Photo by Dee Kaminski Photo by Dee Kaminski
What’s New 2014
New Kayaks
Bob Bramblet
The Trifecta www.KayakFishingClassicS.com
Weather Effects on Fish
Under Pressure
Introducing the new Amigo www.DiabloPaddlesports.com
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What’s Inside
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FEATURES 8 Snook Time Baby
32 Space Coast
13 Aching Back
A guides view
16 SUPer Time
36 The Trifecta
20 New Kayaks
38 Nature Coast
The Stand Up Trend Continues
It’s Hot Hot Hot
29 Sarasota
41 4 & 4
Fishing Sarasota
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DEPARTMENTS 6 Editors Letter Are we having fun yet
26 Anglers Health Eeew! You Got Bugs
52 Bob’s Corner 56 A Few Words
43 Under Pressure
On The Cover:
Dee Kaminski East Coast Snook
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Editors Letter
Are You Having Fun Yet? I grew up learning life’s little lessons like most people and I was taught early on to treat people with respect and kindness. People are people regardless of what they do for a living, their faith or background. Simply put, we are all Americans...period. I grew up in a time that we as Americans helped our neighbors and someone in need. We did this without expectation of anything in return and it felt pretty damn good as well. Much has changed today, some for the good and some things not so much. There are many great things that our younger friends do for our country and I am very proud of all of them. What I don’t understand is the meanness that some people openly display toward anyone that is different. That very diversity has helped build our great nation and culture. It is perhaps too easy to forget with our busy schedules that we are really all a family. It is time for America to step up and live up to what our founding fathers had in mind before we become what they sought to escape from when they came to this country in the first place. If all of us would slow down a bit and make it a point to help someone out each day we would all be the better for it. It is time to come together and stop the derision. Our sport is a great catalyst and can open many doors if you let it. Take someone fishing today and make a new friend. The junk will melt away and you may discover that we are all much alike after all.
Captain Pat Horrigan 6
www.DenaliPerformance.com
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Snook Time Baby
When it comes to having fun, size does matter. Hooking huge snook is a blast and the bigger they are usually equates to more fun...it’s goodyer as they say. This 38” monster above was caught by Mike Conneen with the Harry Goode Outdoor Shop can attest to that as the big lady gave him quite a ride for sure. As many of us know the winter of 2010 was very hard on the snook population throughout Florida and the Gulf snook season has been closed since. There has been much debate of course as to when it should reopen as both sides of that Issue
pound the pew and insist they are correct in this debate. Fact is that the FWC is considering reopening the Gulf snook season in September and that announcement seems to have renewed and fueled the debate for many.
The anglers that are against the reopening in the Gulf argue that more time is needed for the offspring of the winter kill survivors be allowed to mature and breed. This would help build stocks of course and poses a question.
The proponents of reopening the snook season in the Gulf argue that there are snook everywhere and it’s time to allow anglers to enjoy a daily limit of one of the tastiest fish in the sea. Another consideration is the revenue that the open season would bring, and that would be considerable. Paddle to page 10
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www.SteveWhitlock.com 9
continued form page 7
It comes down to what kind of a snook fishery do you want? Think about that for a minute and keep in mind the good ole days that we all hear about. We as anglers have a unique opportunity to not only save the Gulf snook population but to also build it into a truly world class population where catching a 40” snook is common place. Snook will actually grow quite large if given the chance. As you fish inshore in the bays, bayous, creeks and rivers you will catch so many small snook that they are almost a nuisance…almost. This is a very good sign and we should cultivate this new breed of super snook. That’s right, super snook. If you think back to the kill event
of 2010, it was very cold for a sustained period of time. Snook are inshore fish and don’t move offshore much even when the water is freezing cold inshore. Only the strongest, healthiest snook survived the event and their offspring carry the superior genes of this strength and instinctual savvy. Why not take full advantage of this and allow the offspring to grow huge and breed. Think about what that would be like. It’s not like you can’t catch them and enjoy a great battle. You just would not be allowed to kill them and that would pay huge dividends to all anglers who like to catch the species. How long does it take a snook to mature? Well that’s a question that we are often asked. To begin with all snook are born as males and mature at age 4 or 5 of
their life then become females. Snook live a long time, around 20 years and we may not see a decline in juveniles right away until it is too late. We could also get another very bad winter that could be devastating to the population of surviving snook. All of the smaller snook that anglers are catching now are very young and are mostly males. The point here is that the offspring of the surviving snook are just kids and are not ready to begin breeding yet. The FWC has the final say so but we as anglers should let them know how you feel one way or the other. Enough of that and on to the snook catching. Snook are very active during full moon tides. They spawn and the mouth of current flows near fresh water inlets where it meets the salt. The bumping goes on Paddle to next page
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continued form page 7
hot and heavy and the eggs get fertilized then the tide action pushes the eggs up into the fresh water. The eggs get washed out at next tidal flow and then back in. Finally the eggs hatch after about 18 hours of this and we have a no generation of snook. We all the how the rest of this cycle works and the short of it is that very few make it to maturity, as with most species. It’s just a part of nature.
kayak around, headed up strong current, circled the boat, dove & came back then headed up current. The final insult was showing me her monster backside then heading bursting my rod into three places are way back up stream. I would say that she had her way with me and generally took me to school. The great thing about it was that I loved every minute of it. I know where she lives and I am heading back there this weekend.
If you angle for snook you already know how elusive they are and just how frustrating they can be. I can’t begin to imagine how many monster snook that I have floated a fly in front of only to be ignored or outright snubbed. That’s just a part of it and it makes the hook up all that more special. Specialery? No? Last year at this time a huge snook turned my
Our friend Jean McElroy recently caught a big ole snook, pictured above over on the east coast and guide Michael Julian caught a nice Pine Island snook a few weeks ago while pre fishing for the Pine Island Classic. There’s no doubt about it. Catching big ole snook is a flat out blast and we hope you catch a few yourself.
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Just Add Water... www.LiveTargetLures.com
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No More Aching Back
Kayak anglers spend hours at a time while fishing for big game and inshore species. They do this day after day, month after month making the need for a great kayak seat all the more important. I do the same with one exception; I suffered a very serious back injury that nags me still, years after the occurrence. While talking to the good people at Skwoosh about my problem they informed me that they had a new seat that they wanted to me to try out designed just for my kind of problem. I received the Big Catch high back seat and low and behold, it has an adjustable lumbar pad on it. That may not sound too exciting if you don’t have a back problem but I will tell you that this seat is for everyone who paddles. Talk about comfort, I was in kayak fishing heaven.
All I needed to do is catch some fish. I adjusted the seat to fit my Diablo Adios Kayak and paddled off into the wilds of the Nature Coast of Florida for what I hoped would be a great day of paddling and fishing. I just could not get over how comfortable the seat was. Occasionally I would adjust the lumbar support to test all of the different settings and then I found the sweet spot. Another common complaint that anglers and paddlers alike have is the sore bottom syndrome. Skwoosh took care of that issue as well. The Big Catch seat has the Classic Paddling fluidized gel cushion with AirFlo3D breathable fabric to sit on for even greater comfort and support. It doesn’t stop there. The Big Catch
By Capt. Pat Horrigan
High Back has a 20” contoured back with sewn in rigid stays or battens, to compliment the adjustable lumbar support and help make it the best kayak fishing seat on the market. The heavy duty, breathable, welded seam fabric and corrosion resistant hardware will give many years of comfortable, reliable service to any angler. Really it feels more like your favorite chair. All of this will help you fish all day long like a pro and speaking of fishing, Skwoosh got with our good friends at Plano and came up with a great tackle system that goes beyond convenient. Skwoosh came up with a detachable fishing pack with two rod holders and three Plano utility boxes which are of course included, hey it’s a Skwoosh. To sweeten the deal they also included two
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more little Plano utility boxes that are perfect for your favorite flies or small tackle. There is one such box located left and right on the upper sides of this well thought out seat. Upon my return, several hours later I stood up and (drum roll please) no problem. No back pain or numb legs and the bottom section of the seat its job too. Wow! I was very impressed. I didn’t stop there. The Diablo Adios is a very wide and stable fishing platform kayak. I wanted to test the stability effect of the Big Catch kayak set on a much more narrow and tippy kayak. Why? Many kayak anglers also use long and narrow kayaks for distance fishing. The narrow design can be tippy so I wanted to take a look at the effect the seat would have, if any on the stability of such a boat. First I paddled around in the kayak with the ‘standard’ seat in it, made a
few casts, again no fish for me. The boat was good but I was quickly made aware of the ‘tippy’ nature of this particular kayak. That sudden side to side jerk that you can get when you tip too far for comfort one way and counter your weight toward the other side, is not a pleasant surprise to anyone with a back problem. This is just the nature of many kayaks. There is a primary catch or balance point and a secondary catch point on all such kayaks and if you are not used to it or do not expect it you can jerk your back.
As it turned out I just wasn’t going to catch any fish that day but I did learn just how amazing the Skwoosh Big Catch seat is. You should also know that I tested some Skwoosh gear before ever inviting them to become involved as a sponsor to the Kayak Fishing ClassicS. After all, I am an angler too… For more information about all of the great made in the USA Skwoosh products please visit them at www.Skwoosh.com
I then put the Skwoosh Big Catch seat into the same kayak, made the proper adjustments and paddled away. I did the same things that I had done while seated in the ‘standard’ seat but found a much different boat reaction to my movements. The Big Catch positioned and supported me in such a way that I never felt like the boat was going to roll over or tip. Soooo, lets rock the boat! That’s a good idea, isn’t it? Well yes as it turned out and I did it in comfort and grace if I may add.
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Meet the Family
www.RiverBum.com
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SUPer Time
By Capt. Mike Julian
I looked at my reel and wondered how much line I had left on the spool. Thankfully, the fish cruised onto the shallow water of the flat and not into the mangroves. Had the later been the case, I would have broken off for sure. Should I tighten up the drag? No, I am going to let it run. More power to her if she can spool out 200 yards of 10 lb. braid. Problem now was not the amount of line, but possibly that at any turn of this red fish’s head I would feel the line go slack as my 15lb fluorocarbon leader is broken through. My anchor stake held tight as the fish came steadily closer and closer. As I saw the huge bull red slide into the net, I could not help but let out a triumphant yell. That was the last fish I needed to solidify an already solid score In the KFC tournament, I thought. The only thing that made this day sweeter was the fact that I had done it on a standup paddle board (SUP). Now I have to be honest here, this decision to use a SUP came from an absolute love of all board sports. From surf-
ing to snowboarding, I have always had a passion for cruising around on a board. Once I realized I could possibly fish off one, I was hooked! What could possibly be better than sight fishing for redfish on a SUP? My mind opened up to a completely new realm of fishing opportunities! As I got bet-
ter and better on the board, this novelty idea began to manifest itself into a viable new fishery with a perfect balance of stealth and line of sight. I know this sounds very familiar with any of the standup kayaks out there, but I assure you SUP fishing is in a league of its own. The streamlined architecture of the standup paddleboard allows you to glide effortlessly through the water, along with the boards light weight can make for a very productive flats stalker. Once the water becomes shallow enough to touch bottom, start push poling. This technique will allow you to drive yourself forward quietly with very little effort. As you push yourself forward you begin to feel as if you are pushing a miniature flats skiff, all while scanning the clear flats water in order to get that one glimpse of your prized target. Yes, people have been fishing on kayaks for years. I myself have a certain soft spot for kayak fishing, being that it was my only way of getting offshore
Paddle to next page
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for years and years. Though now, I must say, I have been somewhat overtaken. Being able to catch not just any fish, but quality inshore fish on a SUP is a fantastic feeling. It overwhelms you the first time you experience it, and I can only describe it as an awesome challenge that everyone who enjoys the water and fishing should try! Capt. Mike Julian has a lifetime of fishing experience from the New England surf to the flats of Tampa Bay. Paired with an abundance of knowledge in the techniques and practices of standup paddle boarding, creates an inshore experience not to miss! Whether you are a first time paddle boarder or are on the hunt for trophy inshore game fish, let Hook SUP be your guide to an experience of a lifetime! To contact Capt. Mike or for all other information please visit ;
www.HooksupFishing.com
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The All New Kayak Fly Line
Kayak Fly Fishing Made Easy Worlds Best Fly Lines SINCE 1971 www.JimTeeny.com
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Guide Series Waterproof Boxes
www.PlanoMolding.com
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New Kayaks...the Trend Continues In our last issue we featured an article titled the ‘Rise of the Standup Kayak’ and it drew a great deal of attention. The manufactures have heard your cry for more choices and real fishing features to enhance this popular fishing technique. These kayak manufactures haven’t been just standing around or resting on their rumps while riding prior success. No sir, they have been working hard to bring you some very impressive, all new kayaks for 2014 and we are proud to say that we have them. Old Town Canoes & Kayaks made huge waves at the ICAST 2013 when they introduced the Predator 13 and Predator MX. The Predator boats are so impressive that the Predator 13 took the Best in Show Award, hands down. No easy task considering that the best of the best were all trying to do the same thing. Old Town really listened to what kayak anglers really want and need for our sport and designed this standup fishing machine with you in mind…awesome. The features of the Predator 13 evolves
solely around a highly stable fishing platform that is as quite as a church mouse on Sunday and easy to paddle. The super dry, super comfortable Predator is packed with meaningful fishing features that every kayak angler will want. No superficial fluffy stuff but far from Spartan. Features such as the removable mounting surfaces found throughout the boat and in the right
places will most certainly start another new and meaningful trend in the industry. No more drilling holes in a perfectly good boat. There’s just something about drilling a holes in a vessel that gets me twitchy, know what I mean? I mentioned comfort and that is very important to any serious angler that lives, breaths and eats kayak fishing. If you’re one of us then this is the right boat for you. The adjustable, flip up seating is so comfortable that you won’t even notice where the day went until your stomach starts gnawing at you. The Predator is quiet and dry and comes ready for you to make it your own. I won’t go into all of the features here however we will be doing a feature article about the Predator 13 in the future. Old Town will be awarding 2 of the Predator 13 kayaks at our national championship this year. Take a look at this beauty on our website and…prepare to be amazed.
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KC Kayaks out of Louisiana has introduced another standup fishing machine. When you fish the bayous of Louisiana for their famously huge redfish, it’s all about sight fishing in very shallow water. There the bayous meander around for miles and miles of nature’s splendor and the easy to paddle, stable and dry K12 will get the job done. The boat is so stable in fact that you can stand on the gunwale without putting much of a list on one of these beauties.
If simple, uncluttered fishing with lots of elbow room and a deck big enough to flop a couple of monster reds fits your style of fishing, the KC K12 is for you. The lightweight, highly stable, quiet and dry, no nonsense approach to
shallow water kayak fishing that the K12 offers is a bargain. The clean lines of the unique hull design can only be described as a great work of hydrology knowledge in action. We think you will be greatly surprised with how smooth this kayak is. The go anywhere K12 is just that and she shows off with the first stroke of the paddle. The high riding hull design affords you the ability to spot fish while you are seated. Can’t believe your eyes? Then stand right up on the seat for an even better view of the big ole tale with a bright blue spot. Yaw’re not seeing tings son, dem redfish is dat big in Lousian. We are very proud to announce that KC Kayaks have joined the Kayak Fishing ClassicS as a kayak sponsor and they will also be awarding 2 of the K12 kayaks at our national championship. You can learn more about the K12 on our website and look for a feature article about this awesome kayak in the future.
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This brings us to our old friend Diablo Paddlesports. These are the guys how started the standup trend a few years ago and have been with us since. Diablo makes the Adios and the shorter Chupacabra models that are a blend of a kayak and a paddle board.
clear at time of this publication, whether they will be awarding the Adios or the new Amigo however, either boat is awesome… you can bet your Cracker Jacks’
They have been working on a new model for a couple of years and have just came out with the new Amigo. This is a departure in materials used by Diablo Paddlesports as the Amigo is made by traditional rotomolding methods to lower the cost for one, and to offer a variation on the hand crafted Adios hull. The Amigo bottom side is wider than the Adios however it is more hydrodynamic and slicker in the water. When you first look at the wide Amigo you may think it to be a chore to paddle but this is not the case. Some pretty slick designing went into this boat throughout. From the dry Chupacabra bow hatch to the deck to the fan you will notice little subtle changes in this all new model. These changes account for a wide yet fast and highly stable standup fishing platform that will go over water that many kayaks will insist that you get your feet wet and tow…nice. Diablo Paddlesports will be awarding 2 kayaks, 1 at each of our divisional championships. Unfortunately it is not yet
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www.AquaBound.com
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www.DiabloPaddleSports.com 24
Experience the comfort of Skwoosh. Fish All Day
www.Skwoosh.com
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Eeeew! You Got Bugs!
Anglers Health By Capt. Pat Horrigan
Ewuee! You Got Bugs! Many of us don’t think much about pulling our kayaks and gear through the narrow Mangrove paths to get to our favorite fishing places but we really should, especially in this time of year. It’s not my favorite greeting when I get home to hear someone say Oooo! You got bugs! It kind of creeps me out a bit when I think about it. Ticks in particular can be very nasty and generally unhealthy and they love the same places that we as anglers do. When I get my kayak onto the water and am ready to launch I now take a few minutes to check for the little buggers. Not just on myself but also in my kayak and on my gear. The kayak of course brushes against the Mangroves and grasses where the varmints live and the small branches and grass always seems to find their way onboard. Since I started watching for this I have found a few ticks in the boat and on my hat. I have also had to do battle with a few sizeable spiders that were free -boarding and had to put them ashore before launching. Have you ever felt something crawling on your neck while you’re fishing or
looked down only to see a silver dollar size spider looking back up at you? Now that will get you itchy. Worse yet is the snake thing. When it comes to snakes I can do a pretty good Indiana Jones imitation. I can step and fetch with the best of them to get away from one of them but it’s a different dance when you are in your kayak. I’m not really afraid of them, I just don want one as a fishing partner.
I have learned to make some noise before I begin entering down the kayak path. I really don’t want to disturb a big
Ticks and mosquitoes usually go hand in hand as they both like the same wet, muddy, mangrove sheltered areas. Most ticks are within one meter of the ground when found in the grass or on lower vegetation. Rarely will you actually find a tick in the mangrove branches themselves. If you find a tick on your head or hat it is because it crawled up there. You will usually find them on your legs if you check early enough in the process. All of know of the health issues associated with some ticks so we won’t go into that other than to say that you can get pretty darn sick from them.
ole gator from its beauty rest or some other creature. Just good common sense and a few minutes of visual inspection can pay dividends. If you fish with a friend, take turns checking each other. After a good day of fishing you have to return through the same launch path so it’s a good thing to repeat the inspection before leaving in your vehicle and transporting unwanted guests into your home. If you have a youngster in your house that can render an ear-shattering screech at will, the last thing you want to hear after a peaceful day of fishing is Eeeew! You got bugs!
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Find Your Way in the Darkness... www.PrincetonTec.com
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Have a D.O.A. Day
www.DOA.com
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Fishing Sarasota
. It
Was a beautiful Sunday morning in Sarasota Bay as the sun just began to sparkle on the calm waters. My client and I headed out to my favorite fishing spot in pursuit of Big Red and his friends. The winds were calm and the tide was incoming as we paddled into the area we were greeted by tailing redfish that seemed to be everywhere. We started out fishing a top water Zara Spook Junior in bone color only to miss several blowups. It is always exciting when using a top water lure even if you miss a few. Later we switched to the Mirror0dine MR 17 with Olive green-
By Otis Coblentz
back and landed several more nice reds. As the temperature started to rise we switched over to soft plastic lures such as jerk baits on weighted weed-less hooks and fished them deep in the sandy holes and edges of grass flats. Fishing has been really good in the mornings in Sarasota with lots of redfish Snook and trout being caught. Most fish are lying in Sandy holes the reds are traveling across the grass flats in search of their favorite food. The water has been very clear so it makes it easy to spot the fish but they can also see you so stealth is a must.
Otis’ Corner
The best method for catching these beautiful fish is using light tackle such as 10 to 15 pound test braided line like the SpiderWire Invisi-Braid with a 20 to 25 pound test Yo-Zuri HD Carbon pink fluorocarbon clear leader. Disappearing Pink tint HD Fluorocarbon is virtually invisible in the water and red is the first color to disappear in the water column. Pink is the lightest shade of red and as a result disappears the quickest. Combined with the SpiderWire helped make our presentation look all the more natural.
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Fishing Sarasota
Otis’ Corner cont.
Incoming tides seems to work the best for hungry morning redfish as they are moving up onto the flats with the rise of the tide. The trout bite has been and remains constant all day and the Snook bite has been strong in early-morning hours or late evening with the best bite late at night. It is tough to beat the natural beauty and great fishing of the Sarasota, Florida area and I’ll look forward to sharing it with you soon. If you are unfamiliar with the area and would like to fish it, we highly recommend Otis Coblentz, owner/operator of Hooked Up Kayak Fishing Charters, please visit his website and book an exciting charter with him today. www.HookedUpKayakFishingCharters.com
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Be sure you land em...
www.CummingsNets.com
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Space Coast
The common theme for July was hot, windy and rainy (afternoons mostly). The last couple of days have shown the typical flat calm days throughout most of the day. If you did not get out early in the morning or after the rain storms, you probably did not catch fish. The waters of the Mosquito and Norther Indian River Lagoon are still showing signs of brown tide and making it a challenge for anglers to sight fish but if you watch the surface level of the water, you can bet you will find tailing reds and in some areas, trout. Yes, trout tail too. You
By Dee Kaminski
can also see their backs out of the water as they are cruising the flat from one location to another. Water levels are still very low over the Lagoon system even with all the heavy rains. There is floating grass everywhere making the use of topwater plugs a challenge. Soft plastics have been the name of the game and rigged on the lightest tackle possible. The fish have been very spooky so a cast with a soft landing was required and then a slow retrieve towards your target. Snook can be found in many areas now. For all 3 fish, depending on floating
Dee’s Corner
grass, use topwater plugs in bone or mullet and then switch to a submersible soft plastics rigged weedless when the pressure rises mid-day. 12 Fathom Fat Sam 3 inch mullet or Buzz tail in Glow Shrimp, Glow, or Pearl White with Chartreuse tail rigged on a 1/16 oz 3/0 4/0 Edje Joe weedless hook will work best in semi-clean water where a Rootbeer or Watermelon Seed Red Glitter with a Chartreuse tail (this color is found at Productolure.com) will work best in dirty waters. As the sun heats up the flats, look for trout and reds in waters 3 - 4
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Space Coast
feet. We have been successful again this month with the pearl white 12 Fathom Buzz Tail rigged on an Edje Joe 3/0 1/16 oz jig as the gator trout's favorite meal!Soon the huge schools of redfish will be finished spawning and will begin to disperse into smaller schools but you still have time to catch that trophy red. There is still time to find trophy redfish in deeper waters with the size of reds decreasing as you get shallower on the flats. The Sebastian area is a different
By Dee Kaminski
story. The mullet run is in swing. The water is pretty clear with some areas holding grass on the flats. Sighting fish from the standing position means you will spook fish easily. They will see you before you see them. Making a long cast is your best bet at catching a sighted fish and being as quiet as possible. Topwater has been a good choice at sunrise and then switching to a Pearl White or New Penny Buzz Tails. Snook, reds and trout have shared their like for these. Skip cast under each cut of the mangrove and
Dee’s Corner
you will get hooked up on the drop of your lure or after the first twitch. Make sure your drag is set properly or you can lose them as they run back under. I usually tie a 30lb fluorocarbon leader just in case I might get cut of by barnacles or the sharp gill plate of the snook. For the kids, tie on a #2 J hook and put on a piece of shrimp. Cast under the mangroves and pull in all the mangrove snapper to your and their content! They are pretty much everywhere around the Sebastian Inlet area. You might even get surprised with a
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Space Coast
By Dee Kaminski
Dee’s Corner
nice sheepshead. I would like to thank everyone who chartered with me in July. We had some great catches and great thrills.
Marty B. from Ft. Meyers joined me on a trip to the Indian River. Marty B. has angling experience but has never tried fishing from a kayak. He had his sights set on purchasing the Native Watercraft Slayer to test out. I set up the kayaks at the launch and before I knew it, Marty was already paddling away. I jumped in my Ultimate 14.5 and caught up. We made our way to the first flat just around the corner. We were both throwing top waters given that this flat was littered with trout the day before. On the first cast, Marty hooks up on a nice trout but loses it as it jumps while shaking the lure right out. Making more casts, nothing happens, for either of us. Mullet is everywhere but nothing was nervous. Moving on to another favorite local we spot a school of redfish crushing bait under the mangroves. We both switch to plastics. Marty gets the right cast into the bait and comes up with a nice redfish. First fish caught in a kayak. A quick pic and the red is release back into the water. Several cast were made after but again,
nothing would hit. The school moved away silently leaving us with having to move to the next spot. We made a long paddle to the next location and Marty kept saying how light and wonderful the paddle was that he was using. As a matter of fact, he was talking aboutAqua Bound Surge Carbon paddle all day, that and about how comfortable the Slayer seats are. Once we reached the next flat where fish were holding, we were only able to make a few attempts and tailing redfish prior to a rain storm forcing us to take shelter under a dock for an hour. We used the time wisely and discussed the features of the Slayer and the way it was rigged for our use. After the passing of the storm, we paddled out only to find a huge red-
fish school for our casting pleasure. Unfortunately, a guide boat saw us casting into the "copper carpet" and decided it was his for the taking and pretty much spooked them into deeper water by polling over them. We pushed on to another great location and we would try find them on our way back after they settled down. There is an area where water runs off from some inaccessible backwaters. This usually holds big trout and some snook. Marty changed up his soft plastic color to a watermelon and began casting up and around the edge where bait fish were hanging. I left Marty the hot spot and I started to scout a little further away. All of a sudden I hear‌.ZZZZzzzzzz. "Dee, I have the biggest trout ever!" As I paddled over to help and
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Space Coast
get a pick, Marty slumps over. He lost the fish. He said it had to have been at least 30 inches, his biggest trout to date. I saw it tail dance out of the water from a distance and I agree. It would have been a prize catch. We finished the day by going back to finding the school of reds we left behind. And wouldn't you know it, they were almost in the same spot. The problem was, we drove over them ourselves but we did not spook them off the flat. We let them settle down and made a few casts to them. I managed to hook up on a 25 inch red while
By Dee Kaminski
Marty kept shaking his head in dismay why they didn't chew his bait. "Presentation," I said. "Your lure has to land in the zone and ahead of the fish moving." Marty was not standing so he could not get a visual on the school like I did. With that, we paddled back to the launch discussing the thrill of the day. Looks like Marty will be joining the kayak fishing community with a Slayer 14.5 and an AB
Dee’s Corner
Dee Kaminski is a top kayak fishing guide on the East Coast of Florida commonly known as the Space Coast. If you plan to visit the area, we highly recommend that you book a charter with her and catch some Big Ole Fish at;
www.ReelKayakFishing.com http://www.facebook.com/reelkayakfishing
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By Capt. Pat Horrigan
About a year ago my good friend Bob Bramblet called me and asked for my opinion and some help with an article that he was working on. I told Bob what I thought and what I felt his article needed. I also informed him that I am a better angler than a writer and that I only catch fish occasionally. Well those days are behind him now and Bob has become a good read and that is what this is about. Bob or Bonita Bob as many of you know him joined that Florida Outdoors Writers Association and has been keeping himself busy punching the keyboard and snapping photos. Bob is on our staff of writers for this magazine and has a section in it titled Bob’s Corner. There’s an interesting story about how that name came about but that’s another story. On August 21st thru 24th the FOWA held their annual conference and honored
The Trifecta
their members while they were at it. The honorees were selected and awarded for their works in the associations Excellence in Craft competition- 2013 for which Bob was duly recognized. Bob received three Awards in Excellence which included his work in our magazine. He was awarded 1st place for Online Media and Special Communications for his Florida Sportsman blog, 3rd place in photography for The Wait photograph and 3rd place for Outdoor Destination Article for "Road Trip" that was published in our KFC Tournament Trail magazine. Wow! That is quite a night that any writer would be proud of.
should be aware of what has gone on here and what it means. Bob and for that matter, all writers & photographers work hard and sacrifice greatly to bring you what you read and see. They give you their all so that you may enjoy a perspective through their eyes and lenses. It is unprecedented what Bob has done in such a short time. I would like to congratulate Bob and all of the writers/ photographers and thank all of them for their work. Now Bob take the lamp shade off, go to your corner and get to work…the party’s over.
We could not be happier for or prouder of Bob. He has worked very hard over the past few years in a very tough business and is rising to the top. It’s great to be recognized by your fellows however there is more to this. You as readers
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Hot Action on Nature Coast
Brian’s Corner
July and August marks the dog days of summer with no effect on the fishing on The Nature Coast. The redfish and snook bite has been on fire both species have not let up hitting the top water plugs throughout the heat of the day. The last 3 trips in the month of August have produced over 16 redfish in the mid to over slot and snook ranging from 18” to 32”. I’m really looking forward to some stellar fall fishing .Tight Lines and Take a Kid fishing it’s a lasting memory.
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At the End of 4 & 4
With 4 tournaments in each division in the books and on the leader boards it is championship time. The Gulf Coast Series division championship tournament is scheduled for September 7 and will be held up in Ozello, Florida. What an awesome place to draw a line in the sand so to speak. The East Coast Series division championship is scheduled for October 5 on the Indian River. Another awesome fishery where there is sure to be an epic battle for the overall series victory. There are some heavy weight anglers going bow to bow in both divisions and it still is anyone’s game. An angler can have a bad day, as we all know and the other guy has a great day. That’s one of the things that make this sport so exciting. Also new for 2013 is the Angler of the Year title for both divisions. The same angler may not win in both the east and gulf divisions and is determined by his home division. Over the years we have seen some electrifying finishes and this year should not be any different. The stage is set, the anglers are ready and tournament day can’t get here fast enough. Good Fishing.
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Under Pressure
“They just weren’t biting today”, said my Dad, as I pack up my little Plano tackle box and head back to the car. I drag my feet and carry my rod by its tip, bummed that this was our first trip to our secret spot (which in actuality, turned out to be a creek connected to the 7 Seas Lagoon at Disney). This was our 4th trip this year and I had never been skunked before. Talk about a hit straight to the gut. “Don’t worry, Justin, that’s fishing”, he said as he pat my back and we drove away. I may have only been 8 years old, and I
By Justin Ritchey
knew I didn’t have all the answers, but I couldn’t shake the feeling that it wasn’t that simple. What if I told you that fish and people are not that different from each other? Would you believe me if I said I take care of saltwater game fish for a living? The past two years I have spent with Bottled Ocean Inc. have been such a rewarding experience for me, both as an angler and wildlife enthusiast. Being able to maintain and monitor Redfish, Tarpon, Snook and other inshore quarry in
a controlled environment for a living is a dream, and during this time I’ve discovered things about their behavior that many anglers never see in the wild. I’d like to start by saying I’m no expert or “Fish Whisperer”. My observations with hatchery raised game fish in captivity can only answer so many questions. But what I have come to realize is that these laboratory-reared fish are not that different from their wild relatives. It should come as no surprise that fish, and humans, are creatures of Paddle to next page
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Under Pressure
habit. Food, shelter, socialization and reproduction are the driving elements for most animals, and there are many factors that influence these actions. One of the most controversial topics is the effects of Barometric Pressure on a fish’s feeding tendencies and behavior. Trust me, as much as I’m fascinated about science, it can be boring to hear about units of measurement, pounds per square inch (psi). and so on. In short, Barometric Pressure is the amount of weight of the atmosphere above us. Our atmosphere
experiences various Highs and Lows throughout a season; a Low pressure often represents a storm front sometimes followed by a drop in temperature while a High pressure indicates the period after a front where skies start to clear and weather begins to stabilize. As anglers, we tend to associate a drop in barometric pressure as the signal for fish to start feeding, or the period after the storm (rising, High pressure) as being the time where fishing is difficult. Funny thing is, we are talking about targeting animals that survive and
hunt in water, which is 800 times denser than air. On the other hand Hydrostatic pressure, the amount of pressure underwater, is constantly changing due to waves, tides and the depth these fish choose to swim between, considering their air bladder allows them the ability to regulate throughout the water column effortlessly.
Consider that a normal value for barometric pressure is about 30 inches (in relation to a mercury/ Paddle to next page
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Under Pressure
vacuum encased meter). Strong high pressure is commonly about 30.70 inches. A powerful low, such as during a hurricane, can reach down to 28 inches or less. The difference between these two extremes (2.7 inches of barometric pressure) is equal to about .09 units of atmosphere. The barometric pressure difference from a simple passing cold front is only about .06 atmospheres. The rate of a falling barometer also tells us how fast a low-pressure storm is approaching. A slow-moving storm would have a dip of about .02 to .03 inches of barometric pressure per hour; a fastmoving storm will drop the barometer about 0.05 to 0.06 inches per hour. Simply stated, barometric pressure does not change quickly
enough to magically turn the bite on or off. But let’s not discredit the barometric pressure theory all together; pressure is important! The purpose of barometric pressure is to indicate changes in the weather, which is the key element to fish behavior. It’s only natural that we respond to changing conditions; whether it puts us in a pleasant mood or it gives us an agonizing headache, changes in the weather can take its toll on fish and man alike. Wind direction, temperature, light intensity and precipitation all play their part when fish are on the prowl. In my lagoon at work, I’ve observed that weather patterns heavily influence a fish’s mood. For all intensive purposes, I will compare the attitude of these game
fish based on their iconic tendencies during stable conditions (light winds, minimal to moderate cloud cover and consistent temperatures). Redfish, which are incredibly social and curious beasts, lead with confidence and often school together as they circumnavigate the exhibit in search of small snails and ghost shrimp, just as they would on grass flats and sand bars across the state. Ambush predators, such as Snook and Mangrove Snapper, are often aiming straight into returning water jets placed throughout the exhibit (just as predators sit downcurrent during tidal phases awaiting an easy meal) or seeking refuge near dark corners as the sun rises throughout the day. Black Drum, a generally lazy and surprisingly anti-social animal, is commonly found near the edge of dock pilings or areas with limited grass. However, this tendency changes as we approach Winter and temperatures drop, where the 9 Black Drum I have in the lagoon seem to greet each other warmly as if they had returned for a High School Reunion. During this time, the once active Redfish and Snook tend to slow their movement and find deeper areas to conserve energy until the sun rises and raises the surface temperature of the lagoon. On the other hand, some fish are not as easily defined by their tenPaddle to next page
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Under Pressure dencies. For example, Tarpon are some of the most unpredictable fish in the lagoon system. During most weather cycles, their attitude can change from social to reserved, hungry and actively rolling to discontent, with no apparent influence of the weather. One day I can find them daisy chaining in the deeper 6’ portion of the exhibit on gloomy, overcast days during the middle of a front, then on a subsequent front they are laid-up and motionless as they await for the storm to pass. Each feeding show their performance levels vary from leaping several feet out of the water in hopes of a mullet or shrimp, to having no interest in any kind of food variety for several days. In relation to weather, there seems to be no rhyme or reason to their behavior. Even Sheepshead have an odd disposition. Regardless of weather, they tend to have only one behavior: highly territorial. As anglers roam the flats in search of tailing or cruising fish, we sometimes come into contact with these seemingly-weary creatures. We often miss the opportunity to cast at these bandits before they take off out of sight, and yet in my lagoon I have found them to be quite pushy and aggressive. When we think about targeting Sheepshead, heavy structures and dock pilings come to mind. This makes perfect sense, since they tend to firmly stick to their residence unless yanked away by skilled anglers. Anytime I make
my way into the lagoon to routinely clean one of the decorative rock piles, I can always count on Sheepshead to be right at my feet, pecking away at my waders until I get the message, “You’re not welcome in my home.” Although other elements such as pH, dissolved oxygen and nitrate/ phosphorous levels affect my fish in their environment, I can’t deny the fact that fish are heavily influenced by their surroundings and the effects of weather patterns. So many things can dictate whether the fish will be feeding, and each species has their own preferred set of conditions during various times of the year. Unfortunately, there isn’t an answer to every mystery in fishing. But my philosophy has always been simple:
Success=Preparation + Luck Since only one of these is within our control, it is up to us to be armed with whatever may be thrown our way. Understanding
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Bass on
the Road is a story about two kayak anglers embarking on a fishing road trip. Bob Bramblet and Jim Van Pelt are mainly saltwater anglers and decided to try something different. They left the shallow inshore flats of Southwest Florida and began a weeklong journey through South Carolina, Georgia and Alabama in search of as many different bass species as they could find. Rob Devore of Yaktastic Adventures and cameraman Chris Patricella went along for the ride to capture the action, or in some cases, the lack thereof. The guys met up with Stewart Venable, Evan Howard and Eric Hughes of the River Stalkers. What followed was a story of adversity, weather, miles and miles of driving and ultimate success. And humor, lots of humor.
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Snook are Ready
By Bob Bramblet
Bob’s Corner
To our readers; please be aware that this article may be considered a bit controversial and is the opinion of the writer. Bob Bramblet is a member of Florida Outdoor Writers Association.
There is no doubt that the snook is one of the most popular game fish in Florida waters. Anglers come from all over the world just for a shot at them. After the “Big Freeze” of 2010, it was thought that snook populations may never recover, however the 2013 Stock Assessment of snook published by the State of Florida has recently caused the Florida Wildlife Commission to open snook season on the Gulf coast after stirring controversy from anglers on both sides of the issue. Esteban Gutierrez, an angler from Southwest Florida says keep the closure. “I have been catching a lot of snook, but nowhere near the numbers I have before.” Esteban is a kayak fishing guide and knows the area well. “Many of the snook I have caught in the last few years are smaller. It wouldn’t hurt to keep the closure for another year or more till these little guys grow up. I don’t doubt FWC’s numbers, they have been doing this for many years, and I just personally think they can wait.” Many anglers share Esteban’s opinion, but others like Jeff Gabrick from Bonita Springs think the snook are back. “The snook are stacked up in the passes” Jeff says, “They are there”. He said that one more year would be great, but that there are plenty of snook to support an ending to the closure. There are several factors that led up to the fish kills in January of 2010. Snook are a tropical fish and Florida is at the extreme northern end of their range. Reportedly, their lowest temperature threshold is 54 degrees. On January 1st, a fourteen day record cold period descended on South Florida. Temperatures reached as low as the mid 20’s causing widespread damage to crops and forcing hundreds of residents into shelters. The “Big Freeze” as it became known, also
caused the drop in water temperatures, well below the 54 degree mark, that ultimately produced the fish kill. While we will never know exact numbers, FWC estimated the loss at approximately 20% of the adult spawning population and much higher for the young, more vulnerable fish. No one doubts that the snook population suffered a catastrophic event. The Gulf coast population suffered an even greater impact due to the areas shallower waters. Seine net catches of juvenile snook sharply declined in 2010, indicating that juveniles were more affected by the record cold temperatures than adults. The effects of that won’t be fully understood for another 2-3 years, but it will probably represent only a small percentage drop in the spawning population. The Atlantic coast also suffered, but not nearly as bad. The closure was lifted soon after the freeze and the East coast has been enjoying an increasingly flourishing population. The current model used by FWC to determine stock populations is the Spawning Potential Ratio. This model is typically used to compare the population’s ability to spawn while being open to harvesting as opposed to closed to harvesting. It is basically a method to show
whether a population is overfished. The spawning potential ratio incorporates the principle that enough fish have to survive to spawn and replenish the stock at a sustainable level. According to the FWC, a 20% ratio is the minimum needed to sustain a healthy snook population. The Commission’s management goal is 40% SPR. The latest Stock Assessment shows the SPR for Gulf coast snook is currently at 53% far exceeding the FWC’s goal. This method, however, has come under fire recently for not accurately taking into account natural events such as red tide or cold temperatures. It has been suggested that the Spawning Stock Biomass model may be more accurate in measuring the relative health of the population as it accounts for the total weight of reproductive individuals. Using this method shows a steep drop in 2010, approximately 20%, of the spawning population of snook on the Gulf coast, but still has the level of reproductive adults around the 53% range. Derick Burgos, a guide from the Tampa Bay area says he sees the numbers recovering. “I have been catching snook into the 40 inch range”, says Derick. “I remember the numbers of dead snook we saw from the freeze and I think they
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Snook are Ready cont. have made a comeback. They are a very tough fish.” Derick has been guiding in the Tampa Bay area for many years. Still, there are those who disagree. Jim VanPelt is a guide who specializes in snook and redfish in the Pine Island area says the closure should stay in place. “Most of the snook I have been seeing are small. I haven’t seen the larger breeders that I have seen before and we need to let them recover a little longer”. The effect of the loss of much of the juvenile population in 2010 won’t be seen for a few years, but its effect will not be a reversal of growth. There are good spawning populations now and the juvenile population count is up post 2010. At most, when those juveniles become breeding adults, it will represent a period of less growth. But, presumably, succeeding years will continue to show growth in the population. Captain Dave Pomerleau, better known as the Mad Snooker, is a very wellknown snook expert and guide from the Pinellas to Charlotte County area. He says he is on the fence about opening snook to harvest. “There are plenty of snook out there. I am catching snook up to 30lbs or more on a regular basis and about 15% of what I catch are slot sized. I just don’t particularly like to see anyone kill a snook”. Dave says he has noticed there are less snook around the St. Petersburg area and north than Sarasota. He adds, “They are probably the most poached game fish out there”. According to Amanda Nalley of the FWC’s Public Information Office, the tight regulations on the harvest of snook serve to protect the population and “according to angler interviews, 90% of all snook caught are released”. The Commission’s methods are based on sound scientific principles and incorporate data from several sources. These methods have been used successfully for many years and have enabled the snook populations to thrive under harvest regulations. The numbers from FWC indeed show that the snook population on the Gulf coast is healthy and robust enough to sustain a recreational harvest, so go ahead, the snook are ready.
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A Few Words for Thought By Capt. Pat Horrigan
In this era of high technology based research and development we can easily take for granted that the kayak fishing products that we see on the market are all pretty good. Take a look at any product and you will see what I mean. Many anglers have favorites of course and for good reasons, largely based upon what a friend or fishing buddy has had success with or a recommendation that was read. Not too long ago there just wasn’t that many good products available and we as anglers had to rely on the opinion of others particularly if you didn’t have deep pockets. A good example of how far products have come is fishing line. When I was a young boy we had braided fishing line and not mono. Any line was expensive and required great care. It did not cast more than a few feet unless you used enough weight to sling that it would second as a boat anchor. Reels were mostly level wind style that we now call bait casters. These old reels were not very good and also required much care. The rich guys had a few early versions of spinning reels that were very expensive and would cast early mono line much better. None of this mattered much as kids. We would dig up some worms and tie on a big ole nut from our fathers nuts and bolts bucket and go fish-
ing. Shortly after WWII there wasn’t much gear available for the average guy and even fewer manufactures. In the 1950’s & 60’s we began to see innovation as folks had a bit of free time and a bit of extra money in their pocket. The manufactures went all out and developed some nice gear for the day and some products that were not so useful. The good thing about this trend in making it better and better has really paid off for today’s anglers. Sure you can still buy some gear that is not as good as others but I can tell you that all of it today is way better than how it was when I was a kid and yes that was the era before color in our world as evidenced by early TV shows in black and white. As we test new products I continuously am amazed in what we are offered. I often feel guilty when I turn down a product as not being good enough for the Kayak Fishing ClassicS to award to our contestants. Take a look at fishing rods for example; the first rod that I fished with was bamboo and my first fly rod was metal. Then we had the solid fiberglass rods and they were really something but were quickly replaced with a hollow core fiberglass
rod formed over a mandrel. They were much, much lighter and cast a great deal better but they can’t hold a candle to a new rod. Just take a look at a Blackout Kayak Rod by BlackDog Rods and you will see a highly specialized device designed specifically for kayak fishing. About thT time in our equipment evolution, monofilament line began to hit its
stride. The line lasted much longer, was a consistent diameter throughout and was getting thinner and stronger. Something that is still evolving today. Then we went back to braided line with the advent of new braid materials that were super strong and small in diameter and the line manufactures have not looked back since. SpiderWire, one of the early super braid line companies has really stepped up its game and jumped way out in front of the completion with their new Ultacast Invisi-Braid line. Did I forget to mention that there is a lot of completion between companies? Well there is and that’s great for everyone as it drives manufactures to keep improving and innovating. Just watch a fishing show or look through a fishing magazine to see just how competitive and hard working these guys are in an effort to earn your respect.
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A Few Words for Thought By Capt. Pat Horrigan
goes into making a plastic kayak I guarantee you will not want to get into the business. Why not you ask? Just ask any company owner when was the last time he or she could go fishing whenever they feel like it. The answer may surprise you. Fishing lures have just gone absolutely crazy. I have many of the wooden plugs that were my Grandfather’s and my father’s. These are hand carved, hand painted lures from the 1930’s to the 1950’s and they still catch fish. When I use one I still hand rinse them, dry them and place them back into their original boxes. I unleash one of these now and then to compare them to a modern wooden lure. The big difference in today’s wooden lures is of course the finish. My old ones are all solid, single colored plugs. A few are two-toned kind of like an old car. The new ones, as I am
sure you know are amazing. They look like the real thing and produce great catches. Technology did not overlook our fishing hooks. It seems that there is no escape from the desire of mankind to keep improving everything that we come in contact with. Life has gone from bare survival to improving tools to make life more enjoyable right down to line guides on your favorite fly rod. Take a look at the history of the kayak. What we find today are no longer made from whale bone ribs and seal skin. Today’s sit on top fishing kayak is incredible and highly effective. Depending on the manufacture and model you can even stand up and fish on them such as the Diablo Paddlesports Adios. The kayaks of today are lightweight, strong, comfortable and have surprisingly low prices associated with them. If you look at what
This could go on and on for hours, or days really. The point here is that many of us have grown so accustomed to outstanding products that we have forgotten what all has gone into it and how much these companies must love anglers. All of us need to think about that a bit and send some love to these guys. Really, where would your fishing be today if your favorite companies decided that mediocre was good enough? Please take some time and visit your favorite gear companies and send them a nice email thanking them. Believe me; it will go a long, long way… kind of like every cast you make.
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