The 2006 ICAST gathering in Las Vegas is the fishing industry's major U.S. trade show, where some 7,000 manufacturers, buyers, and media types paw and claw through thousands of new products that will hit the stores for the 2007 season. Editor-in-Chief Sid Evans and I spent a couple of days last week (7/19 and 7/20) walking the convention-center floor, finding tackle and gear that's wild or wacky or wonderful-"even some things that will be genuinely useful. Note that while I've provided manufacturer's web links, it may be several months before these products are actually listed or available. Here are a few highlights. --John Merwin

Above: this is not some digital-camera trick. The Zara Spook I'm holding is a 27-inch long display model. I dare you to get one for your wife's birthday present. About $50.00 from PRADCO (lurenet.com).