Product Reviews

Because I spend so much of my time fishing small soft plastics and finesse hard baits in pressured waters… I have found a real need for a reliable, light-weight, and sturdy saltwater spinning reel.  I finally discovered this need last fall when Daiwa sent me the new TD Fuego3000A spinning reel to be field tested.

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“Kayak Fishing”, the fastest growing segment of the fishing industry, shows no indications of slowing and that is to a large extent due to the boats themselves. A division of Legacy Paddlesports, “Native Watercraft”, has a variety of boat designs. Featured here are two models in particular that have great applications for the kayak angler.

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PENN® PUTS A TWIST ON INTERNATIONAL® BIG GAME REELS
Now Available with Custom Color and Engraving on Select PENN International Reels

PENN® International® Big Game Series reels own the blue water. From the 2-speed PENN International VS and VSX series, to the single speed VW series, PENN produces the most recognizable and popular saltwater reels on today’s market.

Just like the International reels themselves, anglers like to have a look all their own. PENN has heard the calls and beginning January 1, 2010 PENN will offer select International reels that are customized for each angler or fishing vessel.

Personalization of the PENN International reels begins with 7 custom-tailored colors including tournament pink, American blue, American red, solid black, gun smoke, International silver and International gold.  Anglers can choose these colors to decorate their entire reel or mix it up by adding a second custom color to the reel.

All PENN International V Series Big Game reels consist of four separate parts consisting of the sideplates, frame, drag lever knob, and spool that can be anodized different colors to for any angler’s own unique look.  Finally, anglers now have the option to customize PENN International reels to match any boat style.

Color coordination is not the only option an angler may choose. Now each PENN International reel may be engraved to truly tailor the reel. As a result PENN is proud to offer four popular gamefish and the American flag as custom engraving options.  Plus the option is available to add a boat name or any other text to the sideplate in gold or black ink. Each engraving will be sized proportionally for the left sideplate depending on the model purchased.

To place an order for a customized PENN International reel, anglers must contact one of the PENN Custom Shop retailers listed on www.PENNCustomShop.com. When visiting these locations, anglers can make all the choices to have the reel customized by simply completing one form. The dealer will provide all the details for engravings, colors and word options, or feel free to browse the website to explore all the options. An angler’s retailer will also be able to give pricing for each option.

Models available for custom colors and custom engraving include the following PENN International Big Game reel series: International Two-speed reels, International Single-speed reels and International VSX series reels.

Here is the run down of options:

Side plate Engraving Options
Penn logo
Tuna
Marlin
US Flag
Dolphin
Sailfish

Side plate top level name (up to 25 letters)
Side plate sub-level name (up to 20 letters)
Made in the USA will remain on all side plates

Color Combination (Maximum of two colors per reel)
Gold, Silver, Black, Gun Smoke, American Red, American Blue, Tournament Pink

Check out www.penncustomshop.com or check with your local Penn retailer for info on ordering your fully custom Penn reel today.

Thanks for reading,

Capt. Jot Owens
Penn Elite Pro and
Ranger Boats Pro Staff
www.captainjot.com
910-233-4139

The difference between catching a “fish of a lifetime” and having hooked a fish of a lifetime comes down to the equipment and tackle.    The experienced angler will tell you that a craftsman doesn’t blame his tools.   The selection of inferior gear will put one at a disadvantage when battling the toughest of piscatorial foes.   The rod, the reel, the line and the lure and hook selection all have an impact on not only getting strikes but in winning the battle.   Where many anglers fall short is in their leader line selection.

Fluorocarbon leader became a big topic in the fishing world back in 1992.   Fluorocarbon is made from Hydrogen, Carbon, and Fluoride creating the molecule known as PVDF, or Poly-Vinyl-i-Dene-Fluoride.     From the very beginning, the Kureha company has been the pioneers in the industry, launching the Seaguar leader product, the “first” in the fishing world.   Why the big buzz about fluorocarbon leader line?   For me, the initial appeal was with the claim that the product was a lot less visible to the fish.   A shock leader was something that was already utilized by anglers.   But shock leader that’s invisible?  It was obvious that this was a great concept.  Nothing sacrificed in knot strength, all the talk was about this new product and people jumped into the Fluorocarbon Era.

In a very short period of time, my own views on fluorocarbon leader line shifted a great deal.   Yes, the visibility factor is great but something else made it such an improvement in “tackling up” for the toughest battling fish:  Abrasion resistance.    This is where Seaguar sets themselves apart in the industry.   As a tackle junkie and a guide who puts in hundreds of days on the water every year, I tried all the brands of fluorocarbon leader lines that came out over the years.   People would say “all fluorocarbon lines are the same.”   I’ll go on the record and declare that this is very simply not the case.   With the Seaguar tied on to the rods it was obvious that people would catch a fish they wouldn’t have with other products.

Snook is a species where this leader line pays off the most.   In extended battles, if a lure or hook is inside the fish’ mouth, the leader line is being rubbed on the tiny “sandpaper-like” teeth as the fish makes runs and changes directions during the fight.   Other leader lines would fail in this situation, leaving the angler with a limp line frustrated and probably disgusted.   With the Seaguar product put to the test in the same situation, these fish would be captured.    Inspection of the leader would show some abrasion but not always to the extent that a small section would need to be clipped off before the next hook-up.

Seaguar also holds up in “lockdown” which I describe as a situation where you have to stop a fish immediately, whether it be a snook trying to reach a piling or bridge or a really big fish about to “spool” the angler and he or she must make that fish come to a stop or lose the fish.   Other leader lines put in this situation didn’t stand a chance.    With Seaguar, an angler has the peace of mind that if that fish “can be turned” it can happen without the leader line failing.

The question is:  “why would Seaguar be superior to other brands of fluorocarbon leader line?”   The answer is in the quality control of a completely independent company.   Seaguar is the only company in the world that produces double structure fluorocarbon, controls the products in their own facilities, and the only company that makes their own resins for each leader product.  They have not left any room for errors by outside sources.

The concept of value always comes to mind when talking about the product choices.   Considering the durability and performance of this product, “cheaper” line options lose out in the value category.   With the durability, one spool of Seaguar leader line goes a lot farther than another selection produced by another company.    Add in the higher likelihood of capturing the hooked fish, elimination of the “frustration factor” and the choice is simple.

In addition to the leader line they manufacture tippets and main lines.    Seaguar has the largest selection of products of all the fluorocarbon brands. For anglers who aren’t big on the braided lines for their fishing, the Seaguar fluorocarbon main lines are a perfect choice for spooling up their reels.   Seaguar CarbonPro and InvizX are lines to consider for those who don’t opt to use braided lines.   CarbonPro in particular for saltwater uses, has a minimal stretch and “memory”, eliminating “the twisties” you get with monofilament lines after fighting bigger fish.   Also with less stretch than monofilament options, casting distance is great and hooksets are instantaneous.   InvizX is very good for freshwater anglers or for your speckled trout rods.   It is a softer, more supple line compared to other options.

If you haven’t tried it already, get some of this leader line and take it out and put it to the test!  Most tackle shops carry this product.   Whether you choose their standard “Fluorocarbon” or their “Fluoro Premier” this is a tremendous product to add to your repertoire.

To learn more about Seaguar products, visit their web site:
http://www.seaguar.com

Producto Lure took over the 12 Fathom lure company in 2007. The companies are family owned by Mike and Craig Bayhi of Sanford, FL. The Producto Lure side of their tackle business is strong in the freshwater plastic lure industry. 12 Fathom is regaining strong popularity in the Florida fishing scene as anglers realize that there is a great line of “fishin’ ammunition” designed and produced for them by this company.

Take a look below at the products offered in the “Saltwater Series” of 12 Fathom lures. To review the color options, take a look at the 12 Fathom web site (www.12fathom.com). The lures in the product line are: The Fat Sam Mullet, the Tiger Shad, Shadzilla, the SlamR, the Bugsy and “Gambini” grubs- and the Buzz Tail Shad. In 2008: The “Scarface Shrimp” was added to the Saltwater Series. In 2009 “The Snitch” also entered the Saltwater Series. Each of these lure styles has specific uses while targeting Florida inshore gamefish but they can be used in other locales and will entice fish that inhabit any region.

The Fat Sam “Mullet”

Fat Sam Mullet

Rigged on a 1/8-ounce to 1/4-ounce jighead, this is a fantastic lure that is one of the most popular styles in the entire product line. A similar shape to so many of the baitfishes that exist in most regions, the slender body style gives this lure a tremendous natural action. The 3″ mullet works wonderfully on redfish when moved very slowly with the rod tip “up” and a smooth “sweeping” action. With the 3/16-ounce 12 Fathom “Sparkie” jighead, all you need to do is cast and reel the lure straight back to get strikes.

The 4″ Fat Sam is a great snook and tarpon bait. A bigger tail with considerably more girth, this bait is a more substantial “meal” than the 3-inch mullet and will tempt those really big predators. Make your “mullet match your mullet.” The 3-inch mullet catch more “large” snook when the “finger mullet” in area waters are two to three inches. If the snook are dining on larger “mullet”, give them the 4-inch 12 Fathom mullet!

The “SlamR”

The SlamR

A “shrimp like” plastic lure, the SlamR is offered in 5 and 6-inch tails. It is a lure that I describe as “Aqua Dynamic”. The word “aerodynamic” describes something that flies through the air smoothly. The “Aqua Dynamic” SlamR with a flattened-out forked-tail can suspend in the water by the angler, particularly in current and “eased down into the strike zone” by manipulating the lure by raising and dropping the rod tip. The Aqua Dynamic performance also enables anglers to work this lure in shallower water without snagging up to the seagrass. Snook, redfish, flounder, drum and trout readily hammer the 5-inch SlamR. The 6-inch version is a great cobia and snook bait but don’t be surprised if the larger redfish, drum and trout jump all over this one.

The grooved body on the SlamR allows easy “weedless” rigging of the lure. Try it with Captain Joe’s “Edje” jighead for all the aforementioned species. In very shallow water, use this lure with a 1/16-ounce Edje for redfish and backwater snook. For deeper water or stronger current, move up to a heavier jighead. The SlamR accounts for a majority of the snook caught on my kayak-fishing charters. If the summertime snook weren’t striking the moving lure, letting it settle down to the bottom to lay on the grass resulted in snook eating this bait when it wasn’t moving, emulating shrimp hiding in the seagrass. Effective when worked “slow and smooth”, give this lure a little jab to make it dance when it is approaching “ambush locations.” The SlamR is a very nice “jerkbait” plastic and moves enticingly with that added action.

The Buzz Tail Shad

The Buzz Tail Shad

This lure will entice large trout, redfish and snook with almost no manipulation of the lure. With a “cast and straight retrieve” the buzz tail gives the lure all the natural action that’s needed to trigger strikes. The sickle tail design creates turbulence in the water behind the lure. The design of this lure makes it enter the water quietly and less likely to spook even the “moodiest” of fish lurking in the shallows. In those tight spots where you want to get a cast way back into a corner, this lure will often get hit hard immediately after it hits the surface of the water. These lures “skip” pretty well in those tight spots. Rigged up weightless it can be worked as a topwater lure.

With both the Buzz Tail Shad and the SlamR “rigged weedless”, it is easier to get the lure out of the branches on errant or over-aggressive casts. This is an additional benefit of that setup that repels weeds from catching on the hook, keeping the lure on the move and bumping off obstructions with little chance of the hook point hanging up on an oyster, rock or submerged tree limb. The buzz tail is available in 4.5 and 6-inch tails.

The Shadzilla and the “Tiger Shad”:

The 4-inch Tiger Shad

This lure is almost the identical size and shape of the scaled sardines that inhabit Florida waters On a 1/8-ounce Sparkie or Standup jighead, this lure will trick redfish, snook and trout as well as just about anything else that sees it. For speckled trout, this lure can be worked faster in the deep water with a ¼-ounce jighead while still staying down in the Strike Zone. The 3″ shad in bright yellow on a ¼ ounce jighead is a great pompano setup. The 4-inch “Tiger Shad” version of the shad baits is one of the “Old School” 12 Fathom plastic baits. Most species will strike that lure, but many anglers have this one with them for their tarpon trips.

The Scarface Shrimp

The Scarface Shrimp

This lure looks like a shrimp or a crab to the fish that attack it. Shallow water trout and tailing redfish will pounce on this lure when you work it by them. This lure caught 40 and 43-inch snook in 2008. Rig it on a 1/16-ounce jighead. A “creature bait”, this is also one to keep handy to toss to tailing redfish and black drum. This unique crustacean bait needs to be worked slowly, but its track record speaks for itself. Want to make it a better casting and swimming bait? Try trimming the small legs of the sides of this bait.

Gambini and Bugsy

The Gambini is the curly tail in the Series. This tail is another “no brainer” cast and retrieve jig. If speckled trout is your game, try out Gambini and watch him “put the hit” on those fish. Use the ¼-ounce weighted jigheads for trout and the 1/8-ounce option if you want to toss these ‘grubs’ at fish in the really shallow waters. “Bugsy” is a 4-inch bait with a flat “beaver” tail in the back. Bump Busgy along the bottom for redfish, flounder and speckled trout.

The Snitch-

The newest to the Saltwater Series is the Snitch. The special thing about the Snitch is the versatility of the lure. Use the lure “as is” or tear off different fins and flippers from this bait to your liking. The dual curl tails at the rear of this bait make it swim straight. Crept or hopped on the bottom, gamefish will mistake the Snitch for a crab. Bass anglers take note: The Snitch, like the Buzz Tail Shad is a great “crossover” bait and works as well in freshwater as it does in salt.

Give these lures a test drive and you will definitely make them part of your arsenal of fishing lures. Check for the lures at a store near you or order directly from 12 Fathom. They are available in individual packages or in 50 or 100 count bags directly from 12 Fathom.

About 12 Fathom Lures:

Web site address: www.12fathom.com

Telephone: 407-321-7377

Email: mbayhi@12fathom.com

A Power Pole on the stern of any boat makes fishing shallow water a snap; or should I say a “push” of a button!  John Oliverio’s vision for making this boat positioning  tool has truly revolutionized our sport… to the point that jargon such as “power-pole down” has become common vernacular on many inshore boats. In fact, it’s really hard for me to believe that the Power-Pole is now more than ten years old.  Lately the Power Pole has even taken the bass market by storm… just watch one of the Bassmaster Elite 50 events and you’ll notice that more than half the field is making use of this serious fishing tool! JL Marine Systems manufactures several versions of the Power Pole in their well rounded product line but the Pro-Series is the most popular with many anglers… and here is why.

The Pro-Series Power Pole fully deploys in less than five seconds… never will you drift past the sweet spot on a flat again struggling to put a standard anchor out quickly or hustling to stick a poorly designed manual pole into a hard sea bottom.  The Power Pole anchor allows anglers to effortlessly position their boats and maximize fishing opportunities like never before… without the mess and storage issues of traditional anchors & stake-out poles.  All Power Poles are constructed with a blend of aircraft-grade aluminum, titanium and ballistic-class plastic for the ultimate in strength and durability! The Pro-Series Power Pole also comes with a super smooth and quiet pump system that does not alert wary game fish of your boat’s presence and with its ample hydraulic pressure, your boat will be held securely in place no matter what the wind, wave, or current conditions. In addition to all these outstanding features, the Power Pole is very eco-friendly and has absolutely no negative impact on the environment; it actually uses a 100% bio-degradable fluid (Green Marine) for its hydraulic needs.

The Pro-Series Power Pole comes in both 6 and 8 foot models… both models boast a 5 year warranty.  The (8’ model) can anchor a vessel up to 26’ /3600 lbs. with no problem… in sand, grass, mud, or even oyster!  Also the Pro Series Power Pole is very light weight (29.5lbs/6’ & 34.5lbs./8’); go weigh that moldy 100 feet of anchor line, rusty chain and bulky anchor itself, it’s heavier and a lot less user friendly!  Plus, Pro Series Power Poles are powder coated and painted for maximum corrosion resistance and available in three colors (white, black, grey) to compliment the major outboard engine manufacturers. Features like adapter mounting plates, remote controls, foot switches, wave packs, travel gloves, and even graphic wraps are all available for the Pro-Series line-up.   And the customer service at JL Marine Systems… well in my humble opinion is second to none; their reputation is that of the “industry elite” when it comes to product integrity & customer support!

Some may say that a Pro-Series Power Pole is a luxury but I consider it a necessity… you will too the very first time you experience this outstanding fish catching tool!  For more info or to locate an authorized Power Pole dealer… please visit http://www.power-pole.com