New Glide Baits & Shimano Rods
It’s Summer and it’s literally hotter than it has ever been in recorded history, yet we’re all still crazy enough to get excited about chasing little green and brown fish who are equally perturbed by the sauna-like conditions.
If we ARE going to fish, we’re going to enjoy it, right? That was the general tone of my last blog entry where I made a claim that you should try fishing a crank bait with a $650 rod, after all. Nothing is more enjoyable, when it comes to fishing, for me than trying out the latest and greatest products that has hit our shelves and I’m going to attempt to highlight a handful of those products here.
Megabass i-Slide 187 R Intermediate Glide Bait
What can be said about Megabass which hasn’t already been said? Hyper detail oriented and performance driven products are the Japanese brand’s trademark, so it’s no surprise that the new i-Slide 187 R Intermediate Glide Bait is the most exciting commercial glide bait that we’ve seen since the release of the Spro KGB Chad Shad 180 (We’ll get into those here in a second).
This glide bait is not only intermediate in it’s sink rate, but it is a true “In-between” shape. Not quite a cigar shape like you would expect from something like a Deps Sideswimmer and not quite a tall flat shape like a KGB Chad Shad. Because of this, you can expect a slightly wide and meandering action that is perfect for fan casts across expansive flats and tapering points where fish are cruising around looking for a meal on its last leg, or fin, I suppose.
The i-Slide 187 R Intermediate Glide Bait is currently being offered in 9 killer colors that will certainly fit whatever scenario you’re faced with. Pick one up if you’re just getting into glides and want an ultra-approachable option or you’re a seasoned glidesman (We’re making up words today, boys) and want another option to present to your local fish population.
Spro KGB Chad Shad 180
Do you even glide, bro? Even if not, you’ve certainly heard of the Chad Shad. This bait quite literally changed the swimbait landscape when it hit the fishing scene, but it unfortunately had one major drawback; Availability.
Spro and Kevin Brightwell, the creator and owner of the KGB brand, teamed up last year to solve the availability issue by mass producing them to the exact specifications and standards of the original Chad Shad. Those “In the know” know that this did not immediately solve the availability issue, as the release was seemingly cursed by the remaining supply chain issues caused by COVID.
Alas, Spro’s version of the Chad Shad slowly began trickling in earlier this year, but they were all but spoken for by the hundreds of customers who preordered them. Lucky for those of you reading this, we have finally gotten to the point where our backorders have been fulfilled and we are currently sitting on a pile of Gizzard Shad, Threadfin Shad, and Bone Chad Shads ready ship your way today.
Shimano Poison Ultima 7’0″ Medium Heavy Casting Rod
Welp, Shimano has finally introduced a true enthusiast level rod to the USA… We sincerely apologize for those of you that have to report your purchases to an accountant and/or significant other.
For those of you who have put the Shimano Poison Adrena through its paces, I can’t urge you enough to find away to get a Poison Ultima in your hands. The fit, finish, and feel of these rods is truly something unique, which isn’t something I say without acknowledging the weight of using “Unique” to describe a product in our objectively over-saturated industry.
The Poison Ultima is comically lightweight and balanced, which allows it to truly disappear in your hand. This rod is the culmination of every Shimano technology which has been introduced throughout the past few generations of rods, but with the highest quality graphite that Shimano was able to muster up. Lightweight does not equal a lack of power here, but you’ll just have to lay into some fish with it to understand what the unmatched power of Poison Ultima feels like.
Shimano Expride Forward Facing Sonar Spinning Rods
It is likely that many of you are familiar with Expride, as it has held firm as a top selling series since its inception, but what you may not know is that the series was conceptualized as the ultimate line of tournament-driven rods that have ever been built.
It should be no surprise that the first rods geared towards forward facing sonar, that we know of at least, are a part of the Expride family. These rods feature an ultra fast tip which will allow you to present your preferred forward facing sonar rig in a manner that keeps it within your sonar’s range.
The idea of any tool is to complete a task in the most efficient and effective manner possible, so if your task is to catch a fish using forward facing sonar, I suggest that you pick these new tools introduced by Shimano.
Shimano Curado BFS Casting Rods
We’re inching closer and closer to true BFS here in the States and I’m here for it. Whether you don’t like using spinning gear or you’re just looking to try something new, Shimano is continuing its push to get BFS gear in your hands.
Pair one of these rods up with a Curado BFS Casting Reel and go give it a shot, I think you’ll dig it regardless of what bait you’re attempting to present. It is truly fun to play around with and it never ceases to amaze me what you can do with such light gear.
Shimano Intenza Casting & Spinning Rods
You’ve likely not tried fishing an Intenza before, well, here’s my bid to convince you that you should. Shimano has always done an excellent job of trickling premium features into their middle and entry level products, which is exactly what they’ve done with the new Intenza A Casting & Spinning rods.
Featuring nine casting and four spinning rods with an arsenal of actions which encompass power, glass, finesse, and versatility, these redesigned rods are legitimately punching up at rods well over $100 above their $149.99 price point.
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