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Lowrance Report
Lowrance Elite FS
Lowrance has announced the expansion of its Elite FS line with new 10- and 12-inch display sizes, giving anglers access to the full line-up of Lowrance fishfinding tools, including live sonar on a larger screen, at an attractive price point.
“We expanded our Elite FS family of units to include two additional sizes that give anglers more choices to upgrade their toolkit with live sonar on a larger, more affordable screen,” said Jeremiah Clark, VP and General Manager, Fishing Systems at Navico Group. “Our mission is to empower anglers with gear that drive success on the water. Including our full suite of sonar technology and seamless integration with the boat’s entire system, Elite FS is a powerful fishfinder that delivers exceptional value that performance anglers will appreciate.”
The Elite FS combines the power of Lowrance’s newest fishfinding tools with a display that is easy to use and easy to upgrade with additional technologies. Featuring support for ActiveTarget® 2 live sonar, as well as built-in support for high-resolution Active Imaging™, Elite FS offers anglers all the tools needed to find and catch more fish. ActiveTarget 2 provides higher-resolution views of fish movement and structure, enabling anglers to quickly recognize if lures and techniques are working in real-time allowing them to make adjustments to get fish to strike. Meanwhile, Active Imaging 3-in-1 sonar, featuring CHIRP, SideScan and DownScan Imaging™ with FishReveal™, offers excellent detail, revealing structure and cover over an impressive range.
C-MAP Discover Onboard inland and coastal charts built into Elite FS displays feature high-resolution detail. From finding key fishing areas, like ledges, drop-offs and ditches, to navigating with precision to fish-holding areas, anglers will have more success on the water with high-resolution one-foot contours on over 15,000 lakes across the United States and more than 9,400 in Canada.
The Elite FS 10-inch with ActiveImaging 3-in-1 is $1,799 and the 12-inch display with Active Imaging 3-in-1 is $2,299. The full Elite FS lineup now includes 7, 9, 10, and 12-inch displays.
Key Features
- ActiveTarget and ActiveTarget 2 Live Sonar ready
- Active Imaging 3-in-1 transducer ready
- Active Imaging HD 3-in-1 ready with a S3100 Sonar Module ready
- C-MAP Easy Routing, Navionics® Autorouting capability
- C-MAP Genesis Live onscreen mapping
- High-resolution IPS multi-touch touchscreen
- See with polarized sunglasses
- Integrated wireless, NMEA 2000 and Ethernet connectivity
- Full touchscreen control of Recon and Ghost Trolling Motor, as well as Power Pole Anchors
- Sirus XM weather compatibility with WM4
For more information on Lowrance and its tournament-winning fishfinding technology, please visit www.lowrance.com.
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Z-man Report
Z-man ChatterShad Ultra-Refined ElaZtechTrailer
Designed to embellish and activate your favorite ChatterBait, the new ChatterShad imparts tantalizing tail-kicking signals that equally befit an array of other applications, including jerkbaiting on a jighead or straight-up tail-kicking on a ZWG Swimbait Hook. Fans of the ChatterBait MiniMax will be equally stoked to discover the 3.5-inch finesse sized ChatterShad profile— perfectly matched to the popular pint-sized bladed jig.
Leading with its broad, ribbon-thin fantail and lean baitfish profile, the ElaZtech-enabled ChatterShad merges the softness and subtle movements of a small-batch hand-poured bait with the impossible toughness of its superplastic structure. The result, says Z-Man Director of Product Development Jose Chavez, is a high-action bladed jig trailer made for relentless bass bites.
“We built the ChatterShad to swim with a crisp, fluid, extra-responsive action,” explains Chavez. “The key to the bait’s rhythmic tail-driven motions is its diamond-shaped cross section. By sculpting the entire segmented tail zone with this specific angular arrangement—rather than more commonly used rounded or flattened sections—the ChatterShad kicks and ripples more like a natural fish, while exerting less effort, meaning its tail driven motions activate at any retrieve speed.”
Essentially, notes Chavez, this next-level engineering allows the tail to effortlessly slice through water and transfer energy from all across the body, straight to the tail. “To increase water displacement and quivering action though the tail section, we cut in a series of V-shaped ridges, top and bottom,” explains Chavez. “The design actually increases energy transmission from ChatterBait vibration right into the bait’s tail, for unmatched action and strong lateral line pings.”
Z-man Chatter Shad
Z-Man pro Seth Feider concurs: “The bait’s segmented, diamond-shaped tail section makes the ChatterShad swim with a crisp, fast whipping action, side-to-side. It’s a tight but up-tempo range of realistic movements that give a ChatterBait extra hunting action when you pop the rodtip.”
For rigging with standard sized bladed jigs, such as the ChatterBait Elite EVO, Z-Man offers a matching 4.5-inch ChatterShad profile. And as a downsized jig trailer, the 3.5-inch ChatterShad fits the compact ChatterBait MiniMax to perfection.
“For the first time, we have the perfect little MiniMax and WillowVibe trailer—two of the coolest under-the-radar bladed jigs today,” adds Feider. “The fast-kicking action of the 3.5-inch ChatterShad makes it the ideal trailer for burner MiniMax retrieves in summer—or anytime conditions call for a more active presentation.”
Equipped with dorsal and ventral hook slots, the ChatterShad is easy to rig arrow-straight, fitting all bladed jigs. Slots also allow for effortless weedless rigging on EWG style hooks. Beyond deployment as a ChatterBait trailer, the ChatterShad fits other applications, such as a spinnerbait / buzzbait trailer and a soft jerkbait/swimbait.
The new Z-Man ChatterShad lands at outdoor retailers in September. Offered in 10 colors to match prevalent ChatterBait patterns and two sizes (3.5” & 4.5”). MSRP $4.99 (3.5” - 5-pack / 4.5” – 4-pack)—crafted and packaged in the USA.
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Striker Report
Striker Float Vest
Fishing apparel company Striker announces the addition of the new Shield Float Vest. This versatile and lightweight piece can be worn as an outer layer or insulating mid-layer and gives consumers increased peace of mind and comfort around open water or ice.
It doesn’t serve as a substitute for a life vest, but does offer another safety tool and warmth.
Featuring Striker Brands’ proprietary Sureflote flotation assist technology, the Shield Float Vest provides essential flotation support, ensuring that angler’s safety is a top priority in its design. For added safety benefits, a kill switch D-ring is fixed to the inside hem for responsible boat operation. During blustery days on the water, the Shield Float Vest offers incredible wind-blocking protection via the center front zipper’s interior storm flap and a zipper garage at the chin to lock out wind and add next-to-skin comfort. In addition to 40 grams of warm yet lightweight Thermadex insulation, the pocket and collar are lined with high-quality fleece.
It’s available in three distinct color patterns, Gunmetal, Duckwood, and Dark Olive, and sizes ranging from S to 4XL. Suggest retail price is $129.99-$149.99.
For more information on the Shield Float Vest and Striker Brands' complete lineup of fishing apparel, visit StrikerBrands.com.
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Mercury Racing 200R
Mercury Marine, a division of Brunswick Corporation (NYSE: BC) and Mercury Racing launched two new Racing outboards and introduced a new mid-range Jet outboard engine.
The new 150R and 200R are all about torque. Displacing 3.4 liters, these V6 outboard engines are designed to deliver exceptional hole shot and acceleration without the weight of a V8. Transient Spark Technology electronically adjusts ignition timing as needed, producing additional torque for faster hole shot and acceleration. At full throttle, the 150R develops up to 6000 RPM, while the 200R tops out at 6400 rpm.
These outboards come with the full suite of the Mercury Marine’s V6 platform features, including Digital Throttle & Shift (DTS), which gives drivers precise, seamless engine control. Fuel economy also is optimized through built-in, GPS-enabled features like Mercury’s Active Trim, Adaptive Speed Control, and Advanced Range Optimization, which delivers precise fueling throughout the operating range. Where other performance outboards require 89 octane fuel, the 150R and 200R are designed to operate on 87 octane, saving money at the pump.
The 150R and 200R also are equipped with a larger, 85-amp alternator, versus competitor engines’ 44- to 55-amp output. Mercury’s built-in battery management system ensures that even with a full suite of electronics on board, owners have enough electrical power for their needs.
“With the new 150R and 200R, we are bringing Mercury Racing DNA to our V6 outboard range. When it comes to bottom-end torque, these engines are best-in-class,” said Jeff Broman, category director, Mercury Racing.
The 200R is offered with two different gearcase configurations. Weighing just 469 lbs., the 200R Torque Master is designed for competitive bass boats and other performance craft in the 80- to 85-mph range. The 200R Sport Master, at 489 lbs., is built for high performance boats running at speeds of 85 mph to well over 100 mph. The 150R is available with shaft lengths of 20 and 25 inches, while the 200R Torque Master and Sport Master have a 20-inch shaft.
New 105 HP Jet
Mercury FourStroke 105hp Jet
Also expanding Mercury’s mid-range lineup is the all-new FourStroke 105hp Jet. This jet outboard engine, built on the FourStroke 150hp platform, delivers 105 horsepower. This puts it at the head of the Mercury jet family, which also includes the Jet 25-40hp and Jet 60-80hp. The new FourStroke 105hp Jet is the ideal solution for boaters and anglers who want to navigate safely in shallower water while still enjoying the intuitive operation and reliability of Mercury FourStroke technology.