Best New Fishing Gear From ICAST 2026

From next generation fishfinders and innovative fishing tackle to rods, reels, and marine electronics, here’s a look at some standout products from the world’s largest sportfishing trade show.

Angler fishing from a boat with a Garmin LiveScope 2 HD sonar display in the foreground

What’s new in fishing gear for 2026 and beyond? From advanced sonar and marine electronics to innovative rods, reels, and fishing lures, ICAST 2026 offered a preview of what anglers can expect to see in stores and online over the coming months.

NOTE: Prices and availability reflect information available at publication and may change.

Garmin LiveScope 2 HD

ICAST 2026 – Winner, Best New Electronics

Sonar Like You’ve Never Seen Before

$1,999-$2,199

Garmin shook up the fishfinding world a few years back with LiveScope sonar that displayed real-time imaging so fine you could identify individual fish on the screen while casting to them. Its next generation LiveScope 2 HD landed the best new electronics prize for delivering better target separation at both short and long ranges, broader sonar coverage, and a simplified setup that eliminates the need for a black box. The system includes three transducer options depending on how you fish. The LVS44 extends the LiveScope system’s range so anglers can see out to 250 feet (a 25% increase), and resolution gets a 20% boost, according to Garmin. Other anglers will prefer the LVS42HD, which covers half the distance but delivers a 50% increase in detail. The LiveScope 2 HD Ice Fishing transducer is for hard-water anglers and mounted on a zero-degree shaft with a flexible cold-water cable.

Garmin product information

Cobra BlueBound 650 Handheld VHF Radio

Handheld VHF With Integrated Safety Features

$249.95

Although it was introduced last year, ICAST 2026 was the first time we’ve been able to handle a Cobra Bluebound 650 handheld VHF radio. It was worth the wait. The selectable 1-, 3-, or 6-watt radio is IPX7 waterproof rated, floats, has a 12-hour battery life with a rechargeable lithium-ion battery, features Bluetooth connectivity for hands-free use, has noise-cancellation, and rewind-say-again functionality. And for additional safety layers, the Bluebound 650 has integrated GPS and DSC functionality

Cobra product information

Related: Read our hands-on look at the Cobra BlueBound 650 handheld VHF radio.

Cobra BlueBound 650 handheld VHF radio with antenna and digital display

Seaguar Brawlr Monofilament Fishing Line

ICAST 2026 – Winner, Best New Non-Braided Fishing Line

Monofilament Line That Feels Braided

$11.99-$16.99

Seaguar’s new Brawlr monofilament fishing line was developed with a unique resin blend and manufactured with advanced “Pinpoint Thermal Dynamics” temperature control to deliver less stretch and better sensitivity than other monofilaments. The line feels closer to braid than mono. Brawlr will be available in 2- to 30-pound test on 250- and 330-yard spools in clear and low-vis green.

Seaguar product information

VoyaX Mossa 128 Electric Fishing Kayak

ICAST 2026 – Winner, Best New Boats and Watercraft

Intelligent Electric Kayak For Angling

$4,499

The award-winner for Best New Boats and Watercraft is the VoyaX Mossa 128, essentially an e-bike of kayaks, with a drive system you can pedal yourself, get a boost with assist mode, or power ahead at 6 knots with the integrated 13-pound lithium-ion battery. The drive itself is intelligent, too, with “SpotHold” virtual GPS anchoring, 360-degree infinite steering, a basic autopilot called “Course Lock” that maintains a straight path, navigates a preset path, or goes to a saved hotspot. The Mossa 128 is 12 feet, 8 inches, with a 93-pound hull weight

VoyaX product information

Teal electric fishing kayak with seat and integrated drive system

Hands holding a purple spinning rod and reel over the water

SheFish Sparkle Elite Rod And Reel Combos

Blinged-Out Combo Rod & Reel

$59.99-$179.99

The SheFish Sparkle Elite rod and reel combos are designed for “women who are passionate about fishing and enjoy looking good while doing it,” according to the Missouri-based manufacturer dedicated to creating performance-driven gear exclusively for women. Thanks to a unique SparkleTec finish, these glitter-infused rods have a handle nut that looks like a gemstone. Beyond the bling, this is real fishing gear available in spinning, baitcast, and spincast versions. Spinning reels have seven ball bearings plus a roller bearing and can put out up to 15 pounds of drag. Baitcast reels have eight ball bearings, put out 9.5 pounds of drag, and have magnetic braking systems. The rods are built on IM6 and IM8 graphite blanks and come in 6 feet, 3 inches to 7-foot lengths. Multiple colors and patterns are available ranging from teal to leopard.

SheFish product information

Simms Challenger Jacket And Bibs

ICAST 2026 – Winner, Best New Men’s Technical Apparel

Foul Weather Gear For Anglers, By Anglers

$360

Although Simms is best known for fly fishing gear, its new Challenger Suit jacket and bib combo provides complete foul-weather protection and won the Men’s Technical Apparel category. We were impressed by the waterproof yet stretchable and breathable three-layer textile construction, which felt comfortable. Nice touches include YKK zippers, D-ring for engine cut-off lanyard attachment, storm flap over the zippered front relief, brushed micro-fleece-lined hand-warmer pockets in the bibs, and Velcro-adjustable cuffs on the jacket. We can tell the designers are boaters — they even thought to make the hood with an internal three-way adjustable cinch that eliminates pull cords flapping in the wind when you throttle up.

Simms product information

Person wearing gray fishing rain gear handling a blue rope on a boat

Two people riding in an inflatable fishing boat on a lake

Sea Eagle FishTuff 14 Inflatable Fishing Boat

A Rugged, Portable, Inflatable Angling Platform

$2,399, excluding power

The Sea Eagle FishTuff 14 is an inflatable designed for serious fishing — yet fits in the trunk of your car. The four-chamber inflatable is made from commercial-grade 1000 denier PVC with 2000 and 3000 denier reinforcements, has welded/quadruple-overlapped seams, and stainless-steel D-ring attachment points. Those points are designed for adding angling accessories from rod holders to coolers to a bow-mount 55-pound thrust electric trolling motor. The FishTuff can handle a 10-hp outboard on the transom and delivers a top-end speed of 22 mph. Inflation time is about 6 minutes, weight is 97 pounds, and the boat packs into a stowable 47 x 24 x 16-inch block.

Sea Eagle product information

Zebco Rhino 30 6’6” 2pc Medium Spinning Combo

ICAST 2026 – Winner, Best of Show, Anglers Choice Award, and Best New Rod & Reel Combo

Versatile All-Purpose Rod/Reel Combo

$69.99-$89.99

The all-purpose Zebco Rhino 30 Medium Spinning Combo from Rather Outdoors took both the Best of Show and Best New Rod & Reel Combo categories at ICAST. The Rhino is designed for durability, with a rod blank built with tri-axial construction and a reinforced solid tip. Guides are one-piece stainless-steel, so they survive the brine, and there aren’t any guide liners to pop out. Handles are EVA foam, and the reel is wrapped in a “HydroShield” seal to prevent water and dirt intrusion. Asymmetrical gears are engineered for more contact between the teeth. The Rhino line includes six sizes ranging from ultralight to medium-heavy, rated for 2- to 30-pound test line. Reels are reversible for left- or right-handed use and have four ball bearings plus a roller bearing.

Zebco product information

Spinning fishing rod and reel on a white background

Angler holding a bass and a dice-style fishing lure while seated in a boat

We discovered that bass in New York’s Great Sacandaga Lake loved the new dice baits, strange as they may look.

Dice-Style Fishing Lures

Ready To Roll The ‘Dice’ On A New Fishing Lure?

One angling product we’ve fallen for wasn’t limited to any specific brand but burst onto the fishing scene in a huge way — something called “dice.” These are small rubber balls with multiple tentacles that resemble a sea urchin. Invented in Japan, they first popped up in American waters when angler Kyoya Fujita took second place in the 2023 Bassmaster Elite tournament while casting these unusual lures. Then in 2025 he placed in the top 10 in five different Elite events, again using dice. Anglers took notice, and at the 2026 ICAST show, dozens of different lure makers introduced dice of their own. The next time you visit a tackle shop, you may see row after row of these tentacled balls in every size and color. And, yes, fish do love to eat these things, even though they don’t look like natural prey in any lake, river, or reservoir on the planet. Commonly rigged on a drop-shot, a wacky rig, or a Ned rig, bass slurp them up with abandon. We test-fished the Hags Prickly Pear and caught a smallmouth on the third cast.

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Published: October 2026

Author

Lenny Rudow

Contributing Editor, BoatUS Magazine

Our top electronics writer and an accomplished sports fisherman, Lenny has written seven books, won 52 awards from Boating Writers International – many for his first-rate marine electronics articles – and two for excellence from the Outdoor Writers Association of America. Angler in Chief at his own FishTalk publication, this passionate angler brings expertise in fishing trends, small boat handling, and DIY projects. His encouraging style is featured in many of BoatU.S.’s popular how-to videos.