Dave Mercer holds the SPRO's BBZ-1 Rat and a giant Ben Parker Magnum Flutter Spoon. (Steve Wright photo)
By Steve Wright, OutdoorChannel.com
ORLANDO, Fla. — One corner of ICAST's New Product Showcase carries an extraordinary influence on the entire show at the Orange County Convention Center. The new hard and soft plastic lures are the tail wagging the dog, so to speak.
"It's like when the Alabama rig came out," said “Facts of Fishing” host and B.A.S.S. emcee Dave Mercer. "There weren't any rods to throw it."
But there were plenty of A-rig rods the next year. That's just one reason why a close examination of new lures is worthwhile. But these new lures, when viewed overall, also reveal trends in the sport, even if they don't require technique...