Added on Thursday, November 17, 2011  Gary Hurley

Holiday Gift Guide

 

Rapala Lock ‘N Weigh/Grip

Combining the ability to securely handle and land a trophy fish and get an accurate weight on it, Rapala’s Lock ‘N Weigh and Lock ‘N Grip tools employ a proprietary Cam-Lock grip system that uses a fish’s weight to secure it to the device. When anglers have a toothy or otherwise unwieldy fish at boatside, they simply squeeze a lever to open the jaws, place them around the fish’s lower lip and lift over the gunnel. The Lock ‘N Weigh comes in two models, with 20 and 60 lb. spring scales hiding in the no-slip handles. The larger Magnum XL model has a longer 28” handle and is designed for true trophy fish and features a 125 lb. scale. The Lock ‘N Grip with Digital Scale is perfect for anglers with skeptical fishing buddies—the large screen digital readout plainly shows a fish’s weight in a photograph. Both Rapala tools are available at local tackle retailers, and anglers can learn more at www.rapala.com.

 

Atlas Reels

Featuring a one-piece machined aluminum frame and side plate, Atlas Reels new Kona Series offer anglers a pair of highly durable lever-drag reels designed for the harsh saltwater environment. In addition to the aluminum construction, six stainless steel ball bearings and other corrosion-resistant materials ensure that the reels will stand up to years of hard use. Excellent free-spool characteristics mean that the Kona reels are highly castable for their size, perfect for surf fishermen or those tossing live baits and larger artificial lures. The Kona 200 holds 290 yards of 15 lb. mono or 420 yards of 40 lb. braid. Its bigger brother, the Kona 400, will take 360 yards of 20 lb. mono or 595 yards of 50 lb. braid.  With 22 and 26 lbs. of maximum drag respectively, the reels have the line capacity and stopping power to cover any situation from the beach on out to light blue-water duty. Available through a network of online retailers, anglers can find more info on Atlas Kona Reels at www.atlasreels.com.

 

Eastern Metal Works Clam Rakes

Eastern Metal Works stainless steel clam rakes are custom-built to provide maximum performance and ease of use. Owner Thomas Meyers has been building clam rakes and other commercial and recreational fishing tools for over 30 years and offers rakes with three tooth styles to suit a variety of clamming situations. The Knife Tooth model is for fine sand or seagrass bottoms and is designed to be gently pushed, rather than pulled through the substrate. The Round Tooth model is a pull rake designed for shelly bottoms, and the Straight Tooth rake can be pushed or pulled across a wide variety of substrates. The rakes are available with 6, 8, 10, or 12 teeth and feature a welded basket to scoop up the clams once found, a definite back-saver for the clammer. Offered either pre-built with a 1 ¼” aluminum handle or as head-only designs that screw into another handle, these 100% USA made rakes are the finest on the market.  Meyer builds a wide variety of fishing tools from gigs to gaffs to beach carts and sand spikes. Anglers can purchase his products at a host of local tackle retailers or visit www.easternmarinetools.com for more information.

 

Fisherman’s Post Saltwater Fishing School Tickets

Knowledge is power, and now it’s available in gift form for lucky anglers—tickets to one of the two 2012 Fisherman’s Post Saltwater Fishing Schools. Attendees will learn from a dozen of the area’s top captains on subjects ranging from flounder, redfish, and trout to Gulf Stream and grouper fishing and everything in between. With one-day sessions at Wilmington’s Coastline and Morehead City’s Crystal Coast Convention Centers on February 11 and 25, respectively, anglers can pick the school closest to their homes or most convenient to their winter schedules. Rated one of the top fishing schools in the nation by Sport Fishing Magazine, the schools also score stellar ratings on participant evaluations and boast big numbers of repeat students. Tickets are $90 before January 28 and $100 after, and are available at www.fishermanspost.com, by calling (910) 452-6378, or by visiting the Fisherman’s Post booth at the winter boat shows.

 

Star Rods Stellar Lite Fast Taper

Star Rods Stellar Lite Fast Taper series incorporate the features that have made the original Stellar Lites so popular with a faster-action blank than the originals. The blank actions are ideal for long casts with light or unweighted soft plastic lures and natural baits to finicky inshore fish, and are also ideal for the kayak angler who must cast without excessively shifting his body weight. Fuji Concept guides matched to the new blanks’ actions further enhance casting distance. Nine standard-grip spinning models and five new split-grip models mean that there’s a Stellar Lite Fast Taper for everything from tossing tiny jigs to speckled trout to big bucktails for cobia and red drum. Star Stellar Lites can be found at local tackle shops and more information including a full model listing is available at www.seastriker.com/starrods.

 

Blue Water Candy King Rig Bag

Looking to get started king mackerel fishing with some of the best tackle available or restock after a long season? Then Blue Water Candy’s King Rig Bag is for you. The 10-compartment rig bag keeps rigs snag and tangle free, and the bag’s mesh outer shell allows anglers to wash and dry their rigs easily. The real treat is what lies inside, however—20 of Blue Water Candy’s most popular king mackerel rigs. Tied with #5 wire and including naked rigs, rigs with the most effective Hot Shot and Featherweight skirt colors, and Dead Bait Rigs with a no-spin jighead, there’s a rig included for every live or dead bait king mackerel application. Blue Water Candy’s entire line of tackle is handmade in eastern North Carolina, and their skirts, lures, rigs, and more can be found at most local tackle retailers Anglers can peruse the company’s entire catalog at www.bluewatercandylures.com.

 

Power Fish-N-Mate

Angler’s Fish-N-Mate, long a leader in fishing cart and rod rack manufacturing, has developed a new powered fishing cart, perfect for anglers who have difficulty getting a loaded cart across soft sand or who have a long distance to travel to reach their fishing holes. A dual-traction, 12-volt motor supplies power to a pair of 6.5×16” pneumatic reels that get the cart where it’s going at low and high speeds, and anglers who already own Fish-N-Mate carts can buy the powered kit and retrofit it to their existing carts. The Power Fish-N-Mate features eight rod holders, and lightweight, non corrosive aluminum construction. The basket area of the cart measures 10x22x49”, meaning there’s plenty of room for coolers, buckets, chairs, sand spikes, and all the other gear that surf, pier, and bridge fishermen like to tote along. The powered cart weighs a mere 49 lbs., so it’s light enough for an angler to get in and out of an automobile single-handed. The carts’ heavy-duty construction means it will hold up to 200 lbs. Accessories available include a 12V cigarette lighter adaptor for a solar charger, spotlight, or cell pone charger, alligator clips for charging the battery off a car or truck battery, and a kayak adaptor. Anglers can check out the Power Fish-N-Mate at local tackle shops or learn more at www.rodrack.com.

 

Super Stick

Offering anglers all the attributes of a traditional push pole but without the storage headaches, Super Stick’s telescopic fiberglass push poles can change the way anglers fish. Not even an electric motor can sneak up on shallow-feeding fish as stealthily as a push pole in skilled hands. The company’s 6’ and 9’ models extend to 12 and 17’ respectively, meaning they’ll fit in under-gunnel rod holders or other out of the way locations on a boat. The company’s patented positive locking device allows anglers to extend and lock the pole at any length in the device’s range. Super Sticks are light (3¼ and 5 lbs. each), strong, and feature a non-slip texture on the outer pole for secure handling. An included Duck Foot attachment is ideal for pushing a boat over soft bottom, and the pointed opposite end makes for a perfect stake-out pole when it’s time to cast. The Duck Foot has a swing-out lure or decoy retriever, and detaches with the push of a button to allow anglers to attach deck brushes, boat hooks, gaffs, gigs, and more (a ¾” threaded insert is included and compatible with a host of attachments). Super Sticks are available at many local tackle retailers and anglers can learn more and find a dealer online at www.thesuperstick.com.

 

Dry Case

Using vacuum-seal technology to protect anglers’ small electronics like cell phones, mp3 players, and digital cameras, the Dry Case will make dropping an expensive smart phone into the drink a non-issue. In fact, users can even plug in the company’s Dry Buds headphones to the head/microphone port and listen to music or make calls while surfing, skiing, and engaging in other wet activities. Dry Cases include a neoprene armband that allows the device to be worn on an arm or leg and adds enough buoyancy to keep it floating should it fall in the water. Both sides of the Dry Case are crystal clear, meaning photos can be taken while a camera or smart phone remains completely protected. Iphones and other touch-screen devices remain fully functional while inside, so there’s no reason to leave any piece of small electronics exposed to the elements. Each Dry Case is individually tested underwater overnight to ensure it maintains its seal, and they come with a one year warranty as well. Interested anglers can find Dry Cases at a variety of local outdoor and tackle shops and learn more at www.drycase.com.

 

Blacktip Angler Kit

Rods, reels, and tackle are only part of what anglers need to enjoy a successful day on the water, but Blacktip Tools new Angler Kit has the rest for an amazing $59.99.  The five-piece set includes a 6” filet knife and sheath, a 2.5” bait knife, a 9” dehooker, and an 8” set of pliers. Both knives have a precision ground edge and Microban Antimicrobial Protection to inhibit the growth of stain and odor causing bacteria. The dehooker is a pistol-grip style with contoured handles for a secure grip even when wet and features a handy built-in hook sharpener. A tungsten wire cutter, replaceable jaws and cutters, contoured non-slip grips, and a locking lanyard top the list of features of the burly 8” pliers. All the tools feature Blacktip’s unique and patented Titanium bonded construction, combining the metal with stainless and high-carbon steel to produce tools that stay sharper and last longer than steel counterparts in the corrosive marine environment. In fact, all the tools carry a lifetime, over the counter warranty, so if one should ever fail; a replacement is as close as the retailer where it was purchased.

 

Stowpen

Arriving in the morning to a bait pen full of fresh, live baits can take a lot of the stress out of a fishing day, whether it’s a tournament or a fun trip. Unfortunately, any bait pen large enough to be useful also presented a massive storage hassle until the introduction of the Stow Pen. Designed by a Topsail-area angler, the pen features a collapsible and foldable design that allows it to fit into a mesh storage bag taking up only a fraction of the width and height of the pen itself. The patented design is available in three sizes with 24, 36, and 48” diameters, and each, when folded into its mesh bag, will easily fit in most boat storage compartments. Knotless mesh construction, a floating top ring, and weighted bottom ring are standard on all the models
The company also manufactures the soft-bottomed Transfer Pen. Anglers can empty their cast-nets into the Transfer pen boatside, then dump the bait from the pen into their livewell, keeping the boat’s interior much cleaner. Stowpens are sold direct from the manufacturer, and more information about the unique design and ordering information are available at www.stowpen.com.