ICAST may be over, but anglers will be talking about—and experimenting with—the new products unveiled in Orlando for the rest of 2026 and well into 2027. Some will quickly find their way into tournament boats, while others could become dependable additions to everyday tackle boxes.
Urchin baits generated much of the buzz at this year’s show, but they were far from the only soft plastics worth watching. These 10 new soft baits from ICAST 2026 include finesse worms, swimbaits, forage imitators and designs engineered to stand out on forward-facing sonar.
This is by no means a complete list of every new soft bait unveiled at the show, but it offers a strong look at some of the designs anglers will be putting to the test over the next 12 months.
Presented in no particular order, here is the Hook & Barrel Hot 10.
Strike King Chuker
The Chuker is Strike King’s https://www.strikeking.com contribution to the rapidly expanding urchin-bait category. It is constructed from extra-stiff TPE material designed to maintain its shape and withstand repeated strikes.
One of the Chuker’s most distinctive features is an offset rigging hole that positions the hook at an optimized angle. According to Strike King, the design is intended to improve hookup percentages when a fish commits to the bait.
Features:
- Available in 18mm and 24mm sizes
- Offered in 12 colors
- Extra-stiff TPE construction
- Offset rigging hole
CrushCity The CEO
Built around a proprietary glass-powder core, CrushCity’s The CEO is engineered to provide greater casting distance and a slow, controlled fall intended to appeal to pressured bass.
The bait is molded from Super TPE using CrushCity’s Smart Injection Technology. Its weighted core, tapered legs and integrated rigging slot are designed to create a complete urchin-bait presentation straight from the package while still allowing anglers to modify the setup when conditions call for it.
Features:
- Available in 15mm and 21mm sizes
- Proprietary weighted glass-powder core
- Tapered legs for subtle action on the fall
- Super TPE construction
- Integrated rigging slot
Yamamoto Uni HD, Uni Mas and Uni Max
Yamamoto expanded its Uni family at ICAST with three versions designed to provide different profiles and underwater actions.
The Uni HD uses a new high-density TPE formula that gives its tentacles greater rigidity, helping the bait maintain a larger profile and hold its shape underwater.
The bigger Uni Mas increases the body size to 20mm while retaining the finesse-oriented characteristics of the original Uni. The Uni Max expands the profile further with a 24mm body that displaces more water and creates a more noticeable presence.
Features:
- Uni HD uses high-density TPE and firmer tentacles
- Uni Mas features a 20mm body
- Uni Max features a 24mm body
- Offered in 10 colors
- Expanded tentacle tips
Strike King Mag Tumbleweed
The Strike King Mag Tumbleweed expands the profile of the original Tumbleweed with a larger body designed to create more underwater presence while retaining the bait’s subtle movement.
At its center is a distinctive 12-sided, die-shaped core surrounded by a skirt of air-trapping silicone strands. The combination gives the bait added buoyancy and creates movement with minimal input from the angler.
The Mag Tumbleweed is available in two formulas: a heavily salted sinking version for deeper presentations and a floating version for fishing higher in the water column. It can be fished weightless, on a drop-shot rig or paired with Strike King’s Tumbleweed Jighead.
Features:
- Compatible with the Tumbleweed Jighead
- Larger version of the original Tumbleweed
- 12-sided, die-shaped core
- Air-trapping silicone skirt
- Available in sinking and floating formulas
- Suitable for weightless and drop-shot rigging
CrushCity Avatar Shad
Built from Super TPE and engineered with a segmented body, the CrushCity Avatar Shad delivers a fluid swimming action whether it is rigged on a jighead, weighted swimbait hook or bladed jig.
Unlike traditional swimbaits that rely primarily on tail movement, the Avatar Shad’s segmented construction allows the entire body to contribute to its swimming action. Its buoyant TPE material also helps the bait retain its shape and withstand multiple strikes.
Features:
- Offered in 13 colors
- Durable Super TPE construction
- Segmented body creates full-body swimming action
- Buoyant material
- Multiple rigging options
Strike King FG Worm
Designed by Bassmaster Classic champion Easton Fothergill, the Strike King FG Worm uses a specialized tail to create a hovering action that keeps the bait in the strike zone longer.
Flanges along the tail increase drag and water displacement, giving the worm additional movement without requiring an aggressive retrieve. The bait is available in 4-inch and 5.5-inch versions, allowing anglers to adjust the presentation to match local forage and fishing conditions.
The FG Worm is offered in 12 colors selected by Fothergill for use in water ranging from stained to clear.
Features:
- Designed by Easton Fothergill
- Available in 4-inch and 5.5-inch sizes
- Hovering tail action
- Tail flanges increase drag and water displacement
- Offered in 12 colors
Storm Surge Pre-Rigged Series
Storm expanded its Surge Pre-Rigged Series with three forage-specific profiles—the Surge Bluegill, Surge Crappie and Surge Goby—as well as a new 2.5-inch version of the Surge Minnow.
Each lure is internally weighted for longer casts and comes equipped with realistic 3D eyes and a premium VMC Black Nickel hook. A molded dorsal fin also serves as a natural weed guard, allowing the baits to move through vegetation, wood and other cover with less chance of snagging.
The new profiles give bass, walleye and multi-species anglers additional options for matching the forage fish found in their local waters.
Features:
- Pre-rigged and ready to fish
- New Bluegill, Crappie and Goby profiles
- New 2.5-inch Surge Minnow
- Internally weighted for longer casts
- Dorsal fin acts as a natural weed guard
- Premium VMC Black Nickel hook
CrushCity Inspector
Designed by Jacob Wheeler, the CrushCity Inspector is an ultra-finesse worm created for pressured bass and difficult fishing conditions.
Its thin profile provides a subtle presentation, while a reinforced nose increases durability and accommodates several rigging methods. The thicker head can hold a nail weight for Neko rigging and provides additional material for Texas rigging or fishing the worm on a drop-shot setup.
The Inspector was developed as a finesse-oriented counterpart to CrushCity’s Janitor and Pigstick families.
Features:
- Thin, ultra-finesse profile
- Reinforced nose for greater durability
- Suitable for drop-shot, Neko and Texas rigging
- Integrated slot for VMC Crossover Rings
- Smart Injection Technology
RELATED:How to Fish a Wacky Rig for Summer Bass
Strike King Spotlight Winged Minnow
The Strike King Spotlight Winged Minnow is designed to provide increased visibility on forward-facing sonar while maintaining a natural swimming presentation.
Available in 5-inch and 7-inch sizes, both versions incorporate Strike King’s Sonic Coat technology to help the lure stand out on modern sonar systems. A downward-winged profile and heavier head help the bait track evenly through the water column and maintain consistent depth.
An integrated hook-alignment slot along the back simplifies rigging, while the soft-plastic construction balances flexibility with enough firmness to maintain the lure’s profile.
The 5-inch Spotlight Winged Minnow is packaged six per pack, while the 7-inch version is sold in packs of four. Both sizes are available in several established color patterns.
Features:
- Designed for increased visibility on forward-facing sonar
- Available in 5-inch and 7-inch sizes
- Sonic Coat technology
- Heavier head promotes even tracking
- Downward-winged profile
- Integrated hook-alignment slot
Yamamoto Dagger Minnow
Built to move between finesse and reaction presentations, the 4.75-inch Yamamoto Dagger Minnow can produce a slow, natural sway or a fast, high-pitched rolling action.
Designed by Tucker Smith, the bait features a symmetrical profile and heavily salted belly that create a gliding, rocking motion during a slower retrieve. When fish become conditioned to that subtle presentation, faster twitches cause the bait to roll rapidly and create a more aggressive reaction-style action.
Raised bulbs on the tail produce a delicate flutter and add secondary movement behind the bait. Yamamoto also uses a tougher plastic formula intended to increase durability while retaining the company’s signature heavy salt content.
Features:
- 4.75-inch profile
- Natural gliding action on slower retrieves
- Rapid rolling action when twitched
- Raised tail bulbs create additional flutter
- Heavily salted belly
- Offered in eight colors
