I arrived before the show officially opened and decided my plan of attack. I first stopped by and chatted with my buddy Scott Shrader. He showed me the new Wilderness System ATAK kayak. This kayak looks great! Especially with the multi-adjustable seat!
I then stopped by and visited the Bending Branches booth. I currently use a BB Angler Ace and love it! I was curious to see what they have coming out. And this is what I found! They said it will be released this Spring! Looks like a perfect paddle for any folks who hunt out of their kayak.
After that I headed down to the Jackson booth and saw their new Coosa HD. It was wider and heavier than I expected. I’ve heard folks say it tracks straighter than the original coosa. I asked them why and does it turn the same as the original. They said that hull has a slight V shape instead of being flat like the regular coosa. It is about halfway between the Coosa and Cuda. This shape makes it track straighter but it will still turn easily. It appeared to be stable and had lots of convenient features!
Next I headed over to the Astral Life jacket area. I’ve heard a couple comments about them from friends but wanted to learn more. I check out their Ronny Fisher angler PFD. This jacket felt very comfortable and was had some nice features including big pockets with velcro so you can attach small tackle boxes, built in hood for rain, and a drink pocket. This might be my next life jacket!
Now it was time to check out a presenter. Drew Gregory presented on river fishing. I’ve chatted with Drew via facebook and worked with him on his tournaments but have yet to meet him in person. He did a great job describing how to set up a river trip, what to look for, and how to fish a river.
After the presentation I wandered around the event and looked at the different booths. I checked out different paddles, some even light up for night paddling. Lots of new camping gear, and clothing out there for folks!
It was fantastic to see the new products and chat with friends! If you get the chance to check out a show, do it! You will be able to check out the latest and greatest products, ask any questions you have, and demo their products!
