ICAST can be a bit of a sensory overload. Rows upon rows of new fishing gear, packed booths, and a pace that doesn’t leave much room to breathe. It’s exciting, exhausting, and nearly impossible to take it all in. You could spend weeks digging into everything that’s unveiled there, but no one has that kind of time — especially not during the show itself.
Now that I’ve had some time to regroup, I’ve finally had a chance to think through what actually stood out. I didn’t want to throw together a list just to make every brand feel included. That kind of coverage doesn’t help anyone.
The truth is, not every new product is good. Not everything deserves a spotlight just because it’s new. And I definitely didn’t have time to see it all. ICAST is massive, and I’m just one person with a very full notebook.
So, here it is. My personal Best of Show picks from ICAST. These are the things that caught my eye for good reason. They stood out because they offer something better, something useful, or something different. Maybe they’re innovative, maybe they improve on what already exists, maybe they offer real value. Or maybe they just made me stop and take a second look.
I didn’t include baits in this list, because I already covered those separately in this breakdown.
Some of the gear on this list won’t hit shelves until fall 2025, but I’ll include links where possible so you can keep tabs on availability.
GearJunkie’s Selections for Best of Show: ICAST 2025
ICAST Best of Show: Best Freshwater Rod
Cashion Element Z2 Rods
There are endless rod companies on the market, every one of which claims to be the best. Honestly, they’re all good. But at this year’s show, I got the most excited about the Cashion Element Z2 series.
Here’s the skinny — the rods retail for $130, except for the swimbait rod, which is still a reasonable $150. There are now 27 models in the lineup, with specialized rods for chatterbaits, cranking, and anything you can imagine. There’s a rod here for everyone.
Every rod has a 3-year warranty and can be replaced in the event you accidentally break it. The replacement cost, you ask? $49. To top it all off, each rod is made right here in the U.S. of A. Find me another sub-$150 rod that checks all of those boxes. I’ll wait.
Best Freshwater Reel
Daiwa Ballistic MQ LT
All right, here’s one where I agree with the ICAST Best of Show award. The Daiwa Ballistic MQ LT is a sweet reel, and I’ll be trying to pick one up.
The name of the game of this new release is being lightweight. Without going into all of the details, Daiwa cut all excess weight out of this reel without losing strength. It’ll pair fantastically with any finesse rod you own. It’s ultra-smooth and fully sealed. You don’t need to worry about saltwater, dirt, or really anything affecting the reel’s performance.
At $240, it’s a steal. Perhaps after further testing, it’ll knock off my favorite spinning reel from the best bass fishing reels buyers’ guide.
Best Saltwater Rod
Quantum Zeal
At ICAST 2025, Quantum looked like a completely new brand. It was honestly shocking — props to them. In the past, I viewed Quantum as a budget bass gear brand that overcharged for their stuff. It was fishing rods and reels that looked like they belonged on a Walmart shelf but fetched over $100.
That is certainly no longer the case. They’re cool, exciting, and the stuff all looks like it should cost twice as much as it does. And it’s salty rather than bass-focused. It’s a complete rebrand, and it’s been done well.
The Quantum Zeal stood out to me for one reason. The new graphite blanks look sweet. They give off Shimano vibes, which I am an admitted fanboy of. Maybe that’s why I like the Zeal so much. I don’t know.
You’ll be able to find inshore, boat, jigging rods, and surf rods in the Zeal lineup. With such a diverse line, I won’t list an exact MSRP, but they run from $120 to $150. They feel extremely lightweight in the hand, and overall appear to be a much higher-end rod. I’m dying to try a few out.
ICAST Best of Show: Best Saltwater Reel
SEVIIN GW Inshore Reel
I do not understand why a saltwater reel wouldn’t have a sealed drag. It makes no sense. A non-sealed drag when fishing in the salt is asking for disaster or excessive maintenance. But many aren’t, especially budget options.
Enter the SEVIIN GW inshore reels. They retail for $130, but they’re built to handle anything a salty angler can throw at them. At most, I only get to surf fish a few times a year. As such, I’ve always purchased cheap reels for it. They inevitably break due to saltwater corrosion getting into the drag.
That ends now. The GW has a coated saltproof zinc drive gear and is fully sealed. For under $150, I finally found a reel that I can swim in the surf with. Hallelujah. Thank you, SEVIIN.
I want to point out that the new Quantum Cabo reels were also awesome and could be put in this spot. I just loved the value of the SEVIIN.
ICAST Best of Show: Best Fly Rod and Reel
No One
Yes, ICAST is supposed to be the largest fishing show in the world. Yet time and time again, fly fishing is underrepresented.
However, there are always some fly companies poking around. If I were to award a best new fly rod at ICAST 2025, it would go to the St. Croix Tannic series of rods. They retail for $625 and are designed specifically for bass and musky/pike. I threw one around a little and liked it a lot. It generated great line speed and was accurate at multiple distances.
However, there wasn’t enough competition at the show to warrant an award-winning status.
As far as reels go? No. Just no. Any award from this show for a fly reel (which there was) is a participation trophy. None of the fly reels at the show were noteworthy. I was a fly guide for a long time. Trust me.
ICAST Best of Show: Best Kayak Trolling Motor
Garmin Force Current
From what I saw, there were three new kayak trolling motors at ICAST 2025. The Garmin Force Current stood above the rest. It’s significantly more innovative and distinct than anything else.
Here’s the short story: you completely control the motor with the included foot pedals, everything connects via Bluetooth, and it’s expensive. It’s the first kayak trolling motor I’ve seen that allows for 100% hands-free operation. That’s just plain cool.
It may not be the best fit for everyone, but it’s certainly pushing the envelope of kayak trolling motor technology. For anglers who are into building out a kayak that costs as much as a regular boat (yes, that’s a very real thing), you may want to check this out.
ICAST Best of Show: Best Electronics
Humminbird XPLORE Series
The XPLORE series is here to replace the Humminbird Helix and Solix. While the XPLORE was released in January, ICAST was the first time I was able to see them and get a rundown on them.
One of the main takeaways I got from the meeting with Humminbird is a faster processor. There is no lag in the fish finder, which we all know can get frustrating and annoying.
Justin Brouillard, whom I met with, informed me that even when completely zoomed in on his map and running wide open in his bass boat, his screen has no problem keeping up with the exact location. That’s a significant concern in areas where underwater structures can damage a lower unit.
Humminbird is also simplifying the configurations and packages that the XPLORE is available in. That is a huge sigh of relief from me. I swear, there were, like, 10 different variations of a Helix 9. One with this tech, but without that, one with both, etc. So annoying.
There are only three XPLOREs: 9-, 10-, and 12-inch versions. All have down imaging, side imaging, and are compatible with MegaLive 2. And yes, unlike the Helix, it has a touchscreen.
After talking with the Humminbird team, I need one.
ICAST Best of Show: Best Outerwear
Columbia PFG Force XII Jacket
Most new product demonstrations nowadays suck. And as a general rule, they did at ICAST 2025. It’s usually some dude listing off stuff from a product manual. “This is our spatiatic x wrap. It’s better. You should buy it. Have a nice day.” Boring. Not informative. That info is on the website.
That’s not the deal with Andy Nordhoff. Columbia, if you’re listening, give this man a raise.
This dude goes out, buys competitors’ products, and then cuts them up to see how they’re made. He then brings those cut-up products to demonstrations to prove that Columbia is better. He showed me with footwear, and he showed me with rain gear. Both impressed me. The best demonstration at ICAST 2025 goes to him.
As for the jacket, Andy showed me how water reacted with both a GORE-TEX product and the Outdry Extreme found in the Columbia PFG Force XII Jacket. The GORE-TEX undoubtedly absorbed more water, which, over time, will lead to a damp, wet feel, despite wearing waterproof gear. The Force XII material? Yeah, it didn’t absorb it.
It made me think that this jacket is genuinely different. It feels different, looks different, and I saw a demonstration with actual water involved. I’m dying to try it out on the water. Props to GearJunkie Editor in Chief Adam Ruggiero for linking me with Andy.
ICAST Best of Show 2025: Best Sunglasses
Smith Optics Backcast
I wear a bunch of different sunglasses, but for years, the Smith Optics Guide’s Choice has been my go-to. They fit my face well, have amazing technology built into them, and are available in a litany of lens colors for different conditions.
After seeing the new Backcast at the show, I may be retiring my Guide’s Choice. To me, they have a similar style, but are slightly larger, which I prefer. On the outer edges of the frame, extra bulk has been built in to block additional light. Starting this fall, you can purchase the Backcast with ChromaPop, polarized, photochromatic glass.
Here’s a simple breakdown. ChromoPop makes colors separate better and stand out. The polarization cuts glare, and the photochromatic quality means the lenses will become darker or brighter based on conditions.
The violet and yellow mirror lenses promise to be among the most diverse shades available. I’ll be grabbing a set for sure.
ICAST Best of Show: Best Knife
Benchmade Adira (Custom Damascus)
Yeah, the argument could be made that the best knife of the largest fishing show should be a fillet knife. The problem was that the showroom floor was flooded with $50 fillet knives made with low- to mid-grade steel and a rubber handle. Snooze fest.
This custom run of Benchmade Adiras, however, is anything but a snooze fest. I mean, just look at the thing. It’s gorgeous.
This isn’t a new knife. Benchmade has done a custom run of them before, but they sold out quickly. The news at the show? They’re doing another limited run of them.
Benchmade couldn’t provide an exact drop date, but keep your eyes peeled. I’ll also try to get an article out announcing the drop date. I’ve been running the Adira as my EDC, and this Damascus steel version is jaw-dropping.
Other Cool Products From ICAST 2025
I can’t do a big write-up on every cool thing I saw. But, there were still a bunch of other things I saw that are noteworthy. Here they are, with a brief description.
Mustang Survival Elite 120 Inflatable PFD: The Elite 120 is a minimal life preserver that’s comfortable and won’t deploy from just a small amount of water. No more worrying about leaving your vest in a “sweaty” rod locker. This thing will only deploy when you need it to.
Power Pole Stainless Steel Tech Flow Propeller: A steel propeller for your trolling motor. Quit busting up and replacing your composite prop every year. Go metal.
Musky Gear From St. Croix: I love musky fishing. Apparently so do the folks working at St. Croix. The brand released new musky fly rods and conventional rods, including a line of Musky X rods for the budget-conscious predator chaser. If you want new musky stuff from ICAST, look to St. Croix.
Frog Toggs Waders: All right, chief, I’m gonna keep it real. Frog Toggs waders have always been ill-fitting junk. But the brand revamped its wader line with a few new models. They fit well and remind me of Simms waders. Retail is higher than past Frog Toggs waders, but they’re still wallet-friendly.
Hobie iTrek Angler: This inflatable kayak is set and ready to head to your favorite fishing spot. It sports Hobie’s 180 drive, rails for rod holders, and is compatible with trolling motors. It’s incredibly lightweight, allowing you to pack it anywhere.
Rapala Fish’n Fillet Fire Tiger: The iconic fillet knife meets an iconic lure color. It’s a Fish’n Fillet with a Fire Tiger–colored handle. I love the mashup.
Final Thoughts
I saw so much more than the products highlighted here at the show. But, I had to draw the line somewhere. If you’re a brand or PR agency that thinks I missed something from the show, please let me know. I’m more than happy to highlight any areas I may have missed due to my busy schedule.
The show was fantastic, and there are loads of new products for anglers to mess with. Here’s to getting some new toys and getting out on the water!
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