Stay Dry: The 4-Step Program
January 3, 2008
With a big storm blasting the West Coast right now, I figured it was a good time to revisit the secret to staying dry while fishing in a downpour….
So, there you are…on that dream fishing trip in some northern location like Alaska, Patagonia or Canada and the rain’s coming down in buckets. Pretty soon even your fancy new breathable rain gear is soaked all the way through and you’re getting wet down to the skin…and cold.
Nothing puts the kibosh on the fun like hypothermia!
The good news is there is a way to beat the dreaded “soak-through” scenario. It’s my 4-Step Stay Dry Program and it goes like this…
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For the little lady on your list…
December 21, 2007
Go ahead, take the easy route…order some gear and be done shopping for the year! According to Bass Chixx HQ:
“We saw a need to merge womens fishing apparel and fashion together. Our line is specifically designed with fashion forward women in mind. It is a way for women to support the sport of fishing and look good doing it.” Finally!!
Check out the complete line at www.basschixx.com
Goin’ Old Skool
September 4, 2007
Just in time for back to school: Be the coolest kid in the class while sportin’ this sweet retro Pautzke’s Balls O Fire hat! It comes complete with the Old Skool logo and awesome bill cord.
To be hip, just be sure you wear it a little off-kilter!
$15 at Pautzke.com
The best lure of all time?
August 4, 2007
So, if you’re looking to start a little spirited conversation down at the local tavern tonight, ask the boys what the best lure of all time is.
Of course, a case can be made for lures like Dardevles, Rapalas, Kastmasters, Mepps Spinners, Panther Martins and a whole host of others. But is there one piece of hardware that stands above the rest?
What’s your vote?
Oh $#%&@!!!!
June 8, 2007
Okay, so we’ve all been on the receiving end of one of these…the dreaded backlash (rat’s nest, professional override or Cluster F&@$). What to do?
Well, I’ve heard of some miracle backlash remedies like the one that goes: After you get a bird’s nest, tighten the drag all the way down and then tightly press your thumb on the spool and crank. The first time I ever tried that, it worked like a charm. Unfortunately, it’s never worked since and I’ve heard the same from everybody who’s tried it.
The long and short of it is, the best way to get back to casting is to…
For the fluff chucker who has everything…
May 12, 2007
I’m not totally sure why I need one of these, but I somehow find myself intrigued by the Stutzman Micro Rod.
It’s 32-inches of flea-flickin’ fun that will supposedly cast a line 25 feet. Several small streams with lots of overhanding brush and tiny brook trout come to mind and a couple bluegill infested farm ponds also would be fun. God help ya if you hooked a 3-pound largemouth, however…
The Stutzman rod comes with a functioning reel, line and tippet. The rod and reel combo’s a tad on the pricey side at $250, but it does come with your choice of reel and thread wrap color and you get to choose from Bocote, Bubinga, Cocobolo, Kingwood, Tulipwood, Zebrawood or Ziricote for the wood handle (if you have any clue what any of those look like…I don’t).
Want one? Go to LandBigFish.com
Pimp my Ice Shack!
March 12, 2007
I’ve always lived by the mantra that goes something like: If you have to chop a hole in a lake to go fishing, it’s too cold to, well, go fishing. However, after seeing this ice “shack,” my tune may change a wee bit…check out the interior photos on the next page, this place is amazing (and perhaps suggests that people who live in cold climates may have a little too much time on their hands). You be the judge.
Sexy New Swimbait
March 7, 2007
Okay, this one comes from the “Gotta have it — impulse buy” category. I saw one of these in the store the other day…Lucky Craft’s new California Preimum Swimbait, and though I don’t have an immediate use for it, just seemed like I needed one. In fact, I haven’t even put it in the water yet…
Our bass dude, Big Fred Contaoi, however, has fished it and says that it makes a great clear water “finesse” bait.
Now, that’s a REAL outboard…350 HP!!
February 21, 2007
I just got a serious dose of “Small Motor Complex” when I saw this the other day: Yamaha has introduced an outboard the size of Delaware to it’s lineup…a massive, 350 HP four-stroke.
This beast is a 5.3-liter V8 and weighs a “mere” 804 pounds. According to Yamaha execs, it should be a good choice for boats all the way up to 40 feet in length….though I’m guessing the bass guys are already trying to figure out how to reinforce their transoms to fit it.
For all you wrenchers out there, the big boy’s design features a 60-degree V8 with 32 valves (four valves per cylinder) and double overhead cams. It uses variable camshaft timing to optimize the engine’s torque at low and mid-range rpm. With sequential, multi-point fuel injection, it has eight long intake tracks in the induction system to optimize power. In addition, it features In-Bank Exhaust with Dual Power Surge Chambers, a system that relieves pressure in the exhaust ports.
Translation: Big motor go faaaaasssssssssssst!
There’s more at Yamaha
Do You Need a Custom Rod?
November 2, 2006
I’ve got a couple fishing rods in my collection that are very near and dear to my heart. They’re custom-built sticks that I’ve had for over two decades and they’re kinda like old friends. We’ve been all over the world together and have caught some incredibly memorable fish over the years.
Ever considered having a custom rod made for yourself? It’s a pretty sweet concept when you think about it – not only will you have a stick that you’ll be able to make some cool memories with, but it will also built to your exact specifications.
