezvous.

ICAST is produced by the American Sportfishing Association, a national, nonprofit trade group made up of more than 800 member companies and organizations that share a stake in promoting sportfishing for community and commerce.

This year, the show’s 14,000 attendees came from 75 countries. More than 950 brands had booths inside the Orange County Convention Center, featuring an array of products from full-size bass and bay boats to camper trucks, live trolling motor demonstrations, lounges, and social hours.

‘Best of Show’

Every year, the ICAST New Product Showcase embodies the sportfishing industry’s innovative and entrepreneurial spirit and rewards that ingenuity with awards in several categories.

Of the 41 category winners voted on by members of the media and retail buyers at the New Product Showcase, FluxJet Kayaks took home the prized Best in Show Award. FluxJet Kayaks bills itself as the world’s first electric jet fishing kayak. No outboard needed on this light, easy-to-launch, and powerful kayak.

Almost 1,000 products were submitted to the New Product Showcase, which included expanded fly-fishing categories and submissions from more than 260 companies. See winners below.

Top new launches

Based in Minnesota with its U.S operations, Rapala introduced a first-of-its-kind topwater at ICAST 2025 from the mind of tournament champ Jacob Wheeler.

The ClapTail 110 has a metal prop and back blade that collide when retrieved, producing a two-tone fish-attracting sound. The durable body and balanced weight ensure long casts and a steady retrieve, while the built-in belly swivel reduces leverage to keep fish pinned.

Wheeler says he Frankensteined a prototype for the topwater bait, not unlike when Lauri Rapala created the first Rapala lure in 1936. The lure won the Freshwater Hard Lure category.

There is arguably no hotter technique in 2025 for bass fishing than shaking a minnow. That’s why 13 Fishing has created the new Shaker Rod, designed specifically for CrushCity Mooch Minnows and Freeloaders.

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The rod’s technique-specific construction boasts a super-responsive and bouncy tip, plus a midsection built to absorb the force of an adrenaline-fueled bass swimming with all its might. The Shaker Rod comes in the Oath and the Myth Series in sizes 7-foot, 2-inch and 6-foot-9.

Purpose-built for soft plastic minnow baits, the new VMC Minnow Shaker, features a unique 45-degree line tie – the only jig in the market with this angle – which maximizes the rolling action of the minnow.

For fish in search of a heartier portion size, CrushCity is introducing two new bigger sizes of its popular Freeloader minnow: 5¼ and 6½ inches, along with two new colors, sexy Shad and Smelt. The Freeloader has quickly carved out a reputation as a top option when it comes to shaking a minnow, while rigging as a trailer behind a spinnerbait, vibrating jig, or scrounger.

The Swag LT Line-Through Swimbait from Z-Man Fishing Products won the Freshwater Soft Bait category thanks to its cutting-edge keeled tail, which performs at a wide range of retrieve speeds with mega action. It comes in eight lively baitfish patterns.

Lowrance, a world-leader in fishing electronics, unveiled its Ghost X 47-inch trolling motor, designed for freshwater and featuring an enhanced precision directional indicator, increased power, and the quietest motor yet.

Ghost X includes an indicator that provides even greater accuracy and visibility for both sonar and motor direction. New raised chevrons add a sleek design element, while ensuring maximum visibility from all around the boat.

The Ghost X also delivers a 20% increase in thrust compared to the original Ghost trolling motor. The new trolling motor boasts comprehensive sonar integration capabilities and offers enhanced views with the included Active Imaging 3-in-1 nosecone. It’s compatible with Lowrance ActiveTarget 2 mounting brackets for access to live sonar.

In the hard-bait game, Shimano’s Gravitator 220SS ratchets glide-bait technology to the next level, featuring innovative design enhancements that provide unique on-water utility. The Gravitator 220SS improves casting distance over conventional designs by folding the lure into an aerodynamic form, reducing air resistance in flight for smoother, longer casts.

Additionally, the lure’s unique action modifying insert can be removed or inserted into the joint area of the body, allowing anglers to adjust the action based on angling conditions or fish behavior. It comes in six available models – three featuring Flash Boost, which enhances light reflection for greater visibility, and others showcasing realistic baitfish hologram scale patterns through Scale Boost, designed to mimic the look of natural prey.

Targeted for anglers employing forward-facing sonar, Lunkerhunt’s black Twytch Witch is a soft bait for multi-uses whether you’re working a Damiki rig, hover rig, or dropshot setup. The idea behind the 3½-inch Twytch Witch is finesse with force. Its tail design produces a whisper-soft action that mimics wounded bait, enticing finicky, high-pressure fish. Perfect for suspended targets or bottom-huggers, it holds water column position.

St. Croix Premier

St. Croix’s Premier rod series has been around for 68 years, and the Wisconsin-based business continues to improve the American-made line. For 2026, Premier delivers even better performance via TET technology, which results in smoother, stronger, and more sensitive actions, as well as an up to 10% weight savings over previous models.

New Premier multispecies freshwater rods have enhanced ergonomics, so they’re lighter with modernized guide trains, and 45 angler-driven lengths, powers, and actions, including trendy, two-piece models. There are 13 new Premier Muskie models with the same upgrades also available.

The 2025 Ballistic MQ LT from Daiwa won the best freshwater reel category thanks to several innovations. At its core lies Daiwa’s Airdrive Design. Its rotor provides enhanced robustness and balance, while the ABS long-cast spool reduces weight and increases casting distance. Built to withstand frequent use and harsh environments, the 2025 Ballistic MQ LT features Daiwa’s exclusive MQ body, which amplifies rigidity and corrosion resistance. The reel’s MQ Tough Digigear boasts a 40% thicker gear design for greater strength and power transfer.

The company’s Tatula bass rods also won best of category in freshwater rods. Now featuring Daiwa’s high-density SVF graphite, which uses less resin to bind the graphite fibers, the line is lighter without sacrificing strength. The higher graphite density also transfers energy faster from the rod tip to the anglers hand, improving sensitivity.

The Kalin’s worm walker spoon from Acme Tackle offers a fresh new concept to spoon fishing finesse-style. Its unique tail’s wagging and hovering behavior triggers curious fish into striking. Rigged with nightcrawler or plastic the action engages fish as it “walks” back and forth on a slow retrieve. Comes in 1/3-, 1/4-, and 1/6-ounce sizes and in eight colors.

Whitewater makes good-looking wearable gear for the out-of-doors in shades of camo, plus practical vests, or collared classics that look good at the office. Popular at ICAST this year was its Spindrift Merino Fishing Hoodie. It offers unparalleled comfort and moisture-wicking prowess of Merino wool fused with the familiar lightweight design found in typical polyester sun hoodies. The lightweight merino hoodie has effortless stretch and 50-plus UPF protection. It serves as a versatile layering piece underneath jackets or as a standalone sunshirt.

The Xplore series from Hummingbird is lightning-quick and laser-focused on favorite fishing features. Find fishing spots faster with included LakeMaster and CoastMaster charts. Sync 10,000 fish spots with custom colors and icons to your phone through a new waypoint management system. It connects to MinnKota products and controls them on command – from enabling advanced GPS navigation to deploying shallow water anchors. This is advanced technology with an easy-to-use interface.

The Force Current trolling motor from Garmin is engineered for kayak anglers looking for a rugged propulsion system with superior maneuverability, wireless integration, and wireless throttle and steering.

The rugged, brushless motor delivers up to 50 pounds of thrust on 24 V (or 30 pounds on 12 V), giving users full control forward, reverse, and even in tight quarters, stealthily creeping along shorelines. The Force Current integrates with Garmin’s marine ecosystem: connect wirelessly to a chartplotter to follow GPS‑based routes, set Anchor Lock, heading hold, cruise control, or use gesture steering via the included floating remote.

It’s light enough for solo anglers and built with corrosion‑resistant alloy parts.