The Hook Up Tackle Goes To ICAST 2023!

[@descantinginsalubrious]

Nishine is a true KING. A real innovator. It's only a matter of time before Berkeley or Rapala etc "innovate" his lures and win iCast.

[@thehookuptackle_usa]

Sadly true about the big brands, but happily true about Nishine 👊🏆🍻

[@kurthimmen4578]

Thanks for the "no BS" version of ICAST!

[@thehookuptackle_usa]

Thank you for watching 🍻

[@CyberXross]

I don’t care for the rip off crap they throw at us, but certainly enjoying watching you guys cover the iCAST circus every time. The Kings response of “Nooo!” was hilarious when asked if he was looking forward to it.

[@thehookuptackle_usa]

He doesn’t hide his feelings very well 🤣. Thank you for watching! 🍻

[@greggperry6964]

I-CAST stands for Indiscriminately Copying Asian's Superior Tackle.

[@mattryan3241]

Lmaoo this is too accurate

[@captnse]

🤣🤣

[@thehookuptackle_usa]

Sadly accurate

[@jddarby007]

Perfect! The American companies are imitating the Chinese companies with the knock-offs.

[@raychoi9495]

Shhhh. Some American still think the made the best tackle just like American Auto industry..

[@spenser7977]

Nishine killing it as always, next we need a smaller simcoe

[@thehookuptackle_usa]

Maybe soon?

[@descantinginsalubrious]

Ben, I"m feeling proud that you called out all the "patriots" who don't have any problem with stealing/plagiarising as long as it makes their fishing "cheaper." The hypocrisy is sickening. Sadly, I feel the vast majority of fisherfolk just don't give a shit about integrity in this industry.

[@thehookuptackle_usa]

Made in America to me means built strong, built well with craftsmanship, built with pride. The narrative these big brands are twisting on us is a disgrace. 🇺🇸 👊

[@slowstalks_hardhooksets]

So we’re saying all patriots support this shit?

[@mitchamus9]

Man can’t wait for the Berkley Missile Dice next year!

[@thehookuptackle_usa]

🤣🍻

[@The_Bass_Stunters]

Ben “Da Savage” Tackle master! Love all the chop busting on the rip off baits! Stay on em brother!

[@thehookuptackle_usa]

👊🍻

[@roninmax8189]

I love that new NiShine ds hook, been using the owner mosquito light hooks for years but I might have to give those a shot, his designs are so common sense and innovative I hope he makes something for the bigbait guys soon

[@thehookuptackle_usa]

👍👊🍻

[@brownbouy3043]

I've switched to only using his hooks for ds they are 🐐

[@Smallmouthnation]

I have to say this is the best Icast video I have seen all week, great job boys. It was also refreshing to see Ben covering Shimano without rolling his eyes 😅👍🙏

[@thehookuptackle_usa]

Haha! Thank you for watching and for the feedback 👊🍻

[@principleoutdoors8932]

Great explanation at the end on how a company can create a whole new category (senko, skat etc.) and that others can join that category but only with a different design...not a direct copy...on point!

[@thehookuptackle_usa]

👊🍻

[@hen_17]

Nishine is straight 🔥👊

[@thehookuptackle_usa]

Agreed 🍻

[@_siskooo_frank1146]

Great point at the very end bro. I’m glad you tell it like it is at the end of the day

[@law1831]

The whole thing about it not being good business to call out knock off companies, who cares. The people that have a problem with that are probably cheap skates anyway. It seems like your company has a solid loyal customer base. Every time I'm in the shop chucking out tall cash, there are always people behind me and in front of me doing the same thing. Keep up the solid work! I appreciate yalls hustle

[@thehookuptackle_usa]

Thank you for your business, and for the kind words 👊🍻

[@muskybites505]

After so many years of youtube channels at icast I have learned the only vid I need to watch is the Hookup’s! Great job as usual boys, thanks for the honesty.

[@Marc-nx9ce]

Damn, you guys brought a flag into the berkley booth. Savage lol

[@thehookuptackle_usa]

No one at the booth noticed or could tell the difference 😂

[@holdengamble]

An hour and 40 minutes of Ben talking shit to Geoff. Can’t beat it

[@thehookuptackle_usa]

🤣👊🍻

[@MadMaxx89]

Sooo excited for the upcoming nishine stuff.

[@thehookuptackle_usa]

💯! The Baby Abino topwater is in already 🍻

[@NoFro-TL]

Love this overview of icast. No brown nosing. HOWEVER that zman sleeper i bet is gonna be awesome lol.

[@skywalkerv8700]

I was having withdrawals not hearing these beautiful voices.

[@thehookuptackle_usa]

Feel free to use this as an asmr track if you want 😜🍻

[@treehunter1]

Have you seen John Crews explain the story of the bomba? I kinda buy it honestly…

[@thehookuptackle_usa]

Seen it - don’t buy it. He had his chance in the beginning, but when everyone called him out on it he just responded that now it’s easier to get, cheaper and made in America. Like what I posted. Of course he has to save face now, and at the end of the day if it’s bringing more light to the OG’s then I say success 👍🍻

[@justing4860]

$900 on an ultralight is absolutely ridiculous 😂

[@aycfishing]

That was great to watch Ben. Hats off to you for calling out the copycats.

[@ronswinford4952]

I have been waiting on this, I wanted to see how you guys handled all the knock-offs. I will say in the booth talking video's I saw Wheeler say that the Bronco Bug was Rapala's version of the OSP Beaver, just a little wider in the body. He at least admitted it, but the Berkley booth does this every year. The issue with the originals is getting them. I buy the OSP's Beavers from you, but I am still trying to get a better flipping bait color in that line in the size I want. That being said the knock-offs should at least be licenced. I want an original version of the "Nessie" but I don't know what bait that is, hopefully I can find it on the site.

[@thetravelingmongo]

Let’s go!!! Time to binge

[@garywest2250]

every year, I look forward to your final icast thoughts. the knock-offs will continue to "innovate" and infiltrate the industry.

[@thehookuptackle_usa]

👊🍻

[@joshbekah4755]

Do you guys know when poison ultima will be at your shop ?

[@thehookuptackle_usa]

We had the 6’10” M instock already. The 7’ is on the way. Spinning should be any time now

[@michaelduran3540]

“Jeff are you excited” “no” 😂😂😂

[@justinkayce9811]

I mean Johnny Morris built his company by doing exactly what you are speaking of when he started selling modified baits out of his dad's general store as a kid. As a note he had that exact shop deconstructed then reconstructed in the Wonders of Wildlife museum in Springfield. You are correct, BPS are the kings of knockoff and have built an $8.5 billion empire from doing so. Good luck trying to combat that. As long as there are buyers, there will be sellers. It's on the buyers, always has been. The only thing that retailers that refuse to play that game will do is hand the market share to the ones that don't care, but hey, at least your conscience will be clear. What sux for the buyers is that this process will inevitably drive OG design merch costs up or the giants will acquire the OG companies so they don't have to innovate

[@customverno]

Pure and simple...."Thank You".....keep fighting the good fight

[@thehookuptackle_usa]

Thank you for watching! 🍻

[@DavidBronstein1961]

Megabass Magdraft is a great but flawed bait. If one of these “knockoff” companies can develop a version of a harness swimbait that has better magnet performance and is less sensitive to blowing out at wrong retrieve cadence then I will buy it and consider it an enhancement not a knockoff. Time will tell. But that stubby megadong thing doesn’t give me much confidence!

[@swamp_rat_fla1126]

Shimano brought the goods this year. Stoked about the BFS reel and Curado M

[@timlawrence7246]

Great video and I’m glad so many are coming out and calling bullshit on these knockoffs. I’ll keep shopping at your place and niche tackle shops knowing it’s quality. BPS will sell the shit out of this trash but have no clue how to really work it. It’s like putting the buttstock of a rifle on the tip of the barrel. Just not goin’ to work

[@LastRODbender]

I want to take that Nishine guy fishing! He seems so chill.

[@denniswillems6083]

Just love your report from icast , great show , thanks for your information

[@mradamkirby]

That Nishine section was ace again. There is still hope 🙏

[@kaarthikiyer1422]

Great videos guys. And thank you for calling these folks out. It has to be done. Berkeley, rapala be better.

[@holdengamble]

I love you guys ripping on the knockoffs

[@DavidBronstein1961]

That ribbed 10-incher from Yamamoto is gonna be a big hit with the ladyfisherfolk

[@chrisjackson6115]

Wheeler gave credit to the original baits when he was explaining the line from Rapala

[@thehookuptackle_usa]

Only after we exposed him, and it was still super weak deflecting.

[@bryand956]

Nishine is one only ones doing new things and filling gaps in lure groups.

[@thehookuptackle_usa]

They are certainly doing it the way we love to see it done 🍻

[@Twangtown7]

Shot's fired at Loudmouth Ike!!

[@Andycarusetta]

This is becoming my favorite episode of the year. Kudos for shouting out the truth. We have to support brands that innovate. Knocking a product off and not paying for rights is wrong and un-American. So don't give me that "it's just business" bullshit to justify greed

[@dustinwalker8152]

Ben and Geoff, thank you both for talking shit about the knock offs in their booths. 🍻

[@JohnBrown1]

Love the boots and wets really good quality.

[@jamesselman7706]

Looking forward to Daiwa's release of the Tatula, version 900,001 at ICAST 2024! Watching this vid from Australia...love your appraisals of the products even tho we won't see many of them here.

[@brandonlinnell4035]

You can say whatever you want but people don’t want to pay $25-45 for lures they could pay $12-25 for.

[@a.b.robinsonjr.4301]

What an insightful and informative I cast review. Some way, somehow these companies have to create patents or barriers to entry for companies wanting to copy the products they worked so hard to develop and refine.

[@Twangtown7]

Really dig these videos. Thanks fellas!

[@thehookuptackle_usa]

Thank you for watching 🍻

[@treehunter1]

Dang, I thought I’d never see a reel that was made in China or Korea being sold at your shop lmao

[@joshbekah4755]

Finally a dope video of i cast. Great video fellas 💪

[@thehookuptackle_usa]

Thank you for watching! 👊🍻

[@ZethKinnettFishing]

The big standout is Nishine. Just doin his own thing and crushing it. I've had multiple 20lb+ smallmouth/largemouth days on the XDD.

[@thehookuptackle_usa]

Awesome!!! And agreed!

[@edwardwicht5271]

I’ve commented on several posts about Rapala asking why they aren’t pointing out the Wheeler’s rip offs. Posted on Bait Wrx and Bass Blaster. No response. It makes me think that some sources of “news” are more propaganda. Lots of tournament fishing is just a well orchestrated infomercial. There is no scrutiny of anything. I really value you and your store giving honest opinions.

[@thehookuptackle_usa]

Thank you for watching and for commenting - 👍👊🍻

[@jamesbarron1202]

If Geoff isn’t enthusiastic about being there I’ll sure run the camera next year. Cotton Cordell lures have been knocked off more than any company I can think of.

[@lpbass8369]

Love my CC shad and spots.

[@jamesbarron1202]

@@lpbass8369 all these lipless baits copied the Cordell Hot Spot. Even the Rat-L-Trap copied it. I’m 61 and remember when the Rat-L-Trap came out. We fished the Hot Spot long before then. I’ve caught a 11-3 on a Hot Spot. The Big-O the first squarebill which Cotton had the rights to mass produce from Fred Young is also copied by everyone. The original Cordell Pencil Popper everyone is copying.

[@FishingBrandon]

“Are you looking forward to this? No.” 😂😂😂

[@keithjensen9920]

Love the truth! I Will support the brads that stay true with my $&

[@kentbrown5369]

Help needed. Totally new to the Tiny Klash that just arrived from you all today. Which rod would be better to use ke ante leviathan or combat stick wake bait rod? Thanks for your honest opinion on ICAST and the company’s that just rip everyone off

[@thehookuptackle_usa]

Either will work! Try the Combat stick first 👍

[@zach8973]

Shit was great , you made some big waves 😂. Been hearing about knockoffs 3 or 4 pod cast and a few that don’t want to touch the subject 😂.

[@shucklegang6965]

I know this is a little off topic but when are OSP Dice Rubber coming back in stock?

[@thehookuptackle_usa]

Next month

[@chickenfriedsteak3669]

Ben for PRESIDENT! - Preach on Bro!

[@thehookuptackle_usa]

🍻 for everyone! 🤣

[@tombrown7577]

I love Simms product. The quality is second to none. Some retailers just believe that if people are willing to spend stupid amounts of money on boats then they can get stupid money for other stuff. A thousand bucks for waders...ridiculous.

[@thehookuptackle_usa]

I’m not arguing 😂. My first boat was only half of that 🤣🤣🍻

[@ilooknoob]

shit thats what im saying $1000 bucks id rather put that into a nice kayak and go wading in my $99 frogg togg waders 🤨

[@NFiltr8Red]

How can we get some of those demo rods from St. Croix. Looks cool, I don’t want to chop a good working rod to have that blank.

[@alanstein9722]

I was in the shop in February when you and Jeff were in Japan. Griff said you guys might be closing out the old Antares DC MD for Shimano Japan this summer. Any word on that or are you going to get the new one. I bought a Mark 56 and that is what I want to put on it. Thanks!

[@thehookuptackle_usa]

No word on the DC MD’s 😢

[@martingutierrez5476]

What would it take to have a fishing expo of that caliber on the west coast? If you guys put it on or kickstart it. I’ll make the drive and time to go. (That pisses me off)

[@gregoryn9378]

How to receive support for products outside of us?

[@marioochavez]

“they’re probably cheering for some knock offs over there”😭

[@brianbell1851]

Great Work guys!!!

[@thehookuptackle_usa]

Thank you for watching!

[@jamesh7469]

Teppa leader seems like an expensive and lazy way to get the same performance as an FG knot

[@andranslam5017]

I like what you’re talking about, I agree with the whole new category of baits thing. I want to add that the cover scat was not the pioneer of turd style baits as Yamamoto and smith did a collab and made an Imo Tailless grub many years ago and also geecrack has the IMO ripper which I think came out before the cover scat. However, your point stands, cover scat has introduced the turd/imo style into America and now everyone is copying it mould for mould which is terrible. Well said

[@PunchFishing]

An hour and a half!! Buckle up folks.

[@IonizedOnion3.1415]

We need more innovative bait makers like Hiroshi in the industry. He’s bringing back a lost art.

[@AnimeNfish]

Seeing straight up knockoffs of JDM baits is disgusting. Spro, Missle baits, Rapala, Berkley arent getting any purchases from me anytime soon. Especially Spro.

[@KyleDangerKopp]

Thanks and respect for calling out the copies and knock-offs. Stealing from actual innovators is shitty and these big American companies lost my business.

[@thehookuptackle_usa]

Thank you for watching 👊🍻

[@bandtish]

I’m ready!

[@jeffsaltzgiver8356]

Great show, thanks for keeping it real. Lots and lots of knock offs, pretty sad actually.

[@thehookuptackle_usa]

Thank you for watching

[@ewok9742]

Thanks for Exposing ICAST! JDM all the way!

[@chrisgarcia5462]

I leave the knock- offs for beginners like my kids,or someone learning to fish therefore one doesn't have to worry about an expensive & inexpensive quality lure getting broken off. The originals are always used by me and I definitely will always keep on supporting the original lures regardless what country its from, but these expensive lures from japan that are being copied has to stop,or have big companies collaborate with Japanese companies.

[@awesomeozzycat9953]

Also, the valleyhill looked a lot like a river2sea S-waver? Which one was first?

[@thehookuptackle_usa]

Gancraft jointed claw

[@the186element2]

❤Cheering for knockoffs!!

[@joeys7519]

Nishine is such a gem

[@zach8973]

Some baits just have (IT) like the Magdraft , burrito , hud , even though I like the rtf savage gear .

[@Twangtown7]

Re: Sev11n (what's with the two 1's anyways??) , if you're only releasing 1 casting reel (for now at least) make it all black. Some people aren't gonna but a reel with red accents on a blue or green rod etc. They'd sell more. They don't think, at all.

[@SUPERTOMCAT_21]

Can you bring the Owner Haymaker over here? No one seems to have them In bigger sizes. 😉

[@leepao6302]

I understand where you guys are coming from, but sometimes it’s just dame hard to get your hands on the original version, specially if you rarely don’t follow fishing tackle news and by the time heard about the bait or that piece of tackle it’s no longer available anymore and in my defense; I do fall back to knock off just to see what is the hype about, but to be honest I do really prefer to get my hands on the original as much as I can if I get the chance to do so.

[@KEZFishing]

Glad to see Americans calling out the corruption culture of the current state of America. This has been going on forever but it’s more apparent because of the visibility and diversity of ppl today. That’s why the old guard is fighting so hard to hold on to power and if we allow them to win we will no longer be American. Take that statement for what you want but America was built to evolve and become better but there are too many lazy old guard Americans lingering and holding us back.

[@janosczovek8524]

Thanks fantastic video, you have no bull sh#t 😊👍

[@JoseMartinez-dq4km]

Nishine is awesome. But Jacob wheeler does give osp credit for that bait

[@awesomeozzycat9953]

The SPRO knock-off hurt me..... I need to find a replacement for little John's squarebills and md's. We need to start being innovative in the USA. SMH......

[@spotlightinspect5540]

That’s an S-waiver

[@Twangtown7]

Being picky here, but hate the "TATULA" print on top of the new 100. Looks cheap.

[@joeyplaisance3131]

thought the same thing. Maybe should have done it in a gloss black where it still shows up against the matte black and more subtle.

[@raychoi9495]

I am really shocked no one copy DRT Tiny clash yet..... You have disappointed me. America

[@letun3481]

1:15:27 And Iaconelli's credibility goes down in flame...

[@bobbybaker5304]

Not a fan of this knock off culture but, I did watch Wheelers video and he did give props to OSP for inspiration on that particular bait. I may be wrong and will watch it again but pretty sure he did.

[@thehookuptackle_usa]

Only after his feathers were ruffled exposing it, and then everyone gave him enough crap over it he had to try and save face. But he also tries to deflect by bringing other brands into it and claiming he added a hinge.

[@bobbybaker5304]

@@thehookuptackle_usa no doubt but, I like a lot others never heard of or knew of really any JDM players other than Megabass. That is until I started following and ordering from you guys. Thanks for all you guys do. I just wanna catch fish and I’ll use whatever it takes to do so, no matter the brands.

[@Fishinjayz]

That Branco bug looks like the bulls hog from bottom up .

[@gregstott8109]

I’ll be honest. I had to grab a bag of heavy poop just for the name 😄.

[@tlee3374]

Hopefully, the customers learn about the K.Os and the Originals and decide where to buy with their hard earned $$$.💰

[@mikecamalier2653]

Great video Great information and you are right. Bassmd

[@thehookuptackle_usa]

👊🍻

[@marcusvidrine7688]

Hiroshi!!!

[@theangleraquarist]

Big props for calling the companies out. I’m no longer buying anything from those 4 companies. It kind of sucks. Missile had some great baits, but I can’t support the recent ripoffs. I’ve never liked Berkeley, spro, or rapala though…

[@thehookuptackle_usa]

It all sucks - for all of us. But since we as consumers get to make our own choices - we are more powerful than the big brands know 👍🍻

[@Twangtown7]

Croix self-proclaiming themselves "Best Rods on Earth" is hilarious. They definitely don't have a pulse on the bass world, at all.