Skyrocket Hydrowave

I found this picture from Fletcher Shryock.  It is his Hydrowave, I thought it was cool and wanted to share it.  You have to admit it has to look good on his Ranger boat.  Skyrocket has had slow start to the season on the Elites but I think in time we will see how good he really is.

Berkley Mini Line Spooler Review

Putting new line on your reel can be a challenge unless you have the right tool.  It might even take two people.  You can buy expensive devices to help spool your line.  However if you are a weekend angler and on a budget the money you spend on a device to help fill your reels might be better spent on new line or even lures.

Berkley has introduced their new “Mini Line Spooler” which allows you to fill your reels with new line on your own.  The “Mini Line Spooler” is light weight and easy to use.  It stores easily in a tackle bag or even in a storage compartment in a bass boat.

The line spooler is easy to use.  It has four openings that fit’s over any rod.  You clamp the line spooler over your rod, and then use the thread handle to attach a spool of your favorite fishing line to the “Mini Line spooler”.  This thread’s into the “Mini Line Spooler” and in doing so snugs the line spooler to your rod.  It did not nick or scratch any of the rods I tried it on, even though I was worried about that.  You then run your fishing line thru your line guide and tie it on to your reel like you normally would, and begin spooling your reel.   

It works with small spools of line.  The packaging leads you to believe that it will work with bigger spools of line as well.  I could not make the bigger spool work with it.  I used it on a bait caster and it worked well.  I also tried it on a spinning reel but got lots of line twist.  Not all rods are the same and you may have to play with the line spooler to get it to stay put on your rod.

The “Mini Line Spooler” is fairly inexpensive.  You can find it at Wal-Mart for about $5.  Cabala also carries it but it is $7.99.  It’s easy to use and works well.  Overall if you have trouble with filling line on your boat or on the road it is a good buy.  However, if you are going to be filling a lot of reels at one sitting or using large bulk line spools I would suggest a more expensive unit.

For the money and convenience I would give the Berkley “Mini Line Spooler” 7 out of 10.  Like I stated if you are looking to spool all your rods and plan on using bulk line I would give it a 2 out of 10.  Over all I would say it is a 5 out of 10.  If you like trying new things pick it up, if you have a good system for lining rods you don’t need this.   

New Take On The Umbrella Rig

The umbrella rig has taken the fishing world by storm.  When Paul Elias dominated on Lake Guntersville using the Alabama Rig the bass fishing world stood up and took notice of this new rig, technique, system or whatever you want to call it.

Since that tournament, companies have been making their own version of the umbrella rig.  Some with slight differences and some that have taken the idea to a whole new level.  Get Hooked Baits introduced their own cast able umbrella rig known as “The Rig”.
Get Hooked Baits is pushing the envelope with their two new umbrella rigs “The Buzz Rig” and “The Spinner Rig”.  The names give the product away.  They are your normal looking spinnerbait and buzzbait with one big difference.  Instead of a hook they both have three wires coming out of the body so you can attach plastic swimbaits to the lure.

The Spinner Rig combines the design of traditional spinner bait with the attention- getting design of an umbrella rig. The Spinner Rig features a coast-lock at the spinner bait blade, allowing you to change your blade in a matter of seconds. With the coast-lock at the blade, you can also add additional lure if desired. The Spinner Rig is constructed of 325 lb. corrosion resistant stainless steel wire and swivels which are 70 lb. test stainless steel.  It comes in five different colors and cost 21.99.

The Buzz Rig combines the design of the traditional buzz bait with the attention-getting design of an umbrella rig. The Buzz Rig is designed to run three baits behind standard buzz bait.  This allows you the opportunity to catch the fish that normally miss the standard buzz bait. The Buzz Rig is constructed of 325 lb. corrosion resistant stainless steel wire and swivels which are 70 lb. test stainless.  It comes in black and white and cost 21.99.

Get Hooked Baits also has a cool pack you can pick up from their website.  The rig kit comes with “The Rig”, 5 1/8oz “Shackeyhead jigs” and a 7 pack of swimbaits.  The swimbaits and jig heads work great on “The Rig”, “The Buzz Rig” and “The Spinner Rig.

You can find both “The Spinner Rig” and “The Buzz Rig” at Landbigfish.com and Gethookedbaits.com.     

10 Things you need in 2012

New tackle and accessories begin to line the shelves at your favorite tackle shop this time of year.  Each year it can be overwhelming and hard to figure out what you should add to your arsenal.  I have composed my top ten list of tackle and accessories I believe can help you this year.  Like most anglers I have a budget and buying those expensive toys can be a burden,so with that in mind all of the items on this list are under $100 so buying  a few should not hurt your budget.

Alabama Rig

1)   The Alabama Rig took the bass fishing world by storm last spring.  Even though in some states it is not legal and some tournaments are banning it from use, you may very well still need one in your box.  You may be fishing against guys who have them in their boats, so you don’t want to be left out.  You can learn more about the Alabama Rig at www.thealabamarig.com they run $27.99.  There are also several other models on the market.

Rig Cylinder

2)   The Rig Cylinder is a new product that has spawned out of the Alabama Rig frenzy.  It allows you to store your umbrella rigs after a day of fishing.  It also allows you to store your Alabama Rig with all of your swimbaits and hooks still attached.  They fit nicely in a tackle bag allowing you to store them in one area.   You can find out more by emailing them at rigcylinder@yahoo.com, their website is currently under construction.  They run $5.99 or 3 for $15.00.

The Snip

3)   The Snip is a small portable pair of scissors.  You can get them with a LED light built in to help see what you are cutting at dusk and dawn.  It has a retractable cord with a ring on itso you can attach it to you belt buckle or coat.  It cuts braid, mono and fluorocarbon with ease.  You can learn more at www.boomerangtool.com they cost between $11.95-$14.95.

Ball Frog

4)   Frogs have become a main stay in most anglers’tackle box.  The Ball Frog is an interesting new frog.  It is a hand crafted lure that works just like the traditional hollow belly frog anglers are used to.  The difference is that it has a single hook on the back that you can put a soft plastic grub or worm on.  They cost $15.00 you can get more information at www.balsleylureco.com.

Death Shimmer Spinnerbait

5)   Spinnerbaits have not changed much since they hit the market back in the 1950’s; that is until now.  Death Shimmer has made a radical change to the design of the spinnerbait which gives the bait more vibration as it is reeled back to the boat.  When the conditions call for more vibration over flash the Death Shimmer spinnerbait is a must.  You can find out more information about the Death Shimmer at www.deathshimmer.com.  They retail for $8.49.

Invisa Swivel

6)   The Invisa Swivel has been on the market for a few years.  The Invisa Swivel is a neutrally buoyant swivel which is virtually invisible under water much like fluorocarbon.  This allows you to use a swivel without having to worry about a fish seeing it.  Because it is neutrally buoyant you also don’t have to worry about it affecting the action of your lure.  They come in 5 sizes. You can get more information at www.aquateko.com.  They cost $4.99 for a 5 pack.

Wright & McGill Rick Clunn Rods

7)   A few years ago Wright & McGill introduced the Skeet Reese line of Rods.  They recently released the new Rick Clunn cranking rods.  The Rick Clunn line consist of 6 rods for different cranking techniques.  They include jerkbaits, square bills, clear water square bills, murky water square bills, lipless baits and deep cranking.  The rods standout with a unique color that fits Rick Clunn.  The rods have amazing action and sensitivity.  If you are a cranking guru or just want to look like Clunn then they are worth looking into.  You can find out more information at www.wright-mcgill.com.  They are $89.99.

Rod Glove

8)   If you spend good money on your rods you will want to protect your investment.  The Rod Glove is the best way I have found to do this.  They are made of woven plastic which helps protect your rods.  The tapered tip they feature also keeps the rod tip safe and secure when storing them in your rod locker.  They come in 17 colors and you can add technique tags so you can find the rod you want quickly.  They are great for a boater and co-angler alike.  You can find out more info at www.vrxfishing.com.  The Rod Glove sells for $6.49-8.49 and the technique tags can be added for another $1.09.

Pro Max

9)   Abu Garcia has been known for high quality expensive reels, like the Revo.  In late 2012 they released a new line of reels the “Max” series that fit the average angler’s price range.  The Pro Max is the high end model.  It features 7 bearings and a 7.1:1 gear ratio.  It weighs less than 8 ounces.  The spool has a smooth retrieve and for under $100 it is the best reel on the market for the price.  You can find out more about the Pro Max and the other reels in the “Max” line at www.abugarcia.com. The Pro Max retails for $79.99.

Rapala Tournament Scale

10)TheRapala Touch Screen Tournament Scaleis a great addition to any tournament anglers arsenal.  The scale is a touch screen and you can store up to eight different weights on it at one time.  It runs on AA batteries for up to 400 hours.  It comes with 8 numbered call floats so you can keep track of your fish, and a storage bag to keep it all together for easy storage.  You can find out more about it at www.rapala.com.  It cost $54.99.

This year as you are looking to buy new gear and gadgets to help improve your fishing I hope you consider this list.  Because they are reasonably priced you might consider adding a few to your line up this year.

Rapala's New Ike's Custom Ink

Rapala is introducing their new line of DT crankbaits.  The bait is has not changed but the colors selection has.  Check out the video below and let me know what you think?

Jack-It Lures New Player In The Bass Fishing World

One of the best things about writing bass fishing articles are the people you meet.  For me, one of those people is Brian Metry, who started Jack-it Products, LLC.  Jack-it is a new lure company started in January of 2011.  Jack-It is located in Michigan and they have been proven fish catchers in their first year with a unique line of products.

Brian has always had a passion for creating lures and dreamed about designing affordable lures everyone could use.  Brian lost his landscaping business during the auto collapse because most of his contracts were with auto companies. It was during that difficult time that he decided to pursue his dream and started his own lure company.  Brian used his knowledge as a competitive Bass angler to design Jack-its line of lures.

Their best-selling lure is the “Hammer" which is a lipless crankbait.  It can be worked just like other lipless crankbaits.  The Hammer stands out because it has a larger head than other lipless crankbaits.  This gives it an advantage because the oversized head allows it to deflect off of cover better than other lipless baits.  It weighs ¾ oz. but it still has the same body size as ½ oz. lipless baits.  The weight allows you to make contact better with the bottom while you are slow rolling the bait.  It also comes into play when you are ripping it off the bottom and letting it fall.  The weight helps it look more like a dying bait fish.  The Hammer comes in 17 colors.

The “Predator" is a 4-6 ft. running crankbait.  The bill and body is designed like no other, and this design causes it to run more like a square bill crankbait without the traditional short square bill.  The longer bill helps the Predator to deflect off of cover better than others.  The shape of the bait allows the lure to roll as it wobbles side to side.  The "Bug-eyes” design in the mold also gives it a different look than other crankbaits.  The rolling swim action as well as the "bug-eyes” make it uniquely different.  It also floats which helps it deflect off of cover; it is available in 13 colors.

The "Jerk Money 120" is a suspending model jerkbait that has a stronger bill that won’t break like other jerk baits.  The top of the Jerk Money 120 is flat which imitates shad, which are the most favorable bait fish for bass and other game fish.  Most other jerk baits are round on top imitating minnows or smelt.  Shad are like steak to bass, whereas minnows and smelt are burger to most Game fish.  It weight’s 5/8 oz. and can be worked between 4 to 5 feet.  It is available in 21 patterns.

The "Liberty Hydronic" is a 9-12' diving crank bait which has a cavity in the bill that causes it to reach the strike zone faster than other crank baits. This cavity allows the Liberty Hydronic to have a shorter casting distance and the lure can still get to its maximum diving depth.  This is new technology and Jack-it Lures is the only company in the US that carries this bill design.  The vent in the bill gets it down faster, reducing resistance against the bill.  The cavity is pointed on an angle which helps propel the bait to the bottom.  It is available in 12 colors. 

All of Jack-It Lures "Pro Series Lures" have unique and effective color schemes as well as cutting edge, raised detail on the bodies.  All of the color names are original and fun to laugh at, making it easy to have a good time while fishing, even when the bite is slow.  Just to name a few of their colors: Scrambled Eggs, Pyromania, Beer Battered, Opening Day, Pale Ale, Dragons Breath, Mad Shad, Key Lime Pie, Hot Tamale, Orange Crush, Christmas Time, Nesle Crunch and Smokin' Shad.  They also have deeper running crankbaits, the “Deep Runner 600” which can be worked 15 to 18 ft. and the “Deep Runner 800” which dives to 20 to 24 ft.  They also have the “Jack Flash Frog” which is a hollow belly frog that can be worked over pads and matted grass.

Brian and all the guys at Jack-It Lures have the customers in mind for quality as well as pricing of their products.  The quality of the "Pro Series Lures" is top notch and comparatively they are 15-40% cheaper than other lures in their class.  With the innovative bill designs along with original color schemes and with cutting edge detail in the molds you will not find better lures at a better price. 

If you are looking for some new lures in 2012 you might want to consider Jack-it Lures.  The lures are amazing and in my mind they compare to brands like Lucky Craft, and other big name lures on the market.  I will be reviewing most of their lures in the coming year.  I have looked at and played with (not on the water yet) all of their lures and I am very impressed.  Make sure you check them out at www.jack-itproducts.com

Strike Kings New Top Water Lure

Strike King is releasing an new Top water bait the KVD Sexy Dawg, check out the press release below:

Strike King Lure Company, is proud to introduce the new KVD Sexy Dawg! BASS Elite Series Angler, Kevin VanDam, designed the KVD Sexy Dawg to be an easy to walk, far casting, and premium “walk the dog” topwater lure with great action. Kevin is a phenomenal fisherman who loves to fish fast and powerful and this bait fits him perfectly. The new KVD Sexy Dawg has been designed to be the best walking bait made. It features a unique design to give it an incredible walking action that will drive fish crazy. It comes in two sizes, a 3-hook version and a 2-hook version. Rhythmically twitch your rod tip to make the nose go side to side. Take one for a walk and hold on for some explosive strikes!