Last week I attended the ICAST show in Las Vegas as I do every year. ICAST is the annual convention of the American Sportfishing Association (fishing tackle manufacturers). This year's show had an unusual amount of new and innovative products so I decided to tell you about a few of them. We have not had a chance to test these products yet but are looking forward to trying them out in the near future.

Drop-Shot Weight Keeper System

You're in rough water trying to connect that lure with a bunch of treble hooks to the little loop just above the reel. Well your life just got a lot safer and easier. The Drop-Shot is a tensioned open-ended clip. You can quickly and simply slide a hook, line or dropper into the clip.

The clip is gold plated stainless. It is sold with a special self-adhering shrink tape, no adhesive, so you can add one to any rod. The manufacturer told us the tape is salt-waterproof and UV resistant. For rod builders, the clip is also sold without the tape.

A few rod manufacturers are currently testing the Drop-Shot and building rod prototypes. By next year you should start to see the Drop-Shot on new rods at your local tackle shop. www.phoenixblazerods.com

Rapid Release Rod Holder

The Rapid Release allows the angler to remove the rod from the holder and set the hook in one motion. As good a selling point as that may be, I wouldn't buy one specifically for that reason. I would buy one because the ease of removing a rod from Rapid Release is miles ahead of the competition!

The Rapid Release is hinged at the base and snaps closed at the top. Pulling upward on the rod releases the snap and the rod is free. As the bottom half of the rod holder is stationary, it can be used to support the rod butt as the rod is removed from the holder.

Rapid Release is manufactured in the US and is backed with a lifetime guarantee. Mounting accessories are available for any situation you could think of including an adapter that fits Scotty and Cabela's bases. www.rapidreleaseco.com

Gamakatsu Firetip Float

In keeping with their reputation for producing the highest quality products available, it is no surprise Gamakatsu's redo of the lowly bobber is a knockout! The Firetip is equipped with an LED light powered by a lithium battery. The fluorescent orange top, which serves as the lens for the LED, is rubber so it won't break. Gamakatsu claims the bobber is visible for 100 yards, in the dark. The float comes with a clip and a swivel and can be rigged fixed or as a slip bobber. Gamakatsu designed the float to be very sensitive. They claim this helps to prevent the fish from detecting the float. www.gamakatsu.com

Luresaver by Ultimate NiTi Technologies

The Luresaver brings high technology to the split ring. The rings are manufactured from flexible shape memory titanium alloy. Applying force will open the ring, when the force is removed, the ring returns to its original shape.

Attaching hooks to your lure with the Luresaver means the only thing you lose when you get snagged is your hook! With the high costs of lures nowadays, Luresavers promise to be quite a money saver. Luresavers can also be used to attach a dropper to a swivel.

Luresavers are available in different strengths from six to seventy pounds. Each test rating is color coded so you can tell them apart in your tackle box. Another nice feature is titanium will not corrode, even in saltwater. www.ultimateluresaver.com

Secureprop

The Secureprop, manufactured from 304 stainless steel, has a collar which fits over the lip of the propeller hub and holds a flat cover plate in position which covers the propeller nut. An ABUS padlock, included, secures the unit making it impossible to remove the prop. The cover plate is fitted with a reflector making the prop more visible while towing the boat. www.secureprop.com

EGO Net by Adventure Products

A small improvement can make a big difference. By welding closed the ends of anodized aluminum parts of the fishing net, EGO made the net FLOAT. The nets are available in a variety of sizes and the smaller models are available with a rubber mesh. Adventure Products backs them with a two-year warrantee. www.adventureproducts.com/fishing.htm

ProwlerCat Unmanned Fishing Vehicle

Without a doubt, the ProwlerCat was the most unusual product at ICAST. The ProwlerCat is powered by a couple of rechargeable batteries running two six-speed turbine motors. Vilco, the manufacturer, claimed the unit will run up to six hours on a battery charge. Their brochure, however, says 2 to 3 hours. The remote control unit is also equipped with rechargeable batteries and attaches to your fishing rod. Range of the remote is 1,000 feet. The fishing line attaches to the ProwlerCat much like a downrigger. The ProwlerCat comes with a carrying case and weighs in at 5.8 pounds including batteries.

The ProwlerCat is designed to go places you can't access from your boat or from shore. In addition it allows precise positioning of your bait. The ProwlerCat can also be used as a side planer.

Larger seaworthy models, capable of carrying a downrigger, are on the drawingboard. www.vilcofishing.com

Pole Pal

The Pole Pal is a high quality simple rod holder designed for shore fishermen. What sets the Pole Pal apart is the ingenuity of the four base options. All the bases are made from marine grade stainless. The sand and rubber coated clamp versions are straightforward. The dock model fits between the deck planks. By twisting it ninety degrees it locks securely into place. They also make a self-drilling model for ice fishermen. www.fishinwithred.com

Sol Blue Water Sunblock

Sol Blue Water Sunblock is formulated specially for water sports enthusiasts. It has a SPF 36 rating. The active ingredient is microfine zinc oxide. Sol Blue Water is gentle, it doesn't even burn if you happen to get it in your eyes. It has no odor so scent won't be transmitted from your hands to your bait. One application lasts all day, even if you are in and out of the water!

We did have a chance to test Sol Blue Water this weekend on a whitewater rafting trip and it performed as billed. The only complaint from our boatload was that it worked so well you couldn't get a tan. www.solsunguard.com

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