A few odds and ends left over from last week’s ICAST report:
One of the more stupendous new products was the Spro KGB K-Rig, which is three big glide baits—all stuck together. This behemoth is about the size of a carry-on bag, and costs more, at $129.
The idea is that a really big bass thinks this is a school of big shad or shiners and can’t resist. I don’t know about you, but I’m not fishing that one on anything but 200-pound-test braid, and I’m locking it in the safe at night. It will take an angler of great faith and dedication to heave that thing all day long—although I said that about the A-Rig, too. Details at www.spro.com.
While the folks at Fluxjet were delighted they won Best of Show at ICAST with their jet-powered kayak, they were less happy that the official listing of their product’s name in the announcement was not correct. We at The Outdoor Wire, along with a number of other outlets, picked up the ICAST version.
For the record, per company COO Adam Majewski, the product is the FluxJet Electric Jet Fishing Kayak. The 11’ yak has the jet flush with the bottom, so can run in virtually inches of water. Also, amazingly, the electric motor runs on 12, 24, 36 or even 48 or 60 volts. See details on this Texas-based company at https://www.fluxjetkayaks.com.
So Long to Shaw Grigsby
In other industry news, legendary bass angler Shaw Grigsby is leaving the pro bassing circuit. The beloved mighty mustache of bassing, who taught tens of thousands of bass anglers how to get ‘em, is hanging it up after a career spanning over 40 years as one of the nicest people on the pro circuits.
Shaw began fishing full time in 1984 on the Bassmaster Tour and has competed in more than 420 pro events across the Bassmaster, FLW and Major League Fishing trails. He racked up nine wins, 64 top-10 finishes and qualified for 16 Bassmaster Classics along with two Forrest Wood Cups. He collected nearly $2.4 million in tournament winnings. Grigsby also hosted the popular “One More Cast with Shaw Grigsby” television show for 20 years.
Shaw reportedly will continue to work in retirement with wildlife officials in Florida on capturing and rehoming nuisance alligators as well as spending more time with his wife, Polly, and children Amy and Shaw, along with his grandchildren.
He was inducted into the Bass Fishing Hall of Fame in Springfield, Mo., in 2017.
I have the distinction of possibly being the only outdoor writer that ever fished with Shaw who did not catch a single fish, so I remember our trip particularly well. We had access to a series of north Florida lakes on a large ranch where there should have been a 5-pounder under every lily pad, but an icy north wind blew in the night before and we had 20 knot winds when it was time to go fishing at dawn.
We hammered pads, bulrushes, maidencane and tree stumps from daylight until dawn—and Shaw caught ‘em pretty good every once in a while, including a couple of 4-pounders. I did not get a bite. Shaw said it was because my mustache was trimmed wrong, and also possibly because about every other cast got caught in the overhanging brush.
You can see an interesting FatCat Newton commentary on Shaw’s ‘stache on YouTube here: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=d0ebJ9pI6BU.
— Frank Sargeant
Frankmako1@gmail.com