Each year we scour the aisles of the Richmond Fishing Expo for the new and different, the strange and wonderful and the just plain awesome products we call Best In Show. There’s always an amazing new bass boat we’d all like to own, a new reel or rod, the latest lure or variation on an old one, a gadget and something we’ve never seen before.
This year’s show brought together the usual collection of boat dealers, tackle retailers and customizers and we enjoyed three days of looking around the display booths. Trends we identified include many new “fuzzy” baits, more custom painted hard bait options, more aluminum boats and some new ways of selling tackle
Our categories this year will be bass boat (fiberglass and aluminum), rod, reel, hard bait, soft bait, custom bait, marine accessory and best in show grand champion.
Bass Boat/Fiberglass
It was difficult to pass by the Icon boats at the Rock Outdoors display. There was a starship silver flake and ultra blue flake LEX20 that stopped a lot of anglers in their tracks. The hull is 20’10” long and 98” wide with a 50-gallon fuel capacity and utilizes a saltwater-inspired hydrodynamic stabilizer system unlike any other bass boat – with distinct bow and aft sections.
The boat at the show was outfitted with a Mercury ProXS 250, MinnKota Ultrex Quest 115/DSC/MR/45, two Garmins, a Hot Foot, wireless phone charger, four-bank 60-amp static battery charger, Keel Guard, Fish IV System, E-system, six spring adjustable driver and passenger seats, 18-inch wheels, radio Bluetooth 5.25 incyh Reel Quiet Klipsch Dash Speaker, with bow remote control and 10-inch Atlas hydraulic jack plate.
Two -piece flexible architecture used in an “iKonic Terrain” (iT) stringer and deck design(s) were optimized to yield more fishing real estate than any other product in the game. The forward fishing locker is fitted with over 21.5 cubic feet and sets the record to be outrigged over 50 Plano boxes while leaving ample room for spare clothing. It’s so big, it can be used as a personal storm shelter if empty. The rod locker can store a staggering 36 rods measuring 9’8’’. An ultra-dry, tall gutter system protects waterproof hatches for the wettest climates with a polished finish under-the-hood.
The Rock Outdoors ICON LEX20 earns our Best In Show recognition for fiberglass bass boat.
Bass Boat/Aluminum
Avid and Lund battled it out for the Best In Show recognition. We saw four Avid models from Southeastern Marine, two with bass boat layouts and the Lund 1875 Renegade from Keith’s Boat Service. All featured SeaDek like closed cell foam floor covering – no carpet.
The Avid bass models were the 18 Vertex and 20 Vertex. These boats are priced aggressively at $32K with a 90 Yamaha and around $40K for the 20 footer with a F150 Yamaha. While the boats are aluminum the consoles are fiberglass. The 18 footer is 18’5” long, 95” wide with a 20 gallon fuel tank and 115 hp maximum rating. The 20-foot version is 20’5” long, 95” wide with a 34 gallon fuel capacity and will hold up to 175 hp. Both rigs feature nine hatch storage areas and some seriously bolstered passenger and driver seats – they aren’t your standard aluminum rigs nor are they over-priced.
The Lund 1875 Renegade model is one of the newest bass fishing boats in the Lund lineup. It features a four-seat version which means there’s nothing like it in the fiberglass bass boat market. It measures 18’9” long and 95” wide with a 32-gallon fuel tank and a rating of up to 115 hp. It only draws 12 inches of water. The boat had seven underdeck storage areas, a recessed trolling motor foot pedal area, and two pop-up seats built into the rear deck. The passenger and driver seats are on pedestals. All Lunds are rigged with Mercury outboard and this one had a Mercury 115 Pro XS on the back.
Center Console Boat
The G3 Bay Series aluminum boats were a favorite of ours. There are 17, 19, 20, 21 and 22-foot models. The Rock Outdoors display included the 17- and 19-foot versions. All but the 17-footer feature pop-up seats in the stern, a fiberglass console, leaning post seat (excluding the 17-footer), and spray-in or SeaDek flooring. The G3 Bay 21 GX is our Best In Show center console boat.
Rod
There were many rods available for attendees to shop. From ABU Garcia to Shimano, retailers brought the house. The most impressive was the FishStyx Clearwater Series. These rods are American made and come in 18 different models from a 6’8” heavy action spinnerbait and jig rod to a 7’10” frog rod with many in between including drop shot, crankbait and punching versions made from carbon fiber or graphite and Japanese resin blanks. The series features premium components including the MicroWave Guide System as an option. These rods retail from $160 to $225.
Reel
The Shimano Sustain SA25HGFK spinning reel was a clear winner for Best In Show Reel. This spinning reel is crafted for both inshore and freshwater conditions. Part of the MAGNUMLITE series, it features an ultra-light MGL Rotor that enhances responsiveness and lure manipulation. INFINITYDRIVE technology delivers fluid, high-torque cranking under heavy load, while INFINITYXROSS reinforces gear engagement to handle extreme pressure with lasting durability. The INFINITYLOOP system, combined with the ANTI-TWIST FIN, improves line lay and reduces slack, optimizing every cast for distance and accuracy. Equipped with the DURACROSS drag, this reel offers a smooth, reliable drag experience with enhanced toughness, making it a dependable choice for a wide range of fishing scenarios across Virginia and beyond.
Hard Bait
The Hog Father Jr we found in the Fishing Pro Tech booth was intriguing. Made by Strike King this bait resembles over-sized glide baits fetching hundreds of dollars for only $45.
The Hog Father Jr., built in partnership with Tater Hog Custom Lures to replicate the Original Hog Father design. Measuring 7 inches in length, this versatile glidebait performs flawlessly across a range of retrieve speeds, from slow and deliberate to medium fast, maintaining its proven glide action throughout. Sporting a unique shape that stands out from competitors, the Hog Father Jr. is brought to life with unique paint colors personally chosen by Tater Hog, ensuring a one-of-a-kind look that appeals to anglers and fish alike. Equipped with swivel hook hangers, this lure is designed to keep big bass securely pegged.
Custom Bait
This category was dominated by several exhibitors that were offering custom painted versions of popular polycarbonate and wooden lures. The top two entries were Tiger Crankbaits and Fulks Custom Cranks.
Tiger Crankbaits are the product of the talented Heidi and Greg Stinnett. Heidi is a skilled painter with an airbrush, able to craft lures that resemble that crawdad a bass coughed up in your livewell. In fact, her new crawfish pattern does just this with a stunning red, brown and black pattern on several types of lure bodies. Her custom wakebait is another one-of-a-kind.
Nick Fulks custom painted version of a Megabass Vision 110 Minnow Jr. +1 was a popular bait at the show. He had a ghost version that turned our heads from 10 feet away and it receives our Best In Show recognition for hard bait.
Soft Plastic
There were so many soft plastic baits at the show it was difficult to keep track of them all. The “fuzzy” trend of inserting silicon skirt material through plastic chunks is alive and well with ZMan getting to the category with a number of offerings. Tiger Crankbaits has their Spider Bites and Crappie Bites. The next greatest thing looks to be a version of this type of bait that is all molded like the Yamamoto Uni we spied in the Fishing Pro Tech booth. This molded soft plastic looks a lot like a sea urchin with many wiggling appendages around a central ball. Pro anglers are inserting a weight and hooking them through the middle or using them on a drop shot. They are said to mimic a school of small baitfish. Going to give our Best In Show Soft Plastic Recognition to the Uni.
Marine Accessory
The Dock D-Fender caught our eye in the Skyline booth. Dock D-Fender has a patent-pending design that features a secure hook to keep your boat fastened safely to the dock, reducing the risk of damage while you are temporarily moored. It was created by a fisherman who was tired of dockside damage and is compatible with low-profile bass boats (21’ and under), pontoons, and smaller ski boat designs. The product is hand assembled in the USA from premium materials. You essentially attached a Dock D-Fender to the cleat on your boat and a dock cleat and it keeps your boat from rubbing on the dock. They come in a set of two for $139.
Best In Show Grand Champion
The new Harvey Hammer is a custom made (Tiger Baits) bladed underspin. Think of a bladed jig with a tiny willow leave blade on dropper wire below the head. The added flash of the blade or the willow leaf draws monstrous strikes from bass and striper. Extensive field testing on the tidal James River and other area waters has proven the Harvey Hammer is a worthy addition to your tackle box this season and earns our Best In Show Grand Champion recognition.
