The California Fishing Show

                         

 

InvisaSwivel™ Recognized for Best New Terminal Tackle of 2010 by Florida Sportsman Magazine

(Jacksonville, FL)–Florida Sportsman Magazine, a division of Intermedia Outdoors, Inc. named Aquateko’s pioneering line of InvisaSwivels with the top honor of Best New Terminal Tackle of the year.

"Put quite simply, fish can't get spooked by a terminal tackle they can't see. The InvisaSwivel solves this problem!," said Rick Ryals, professional Charter Captain, Host of Florida Sportsman Radio and regular contributor to Florida Sportsman Magazine.

The InvisaSwivel line represents a revolutionary change in terminal tackle. InvisaSwivels can bend but will recoil to their original position without losing the ability to freely spin. Following the same principle as Fluorocarbon line, these swivels are Flouro-Clear, making them practically invisible in water. The superior resin compound allows theswivel to perform at nearly neutral buoyancy. Unlike with the old metal swivel, rigs with InvisaSwivels will not be pulled allowing a natural bait presentation.

The InvisaSwivel's non-metallic properties provide a maintenance-free, non-corrosive swivel for the first time. The swivels are also perfect for the anglers that are not proficient with tying uni-knots. This will allow a standard clinch knot to connect either braid to flouro or braid to mono with the InvisaSwivel acting as the transition. Inshore and freshwater anglers will appreciate the clarity and light weight of the inshore series, with swivels ranging from 12LB up to 55LB in weight class. Offshore enthusiasts will appreciate the heavier swivels, new for 2010, available in sizes from 80LB to 200LB.

To learn more about Aquateko’s InvisaSwivel product line and other products, visit www.aquateko.com.

 

2-27-10

Top Fishing Equipment Brands for 2009

FERNANDINA BEACH, Fla. - Southwick Associates’ AnglerSurvey.com announced the brands and products anglers preferred most in 2009. This list has been compiled from the 34,185 internet-based surveys completed by anglers who volunteered to participate last year inAnglerSurvey.com polls.

 In 2009, the top brands were:

• Top rod brand: Shakespeare Ugly Stik (16.4% of all purchases)
• Top reel brand: Shimano (23.0% of all purchases)
• Top rod and reel combo brand: Shakespeare (25.7% of all purchases)
• Top fishing line producer: Pure Fishing’s Berkley line (Trilene, Fireline, Big Game, Vanish) (42.6% of all purchases)
• Top hard bait brand: Rapala (30.6% of all purchases)
• Top soft bait brand: Zoom (16.8% of all purchases)
• Top spinner bait brand: Strike King (16.6% of all purchases)
• Top hook brand: Eagle Claw (34.5% of all purchases)
• Top sinker brand: Bullet Weight (19.0% of all purchases)
• Top fly rod brand: Sage (16.7% of all purchases)
• Top fly reels brand: Orvis (11.1% of all purchases)
• Top fly combo brand: St. Croix (18.0% of all purchases)
• Top fly line brand: Scientific Angler (28.8% of all purchases)
• Top fly brand: Orvis and Cabelas tied (11.0% of all purchases, each)
• Top fly leader brand: Rio (28.4% of all purchases)
• Top fly tying material brand: White River (60.5% of all purchases)
• Top fish finder or sonar brand: Humminbird (42.9% of all purchases)
• Top tackle box brand: Plano (55.8% of all purchases)
• Top landing net brand: Frabill (20.2% of all purchases)
• Top fishing knife brand: Rapala (22.6% of all purchases) 

 * 48% of all fishing tackle purchases involve terminal tackle (hooks, sinkers, swivels, etc.)

* Largemouth bass remain the number one targeted species of freshwater fish, with nearly 60% of fishing activity targeting largemouth bass.

* Saltwater anglers were more varied, with 25% of trips targeting any fish that bites, followed by striped bass (23%), flounder (21%), red drum (20%) and seatrout (20%). Please note these refer to species targeted on trips and not the number of fish actually caught.

 

 

 2-10-10

Jackson, Wis. - How about this for a landing net concept? A broomstick. That's right, a broomstick. Ok, so what about, you know, the net? It's inside the handle. Yes, inside the handle. When you need it, the net pops right out with the ease of an umbrella. No more worrying about where to store the net in the boat. That's because the hoop and netting disappeared. Poof, they went back inside the handle.

The beauty of the Hiber-Net really lies in its simple, foolproof design, Kleckner believes. "There are no buttons or confusing push connections. All you do is slide the handle upward. You feel, see and hear the net lock into place, so there's no way to overdo it. Hiber-Net retracts instantly, too. Just pull the Slide Grip back toward the handle. This unlocks the hoop and draws it back inside the tube."

More features: a premium rubberized handle yields sure-handed use. The netting itself is a soft, black poly mesh. Retracted, Hiber-Net is 52-inches in length, with a triangular-shaped hoop that's 22- by 22-inches by 24-inches deep.

2-16-10

  New From Plano

Whether a weekend angler or one who likes to tournament fish, make the most of any downtime during this winter's crazy weather to prepare for the season by learning from two of the most organized pros on the professional bass circuit - Kevin VanDam and Tim Horton. Both men say their gear is already in top-notch order for 2010 because: one, they learned long ago the value in keeping it that way, day in and day out; and two, doing so is a key to their success.
 
VanDam is coming off the 2009 season with his fifth BASS Angler of the Year title and will have many eyes on him as he fishes for another title at the 2010 Bassmaster Classic on Alabama's Lay Lake.  Whether watching him fish in person or on television, one thing is perfectly clear - he never wastes any time fishing for something other than fish.
 
"I know exactly where everything is in my boat," VanDam explained, "and there's a reason for that. We have only so much time to fish on any given tournament day and the only way to catch fish is when the line's in the water. I can't waste even a few seconds digging for a particular bait ... I have a system for keeping things in the same place and in the same order so I can go right to it."
 
The Michigan-based angler credits Plano Molding Company for his tackle organization on and off the water, saying he's the "king" of the StowAway 3700 series utility boxes made by the company. "The 3700s, regardless of the specific models and configurations, fit my needs perfectly whether on the shelf in my tackle room, in the truck or in my boat's compartments."
 
VanDam says he categorizes all of his baits by type, by box. His Strike King crankbaits are separated by series designations, another will contain jerkbaits of the same model, and then there are boxes for heavy cover jigs, football jigs, finesse jigs, soft plastics, and the list goes on and on. For spinnerbaits, he says he uses a combination of Plano's spinnerbait boxes and pouches, again with each containing a particular size and/or blade combination. Of course, he has a box for spinnerbait skirts, too.
 
"I like Plano's ProLatch colors because they allowed me a color-code system adopted long ago that gives me a quick visual as to what's what. My jerkbaits will be in my blue latch boxes, my deep divers are in the gold and so on.  Of course, the boxes are clear and that makes selections even easier."
 
He always puts his hardbait boxes in his boat's right compartment and his spinnerbaits on the left side. In the middle compartment are his swimbaits and some bulk plastics that he might go through several of during the day. His large assortment of soft plastics goes in a back compartment for better distribution of their heavier weight.
 
VanDam said he takes full advantage of the company's waterproof boxes as well. He explained that the first thing he does every time upon getting in his boat is to put his wallet and cell phone in a Plano waterproof box that then always goes in the boat's side storage area.
 
"Yes, I have to be in control of the things that I can, and tackle organization is one. Pay attention to the boat decks and compartments of tournament anglers, and you'll see many of the most successful ones are also the most organized."
 
BASS Elite Series angler Tim Horton fully agrees. "Organization is the key to everything I do," he said. "When our tournament season starts, we can be on the road for weeks at a time so I discovered years ago that I had to get and keep my gear in tip top order from one event to the next. Once you get it that way, it's easier to keep up with what baits need replenishing, as well as adding new items to the mix."
 
Horton, like VanDam, said the StowAway 3700s are a big part of his fishing life, but that he also relies heavily on the smaller 3450s for things like his Carolina rig components, jigging spoons, treble hooks, etc. He explained having many smaller boxes for certain specific items can be just as valuable in saving time as space.
 
He said he also likes the Plano spinnerbait storage because it hangs the baits for easy reference and separation. "I'll have half a dozen or so spinnerbait boxes along with me on every trip, and there will be three or four of them in the boat at any given time with the spinnerbaits and buzzbaits needed for the water I'm on that day."
 
"What I'm doing for tackle storage is exactly the same thing that any angler can do. At only $6 or $7 each, StowAways are one of the greatest values in fishing today. And we all know how good Plano tackleboxes are because we grew up with them," Horton added.
 
For more tackle storage tips from Kevin VanDam, Tim Horton and other well-known anglers across the country, visit PlanoMolding.com. 

Mo' Glo crappie baits ready to shine

Bobby Garland® crappie baits have been the hottest slab-catching lures in the country of late, and now they are also the BRIGHTEST crappie soft plastics on the market.   New for 2010 is the Bobby Garland Mo' Glo series of glow-in-the-dark baits in the brand's most popular offerings: 2" Baby Shad, 2" and 3" Slab Slay'R and 2.5" Stroll'R.   Each bait in the series is available in all five of the Mo' Glo colors, including Ghost, Ghastly Minnow, Blue Ghost, Pink Phantom and Outlaw Special. All but Ghost are two-color baits and both colors glow independently of each other.   In daylight, the colors are bright, normal appearing hues. In low light conditions and darkness, each different color combination emits its own unique glow-tone highlights and ghostly silhouette. Even a few seconds of direct exposure to sunlight and most artificial light sources provide the necessary "charge" to keep these "souped-up" baits glowing throughout their normal amount of time underwater while jig fishing.   Also new from Bobby Garland crappie baits are Mo' Glo jigheads. Made exclusively for Garland by Crappie Pro, the jigheads are available in four glow colors that match up to the new Mo' Glo bait colors: Pink Glo, Ghost Glo, Charteuse Glo and Blue Glo.   Mo' Glo jigheads are available in 1/24 oz., 1/16 oz., 1/8 oz. and 3/16 oz. sizes. The high-quality black chrome hooks are super sharp and perfectly tempered for crappie fishing.    For more info go toGeneLarewLures.com.

 

Rescue Tape To The Rescue!!

Carson City, Nevada (USA) - Rescue Tape® - a unique, self-fusing, non-adhesive silicone tape that quickly seals common leaks in water lines, fuel lines, hoses and repairs electronics and wiring – will make its inaugural appearance at the ICAST 2009 tackle show in Orlando July 15-17.

The company has appointed leading distributors to serve dealers in the fishing and outdoors market, including Henry’s Tackle, Big Rock Sports, Hicks Inc., Stag Parkway, V&V Marine, Panama Marine, Tar River Sports, Farris Brothers, Cabela’s and Bass Pro Shops.

When stretched and wrapped under tension, Rescue Tape instantly begins curing into one piece of silicone, creating an air-and-water-tight seal resistant to salt water, fuel, oil, acids, solvents and UV rays.  Gotta Leak?  No problem, Rescue Tape seals leaks fast – over oil, over grease and dirt, and up to 500F degrees.

Unlike self-amalgamating tapes or other rubber and silicone products, Rescue Tape fuses faster and recently tested at more than 920 PSI breaking strength, is the strongest repair tape on the market. Resistant up to 8,000 volts per layer,

Rescue Tape also repairs critical electronics such as VHF radios, fish finders and navigation equipment, onboard electrical wiring, waterproofs electrical connections and protects battery cables and terminals. Wrap it around fishing rod handles for a nice grip that is non-slip, even when wet.

With the unique Clear Rescue Tape, anglers can wrap electrical connections and waterproof them, while still being able to visually inspect the connection to assure there is no corrosion or damage, view the color and the print on the wiring. This is especially beneficial for coax cables for VHF antennae, or installation of marine electronics.

Rescue Tape takes just minutes or even seconds to permanently fuse together and never comes unraveled. Easily removed with a knife or scissors, Rescue Tape never gets gummy or sticky like duct tape or electrical tape and leaves no residue. This is one product that should be in every tackle box.  Available in eight colors and various sizes for a variety of onboard repair applications.

For more info/order go to rescuetape.com 

Zebco takes the knot out for recreational anglers

Beginners and regular weekend anglers alike will find the "no knot" assortment of Zebco's new "Hook, Line and Sinker" combos to be a genuine delight. The new concept makes rigging a snap, literally, because the reel in the rod/reel combination comes with a snap swivel already tied to the fishing line.

To get ready for fishing, the angler simply threads the swivel through the rod's line guides and snaps on the hook or lure of choice. With the concept, Zebco has eliminated one of the most intimidating elements of rigging for the novice angler - trying to tie a fishing knot.

The Hook, Line and Sinker option is available in three popular Zebco models: the 202 and 404 spincast versions, and the ZSP20 spinning reel model. Rods are matched to each reel.

The tackle assortment for each model is visibly displayed in the special "flag" attachment on the rod.  The tackle has been selected to work especially with the respective models, with the 202 and ZSP being for "light" fishing applications, and the 404 for "heavy" action.

"Once again Zebco is carrying forward its storied legacy of finding ways to make the fishing experience easier and more convenient," said M. Scott Smith, Zebco director of marketing. "This time it's ready-to-fish tackle that is really ready, Hook, Line and Sinker takes fishing simplicity to the highest level of 'no experience necessary.'"

Zebco also makes a bold eco-friendly statement with the new Hook, Line and Sinker packaging. The rod and reel are totally exposed for consumers to be able to touch and feel, and the tackle assortment is contained in a small configuration that is easy to open.

The Zebco Hook, Line and Sinker combos retail between $14.99 and $19.99, depending on model.

Snap Tail Lures Pros Share Soft Plastic

Fishing Tips

Does your lure have "good vibrations?"  Do you "stay in touch" with your worm? Does your plastic worm create bubbles?

Snap Tail Lures makes America's hottest new bass (and walleye) lure, a plastic worm with a slot in the tail which accepts colored snaps. "When you're looking for the color that earns a strike, it's easier and faster to change the snap than the worm," says Snap Tail's Robb Line. Here are some other fishing tips from Robb and some of his tournament pros.

Good vibrations
Robb Line, who has put in more hours fishing with Snap Tail Lures than anybody, shares this insight about his plastic worm with the broad, flat tail. "When you are fishing dingy water, fish the half tail worm. It flutters more than the full tail model and transmits vibrations to bass. I'll also remove the snap in the tail when my objective is more tail flutter," said the Tulsa proprietor of the innovative soft plastic lure which features a slot in the tail for inserting snaps of different colors.

Stay in touch with your worm
If you're plastic worm fishing and not catching fish, you're probably fishing too fast, especially when you're fishing deep. Snap Tail Lures pro Craig Sanders of Marietta, Oklahoma advises pros-in-training to slow down their retrieve so that the worm is always in contact with the bottom. "With practice you should be able to tell whether you bounced off a rock, a stump or a branch of a sunken tree," he said. Sanders fishes a bait caster rig with braided line and fluorocarbon leader. "Both sink real fast and the braided line, if you don't give it slack, will transmit every little bump or hit." Sanders likes to fish deep on his home lakes in Oklahoma – Texoma, Murray, Eufaula, Broken Bow and Arbuckle.

Bass like bubbles
One day before a tournament Snap Tail Lures pro Mike Faust was making a few casts into the swimming pool at his motel (hey, why not?) and noticed some tiny bubbles coming from the worm. "Actually the bubbles were coming from the hole in the tail when a colored snap was not in place," said Faust. "So now, in a tournament, I'll start fishing the Snap Tail plastic worm without a snap to give the bubbles a chance to attract bass. And, you know what, I've taken some nice bass with the Snap Tail plastic worm in the 'bubble bath' style.

Strange attractionWhen the bass bite is slow, real slow, Robb Line of Snap Tail Lures has discovered on more than one occasion that bass will bite on something they've never seen before. Like his plastic worm. "I love it when nobody is catching fish and I set the hook on a bass fishing with the Snap Tail plastic worm," said Line. Line's Tulsa company makes plastic worms in different colors, shapes and actions but the thing that makes the Snap Tail worm so dramatically different from others (and strangely attractive to bass) is the colored snap that fits into a slot into the tail.

Which color will bass like today?
Deciding on which color of plastic worm to fish is one of the most difficult decisions a bass angler makes, which is why Snap Tail Lures created plastic worms with interchangeable colored tail snaps. "It's easier, faster and a whole lot less expensive to change the color of the snap than to change the worm," says Snap Tail Lures' Robb Line. Line said every package of Snap Tail plastic worms has 12 snaps with six colors -- colored neon green, chartreuse, pearl white, bubble gum, powder blue and fire red. The most popular plastic worm colors from Snap Tail Lures, Line said, are Sapphire Blue, Green Pumpkin, Black Neon, Silver Smoke, June Bug and Watermelon Seed. 

Long or short plastic worm?
Ever in doubt about whether to fish a long plastic worm or a short plastic worm? Unless he has firm evidence to the contrary, Snap Tail Lures pro Craig Sanders always tilts toward the smaller worm. "A shorter worm will give you a better chance of a hook up," says the tournament competitor from Marietta, Oklahoma. "Now, if the bass I am catching on a shorter worm are too small, then I'll switch to the longer worm." Snap Tail Lures, based in Tulsa, makes plastic worms in two lengths, 8-inch and 6-inch, and each of those comes either a full tail or a half tail versions.

Finesse fish with a kick
Snap Tail Lures pro Mike Faust of Tampa and his partner have been doing well combining the wait-just-wait approach of finesse fishing with a shaky twist. "In the winter our Florida bass are actually hungry, but don't want to move too far for their protein. My amateur partner and I let the Snap Tail plastic worm sit absolutely still for anywhere from 30 to 90 seconds. The tail with the colored snap in it sits up nice and tall and even waves to the fish a little. And that's often enough to get a strike. But when that doesn't work, we use what we call "shake-the-tail." We hold the rod almost straight up and shake the rod tip real fast 10 or so times. Often we get a hook-up right away. I think the bass are sitting there watching the worm do nothing then get excited when it starts its rock-and-roll routine.

Stinger hook for short-hitters
When fish are hitting short, a stinger hook usually does the trick for Snap Tail Lures walleye pro Theresa Meade of Ingleside, Illinois. "Walleyes most often attack from behind. When using a longer bait, I'll often rig a stinger hook behind the main hook so I can increase my chances of a hook-set," said Meade, who guides anglers on the Illinois Chain of Lakes and directs tournaments for the World Walleye Association.

Go to snaptaillures.com for more information.

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