Fall 2024
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“Our other lures still remain consistent,” said Biley. “But, the demand for FFS-specific baits has our R&D team in Japan focused on creating the next hot lure.”
RODS, REELS, AND LINE
One of the most significant shifts in tackle trends is the adaptation of more spinning gear. Spinning rods have always been useful for finesse fishing, but instead of having one or two dedicated setups, anglers now have many more to fit the techniques that have become so popular with forward-facing sonar.
Companies have noticed, and many rods are tailored for ‘Scoping and shaking a minnow. These models, such as the deps Gain Element, with specially designed tapers and power at the rear of the rod, are built for mid- strolling.
Others, like some models in the Shimano Expride lineup, have a solid tip section to get better action from your baits. These are among the first of many technique-specific rods developed with the popularity of forward-facing sonar.
One change for gear is the advent of faster reels like the Abu Garcia Revo Rocket and those that start up faster, like the Shimano Vanford FA. These are both advantages
for fishing with forward-facing sonar, where getting your lure back to make another presentation is crucial. Time is everything when trying to hit a blob on your screen, and the new generation of reels makes it easier.
Line has also become more specialized, with several manufacturers producing thinner and stronger braids to capitalize on these trends. Braided line, in general, has become much more prevalent in recent years, as more anglers use spinning gear and most often prefer a braided main line with a fluorocarbon leader.
Companies are also pushing to make lines as thin and strong as possible with new materials, such as IZANAS, a thin fiber eight times as strong as a piano wire of the same diameter.
Seaguar’s PE-X8, as well as line from other fishing line brands, use this material and now can give anglers a thinner line that sinks quicker, without as much of a bow in the line for better connection to lures, which can be critical when fishing with forward-facing sonar.
There is no denying that forward-facing sonar has changed the way anglers fish, and tackle trends have also dramatically changed. This is just the beginning, and there will surely be much more innovation as more anglers start to fish this way. •
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