I wasn’t able to get out this weekend because it was Thanksgiving here in Canada, but I’m working on a trip to Mystery Lake in late October and I cannot wait to give these frogs a go, even if it might be a bit too cold for topwater.

More photos of both the Original Species Frog and Original Pulse Frog after the break.

I opened the end of the its PVC tomb and pulled out a shiny new 2011 Magnesium Stick Worm – Swimming Bait Special 7’0″ Med-Heavy casting rod! With any Kistler rod the first thing most people would notice is its incredibly light weight. For me it wasn’t the weight that caught my attention, it was the colour. Green. It wasn’t a terribly pretty green by any stretch, but once I got it outside and the sunlight hit it it had a whole new glow to it. After a day of using this rod it didn’t matter. I would still use this rod even if it was bright pink, it is really that good. It’s so good in fact, that I haven’t even touched any of the six bass rods I have since I got it.

The rod is specially designed for stick-worms, light Texas and Carolina rigs, spinnerbaits, swimming-jigs and swim-baits. If you know my fishing style, I don’t have to tell you I used it mostly with spinnerbaits. The rod felt incredible paired with my Quantum Tour Edition PT reel. The microguides not only look great but perform extraordinarily. Even the baitholder hook impressed me!

The Specs:

Fuji ECS singler groove, blank exposed reel seat
Fuji stainless steel, hardloy guides and tip
Action: Fast
Length: 7′ 0″
Power: Medium-Heavy
Lure weight: 1/8 – 3/4 oz.
Line weight: 12 – 17 lb.
Handle length: 10″
Line guides: 8 plus the tip

The rod was priced around $200 USD when I got it, and is available right now for only $99! I really don’t think you can find another new rod on this planet that is priced better. The hype is real, even this mid range Kistler rod blows away any of the rods I currently own. I cant wait to get my hands on one of their high end rods!

Still not a believer? Stay tuned for the full review later this month!

Experience a true-to-life tournament structure that focuses on all the real elements of an actual fishing tournament. Now, The Strike allows players to pre-fish a lake to test out equipment; challenge fellow fisherman to fishing contests; troll around a lake to get a feel for the layout and plot hot spots with their GPS, and even receive lake specific tips from their very own fishing mentor. Finally, sit back and enjoy a HUD-less fish fight because players are no longer forced to focus on meters and bars to reel in a fish — simply allow the feedback from the Wii remote to indicate the line tension and stamina of the fish.

More screenshots after the break!

This lure was responsible for Kota Kiriyama’s 12th place finish at the Bassmaster Elite series tournament at Lake Amistad. The Swimming Ninja casts like a bullet, has an absolutely awesome falling action and sits face down, ass up on the bottom. While this lure was made with bass in mind, it looks like a killer pike lure to me! This lure is available in five patterns but I went with the trout pattern which has been productive for small mouth here in Nova Scotia the past. My only complaint so far is that the Swimming Ninja can’t be retrieved very quickly, so leave your burner reel at home.

“Jackall’s Swimming Ninja has a realistic swimming action and paint design. Shad Tail design moves more water and has a wobbling and rolling action. Designed to swim like a real bait fish trying to escape from it’s predators. Swimming Ninja is 6 inches in length which is the perfect size for medium and large bass. It weights 1-1/4 oz. and is a slow sinking so you can control the depth. It also comes with two treble hooks, the back treble hook is a free floating trailer hook so the fish can not get any leverage.”

Check out what Kota Kiriyama has to say about the Swimming Ninja below.

I just got this awesome new Seira Minnow 80s from Jackall today and I’ll be testing it out tomorrow. Its a great looking lure and should be ideal for smallmouth bass in the area. As you can see by the photos, this isn’t your ordinary jerkbait.

“Seira Minnow is Japan’s latest technique. “i-motion” technique was developed exclusively by Jackall pro staff. Kept secret for years, Jackall is now releasing it to the market. When bait fish are not threatened, they swim straight. Jackall engineers have designed a bait to swim with no action needed. Just like real bait fish. Bass think it is an easy meal.”

“Water actually passes through the mouth and exits through the gills like real bait fish which fish actually can sense.”

With its big eyes, detailed body and feather tail hook, the Seira Minnow looks and feels great. I’m excited to see how it performs so stay tuned for an in depth review.

Check out this video from Jackall to see the lure in action!

via Modblog: Largemouth Bass Scarification.

via OFNC

Wanna Go Fishing? – Debuts Friday, April 1st at 9:00 p.m. ET

Host Matt Eastman picks a random individual to join him on an all-expense paid fishing trip of a lifetime. While the jets and boats are standing by, the potential guest has five minutes and two phone calls to decide if he or she has “got the guts to go.” “Wanna Go Fishing?” travels to the best fishing locations on the planet, and the journey often becomes a life changing experience for one lucky guest. “Wanna Go Fishing?” is a two-time Emmy Award winner for Best Sports Series and Best On-Camera Talent.

The Bassmasters – Debuts Friday, April 1st at 10:30 p.m. ET

“The Bassmasters,” hosted by Tommy Sanders and Mark Zona of Outdoor Channel’s “Zona’s Awesome Fishing Show,” serve fishing fanatics with the most comprehensive how-to and where-to information about ways in which Bassmaster Elite Series pros tackle a body of water. The shows provide in-depth analysis on lure choice, fish management, the mental approach to fishing and countless other variables that affect the competition. The series has received critical acclaim, as the production of the “Bassmaster Classic” earned a 2008 Sports Emmy nomination for Outstanding Live Event Turnaround category.

Ultimate Match Fishing: All-Stars – Debuts Friday, April 1st at 11:30 p.m. ET

“Ultimate Match Fishing: All-Stars” takes twelve of the biggest names in professional angling and puts them toe-to-toe in the infamous Ultimate Match Fishing competition format. In this special edition of the classic series, all of the competitors are either returning UMF champions, fan favorites from previous seasons, or first-time UMF competitors who are considered “legends” in the world of bass fishing. Outdoor Channel mainstay Joe Thomas serves as host alongside Claude “Fish” Fishburne — former ESPN “Bassmaster Classic” host and current Outdoor Channel “The Fish Fishburne Show” host. As in the original UMF series, the anglers compete for a grand prize of $50,000.

And saturday morning you’ll be able to wake up to the Madfin Shark Series!

Madfin Shark Series – Debuts Saturday, April 2nd at 11:30 a.m. ET

The 5th annual “Madfin Shark Series” returns as the only nationally televised catch and release shark competition in the world. For its Outdoor Channel debut, the show follows four two-person teams as they brave the warm waters of the Florida Keys to search for dangerous sharks only to measure and release them over the course of three days. British actor Butler Yates returns as the dramatic voiceover, and outdoor star Tommy Sanders makes his first appearance on camera as the host. Breathtaking underwater and aerial coverage set the bar for the up close and personal experience for this winner-take-all affair.

Check you local listings or visit OutdoorChannel.com to find out how to get Outdoor Channel in your area.