Anyone going ? Anyone have any scoop besides the Lowrance trolling motor??
Not going this year but I did see where Garmin was also releasing a new trolling motor as well. https://www.wired2fish.com/news/garmin-releases-new-force-trolling-motor/#slide_1
Keep an eye on Tackle Tour. They do a great job of covering ICAST. http://www.tackletour.com/
“You don’t always know where you stand till you know that you won’t run away.” ~Slipknot
Thank you sir. You always provide great info
The Garmin sounds pretty strong. I’ve always thought there was a lot more integration possible between finders/plotters & trolling motors
Wonder what Minnesota/Humminbird have up their sleeves
Haven’t heard much yet. I know Minn Kota is releasing a 87" shaft Ulterra for bigger/deeper hull boats.
Humminbird and Minn Kota (both owned by Johnson Outdoors) did the “trolling motor/depth finder pairing” thing last year when the Minn Kota built-in transducer was “MEGA” compatible.
“You don’t always know where you stand till you know that you won’t run away.” ~Slipknot
quote:
Originally posted by bangstickNot going this year but I did see where Garmin was also releasing a new trolling motor as well. https://www.wired2fish.com/news/garmin-releases-new-force-trolling-motor/#slide_1
Keep an eye on Tackle Tour. They do a great job of covering ICAST. http://www.tackletour.com/
“You don’t always know where you stand till you know that you won’t run away.” ~Slipknot
Did you read the specs on that thing?
Brushless=badass
Wireless foot petal=badass
over 3k=not so badass haha
Still… it will have minn kota step it up on their part! Thanks for posting
Fishing Nerd
“skilled labor isn’t cheap, cheap labor isn’t skilled”
I misspoke on Minn Kota’s release. The 87" unit is going to be in the Terrova series, not the Ulterra.
I have no doubt this added competition will have Minn Kota on their toes but let’s not forget, Garmin and Lowrance are entering a market that Minn Kota has dominated for several years. They’re coming into Minn Kota’s backyard, not the other way around. I’m pretty sure if any of these companies are setup to make necessary changes in minimal time with minimal overhaul its Minn Kota. Also, I’m fairly certain neither Garmin nor Lowrance are suggesting use of their new trolling motors in saltwater at this time. In fact, both actually specify “freshwater trolling motor” in their product descriptions.
I’m hoping the old adage of “competition benefits the consumer” plays out here but with the prices of Garmin’s and Lowrance’s initial offerings, I’m not holding my breath just yet.
I do like the brushless motor. It should be very quiet but the wireless foot control is irrelevant as it pertains to the bass fishing world. Bass boats come with recessed foot control pans on the front deck so wireless control or not, the foot control will still be in that recessed pan so it won’t matter in that market. As far as the saltwater market, I see more anglers using hand held remote or hand steered trolling motors so again, I’m not certain how much this really matters to the saltwater market, aside from the fact the new trolling motors from Garmin and Lowrance aren’t saltwater-ready yet.
Like I said, hopefully this added competition eventually benefits the consumers. Time will tell.
Today being the actual first “on the floor” day of ICAST, new product releases/updates should start pouring in.
https://icast2019.mapyourshow.com/8_0/explore/products.cfm#/
“You don’t always know where you stand till you know that you won’t run away.” ~Slipknot
Here’s another good one to keep an eye on for ICAST new product updates… https://www.tacklewarehouse.com/icastordering.html?from=icast&utm_source=front_page&utm_medium=banner&utm_campaign=190710_icast_video_coverage&utm_content=new_product
“You don’t always know where you stand till you know that you won’t run away.” ~Slipknot
Just returned from a couple days there. IMO the most interesting, best products are 360 Mirage Drive by Hobie. They say it is the year of the trolling motor, in particular, from the sonar companies. I will tell you that IMO they are all TANKS. Big huge heavy looking monstrosities. I wasn’t too interested. I will be very interested when the brushless motors become mainstream. Perfectly silent is a big thumbs up. Otherwise, nothing was too particularly interesting to me. Not a lot of breakthrough innovation in our industry, IMO. A whole lot of incremental improvements and gimmicky stuff. Got a ton of very nice comments on our new Jail Bait Reef Jigs, which were not at ICAST. There is a lot of quiet buzz about them. The most gratifying thing is the comments that they represent the kind of innovation that is missing in the industry. Not gonna lie, that felt good to hear.
Another product that I thought was really cool is the new Toadfish sucker can holders. They are super innovative and another SC company. I just bought 2 for myself. In short, they have directional suction. You can stick them at weird angles and they dont release until you pull them straight up.
There was a company with jigs that are an exact copy of our Trout Eye jigs with red eyes. I guess they say imitation is the sincerest form of flattery. SMH.
1966 13’ Boston Whaler “Flatty”
2018 Sportsman Masters 207
www.eyestrikefishing.com #predatorsstriketheeye
Thanks for the insight Opti… Brushless is taking over, rightfully so too!
“There was a company with jigs that are an exact copy of our Trout Eye jigs with red eyes. I guess they say imitation is the sincerest form of flattery. SMH.”
Hate to hear that but it was only a matter of time…
Fishing Nerd
“skilled labor isn’t cheap, cheap labor isn’t skilled”
Every year at ICAST, there are groups of people that do nothing but walk around the exhibition floor asking vendors if they have a patent on their product(s). If they don’t, those same people will have knock-offs on the market within months.
My first year at ICAST, I was talking with an exhibitor when I saw and Asian man going from booth to booth and in very poor English, he would ask “patent?”. When he came to the booth I was at, the man I was speaking with told him his product was in fact patented before the Asian could even ask. The Asian man simply nodded his head and moved on to the next booth. I thought that was odd but he told me it’s happens all the time and has for many years.
“You don’t always know where you stand till you know that you won’t run away.” ~Slipknot
Unfortunately it is what it is, but we will just keep on innovating new stuff and be first to market 
1966 13’ Boston Whaler “Flatty”
2018 Sportsman Masters 207
www.eyestrikefishing.com #predatorsstriketheeye
And we’ll keep supporting you!
“You don’t always know where you stand till you know that you won’t run away.” ~Slipknot
thanks bangstick, really appreciate it
1966 13’ Boston Whaler “Flatty”
2018 Sportsman Masters 207
www.eyestrikefishing.com #predatorsstriketheeye
Hey opti ,did you see any tucked in pfg shirts with the fish belts and khaki pants with extra starch.haha. I could probably put together a crew from N Charleston to go and lean on these copycat m effers but it’ll cost you some jig heads and tts. I’m sure bang would go with us.
the knockoffs will never put the same quality into the product as the EyeStrike brand. the durability alone is worth a few extra cents per jighead.
also, Ima wait on TugTed to report on ICast. it’s not news until he says so
quote:
Originally posted by PeaPodthe knockoffs will never put the same quality into the product as the EyeStrike brand. the durability alone is worth a few extra cents per jighead.
No doubt. The biggest concern with the bottom-feeding knockoff crowd is getting the product to market as quickly and cheaply as possible. No time for QC and/or attention to detail. No time to insure they’re procuring quality components. Whoever can get it to them as cheaply and as fast as possible, that’s who they go with. After a few straightened hooks and eyes falling off of the jig head, it will become clear to the cheapskates that buy this garbage why it costs a fraction of the price of the real thing and why it’s a “knock off.”
I wouldn’t sweat it, Dave.
“You don’t always know where you stand till you know that you won’t run away.” ~Slipknot
Might as well just take it like flattery, just like you said!
Lol @ sman
Fishing Nerd
“skilled labor isn’t cheap, cheap labor isn’t skilled”
quote:
Originally posted by OptikerJust returned from a couple days there. IMO the most interesting, best products are 360 Mirage Drive by Hobie. They say it is the year of the trolling motor, in particular, from the sonar companies. I will tell you that IMO they are all TANKS. Big huge heavy looking monstrosities. I wasn’t too interested. I will be very interested when the brushless motors become mainstream. Perfectly silent is a big thumbs up. Otherwise, nothing was too particularly interesting to me. Not a lot of breakthrough innovation in our industry, IMO. A whole lot of incremental improvements and gimmicky stuff. Got a ton of very nice comments on our new Jail Bait Reef Jigs, which were not at ICAST. There is a lot of quiet buzz about them. The most gratifying thing is the comments that they represent the kind of innovation that is missing in the industry. Not gonna lie, that felt good to hear.
Another product that I thought was really cool is the new Toadfish sucker can holders. They are super innovative and another SC company. I just bought 2 for myself. In short, they have directional suction. You can stick them at weird angles and they dont release until you pull them straight up.
There was a company with jigs that are an exact copy of our Trout Eye jigs with red eyes. I guess they say imitation is the sincerest form of flattery. SMH.
1966 13’ Boston Whaler “Flatty”
2018 Sportsman Masters 207
www.eyestrikefishing.com #predatorsstriketheeye
Thanks for the input on the new trolling motors. You confirmed what I observed on some videos that they were big and clunky. I did like the options on transducers and internal mounting and wires. I understand Power Pole has one in the works too
I was hoping this would be the year wires go away co