The dog days of summer signal warming water temperatures, hot and humid days, and for the fishing industry ICAST. Every year ICAST takes place in Orlando, FL unveiling the newest products for the upcoming year. ICAST is a culmination of brands and like-minded individuals, an event we are always eager to attend. With a growing number of fly fishing brands and products making their appearance, we hit the road to see the best new products of ICAST 2024. Here are our favorite fly fishing products and accessories we found walking the floor:
Benchmade Water Collection: Intersect and Mini Adira Knives
Benchmade’s newest category, fishing, was one the brand has been honing (pun intended) for several years and it hit big at ICAST 2024. The line features six models, two fillets, two fixed blades, and two folding knives. All feature corrosion-resistant CPM-Magnacut blade steel built for hard use in and around the water.
From a fly fishing perspective, the Intersect and Mini Adira instantly caught our eye. The Intersect is a small fixed blade with a unique in-the-pocket sheath system. It’s a great addition clipped inside waders for quick and easy access. The Mini Adira is Benchmade’s small folding knife and a perfect blade to carry in your pocket on your way to the water, on the water, and pretty much anytime you need a knife. Want to learn more? We did a deep dive into Benchmade’s Water Collection.
Simms Flyweight Packable Waders (2025):
Simms has a reputation for making durable, comfortable, and innovative waders. This year at ICAST there was an emphasis on the innovative. The newest Flyweight Packable Wader is a packable wader for backcountry anglers looking for a lightweight solution for long trips. The Flyweight Wader folds into the front wader pocket for compact and easy storage. While it’s a great wader for minimalist anglers heading to alpine lakes the lightweight feel doubles as a summer wading option. When it’s too cold to wet wade but too warm for heavier waders, the new Flyweight Packable Wader fits the bill perfectly.
Columbia PFG Pro Sport Deck Boots:
Deck boots are the trending topic in the fishing world and the newest from Columbia immediately caught our eye. Part of the Performance Fishing Gear (PFG) line the new Pro Sport Deck Boots are built with durability and comfort in mind. The fully vulcanized upper creates an impenetrable outer shell for wet decks and weather. For comfort, the sole features Omni-MAX a technology incorporated by Columbia’s trail running team. These are set to hit stores in spring 2025.
If boat shoes are more your style. The newest offerings from Columbia are breathable, supportive, and non-slip for boat decks. In the warmer months when your feet might get wet, these shoes are the perfect solution. An intuitive design helps water drain and the shoes dry for a comfortable day of fishing on the water.
Grundens Zip Front Vector Waders:
Last year Grudens joined the fly fishing space with the Boundary Wader. It was a hit and signaled a new direction for the brand. This year at ICAST fly anglers received a new addition to the lineup with the Vector Wader. The price point lands somewhere in between premium waders and beginner waders at about $500. Despite the attainable price point, it is packed with features expected of “premium” waders. This includes rugged 4-layer construction, a zip front, oversized chest pockets, and built-in knee pads. Wherever you wade, the new Vector Wader is built to hold up to the elements and keep you dry. We can’t wait to hit the water in these and try them for ourselves.
Hardy Averon:
At Flylords it’s no secret we are fans of Hardy so when we heard of a new reel we had to stop by and check it out. The Averon is a middle price point performance-based fly reel. It’s available in two offerings, an open-framed version, and a specialized closed-frame euro nymphing model. Each boasts next to zero startup inertia, precise drag adjustments, and an enclosed multidisk drag system. The open frame model is available in 3000, 5000, and 7000 size models. An additional closed frame version is available in the 9000 size for Spey anglers. The 5000 euro nymph model is tailored to euro nymphing fanatics. A closed frame design, thin profile, and adjustable weight system help to maximize line pickup and fine-tune your reel to your rod setup. Launching in August, this is a game-changer for dedicated tight line fanatics.
Seigler Reel CF and LF:
Seigler is a staple in saltwater big-game fishing. Its proprietary lever drag system gives anglers the ability to have a preset drag pressure and instantly engage it by pushing the lever. This year at ICAST Seigler unveiled its trout reel. Its trout model offers the same lever drag technology in a downsized package. While it may seem overkill for trout there are plenty of scenarios this will come in handy. If a trout takes a dive under the boat or through your legs disengage the drag lever and the reel will free spool allowing you to regain composure and land the fish. The CF is an ode to classic reels with a solid face while the LF is fully ported for a lighter-weight feel.
East Cape Boats Drift:
East Cape has built a reputation around building some of the best flats skiffs on the market and now drift boats. After talking with the founder, Kevin Fen, it was apparent East Cape is much more than a skiff shop. The East Cape Drift is a passion project years in the making and something that instantly caught our eye. It’s built entirely out of kevlar and carbon laminates making it light (just 300 lbs). The unique hull design was also chosen for added maneuverability. Add to that a massive spray rail and the Drift is a versatile drift boat for anglers everywhere. While we haven’t rowed one yet you can be sure it’s on our list.
Costa Grand Catalina:
Costa’s newest frames, the Grand Catalinas, are a redesign of the frames worn by legendary anglers Flip Pallot, Stu Apte, and more. The new Grand Cats draw inspiration from the old with modern technology of course. Removable side blinders, added ventilation and built-in sweat channels make for a true performance shade even with less-than-ideal conditions. Paired with Costa’s new Gold Mirror lens, anglers are in for a treat. On a recent trip to the Florida Keys, tarpon popped on the flats giving us ample time to get quality shots. It’s safe to say with modern technology and new lens colors these new frames should be on your radar.
TFO Elevare:
TFO builds quality rods at affordable prices and the Elevare is no different. This is a euro nymphing-specific rod with offerings ranging from 10 ft 2-weights to 11 ft 4-weights. Like premium rods, the Elevare has all the features you would want. This includes a downlocking reel seat, a lightweight feel (under 3 ounces), and single-foot guides. TFO even went as far as labeling the rod butt with the length and weight for easy identification in a roof top rod rack.
Duck Camp Light Weight Sun Hoody:
If you’re like us chances are you know Duck Camp for their series of fish-themed hats. But, Duck Camp also has a line of technical fishing apparel that just got a new addition. The Light Weight Sun Hoody is designed specifically for anglers needing sun protection in areas that are hot, really hot. Fishing in tropical climates is taxing and a heavy sun hoody will leave you drenched. With the help of legendary tarpon angler Andy Mill, the newest hoody delivers anglers with a lightweight and breathable performance sun hoody perfect for the flats.
More Products That Caught Our Eye
Under Armour Charged Shoreman Deck Boots:
We’ve seen our fair share of deck boots so we were skeptical when Under Armour announced they were releasing their own version. That was until we saw the Charged Shoreman boot in person. This new addition to Under Armour’s fish line is a refreshing take on deck boots. Modeled after their athletic footwear the shoe is packed with performance features including lightweight construction (under 15 ounces), added heal cushioning, and a unique sole design for comfortable flex.
Marsh Wear Prime Hagood Shorts:
If you’re not familiar with Marsh Wear you should be. A true marsh-inspired company they cover everything from backcountry fly fishing to duck hunting. While they have several new products for 2024 and 2025, one that stood out instantly was the Prime Hagood Shorts in Khaki Mallard Camo. This short may not look like a performance piece of apparel but the materials say otherwise. Nylon construction, mesh drainage pockets, and DWR stain protectant make this a lightweight and quick-drying short for the water. Now that it’s available in an old-school camo pattern you can be sure we will be checking this out soon.
Toadfish Line Nippers and Pliers:
Toadfish is not necessarily a fly fishing brand, that said they build products for the waterman lifestyle. This includes a variety of tools fly anglers could seriously benefit from. The first that caught our eye was the new line nipper. While more affordable than true premium nippers, it has the look and feel of one. An aggressive cutter and oversized handles should be perfect for salt anglers. We also got a preview of the new stainless steel plier coming out. This plier is overbuilt and designed to be rugged. A nice change from the lightweight aluminum standard of late. There’s something reassuring about feeling the weight of this plier knowing it will hold up on the water for years to come.
