Over the weekend I spent a lot of time working on our backlog of reviews and preparing our 2012 contributor contest entries. I also managed to get out on Saturday for some winter fishing and although it was the first trip of the year, and fishing is never a guaranteed thing, we managed to find a great location and land a few fresh winter steelhead.
So while I’m packing WE FISHIN MANE t-shirt orders and the prizes for last year’s contributor contest why not check out these four fantastic reviews, including a review of the tangle-free WaveSpin fishing reel from KokeMachine.
The XTRATUF II are 100% waterproof neoprene boots, paired with a slip resistant sole and added stabilizers to support your feet and ankles. They retail for about $100-$120 USD and are available in men’s and women’s sizes. While they aren’t pretty, they come from a brand with a serious reputation among commercial fisherman, and some street credibility in Alaska and the pacific northwest where they’re known as the “Alaskan Tennis Shoe”. I’ve tested these boots for over a month now, but yesterday was my first opportunity to test them on some winter fishing.
As a man whose fishing game is so often crippled and hilarified* by severely nasty tangles and bird’s nests, when I first read about the WaveSpin reel, despite my reservations, I was hopeful that this reel might mean the end of those dark days. The reel features a unique spool design that resembles a saw blade. Although one might think that this feature is added for bad-ass stylistic purposes, it is actually the mechanism that prevents tangles. By forcing loose loops of line into the grooves and out-of-the-way of outgoing line on a cast the loops are eventually pulled out in the proper order. The “teeth” also reduce the friction on your line allowing for smoother and longer casts.
The hair jig comes with a legendary reputation for catching fish. Some might consider them “old school” and pass them in stores without a second glance, while others know them as a veteran’s tool for cold water fishing. If these underrated lures are missing from your tackle box you’re probably missing out on fishing opportunities. Big Smallie Tackle Hair Jigs are handcrafted lures by Ryan Lampe, and they look fantastic.
If you have a large head like I do, then you know how hard it is to find a quality pair of glasses that fit. For that reason, I’m very pleased to say that these Suncloud Polarized Optics fit without any pinching, but also look great. The wrap around frames help to block out light and the polarized lenses are very sharp. The brown tint filters out blue light while increasing the overall contrast, making them perfect for cloud-free days, shallow water fishing, and even driving.
