Hot New Gear

from FishTalk - May 2017

Notes from the Cockpit

Fireline metered

The latest of Berkley’s FireLines, the Metered version, is multicolored with each color at 10-foot increments. There’s no more guessing as to how much line you have out with this stuff. Otherwise, it’s exactly like other FireLines (“thermofused” braid, which has a bit better abrasion resistance then most braids but is also a bit stiffer). It’s currently available in 100-yard spools in four- to 20-pound test, though that range will likely expand in the future. Price: $18.

okuma metaloid

Okuma had been lacking a bit in the high-quality, mid-priced inshore spinning reel department, and the Metaloid sets out to fill that gap. Designed to stand up to saltwater use, it features a sealed drag system, forged stainless-steel main gear, seven stainless-steel bearings, a die-cast aluminum body, a machined-aluminum spool and handle, and a corrosion-resistant coating. We can’t say just how well this reel will stand up to years of use on the Bay because it hasn’t been around long enough for thorough testing just yet. However, we can say that Okuma fans who fish the Chesapeake should appreciate this new option— and Okuma is backing the reel with a three-year warranty. Price: $189 - $199.

st. croix sole

The newest fly rod from St. Croix, the Sole, is designed to stand up to saltwater use but be equally effective in the fresh stuff. This is a two-piece rod, but St. Croix’s aim with it was to deliver the accuracy of a onepiece rod. The long butt section doesn’t have ferrules, and the pieces have alignment markings coded with line weights. It’s made with high-modulus graphite, Zero Tangle stripper guides with titanium frames, Fuji reel seats, and cork handles, and comes with a spare tip section and a mesh rod sack. The Sole is available in four- to 12-line weights. Price: $340 - $360. Added Bonus: St. Croix gives the rod a 15-year transferrable warranty.

For more gear reviews, check out: FishTalkMag.com/gear

simrad nss evo3

Simrad has some big news in the form of the NSS evo3 MFD. This is one of the few marine units to apply IPS (in-plane switching) screen technology. The bottom line? You can crane your neck all the way until you’re seeing the screen from a 175-degree angle, and you’ll lose sight of the faceplate before the screen ever fades away. As they say on TV: but wait, there’s more! The evo3 is a big step up from the evo2, with double the screen resolution, a dualchannel CHIRP fishfinder, ForwardScan and StructureScan, and wifi all built-in. Radar, autopilot, and the like merely await being plugged in. We found the touch-screen interface easy, and particularly like the included rotary control and buttons that offer back-up for rough days. The evo3 is available in seven-, nine-, 12-, and 16-inch models, ranging from $1299 to $5499. Visit simrad-yachting.com.

shimano coltsniper sinking stickbait

Here’s a new one for slightly sinking stickbait fans: the Shimano Coltsniper Sinking Stickbait. It comes in awesome metallic mirror-like finishes, in eight color choices. Available in 120mm and 140mm sizes (4.7 inches and 5.5 inches) with chemically finished saltwater treble hooks, the Coltsniper sinks slowly and has a wide side-to-side swimming action. Internal weighting slides back during the cast to increase casting distance, and then springs forward when the lure splashes down to keep it swimming on an even keel. Price: $15.

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yeti Tundra 350

The newest Yeti is also the biggest, and with 82.4 gallons of capacity, the Yeti Tundra 350 is big enough to do double duty as your boat’s liferaft (the lawyers say we have to add “not that we’re recommending it.” Sheesh.) It’s two feet across, two feet tall, and just over five feet long. Yes, five feet—with a little bending, you could get a legal swordfish to fit into this thing. It will hold more than 300 pounds of ice. It will hold more than 200 cans of beer on ice. It will hold… it will hold… well heck, it’ll hold Beyonce. It is, of course, also one of the most expensive coolers on the face of the planet, and it weighs 89 pounds empty. But if you want to own the king of all coolers, this is it. Price: $1299.

squidnation Flippy Floppy

No, the Flippy Floppy isn’t exactly new, but since this magazine didn’t exist yet when it was first introduced and it’s brought fame and (hopefully) fortune to one of our own home-grown Maryland tackle manufacturers, Bill Pino of Squidnation, we thought it was well worth putting on these pages. The Flippy Floppy is sort of a cross between a daisy chain and a splash bar, with little squid on the end of sticks attached to big squid. They flip, they flop, and they look like nothing natural on the face of Planet Earth—yet they draw the ire of tunas and billfish alike. And, no small deal, the Flippy Floppy won the Best of Show award in the Soft Lure category at the 2016 International Convention of Allied Sportfishing Trades show. Go Bill! Price: $99.