×

Back to the future in a kayak

This new “FluxJet Kayak” is 11 feet long, 34 inches wide, can carry 400 pounds, weighs just 88 pounds, operates with a zero draft, and with onboard power, can run at 5 mph for 16 hours. Photo provided by American Sportfishing Association/ICAST

The American Sportfishing Association is the trade association representing the interests of the sportfishing and boating industries, as well as the entire sportfishing community. Each July, they celebrate with an event in Orlando called ICAST — the largest fishing trade show in the world. ICAST brings more than 12,000 people from 78 countries to an exhibition of the newest products and brands in the sportfishing industry. Hosted by ASA, the show this year featured over 580 exhibitors and more than 600 brands from the fishing industry.

Among the most interesting parts of the show is the new product showcase. Innovation abounds here with new fishing reel designs, new rod and lure designs, and inventions of every sort, all among 41 categories of new products. At the New Product Showcase, sponsored by Fishing Tackle Retailer, the Kymera Electric Jet Fishing Kayak was voted the “Best of Show Award” by members of the media and retail buyers. If you are a kayaker, the FluxJet Kayak may revolutionize the kayak universe with the World’s First Electric Jet Fishing Kayak — a game-changer for anglers and adventurers alike. The new kayak engine operates with a zero draft and may redefine the kayak fishing experience with the lightest (weighing 88 pounds), easiest-to-launch, and most powerful kayak on the market. It requires no additional motor power. With onboard power, it can run at 5 mph for 16 hours. Sonar, lights, and the jet motor are all powered by lightweight batteries. It is 11 feet long, 34 inches wide, and can carry 400 pounds.

“We’ve been working for more than 10 years to get this technology ready and developing it in secret. To have ICAST as the place to launch it and win this award is completely overwhelming,” said Jason Woods, CEO of FluxJet Kayaks. “To win this award is next level, and it really makes the 10 years of grinding on this worth it.”

Visit https://www.fluxjetkayaks.com/ to learn more. To view details of all the other category winners, visit https://www.icastfishing.org/new-product-showcase/2025-winners/.

The ASA provides the industry and anglers with a unified voice when emerging laws and policies could significantly impact on the sportfishing business or the sportfishing industry itself. ASA invests in long-term ventures to safeguard and promote the economic, conservation, and social values of sportfishing in the United States. ASA also gives America’s 55 million anglers a voice in policy decisions that affect their ability to fish sustainably on our nation’s waterways through Keep America Fishing, our national angler advocacy campaign. America’s anglers generate more than $50 billion in retail sales, with a $148 billion impact on the nation’s economy, creating employment for 945,000 people.

Tournament fishing is all about finding the biggest fish and catching them in the shortest time. The windstorm on Thursday disrupted the thermally stratified lake, followed by north winds on Friday, which caused the lake to overturn thermally. The Sunset Bay Walleye Shootout, scheduled for today at 5 p.m. at Cabana Sams in Sunset Bay, promises to be a fun event to watch. It’s open to the public. Photo courtesy of Forrest Fisher

For example, this weekend, fishing presents economic impact, jobs, and more with the highest-value professional walleye tournament on Lake Erie, the Sunset Bay Walleye Shootout. It is underway, with headquarters at Cabana Sams. This is a 200-team event; it’s a packed house at Sunset Bay. The main event is today, with the fishing window from 7 a.m. to 3:30 p.m. (shotgun start). The cooler drop-off station deadline is at 4:30 p.m. with a six-fish bag. Assuming the wind stays down, the weigh-in show starts on the stage located at the beachfront, on the sand, at 5:30 p.m. with a full, live broadcast-style atmosphere. Show promoter Captain Don Ruppert announced that special features for winners include the “Motor Madness” giveaways (10 outboard trolling engines) before the event winners are announced. Get ready for an exciting and fun-filled fishing tournament as an angler or as a spectator.

Gotta love the outdoors.

CALENDAR

July 15-20: Chautauqua County Fair — visit the new Conservation Building.

July 17-20: Sunset Bay Walleye Shoot-Out 2025, $500 entry, $500K prizes; six-fish bag/day — one-day major contest; Don Ruppert; 716-435-4137, www.walleyeshootout.com/.

July 20: Chautauqua Lake Bassmasters 2025 Summer Open, Bass For Cash, 6 a.m. to 2 p.m., Prendergast Boat Launch, $200 Entry includes Big Bass Payout. Tournament Director: 716-708-0330.

July 26-27: NYS Archery Shooters Association Federation Championship, Bear Lake Rod & Gun. Info: Rudy Abersold, 716-397-9717.

Starting at $3.50/week.

Subscribe Today