Summer ’26: New Fishing Industry Product Launches
Summer ’26 has seen a flurry of product launches in the fishing industry. Old Town, Shimano, and Strike Footwear have each recently introduced exciting new offerings built for performance-minded anglers.
Old Town
ePDL+ retroFit Kit
The ePDL+ retroFit kit is a first-of-its-kind propulsion option that lets kayak owners turn their pedal-driven kayaks into electric-assisted fishing machines.
Available for select Old Town hulls, the kit offers three propulsion modes: manual pedal, power-assisted pedal, and fully automated cruise control, with five selectable speed settings in either assisted or motorized mode. It drops into the existing pedal drive console with no wiring required.
Sportsman 120 PRO
In July, Old Town added the Sportsman 120 PRO to its award-winning Sportsman Line: a compact 12-foot paddle kayak focused on customization.
It comes equipped with 140 inches of usable aluminum accessory track, so anglers can position gear, electronics, and accessories exactly where they need them. For those who want power, the bow features a universal four-hole insert pattern for easy trolling motor installation, and the stern is ready for transom-mount trolling motors or shallow water anchors.
Shimano & Strike Footwear
Curado DC 150A
Eight years after Shimano debuted the original Curado DC reel, the brand has revamped it. Launched in July, the Curado DC 150A made immediate waves at ICAST, winning the “Best Freshwater Reel” category of the 2026 New Product Showcase.
The updated Curado DC 150A pairs the reel’s proven HAGANE body with a refined IDC4 digital braking system that monitors spool speed 1,000 times per second across four distinct modes, which Shimano says virtually eliminates backlash while maximizing casting distance. The bigger change for most anglers is the MGL Spool III: lower inertia and faster startup, which extends the reel’s effective range to lighter lures without sacrificing durability or stopping power.
Silvertip Drift Boat Shoe
Strike Footwear launched the Silvertip Drift Boat Shoe in early August, combining the hallmarks of a classic boat shoe with serious offshore performance chops. The design features a non-marking, slip-resistant outsole and water-repellent leather construction.
Strike’s proprietary Aqua Sluice drainage system sheds water away from the footbed, while the upper features leather from an LWG-certified tannery and SEAQUAL® yarn made from recovered marine plastic. Underfoot, it’s BLOOM® EVA in the footbed, recycled EVA in the midsole, and recycled rubber in the outsole.