ICAST 2026 kicked off with a splash as anglers, manufacturers, buyers and the media gathered at the Orange County Convention Center ornamental pond to test the newest kayaks, paddleboards, motors, rods, reels and lures. Like kids in a candy shop, Kayak Angler’s editors were first in line to paddle, pedal, ride and cast the sweetest new products and share our favorites with readers.
Garmin LiveScope 2
Two new LiveScope transducers offer greater coverage and higher detail with easier installation
Once again, Garmin made the biggest waves at ICAST Demo Day. After blowing away the competition with LiveScope live sonar and ultra high-definition displays, Garmin continued to define the possibilities with LiveScope 2. The newest version of their live sonar has higher definition and wider sonar signal for a better view of bait, structure and fish. Best of all, the new LiveScope 2 transducer connects directly to the fish finder display without a black box. Combine the LiveScope 2 transducer with Garmin’s exclusive SpyPole remote-controlled transducer pole for the ultimate LiveScope coverage. Now that fishing has become a video game, the player with the best gaming system has an edge on the competition.
ePropulsion
The fastest electric kayak motor with smart fishing features
A month before ICAST, long-time Kayak Angler contributor and legendary river angler Jeff Little called with exciting news. ePropulsion electric motors (see review, KA Issue 55), worked with Little to develop new motors designed specifically for kayaks. Little predicted, “The kMAX 2200 is going to cause problems at Demo Day.” Little was right, with a top speed of eight miles per hour, the compact motor zoomed around the convention center pond like a scalded cat. The kMAX 2200 is so powerful, ePropulsion gave it fishing mode and speed mode. In fishing mode, the motor works a low speed for maneuverability and control. In power mode, the boat speeds across the water faster than any kayak motor we’ve tested. Not only is it fast, but the motor turns smoothly at high speed and is easy to control with an intuitive throttle control and foot-controlled steering.
To get to the fishing grounds faster than the competition, ePropulsion’s kMAX 2200 offers unmatched speed and handling.
Ventral Inflatable Fishing SUP/Kayak with Smart Mid-Mount Drive
A motorized inflatable fishing hybrid that is easy to own and operate
To put motorized kayak fishing in reach of anglers without space or money for a full-size fishing kayak, Ventral introduces an inflatable paddleboard with an integrated motor. The Ventral SUP has two air chambers to stay afloat even if one chamber is punctured. The motor and battery fit through the center of the board to maintain balance and improve turning performance. To maneuver the paddleboard while fishing, the motor has GPS connection to offer features like anchor lock, autopilot and drift control. I can control the motor with a hand-held remote or foot pedals. By combining the motor and board, Ventral cuts the size and weight of the board for a motorized fishing platform anyone can own.
Lew’s Hypermag Shallow Spool 300
Superlight, high-performance spinning reel optimized for finesse fishing
Lew’s was on the water showing off their new Hypermag Shallow Spool 300 spinning reel. The flagship reel features modern design to cut weight and increase strength at every opportunity. For example, the magnesium frame and side plates and carbon skeletal rotor shave ounces off the reel. To increase strength and power, the reel features 11 ball bearings and carbon fiber drag with a double clutch for solid hooksets. The reel’s shallow aluminum spool is optimized for braided line, the shallow spool means I don’t have to add backing, so I get a smoother cast and lighter reel.
VoyaX Mossa 128 and Mossa 97
Full feature fishing kayaks with an integrated pedal-motor hybrid propulsion system
VoyaX has been making waves on social media with the new Mossa 128 and Mossa 97 and Kayak Angler editors were excited to put the new boats to the test. Built on a full-feature platform, the 128 is the full-size model and the 97 is a skinny-water hybrid. The star of the show is the XPDL hybrid motor and pedal system. The pedal and motor combo fits through the center of the hull like a traditional pedal system. However, the XPDL offers three modes: manual, assist and full electric. To speed to the fishing grounds, I run the motor in full electric mode and the XPDL pushes the boat at about five miles per hour. When I’m fishing, I switch between motor assist and manual mode to save battery power. Motor assist increases my pedaling power without increasing the effort. Manual mode is full human-powered pedaling. The XPDL has a large, easy-to-read screen that shows motor functions, battery status, distance, speed and direction information. To control speed, direction and motor functions, I use a throttle mounted to the side of the kayak seat. An available remote control allows me to operate the motor while I’m standing and fishing. The motor’s lower unit rotates 360 degrees, so I can turn in any direction, reverse, forward, spin and anchor lock the boat. Powered with Voya’s own 48-volt lithium battery, the XPDL offers all-day power in a lightweight package.
Daiwa BG LT and BG SW
High performance spinning reel at an affordable price
Daiwa brought two new saltwater tough spinning reel lines for us to test at the ICAST Demo Day. The BG LT and BG SW include features trickled down from Daiwa’s high-end reels to a reasonable price point. The BG LT is their inshore model with a superlight bail and rotor that maintain durability and reduce rotating weight for smoother retrieves. The reel is noticeably light to reduce fatigue. To battle big game, Daiwa gave the BG LT their high-end digitally designed and engineered gears for increased cranking power. The BG LT is available in 2500, 3000 and 4000 sizes to cover inshore species. For offshore leviathans, the BG SW covers sizes from 5000 to a massive 20,000 to cast large lures for really big fish. To back up their “big talk”, Daiwa included performance features such as heavy-duty, precision gearing while minimizing the overall size of the reel. They beefed up the rotor and bail to reduce twist and deformity under heavy drag pressure while cutting weight for smooth retrieves. My favorite feature on both reels is the oversized, padded T-handle that allows me to apply maximum pressure with minimum fatigue. These reels put a hurt on the fish without hurting the angler, or his pocketbook.
Feature photo: Kayak Angler Staff
