Don’t underestimate the influence of forward-facing sonar on the tackle industry. Many manufacturers are now making and marketing everything from lures to rods that address this fishing technique and you will see that reflected in the tackle shops and online retailers you frequent. Here’s a look at some of the major players’ new offerings coming this season.
ABU Garcia
Abu Garcia has redesigned the Max Series line of spinning and baitcasting low pro reels. There are Max reels for every tactic including the Max Elite Rocket with a 9.0:1 retrieve ratio, 90 mm bend hand with over-sized co-molded knobs, 10 bearings and a new carbon drag system for $150. The new Beast baitcasting reels offer anglers a large format low pro reel perfect for fishing big swimbaits. ABU Garcia has refreshed their rod lines for 2026 with a new look for Vengeance, Vendetta, Veritas and IKE Signature rods. There’s also the Fantasista and Zenon lines.
Bait Crafters
This is the parent company for brands like Fitt, Zee Bait Co., Daddy Mac, Third Eye and Slab Savage. Fitt is probably the most recognizable brand with the popular Nottafluke soft plastic jerkbait, the smallmouth angler’s favorite Chillee Willee and durable A-rig swimbaits. New laminated colors like rotten bannana, reign, old smokie, ditch pickle, morning dawn are gaining this brand more fans.
Berkley
The Berkley Chop Block is a soft, two-segmented glide bait with a hook in both sections. It comes in six, eight and 10-inch versions. It “chops” from side to side, won’t roll and is skippable. The new Berkley Ripfish combines the things you love about fast dropping lipless hard baits and all the things you love about glide baits into a sleek, minnow profiled hard bait that delivers phenomenal elevation control and a crazy range of angler-controlled actions. The Ripfish excels in vertical presentations with lateral hunting actions and a crazy-cool wobble. FFS Optimization means you have precision casting followed by quick fall rates that get to the fish fast while the flat bottom design allows the angler to stop the fall and create as much chaos as they choose all while keeping the bait in the strike zone longer! For a more finesse approach, you can guard the fall and impart a steadier controlled retrieve then impart action when and where you desire. Also new from Berkley is the new Triple Minnow Rig, the Screamin’ Choppo, the Max Scent Flux Gill and Foward braided line. The new Choppo introduces a layer of piercing metal on metal sound profile in addition to the signature plopping tail sound and spray, to crank up the commotion and elicit brutal strikes.
Bill Lewis
The new Bill Lewis Baby Bubbler is two-inch plopper-style topwater bait that calls up bites from far away with its propeller tail available in six proven Bill Lewis colors.
Booyah
Last season it was the Flash Point, a slender minnow jerkbait with raised body sections for a quick darting action and a custom blade sunk into the head of the lure which provides a subtle flash and reflected well on live sonar screens. Booyah now has a Flash Point Junior and a Flash Point Junior deep version of the bait. There’s also a new line of One Knocker Graffiti Craw baits that look amazing.
Cashion
This is one of the few American made rods left. The John Crews Icon Signature Series has a rod for just about every bass fishing techinique out there. There’s also a Core and Element Series from Cashion.
Daiwa
The Ballistic MQ won ICAST’s Reel of the Year. It features Daiwa’s new Air Drive design, a one-piece sealed MQ body, and Magsealed protection that keeps water and grit out of the reel. Lightweight, smooth, and strong—this one is going to be a favorite for trout and finesse anglers. Another eye-catcher was the Luvias, the lightest spinning reel Daiwa has ever made, paired with the Presso Air rod equipped with AGS carbon fiber guides. The Prorex MQ is a head-turner with its black and purple finish and versatile performance, perfect for freshwater but capable of handling light saltwater duty. The Kage 150 SV delivers with anti-backlash technology and Daiwa’s T-Wing system. The Tatula 200 ($199) and Coastal 200 round out this mid price range, offering plenty of line capacity for bass, stripers, and even shallow-water saltwater fishing. The Daiwa Aird 80 ($100) makes an excellent starter reel without sacrificing feel or durability. The upgraded Tatula CT ($149) brings hyperdrive technology and Daiwa’s signature T-Wing system at an approachable price point. Daiwa’s new Tatula Cork rods ($179) won ICAST’s Freshwater Rod of the Year. At 15% lighter than the previous generation and offered in 29 different models, these rods are already proving to be a hot seller.
Gamagatzu
Developed and successfully utilized in Japan for the popular mid strolling technique with forward facing sonar, the new Gamagatzu Horizon Head LG is designed to maintain a horizontal posture while imparting an extremely natural action to your bait. The Horizon Head LG features a Tournament Grade Wire (TGW) hook with Nano Alpha finish. It also features a unique, elongated keeper which promotes a balanced horizontal presentation when retrieved or falling. The Horizon Head LG features a larger gap hook with a focus on the hook tip angle and a center of gravity to produce a rolling action on the retrieve.
Lew’s
The new KVD Elite Spinning Reel is designed to be versatile yet excel in finesse fishing, the C40 carbon frame and sideplate makes this reel extremely light in weight to enhance bite sensitivity and feel great throughout a full day of fishing. Its lightweight design incorporates a double anodized braid-ready aluminum spool, offering durability while keeping weight to a minimum. Power and control come from the hybrid carbon drag system, which delivers smooth, consistent performance in any fishing scenario. This reel is exceptionally smooth with a premium stainless steel 7-bearing system, while the Zero Reverse® one-way clutch bearing offers precise hooksets every time. The KVD Elite Spinning Reel is offered in both full spool and shallow spool models. Full spool models allow for maximum line capacity for anglers that need it, while the shallow spool model provides ample line capacity for most anglers while eliminating the need for backing and wasted line, as well as providing extremely smooth line lay and extended casting distance. Other new reels from Lew’s include the Speed Spool RBX, Accel RX and Accel baitcasters.
Megabass
The new Gabarin frog from this Japanese lure crafter was meticulously developed and refined through extensive testing. This frog responds instantly to pinpoint maneuvers and subtle slack line twitches with quick turns and sharp dog walks in small pockets. A uniquely sculpted wide angle mouth generates strong traction and splashes. This bait is two inches long and weighs a half ounce. Featuring a patented double inertial balancer system for head turning action, the new Diamante Sonicslide delivers a dramatic 180-degree walk and extended sliding action.
Nichols
The Dirty Jigs (acquired by Nichols) Guppy Head may not be on every pro angler’s tongue- but you can bet it is in their tackle box. It is an industry standard for FFS. The heads are available in 1/4, 3/9 and 1/2 ounce versions and available in a 5/0 hook to accommodate larger minnow plastics.
Raid Japan
“Ghost Wire” is an Alabama rig that pursues “lightness” to specialize in ‘bama strolling and incorporates plenty of finesse elements. It’s a hot tactic among pro anglers. In order to realize “lightness”, the biggest feature of ghost wire, 1.2mm is used for the main arm and 0.9mm is used for the sub-arm. By adopting a wire with a narrower diameter than the conventional Alabama rig, the weight of the rigis overwhelmingly reduced. It makes it easy to “slowly float in the water”, which is the core of Bama Stroll.
In addition, the ghost wire is equipped with lightweight resin blades on all wires except the main arm. The rotation rises quickly, and the blade rotates even in dead throws, making it easier to maintain a horizontal position close to a swimming fish. In addition, the unique “transparency” of resin achieves a glossy look that can be mistaken for a school of small baitfish. In addition to the conventional Alabama rig setting with a shad body, the ghost wire can be used in a variety of settings, including the one-hook Alabama that has a hook only in the center or a shad plug. You can reproduce a school of small fish with various settings tailored to the bite.
Rapala
The new Salted Ned Roll is 3-1/4 long and made from Super TPE – a durable, floating plastic perfect for finesse situations. It features extra salt and scent that provides a more natural presentation on a drop shot or Ned rig. The Smart Injection Technology® combines custom combinations of color, flake, salt and scent that are added precisely where needed for the perfect presentation.
The Rapala Harvest Shad combinses the classic Rapala® wounded-minnow action, durable plastic body construction, and loud rattles for targeting your favorite gamefish in any situation.
Shimano
The new Shimano Curado 150 M reel brings the technology of the Curado 200 M into the popular 150 size. A key feature is a new MGL3 spool that is lighter so it offers anglers a wider variety of baits they can cast and easier casting for lighter baits. The reel features the sold Hagane body that won’t wear internally over time, a centrifugal braking system with pins, but with a dial on the side that actually moves the side plate closer and further away. Anglers can employ the pin adjustment and then a fine-tuning adjustment as well. The new, super-lightweight Shimano Exsence B reel series benefits from the addition of a 2500 size to the existing 3000 and 4000 models, offering a slower retrieve ratio. It also features an MGL rotor that allows anglers to tell how the bait is running and detect a bite even before the rod actually loads up. This reel is positioned just under the flagship Shimano Stella and incorporates trickle-down technology like the anti-twist fin for better line management and Infinity Drive for more assistance when reeling in a fish under a load.
Strike King
The Strike King Spotlight Split Minnow is the ultimate tool for anglers looking to elevate their fishing game. With its hyper-realistic minnow profile, this bait commands attention on Forward Facing Sonar, making depth control effortless and precise. Thanks to the innovative split tail design, it brings a unique action unlike anything else on the market. Available in two sizes, 3” and 4”, and in all-new, vibrant color patterns, the Spotlight Split Minnow ensures you can perfectly match the hatch for any baitfish species. It’s an ideal choice for Damiki and strolling techniques with forward-facing sonar, and its adaptability means it can be rigged on any jighead The new Strike King Tumbleweed is here to revolutionize your fisha fuzzy dice bait with a12-sided design, paired with an innovative skirt material that delivers lifelike action no fish can resist. The Tumbleweed’s versatility makes it a must-have for every angler. You can rig it multiple ways, but for best results, try dropshotting or using it weightless for an ultra-realistic presentation. It comes in both a heavily salted sinking formula, as well as a floating formula available in a range of vivid colors. Plus, the Air-Trapped silicone strands in its skirt add extra action, creating lifelike vibrations and motion that drive fish wild. The Strike King Spotlight Shim-E Minnow redefines versatility and performance in soft plastics, delivering a unique sleek minnow profile, paired with flared ribs on the belly, ensures an irresistible Shim-E motion as it falls. This bait shines in strolling and hover rigging applications—two of the hottest techniques. Use it as a forward-facing sonar bait, pair it up as a vibrating jig trailer, or fish it weightless.
St. Croix
St. Croix has developed their another impressive bass rod line known as the Legend X2. These rods are made from SCVII carbon fiber with graphite, while the guides are made from torzite rings and titanium frames, carbon fiber reel seats and real cork handles. There are 6’10”, 7’, 7’1”, 7’5” and 7’6” versions available – all with 15 year warranties. They aren’t cheap with such high end construction. You will pay over $600/rod.
Tiger
This is a local tackle manufacturer that sells through tackle shops and at shows. They have a new fuzzy dice bait called a Spider Bite that looks to be a winner this spring if you want to try this new tactic. Other unique baits from Tiger include intricately painted crankbaits and jerkbaits popular with local anglers and a unique topwater frog plug.
Ugly Stick
The Ugly Stik Carbon Series of spinning and baitcast rods are 100% graphite and come in a striking ruby red finish. There are 5’6”, 6’6”, 6’10”, 7’ and 7’3” versions available for $79-$100. These are not your father’s fiberglass tipped catfish rods!
ZMan
Capitalizing on the fuzzy dice lure trend, ZMan has a series of “fuzzy” soft plastics for 2026. The Fuzzy TRD is a 2.74” Elaztech body with silicon skirting punched through it. Anglers can cut it in half for two finesse baits. The Fuzzy Nugget has a 12-sided body and the silcon strands. The Fuzzy Bug is similar but 1.75”. The new ZMan Swag LT is a five-inch swimbait with an over/under line thru harness, internal rattle, keeled tail and a twin clip lure holder.
