FTR On The Road – Shimano

For many in the fishing industry, ICAST is a whirlwind of meetings, product launches, handshakes, and more new tackle than anyone could reasonably absorb in a single week. But before the show floor officially opened in Orlando, Shimano and G. Loomis offered members of the media something a little different: an opportunity to see where a significant part of the fishing tackle supply chain begins, followed by an early look at some of the companies’ most anticipated new products.

Hosted at Mud Hole Tackle and presented by Shimano, the pre-ICAST media event provided an interesting combination of industry insight, retail perspective, and new-product exposure. And it started with a tour of the Mud Hole facility.

For those familiar with Mud Hole primarily as a source for rod-building components and fishing tackle, seeing the operation from the inside offered a much better appreciation for the scale and scope of the business. The facility provides a glimpse into just how much goes into getting the components, tools, blanks, and finished products that anglers and rod builders rely on, from the manufacturer to the customer.

The tour also served as a fitting reminder that while ICAST is largely about the newest and flashiest products, the fishing industry is built on a much broader foundation. Behind every rod, reel, lure, or accessory displayed under the bright lights of the Orange County Convention Center, is an extensive network of manufacturers, distributors, retailers, builders, and service providers working to put that product into the hands of anglers.

Once the tour wrapped up, the attention shifted from the business behind the tackle to the tackle itself.

Shimano brought an impressive lineup of new products for the media to examine before the madness of ICAST officially began. Among the highlights were the Insurgence rods, the Curado DC, the Calcutta Conquest DC, the Stella 25000 SW D, and the Ledge Runner offshore trolling lure.

The Insurgence rods immediately generated interest as attendees got a chance to handle the series and learn more about the thinking behind its design. The Curado DC and Calcutta Conquest DC represented Shimano’s continued refinement of its Digital Control technology, which uses an electronic braking system to help manage spool speed during a cast. Seeing the latest iterations in person provided a much better opportunity to appreciate the technology and refinements than simply reading a specification sheet or looking at a product photo.

The Ledge Runner offered something completely different. Designed for offshore trolling, the lure is built for anglers targeting powerful saltwater species and reflects Shimano’s continued investment in the saltwater tackle market. It was a particularly interesting addition to the lineup because it demonstrated the breadth of Shimano’s new-product offerings, extending well beyond the rods and reels for which the company is perhaps best known.

For many anglers, however, the star of the reel lineup was likely the Stella 25000 SW D. The Stella SW family has long represented the upper end of Shimano’s saltwater spinning reel lineup, and the 25000-size model is built for anglers pursuing serious offshore game. It is the kind of reel that commands attention simply by being on the table, but getting the opportunity to handle it and discuss its features with Shimano representatives added considerably more context.

Loomis also had something special to share with the Asquith among the products showcased during the event. The Asquith name will be familiar to fly anglers looking for uncompromising performance, and getting an early look at the rod before it appeared on the ICAST floor offered a welcome opportunity to dig deeper into its construction, technology, and intended application.

And that, ultimately, was the value of the pre-ICAST event.

The ICAST show floor is an incredible resource, but it can also be overwhelming. With thousands of products, hundreds of exhibitors, and a tightly packed schedule, it is easy to see a new product without really seeing it. Events like this provide the breathing room to ask questions, handle the equipment, and have conversations with the people responsible for bringing those products to market.

By the time the doors opened on ICAST 2026, the media attending the event had already gotten a head start on what was coming. And judging by the lineup Shimano and G. Loomis had on hand, there was plenty more to look forward to.