Bass Cat Jaguar Revived...
8/27/2009 4:41:43 PM
This new, limited production, Bass Cat Jaguar leaves nothing on the “I need” list.
At 21' 5” this new Cat is a monster, with ratings for up to a 350 engine. It is pretty nimble as it jumps out of the hole in a handful of seconds, and reaches a GPS top end from high 60's to mid 70's. Speed, of course, will depend on factors such as load, power and water conditions.
In the mid 2000 era Bass Cat sidelined the Jaguar name until a boat was built that was worthy of that iconic heritage started in 1996. This new Jaguar has achieved that goal!
This rig is designed to address a luxury bass boat market in unmatched style. It is a massive rig with a huge deck expanse including a 6' casting deck (width). Overall there are eight (8) storage areas between the bow and console, which includes two of the most innovative tackle organizing systems to date!
The front deck includes those two tackle organizing storages, dual rod lockers, net scabbard, two additional storages, a helmet box for two helmets in the deck step, and a 34 quart cooler with sandwich tray.
Seating is cockpit style in a deep body and includes a cubby to the fire extinguisher and a throw pocket under the drivers and passengers bucket style seats. There is also a pivoting center seat for a third passenger.
The Bells and Whistle list
Anglers will find three (3) rod storage compartments, which includes an added left hand 8' passenger rod storage box located in the rear deck. This offers a 6 1/2' rear casting deck width, you will also find a passenger storage compartment, spare prop and oil storage and a very unique spare trolling motor compartment behind the seats, which also serves for life vest storage. Options on most other top of the line rigs will probably be found as “standards” on this Big Cat. Standards such as; a security system, lighted storages areas, dual rear view mirrors on console, Sony iPod USB Stereo, fully deployable telescoping hinges boarding ladder, built in LED recessed bow light, telescoping LED stern Anchor Light (This means no more plugging in light posts), and a four (4) bank charger all standard. As for the Bass Cat Jaguar trailer, a Grab Post and step at the tongue, dual axle brakes on a tandem axle trailer ... all standard.
Everything is “over the top” on the new Bass Cat Jaguar, as found on most a luxury vehicles. If you think you're a good fit, as the angler who wants only the very best ... go see your nearest Bass Cat Dealer. We are sure he will be more than happy to hook you up!
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The last ICAST blast..... One last serving from ICAST
8/1/2008 1:05:46 PM
The massive ICAST exhibition in Las Vegas was a solid affair this year, with a positive vibe despite the current state of the economy.
The show was a sellout for the seventh straight year, with 433 exhibitors in 1,350 booths in the Las Vegas Convention Center. Almost 2,000 buyers, 458 media representatives and more than 800 other attendees from 55 countries were on hand to see the newest gear along with old friends.
ICAST teamed up in the LVCC exhibition hall with the Marine Aftermarket Accessories Trade Show, which was produced by the National Marine Manufacturers Association. With that addition, more than 10,000 attendees could see fishing-related and marine-related items under one roof.
While we highlighted some of the new things we saw in our ICAST Blog and Wired TV, and other attendees have posted their reports on other Web sites and will in future publications, it was only a small slice of the new items for anglers coming this year. More Wired TV from ICAST will be forthcoming.
At the show, 190 companies entered 695 new innovations in the ICAST New Product Showcase. You'll be seeing these products in the coming months in retail stores and at online sites.
The 2009 ICAST show will be held at the Orange County Convention Center in Orlando from July 15-17. ICAST is scheduled to return to Las Vegas from July 21-23, 2010.
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Orlando ICAST in 2009
7/18/2008 10:01:30 PM
Yes, the reports are true: ICAST will be held in Orlando next year.
The annual show is moving east for the first time in a few years for a July 15-17 fishfest at the Orange County Convention Center.
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Celebrity sightings
7/18/2008 10:00:41 PM
OK, we're in Vegas and that's the home of Frank Sinatra, Elvis and other celebs who don't mingle with the "little people" running around town.
We did see Reba a couple of years ago in the Hilton steakhouse, but she breezed on through without stopping. Eh, that happens. Guess she had better places to be.
This week we did spy NASCAR driver Ryan Newman at the show making the rounds. He appeared to be enjoying his relative anonymity while he talked with folks to promote his annual charity bass tournament later this year on Lake Norman near Charlotte.
We also bumped into pro anglers Skeet Reese, Gary Dobbyns, Michael Murphy, Gary Klein, Judy Wong, Bill Dance, John Crews, O.T. Fears, Bill Siemental, Mike McClelland, Dean Rojas, Greg Hackney, Shaw Grigsby, Ish Monroe, Peter Thliveros, Kelly Jordon, Scott Martin, Brent Erhler, Pete Ponds, Bryon Velvick and some legends like Ray Scott, Roland Martin and Hank Parker.
Sorry if we forgot anyone. It's been a crazy-busy-fun week!
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Small boats, please
7/18/2008 9:59:22 PM
We touched on the Hobie Mirage series of kayaks in Thursday's ICAST blog, but found a couple of other considerations for fun low-cost, low-impact fishing.
Bass Hunter has been around since 1977 and has eight designs of two-man boats, from the Ultra with carpet and fold-down seats to the BHEC-II which is an economical version. All can be operated with a trolling motor and are stable. There's even a V-hull dinghy, the Sandpiper 8, which would be super for ponds or small lakes.
Check them out at www.basshunter.com
We also were enamored this week with the TwinTroller electric boat, which features two 36# thrust trolling motors mounted under the hull. They're covered by wire cages to help reduce hangups, are operated by two pedals with soft-touch abilities at the bow of the boat and navigate vegetation, limbs, deep or shallow water and other areas easily.
The Twin Troller X10 weighs about 175 pounds and fits into pickup truck beds. Weight capacity is 585 pounds, so you and your buddy can get in for a day of fun.
See what they're like at www.twintrollerboats.com
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Daiwa's new Zillion red hot
7/18/2008 9:57:50 PM
Wow.
We've seen some great stuff come from Daiwa the last few years, including the Viento and Zillion reels, and the super-lightweight Steez lineup of rods and reels.
This year's "holy cow" introduction is the TD Zillion reel with a -- get this -- 7.3:1 "Hyper Speed" gear system. That's super fast, with a 32-inch line pickup every time you turn the handle. You want a burner for lipless crankbaits, spinnerbaits or maybe even a swimbait? This could be the reel for you.
On the other end is the TD Zillion Crazy Cranker, which has a 4.9 gear ratio for crankbaits and slower presentations. It picks up 22 inches per revolution and both have the outstanding Daiwa features we've come to expect with all their products.
Other sharp things we were drooling over include:
-- The Mike Iaconelli Signature Series of six rods, all made from high-modulus HVF graphite with a price of about $129. If they have Ike's approval, and no doubt can withstand his intensity, they'll find a place in your rod locker.
-- The Steez SVF Series, which has a few technique-specific rod actions that were missing in the original Steez lineup from last year. The new ones are incredibly lightweight and have some of the Ziaon composite, which is as tough and lightweight as magnesium but isn't corrosive.
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Hang up your rods
7/18/2008 9:56:32 PM
If your garage looks like a horde of buffalo ran through and you have stuff everywhere, consider cleaning it up a bit and getting your rods out of the corner with a Rod Locker system from Organized Fishing.
These great rod hangers caught our attention and are worth a look. They hang flat against a wall and are made with 600 dernier nylon, which is tough as nails, and come with chrome rod holders and hook-and-loop fasteners. Hang it up, slide a rod butt in the holder and then use the fastener at the middle and top of the rod.
They come in a 6- and 12-rod model, with the saltwater version's holders made from stainless steel to resist corrosion. The company also has some nifty tackle box holders made of the same nylon and pouches of PVC-coated nylon mesh, which are tough. All of them clean up easily.
You can find them and other products at www.orgfishing.com
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Youvella hooks quite detailed
7/18/2008 9:54:03 PM
Youvella is a European company that's been around for a while but they're breaking into the U.S. market more strongly with a recent agreement with Tru-Tungsten, with Tim Norman becoming president of the company.
The prostaff includes Mike Iaconelli of New Jersey, Pete Thliveros of Florida, Ish Monroe of California and Greg Hackney of Louisiana. They're all working on adding their contributions to the lineup of freshwater hooks, which look to be outstanding once they get the tweaks finalized.
Friday at the ICAST show, Monroe and Thliveros were sitting at the Youvella booth offering little tidbits to consider for the hooks. They may seem minute or inconsequential to some, such as a little twist in the bend of the hook, but that subtle change may mean a better hookup ratio.
Youvella's straight-shank round bend worm hook, for example, is a hefty meathook designed for flippin' in heavy cover. There's nothing subtle about it, and it should be a super fish-catcher.
"You hook one on that," Monroe said, "and it's not coming off."
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Getting green on the water
7/18/2008 9:47:30 PM
Being smart on the water doesn't just mean selecting the right rod, line and lure to toss out for a bass, redfish or musky.
Green Marine is a new hydraulic fluid that is 100 percent biodegradable, which is great for the environment whether you have no problems or you have a leak that fouls the water.
"We're including Green Marine as the fluid with our Power Pole," said Robert Shamblin of Tampa, who has had the Power Pole on the market for about eight years. "Green Marine is made from American-grown, annually-renewable specialized seed oils. It's 100 percent biodegradable and will be completely biodegraded in 28 days.
"People go out to fish in pristine areas and you don't want to have a leak. If you do have one, then it's too late to do anything about it. We'd hate to have that happen anytime or anywhere."
He said more Green Marine products will be in the works, including washing cleansers and lubricants. Green Marine is compatible with current hydraulic fluids, but Shamblin said for optimum results you should flush the old fluid and add Green Marine.
"We want to be proactive and be part of the solution," he added.
Visit them at www.greenyourboat.com
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Monster site always growing
7/18/2008 9:43:13 PM
Rich Zeilenga of Tackle Warehouse sometimes can't fathom how quickly things have grown for the company and its retail site, www.tacklewarehouse.com, in the last few years.
The company has been in business for about five years. The Web site has been up for about four years and offers thousands of fishing items with easy navigation for shopping and searching.
"We spent 6-8 months developing the site and about four months really looking at every aspect of it," Zeilenga said. "I personally spent a lot of time looking at as many sites as I could to see things I liked and hate. We're always looking at ways to make it better and faster."
Tackle Warehouse actually is a brick-and-mortar store in San Luis Obispo, Calif., where tackle is plucked from shelves and shipped to anglers around the world. The Web business has, and is, growing daily. Zeilenga just laughs when asked how many items they have in stock.
"I can't even imagine a number," he said. "It changes weekly."
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Vicious, e21 teaming up
7/18/2008 9:41:46 PM
Two hot companies are teaming up with a cooperative agreement that makes great sense.
Vicious Fishing, based in Alabama, and Canada-based e21, makers of the wildly successful Carrot Stix rods, are offering a sweet deal with the purchase of a rod and line.
Buy a Carrot Stix rod and you'll get two free 250-yard spools of Vicious Fluorocarbon and a sample spool of Ultimate. Or, if you buy two spool of Vicious line you'll get a $10 rebate on a new Carrot Stix rod.
"We've gotten a lot of postive feedback from other people about it," said Chris Dutton of Vicious. "Several people said this made good sense and we agree. It's just something we thought was a slam dunk."
Two Vicious prostaffers, Jeff Reynolds of Oklahoma and Russ Lane of Alabama, recently signed endorsement deals with Carrot Stix. Also be sure to check out our ICAST blog report about Carrot Stix adding new lines in freshwater, fly and saltwater rods.
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FishHer helping cancer research
7/18/2008 9:39:45 PM
Angie Michaels loved to fish when she was growing up so it was natural when she introduced the FishHer line of tackle accessories about three years ago.
Her distinctive purple bags stand out, but Michaels' desire to make an impact off the water is evident, too, with her dedication to helping cancer research. Her latest venture is the FishHer 4 A Cure fundraising offer to tournament organizers to help raise $25,000 for research to fight the four cancers - breast, reproductive, lung and skin - that affect women the most.
"If someone wants to host a tournament, they can contact me and I'll send them a FishHer trolley with tickets they can sell for $1 each," Michaels said. "All the proceeds, 100 percent of them, will go to cancer research and the organizer can give away the trolley to the winner of a drawing. It's a win-win situation for everyone."
Michaels also was interested when she founded FishHer in helping create a line of rods and reels designed specifically for women's smaller hands. The newest is a Fusion combo with an IM7 spinning rod and WaveSpin spinning reel, designed by Doug Hannon of Florida with his innovative system that prevents loops in the reel that cause backlashes.
The reel is a smaller design, Michaels said, which works well with the rod. Together the combo is just $149, a great price, and a second lavender-shade Pursuit rod in IM6 graphite is $69.
"Don't give me snaggles that slow me down," Michaels said, grinning broadly. "The best part of all this is helping educate men and women about fishing and that our gear isn't just a rod in a lavender color we call a women's rod. They're designed for women and they work."
Visit www.FishHer4ACure.org to contribute and find out more about Michaels' initiative.
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Jeepers, creepers ... new peepers
7/18/2008 9:36:36 PM
Anglers who wear glasses have used Cocoons OveRx models for several years now and this year's lineup has a couple of upgrades that are super.
One is an enhanced Polare polarized lens system that exceeds the Class 1 European Lends Standard of EN166, which in layman's terms means you're getting a better lens that cuts the harmful UV rays. A second upgrade is a new frame with adjustable temples and a softer finish.
Pro anglers Ish Monroe of California and Mike Iaconelli of New Jersey, longtime Cocoons prostaffers, contributed their input to upgrading the models in the Pro Series. These include all the features previously found plus a hydrophobic lens coating to repel water and an oleophobic lens coating that repels grease, oils, smudges, fingerprints and dust. The pro series also comes with a neoprene floating lanyard in case you drop them in the drink.
"I'm really happy to be associated with Cocoons because they're good about listening to our suggestions," Monroe said. "Mike and I also will be coming out later with signature lines with our own features. The Pro Series has an outstanding copper lens that works so well in the tannic water situations. I used them last year in Florida on some of the lakes where the water is darker due to the tannins and saw beds that I might have otherwise missed."
The OveRx Pro Series is reasonably priced at about $60 and carries a limited lifetime warranty.
Visit the revamped Web site at http://www.cocoonseyewear.com/.
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Big Bear grip unique, cool
7/18/2008 9:33:30 PM
Talk about a wildly great "wow" factor.
Rob Wimberley knew his unique grip would work six years ago when he first put the idea on paper. Six years. That's how long it's taken for him to get things done the way he wanted them, and now his Big Bear rods are ready to go.
Wimberley lives in Athens, Ga., and used to work for Warrior Rods. His idea is a moderately-priced rod -- $145 for the Red series and $215 for the Pro Series -- with a dual-density synthetic rubber grip just below the reel handle. The grip has two sizes of raised bumps and offers a solid grip without being slick or tacky.
"After I left Warrior I started designing custom rods for people but still had this idea and knew it would work," Wimberley said. "I just felt like this was something that could be improved upon because some guys don't like cork and some guys don't like the foam grips."
There are 16 different models in each line with six power levels, but Wimberley didn't get into "technique-specific" rods. He wanted anglers to be able to choose a rod that can do several things well without breaking the bank to buy a lot of different rods.
"The rubber is softer, so you're not gripping the rod as tightly and that can reduce hand fatigue. Plus, they're insulating so when it's cold the grip stays warm. You can make more accurate casts with them. They came out better than I anticipated."
Check them out at www.bigbearfishingrods.com
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Mike's on the stick
7/18/2008 9:23:18 PM
Pro angler and SPRO prostaffer Mike McClelland of Arkansas loves to fish jerkbaits and has boxes of old ones he's stored away that have lead tape affixed to the body or wire wrapped around the hooks.
Those old tricks helped floating baits suspend and suspending baits sink. Lots of anglers, especially in the Midwest on such lakes as Table Rock, were legendary for getting their jerkbaits to do different things just by adding lead or wire, changing the hooks or split rings, and even shaving the bills.
"I look at all those old boxes and think about how many fish I caught, how long I worked on those baits to get them to do certain things and how far we've come with jerkbaits in the last 10 years," McClelland said. "Heck, even in the last five years with some of the technology and materials, jerkbaits are so far advanced it's hard to believe."
One of those super-advanced models is the SPRO McStick jerkbait, which McLelland designed and tweaked to get the best action possible. The baits come in nine outstanding colors that are most popular with anglers, such as the "Clown" red-and-gold combo, the "Old Glory" with a semi-holographic shad scale pattern and an outstanding "Table Rock" shade of chartreuse with a purple back that is dynamite just about anywhere.
The baits come with three Gamakatsu No. 5 trebles, internal weights to help suspend at lower water temperatures, a durable paint job and scary eyes like you'll find on other SPRO baits.
Jerkbaits are often put in a narrow window of use, during cold-water temperatures, which McClelland said obviously is a good time to use them, But he'll also throw a jerkbait year-round if he believes the fish will hit it. McLelland said the jerkbaits shine when water temperatures are in the mid-40s and a suspending model that gets down, stays there and looks realistic is the key.
"The McStick is designed to have a tight shad wiggle, which works best in colder water situations," he said. "But you can get some of that slashing side-to-side motion if you give it a hard rip."
Not locking yourself into a specific pattern or ideal also is critical.
"You have to adjust day-to-day because what happened yesterday may not be the same thing that's happening today," he said. "The water temperature may have changed just a little, it may be sunny or cloudy or windy, the pressure may be changing, the fish may have moved or their strike zone may be bigger or smaller."
Check out the McStick and the other super SPRO baits at www.spro.com
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Hobie Mirage series fun, economical
7/18/2008 11:37:40 AM
With rising gas prices, anglers are looking for different ways to enjoy their fishing outings without taking a big wallop in the pocketbook.
Hobie's Mirage series of kayaks is one way to get on waterways and fish without spending anything more than the gas in your truck to get to the creek. They were introduced in 1997 and feature the MirageDrive pedal system, which goes through the hull (but doesn't leak!) and has a "flipper" type system that works wonderfully to propel you, with the assistance of a rudder you can adjust with a lever beside your seat.
The flippers lie flush against the hull when you lock the pedals and don't hang up, so if you're in really skinny water or need to transport the kayak they're not in the way. You also have a paddle as a backup, which is smart.
One of the Mirage series kayaks is the Hank Parker Outback Fish, which is designed specifically for fishin g. It comes with rod holders, dry storage areas and even a battery-operated baitwell behind the seat. Because the kayak is stable, you can shift around in the seat to put a fish in the tank or net a minnow for the hook without fear of tipping over.
Of course, you always should exercise caution in a kayak and become accustomed to it before getting on large bodies of water. The Mirage series is great fun, though, and even gives you a bit of exercise with the pedal system. You may think it would be slow or unable to navigate against or across current, but the kayak does incredibly well, speeds along the faster you pedal and is really cool.
None of them include a gas tank, either!
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No flip for Shimano's Cumera
7/18/2008 11:36:54 AM
Shimano's successful and popular Cumera series is comprised of IM10 graphite, which makes the rods lightweight and ultra-sensitive.
But the line doesn't include a true flippin' stick, which some anglers have asked for. Shimano rod designer Justin Poe said there are no plans at the moment for one.
"We could build one, but it wouldn't be a true Cumera rod," he said.
Shimano has revamped the popular Curado line of reels with its CU200 series, with the E5 containing five bearings and the E7 having seven. The new design is low-profile but has the wide spool for great line capacity.
"What we thought was right at the time may have been then, but now we believe this is it," said Jordon Paullo of Shimano. "What we had then was a physically large reel but now we have the same abilities as the old Curado but in a low-profile reel with less weight. It's physically smaller, which is the popular thing now, too."
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Ardent's reel kit good to have
7/18/2008 11:35:32 AM
We visited with David Gray and Pete Ponds from Ardent yesterday and while we were chatting, the company's all-in-one Reel Kleen cleaning kit caught our eye.
The kit comes in a nice lockable hard case and includes a bottle of Reel Kleen cleaner, Reel Butter oil and grease, toothbrush with soft bristles, a screwdriver for those tiny reel screws, some swabs, a felt cloth so you can lay out the parts (and not lose them!) and instructions.
This certainly is a smart accessory to have in your boat because it doesn't take up much room and gives you the ability to repair a reel on the fly if need be. We've had a few occasions where our avid angling has blinded us from the little squeak in the reel indicating something is amiss. Before long, that little noise becomes a big one because we have gunk in the worm gear or need a shot of oil on the spool shaft.
Get the kit, use it and keep your reels in tip-top shape.
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Bullet Weights gets magnetic
7/18/2008 11:34:40 AM
Bullet Weights established itself decades ago as a solid player in the industry with its steel bullet slip sinkers, which are environmentally-friendly both in the production process and with anglers who may have concerns with lead.
Their newest series of sinkers has a unique twist we think is really neat. They're called MagWeights and feature a small magnet in the base of the sinker that holds fast to the hook eye. The weight is flush with the bottom of the steel sinker's base and smooth, so there are no sharp edges or anything that can foul the knot.
Doug Crumrine, whose son Joe is now president and the third generation of the family to run the company, smiled broadly when asked how he came up with such a simple yet effective idea.
"Lots of late nights," he said.
The sinkers will be available in four sizes in silver or black, the latter of which Crumrine said is their best-seller.
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Just what is ICAST?
7/18/2008 11:32:43 AM
We've been blogging about the annual ICAST show this week here in Las Vegas and checking out some of the newest fishing lures, rods, reels and other goodies that will be showing up in stores and online soon.
But a here's a little history about the show and the organization that puts it on each year, the American Sportfishing Association, which is based in Virginia. The ASA was founded in 1933 as the Associated Fishing Tackle Manufacturers to help bring together the sportfishing tackle manufacturers and give the sport a boost during the Great Depression.
In the last 75 years the ASA has addressed numerous issues related to sportfishing, which includes freshwater and saltwater, at the local, state, regional and national levels. ASA officials have worked with state and federal agencies during that time on matters that affect all of us, from the recreational weekend angler to the offshore captains and industry folks.
Wednesday morning at the Las Vegas Convention Center, ASA president and CEO Mike Nussman gave a "state of the industry" speech and touched on several issues of concern. He said the concerns from the industry were the number of anglers who are fishing, the profit margins in the industry and the state of the economy. All are valid concerns and definitely on everyone's radar screen.
None of them are new, though. Nussman said in 1957, the ASA president and a reporter from New York had a discussion for an article about how to get more kids involved in fishing, the number of licenses being sold and other issues related to the sport.
"A lot of the industry's concerns remain the same today," Nussman said. During the last year as the economy has become more of an issue, Nussman said he discussed matters with industry leaders and heard two important themes.
One was to not blame the industry, he said, because there always are positions to consider, pursue and prepare for in the future. The other is that during tough times, industry leaders should work to protect their best core values and what keeps them going so they'll be prepared to address the future once the tough times are over or the industry and consumers adjust to it.
It may be tough to look ahead for a silver lining, but it can be and should be done.
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Big Bite Baits weighted down
7/17/2008 5:00:00 PM
Clayton Batts with Big Bite Baits had two new weights to add to swimbaits, but they were so new he had a tough time locating them on the table in his booth.
"You're looking at the only ones we have,"20Batts said, laughing a bit. "Seriously, we may have a few more of them around here but we just got them before we got here."
The two weights are sharp. One is sort of banana-shaped with a groove and you can clip it on the hook shank. The other weight is a tube insert with a gentle ridge in the middle to help grip the plastic. You insert it through the nose of the swimbait, run your line through an opening and then tie off to your hook.
"We don't even have names for them yet," Batts said. "I guess you'd call that one the swimbait insert and the other one is the hook weight."
We took a look at the 10-inch Kriet Tail Worm recently in the Next Generation Tackle Box, but additionally in Jeff Kriet's signature line is an awesome 4- and 6-inch Kriet Kreature. It's available in the BioBait and regular plastic series and has a rounded head, ribbed body, two awesome flapping claws and two long, curly swimmy tails.
"They're really good for pitching, obviously, but this is a great Carolina-rig bait," Batts said. "I've also heard some guys are biting off the head and putting it on a shakey head. It has a lot of action and versatility."
BioBait is the biodegradable series that comes in a fish-attractant but will naturally degrade in the water in a short time. The line comes in eight styles - the Thumpin' Worm, lizard, curltail grub, 4-inch curltail worm, creature, straight-tail worm, stick bait and tube. There also is a saltwater line that includes a shrimp, grub and jerk minnow.
"This acts like traditional plastics but biodegrades after a few days and won't dry out while you're fishing like some other baits," said Scott Peterson of Big Bite. "You can go fishing and hit a spot with a Kriet Kreature, and then go to two or three other places and throw crankbaits or something but the BioBait won't dry out. You can pick it up and start fishing again just like you did to start the day."
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Optima teams up with PAA
7/17/2008 4:59:00 PM
Th e Professional Anglers Association has reached an agreement to grant title rights to the upcoming PAA Corporate Cup to OPTIMA Batteries, the manufacturer of the revolutionary SpiralCell Technology in marine, automotive and RV batteries.
The PAA Corporate Cup logo will now bear the familiar red and black OPTIMA Batteries markings, and OPTIMA will be featured on all communications and marketing as the title sponsor of the event; The PAA Corporate Cup presented by OPTIMA Batteries. PAA President Tim Horton of Muscle Shoals, Ala., said the organization is proud to be working with OPTIMA in bringing a world class event to Pickwick Lake in Florence, Ala.
“We are excited to have OPTIMA Batteries as the title sponsor for the Corporate Cup,” Horton said. “OPTIMA is a world class organization with a product line that will meet the needs of not only bass anglers, but anyone with a vehicle. We are proud to partner with them in bringing this tournament and our brands to the industry.”
For more information on the event and the PAA, visit www.proanglersassociation.com
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Navionics maps are tearproof
7/17/2008 4:58:00 PM
Navionics has upgraded its high-quality series of lake maps with new high-definition graphics printed on waterproof, tear-resistant paper.
Using satellite imagery, the new maps show color-shaded contours in the lakes so you can discern shallow (in light colors) and deeper areas (in darker shades) with 1-foot contour details. Some maps have up to 90 fishing waypoints as well, along with the common names of roads or other features on land around the waterway.
The maps can't be torn, no matter how hard we tried, and you'll have to cut it before you can tear it. They do bend and stretch, though, so if you try to tear it you're going to mess up the map. Take care of it and it'll last a long, long time.
Navionics has maps in 30 states with specific areas of some of the larger lakes.
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What a crappie idea!
7/17/2008 4:57:00 PM
Thill Premium Balsa Floats have a long history of innovations to help anglers catch everything from bluegills to catfish, but their newest addition covers all the bases for crappie anglers.
Thill's "Crappie Cork" comes in four sizes - 1/16, 1/8, 1/4 and 3/8 - and has an incredibly vibrant chartreuse-black-neon pink scheme. The top is pink so you can see it better on the water, while the black line between the chartreuse and pink shows you just where the float will stop in the water when you are using that same weighted jighead.
"Crappie professional Todd Huckabee wanted to come up with a float that could be matched with the jighead, so a guy shopping in a store can look at the float and pick the right one," said, Ron Kiffmeyer of Thill, which is part of the PRADCO-Fishing family. "We thought it was a great idea because it takes out the guesswork, plus there are some other features that anglers want and expect in a float."
One of those is a spring system with the notch in the bottom half of the float's stem, so you can rig it that way with one direct connection. The Crappie Cork also has an internal insert in the stem if you want to run the line through it and fish it as a slip sinker. Best of all, it comes with a bobber stop thread already on the upper stem.
"All you have to do is run the=2 0line through it, slide the bobber stop off and move it where you want it on your line, secure it at that depth, trim the tag ends and you're done," Kiffmeyer said. "The bobber stop is one of the best things ever made, but a lot of men don't want to ask directions on how to use one and just rig the float with the spring, But using the bobber stop allows you to make further, more accurate casts, instead of awkwardly lobbing the rig if the float is attached with the spring."
Lure floats aren't supposed to be cool, but this one is pretty neat.
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SPRO's frog gets poppy
7/17/2008 4:54:08 PM
Dean Rojas is known for his prowess with the SPRO Bronzeye Frog, but he's ready to shift gears -- when the situation calls for it -- with the new Bronzeye Pop chugging frog.
The Bronzeye Pop has the same tough, durable body as the frog and fantastic Gamakatsu hooks. But the front is a bright-red chugging face with, from what we could tell, a bit of a more pronounced upper "lip" that will help throw water well. The initial Pop series will come in seven colors that were part of the original Bronzeye Frog series.
"They've been well-received by everyone who's come into the booth," Rojas said. "We've been working on this for a couple of years and needed a popper to fill out our lineup. The body is narrow like a (hard-body) chugger, so you really can work this frog and get a great walking action like with a Spook. If you get that walking action right, combined with the chugging it's deadly."
The popping frogs look great and will accompany a new handful of colors in the Bronzeye Frog series including the Killer, Baby Duck, Camo, Navy Seal and Harbor Seal. The latter is a special design that features "teardrops" for the frog body blotches and, quite frankly, they do look pretty cool.
"It's a little different style than our regular blotch pattern and I thought the teardrops would look kind of neat," Rojas said. "I think it came out pretty well. There are days when the water clarity and other conditions dictate using a specific color frog, so we have a pretty good array to choose from."
We'll get into that aspect a little later, so stay tuned and look for the new SPRO lineup soon.
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Carrot Stix expanding its reach
7/17/2008 4:53:02 PM
A year after one of the most successful launches of a fishing rod we've seen in a long time, the folks at e21 are expanding the Carrot Stix lineup to include fly and saltwater fishing.
For the bass angler, there now is a mid-range version -- the 21 Carrot Gold Carrot Stix -- that will cost about $199. Thirteen baitcasting and 10 spinning models are available in different lengths, power and action. They also come with a cool iridescent finish that makes them "pop" in the sunlight and stand out, so your buddies will know for sure when you're hauling in some big ones.
The original Carrot Stix lineup also expanded to include 12 baitcasting, 11 spinning and two drop shot versions, so whatever your desire is for length or rod action, you're covered. The Boyd Duckett Classic Gold series comes in three spinning and seven baitcasting models.
For saltwater anglers, there's a lineup of six baitcasting and five spinning rods in the Salty Carrot Stix Inshore Series and four bluewater spinning rods for offshore action. The saltwater series even has three trolling rods and a kite rod for big game. Fly fishermen have a neat twist, with the six rods (including a spey rod) coming with traditional Carrot orange on top of the rod blank from butt to tip and a sky blue shade on the bottom so you don't spook the fish.
Peter Savoia of e21 said they didn't hesitate about expanding so soon.
"I believe the people we have in place, especially in our sales staff with the reputation they have in the industry, we're positioned right for this," he said. "We're excited about this."
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Pond habitat looks outstanding
7/17/2008 4:50:55 PM
Among all the neat things we've see, the new Pond King Honey Hole Shrub and Honey Hole Tree stand out.
The "tree" is a cone roughly 3 1/2 feet tall with numerous soft plastic tubing extending from it. The "shrub" is shorter and designed to sit on the bottom in shallow water, with the plastic tubing also extending from numerous holes. The tubing is connected to the base cone by inserting it, and because they're smooth the chance of getting any kind of bait hung up is just about zero.
Check these out at www.pondking.com
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Smart Cull a definite winner
7/17/2008 4:48:57 PM
David Gray of Ardent has been beaming like a proud papa this week, all due to the great reception being given to the new Smart Cull system.
We agree that it's a winner and at a cost of about $40, it won't hurt your pocketbook and could help put a few more bucks in your pocket during a tournament.
Smart Cull has six plastic, color-coded balls that are connected to a 9-inch vinyl-coated stainless steel cable and clip system. The balls have an integral, lockable dial system that goes to 15 pounds, 15 ounces. The left side of the ball has the pounds dial and the right side has the ounces dial, with locking systems to prevent them from being spun accidentally
So when you catch that sixth keeper and want to cull, all you have to do is open the livewell door, get your smallest fish and swap 'em out. The Smart Cull is not a weighing system, so you'd still need a digital scale or balance beam, but it is the coolest culling system we' ve seen.
For more information on it, visit www.ardentoutdoors.com
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Ardent's flippin' out
7/17/2008 4:31:29 PM
Power fishing is getting a boost with the new Ardent F500 Flip-n-Pitch reel designed exclusively for flipping and pitching jigs and soft plastics to short-range targets.
"This reel won't be something you can throw a crankbait or spinnerbait on," said Ardent prostaffer Pete Ponds of Mississippi. "It definitely is for fishing around close cover, making repeated pitches and putting power to the fish. It's a solid, technique-specific reel with some muscle."
The F500 has a specially-designed spool with a narrow arbor that will hold about 50-60 yards of 50-pound test braid. The spool shaft has a small nub sticking up to grip the braid to prevent slipping on the spool, although we'd probably still add a little tape around the first couple of wraps. Hey, we're old-school. Habits die hard.
The spool's small-capacity design precludes the use of monofilament backing, so you can just put your favorite braid on it and start fishing. The F500 comes with a Perma-lock Drag System set by the factory at 22 pounds, which Ponds said is "enough to protect the reel without damaging it while you're fighting a fish. When a guy sets down on a fish there's a lot of power being exerted. We think the 22-pound drag is just right for what's needed in that situation."
Also, the stainless steel reel handle is beefier to help give you more torque on a hookset. There is no levelwind system or star drag on the handle shaft, two less things to worry about that also reduce some weight. The reel has an aluminum alloy frame, silver styling and red reel spool and caps that stand out. It's a sharp reel.
"We don't expect a guy to go out and buy five or six of these," Ponds said, "but at about $150 retail he can buy one or two and be set."
We had a chance to chat with Bassmaster Classic champion Alton Jones, who also is an Ardent prostaffer and is on the Kister Rods prostaff. Jones has a new line of signature series Kister rods and is fired up about them. We'll take a more in-depth look at those later.
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Money Craw soft, creative
7/16/2008 9:41:12 PM
Banking on the success of its Money Minnow swimbait, Yum! has come out with a supple and hand-painted craw with incredible swimmy claws.
"The action of the claws is just remarkable," said PRADCO-Fishing public relations manager Jeff Samsel. "The craw is the same material we use for the Money Minnow, so it's soft but durable, and because they're hand-painted we're able to add realistic features such as spots and colors in specific areas."
Also new from the PRADCO-Fishing stable is the new Booyah Vibra-FLX spinnerbait, which Samsel said is "bendable, but isn't made of titanium. It's a similar material that will hold up. The skirt is a combination of round and flat material that breathes in two different ways on one bait. It also features the counter-rotating blades."
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Big step for tailgates
7/16/2008 9:39:48 PM
One of the coolest things we saw today was the Kwik Gate tailgate accessory for trucks, which will help you get into the back of you pickup with one step.
The Kwik Gate has a plate that bolts to the tailgate, on the inside of course, and then the folding step slides into slots and is secure. A welded step doesn't fold but the handle does, allowing you to close the gate with the step secured. You also can carry long items, like pipes, by sliding them through the handle with the tailgate closed and they won't slide around as you're traveling.
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Lucky Craft goes inshore
7/16/2008 9:38:04 PM
Saltwater anglers have a new selection of great-looking and well-designed lures for inshore saltwater fishing, aided by the input of pros Bryan and Greg Watts of Florida.
The line is called the In Shore Game, or ISG, series and includes crankbaits, jerkbaits and topwaters. They obviously have roots in the successful Lucky Craft bass fishing series of baits, including the Sammy and Gunfish topwater series.
The Sammy 85 is 3 1/4 inches and the 100 is 4 inches, while the Gunfish 95 is 4 inches and the 115 is 4 1/2 inches. They come in 18 colors and should be killer for redfish, trout, snook and even tarpon. Also in the series are some great crankbaits that redfish should crush when they're on that bite.
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Anglers choose top 10 innovations
7/16/2008 9:35:24 PM
After voting from anglers across the nation, the American Sportfish Association announced Wednesday the "Top 10 Innovations" in fishing from the last 75 years.
Anything the voters thought were innovative to help them catch more fish or made a significant impact could be nominated. When the voting was completed, the results were:
1936 - the Rapala Original Floating Minnow, one of the most popular lures of all time
1947 - the Spring-Loaded Bobber, used by millions of anglers for everything from bluegills to catfish
1947 - the Mitchell 300 spinning reel
1949 - the Creme Worm, designed by Nick Creme of Akron, Ohio, after creating them on his home stove using melted rubber
1949 - the ZEBCO closed-face spincast reel
1957 - the Lowrance Fish Lo-K-Tor
1958 - DuPont Stren monofilament line
1958 - MinnKota gear-driven trolling motor, the first of its kind
1972 - Fenwick high-modulus graphite fishing rod
1976 - the Shakespeare Ugly Stik
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The new Spro BBZ 4"
7/16/2008 9:30:57 PM
The new Spro BBZ 4" swimbait with it's creator Bill Siemantel. Even jig man Mike McClelland wants one!
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Suffix and Cajun Fluorocarbon line gets some cycles
7/16/2008 9:25:36 PM
Rapala and Zebco respectively introduced their most recent purchase of Suffix Line and Cajun line. These lines both have very good followings and both companies is putting allot of effort into branding of their line.
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Attendance
7/16/2008 9:23:40 PM
First day attendance was solid the entire day and actually picked up after 10 am this morning. The general feeling has been very good and we saw numerous pro's at the event including Dean Rojas, Gary Klein, Gary Dobyns, Mark Tyler, Bill Lowen and several of the old guard to include Bobby and Billy Murray, Hank Parker and Roland Martin.
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Larew adds Lizard
7/16/2008 9:19:16 PM
Gene Larew Lures recently added a new bait called the Biffle-O and today we got a glance at a new 8.5 inch Biffle-O Lizard. Hollow body, slender tail and solid shoulders make this floating bait a great one for rattles and because it floats its perfect rigged Carolina style.
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We made it
7/16/2008 10:44:50 AM
We have made it and the buzz about the opening is strong. The Industry Breakfast is about to begin and the show opens at 9 am PT. We attended the new product showcase and really liked a couple of new items including the Berkley Line Counter Rod, the Ardent Smart- Cull System and the Spro BBZ-1 4" Shad. All of the pre-ICAST hype was correct on these items. Tru-Tungsten has some soft swimabaits that look AWESOME too. They are a jointed soft plastic swimbait. The Strike King line-up includes some new "perfect plastics" and the Space Monkey is our choice of a new one we will have right away.
We will be walking around all day and as we see things that are of interest we will get them posted right away.
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Blog Blast at ICAST
7/14/2008 9:00:10 AM
We'll be in Las Vegas this week for the annual summer ICAST fishing trade show, one of the biggest in the world and where all of the industry's folks will be gathered.
Beginning Tuesday we'll have blog updates each day with things we've seen, people we've met and interesting stuff. But we'd like to know what you want to see or hear about, too. Fire us some suggestions to the Feedback link here at Wired2Fish and we'll try our best to answer your questions.
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