 |
Rods by Airrus - Comfort, Balance & Control http://www.rodsbyairrus.com It sometimes takes anglers years before they realize how important quality equipment is in the bass fishing industry. Without question, your rod can be the integral link to success with varying baits and techniques. Comfort, balance and control are the key ingredients to quality rod design and by no small part, Airrus Rods has developed a unique line of fishing rods that go one-step further than the others in terms of workmanship. |
Unique to the rod manufacturing industry, Airrus Rods consist of two distinct sections. The lower end of the rods are filament wound while the upper ends (near the tip) are designed with a special Multi-Modulus tip section. This is their secret to such an effective blank taper without the loss of sensitivity and control. I own numerous Airrus Rods and have found their Co-Matrix 457 Series to be invaluable. Their 6'2" medium-action spinnerbait rod gives me the soft-tip and casting accuracy I need for cover-intensive spinnerbaiting, but with the beautiful tapered blank, I have the power and strength I need to land big fish and flip them in the boat with ease. My 7'0" medium-action crankbait rod has the perfect tip softness I need to keep fish from throwing treble hooks during the fight and it's balance and sensitivity keep me connected to my lure's movement in deep water. Long gone are the days of fiberglass rods for crankbaits. And my favorite of the Airrus line is my specialty drop-shot spinning rod. This sensitive rod helps me finesse fish from below the boat and has the perfect tip-action for jiggling a drop-shot rig.
If you are like me and seek comfort and quality in everything that you use on the water, you will find great value in the unique design and construction of Airrus Rods. It is easy to see why Airrus Rods won the ICAST's "Best of Show" Award in 2002. Comfort, balance and control. Rejuvenate your rod locker and pair yourself with one of the finest rods on the market! Visit the website of Airrus Rods: www.rodsbyairrus.com |
|
 |
PRO'S
Soft-Bait Glue http://www.prosoftbaitglue.com When it comes to fishing glue, HANDS DOWN you are not going to find a better product than PRO's Soft-Bait Glue. Last year I got my hands on a bottle and put it to good use on the water. Never having used a fishing glue before, I quickly became aware of the many benefits PRO's Soft-Bait Glue provided. |
 PRO's
Soft-Bait Glue was a blessing when fishing jig 'n pigs. I like to
use plastic jig trailers and thread them on the hook, but what often
happens is the jig trailer would slide down the hook shaft and clump up
around the bend, ruining the action of the bait. Using PRO's
Soft-Bait Glue, I would just put a single drop of glue right where I
threaded the trailer on the hook. Just that one drop allowed me to
fish that same trailer on the jig for the rest of the day, NO
SLIPPING! You can glue soft plastic baits directly to the
hook. And this works for pork rinds and frogs too!
Visit PRO's Soft-Bait Glue website
at: www.prosoftbaitglue.com |
|
|
|
Gary Yamamoto Custom
Baits I've always been a big fan of Yamamoto soft plastics. They are soft, have great action, and are loaded with salt that really make the difference in keeping bass from immediately spitting out your bait. One of my favorite lures they make is the Yamamoto Double Tail Hula Grub. |
 The
Yamamoto Double Tail Hula Grub (aka. spider jig), is a great lure to
use in just about any water condition or cover. The lure
resembles a little bit of everything, from a shad to crawfish, it's
definitely an enticing and tantalizing bait underwater. It can
be cast, flipped, pitched, and trolled. These baits can do it
all.
I've used many spider jigs on the market, and none have matched up to the quality of Yamamoto. Because of the super soft plastic, the tentacles and tails on these grubs move with the slightest twitch of the rod. In fact, I can let these baits sit motionless on the bottom, and the small water currents will cause constant movement from the tails and tentacles, meaning these baits are wiggling and enticing strikes even when your dead sticking the bait.
As you might tell from other reviews I have written in the past, I am not big on talking about how to use products, nor do I go into details about the many "trademarked" features, technological components, etc. You can find that information in how-to articles or by looking at the product company's advertisements/catalog. I just want to impress upon you my liking for the product and share with you the success I have had with this bait. The Yamamoto Double Tail Hula Grub is one of my favorite baits. I recommend it very highly. |
|
|
|
Daiwa When it comes to fishing, I'm a fishing reel fanatic. I am a very choosy fisherman with very big demands for quality in everything I use, especially rods and reels. After a recommendation from a friend to purchase my first Daiwa reel, I was very skeptical about the design features in Daiwa's one left-handed model I was looking at. |
 The
Daiwa TD-X103HSDL is, to say the least, an oddly shaped baitcaster.
I was worried that its shape would be rather uncomfortable considering
I was so used to palming conventional shaped reels. It turned
out this is one of the most comfortable reels I have ever
fished. It fits in your palm perfectly and is extremely
light. The major point of skepticism I had before using the reel
was it's bail switch. Conventional baitcasters use a thumb
switch directly behind the spool. The TD-X103HSDL has the bail
engaging switch on the top left of the reel, which at first glance,
would seem to be very awkward and annoying. Once again, I was
wrong. In fact, I've come to love that little switch. It's
extremely easy to get to and flips with ease. I was worried that
having to take your thumb off the spool to engage it would cause line
to come off the reel, but it happens so fast, it doesn't cause any
problems whatsoever.
This reel is full of some great technological features that I won't get into. It seems every company has its own "trademarked" technology components that sets their reels above the rest...And though I do research these features and weigh them into my purchases, I hope you can just trust me when I say, WHATEVER THEY GOT IN THIS REEL WORKS! It's smooth, casts great, feels good, and is extremely durable which is why I have several of them. Though they are a bit pricey, you get what you pay for with these reels. They are built to perform. So the bottom line on the TD-X103HSDL...if you are looking for a quality baitcaster, look no further. |
|
 |
Strike King Lure
Company When the bass are hitting topwater, you better bet I've got a buzzbait tied on to one of my rods. Being my topwater bait of choice, the buzzbait can cover a lot of water quickly and is easily fished to draw some explosive strikes. |
 For
years I've been using the Strike King Tri-Wing Buzz King buzzbait.
I've really come to like this lure and compared to other buzzbaits on
the market, this one has stood out and proven itself to be a top
producer for me. There are many likeable features about this
bait that I think help distinguish itself from others. I find
the Tri-Wing blade to out produce standard double bladed buzzbaits.
The Tri-Wing really creates a lot of lift which allows me to fish the
bait slower, meaning the lure is in the strike zone longer. This
is especially good for when your fishing isolated cover such as stumps
and laydowns when this feature really becomes a plus.
Unlike a lot of other tri-winged buzzbaits on the market, the Strike King Buzz King is relatively compact. I am not a big fan of buzzbaits that use ridiculously large angled wire frames and set the hook very low and deeply behind the blade. Because of this compact design, I feel I can hook more bass, work through cover better, and cast more accurately. These baits run true and raise to the surface quickly upon initial retrieve. Through the years I've tried my share of buzzbaits and the Buzz King was one of the first I tied on. It's stood the test of time and has been given my stamp of approval. I highly recommend this lure to anyone who enjoys catching fish up top. Its easy to use and reliable. Pound for pound, strike for strike, this is a buzzbait you want in your tacklebox. |
|
S.O.B. Fishing Products
Featuring "Gambler's" Spinnerbaits
http://www.soblures.comA couple years ago I acquired a variety of spinnerbaits from a S.O.B. Fishing Products. I ordered them online after hearing many great things about them and thought I would check them out. Upon receiving my package, I immediately noticed the attention to detail these spinnerbaits received and couldn't wait to tie one on a start casting.
One of the first things I noticed about the spinnerbaits was the quality multi-colored painted head. What I like about the head the most is the paintjob. All of S.O.B. spinnerbaits have color coordinated heads that match the skirts and blades. A lot of spinnerbait companies think they can get away with just a few colored heads, and they just throw on a million different color skirts. I don't like that. But these S.O.B. spinnerbaits, they fulfilled my requirement. Glitter is added to the coated paint job which adds extra allure, as well as the reflective eyes, giving a more lifelike touch.
Nowadays, skirts come in every possible color combination, style, length, and fullness. S.O.B. spinnerbaits have quality skirts that blend perfectly with the painted head and blades. Their skirts also feature a quality scale-like pattern that adds realism to the bait, something that will put more fish in the boat.
Though these spinnerbaits may look to pretty to fish, they certainly hold up to the constant torture bass fisherman can place on their lures. The paint on these lures are chip resistant and I have not had any problems with the skirt strands sticking together or bleeding, like other brands I have had in the past. The hook is very sharp and hook ups have not been a problem.
Attached to the quality ball bearing swivels are some of the finest blades you will find on a spinnerbait. They come in many different features, including, painted or dipped blades, Laz'r Scales, and The Strike Spot. The Laz'r Scales are a hologram covering that looks great and really reflects a wide spectrum of light above and underwater. The painted and dipped blades are done to perfection and what I like is that they too coordinate with the head and skirt. The wire form of the spinnerbait comes to a twist where you tie on the lure, unlike the conventional R-bend that often causes problems with knot movement up and down the wire. Another feature I really like.
S.O.B. makes one of the finest spinnerbaits on the market. I use them, I ask for them, and I recommend them. And S.O.B. carries their quality lure creations to other baits as well that are featured in their lineup. You can get the same great components in their Buzz'rd Buzzbait that come in many different combinations of blade styles and sizes. Offering 2 and 4 wing blades composed of either metal or lexan, which allow you to adjust the speed of the buzzbait to certain conditions, really are invaluable features.
Since I first dealt with S.O.B. Fishing Products, I have had nothing but good things to say about their products and service. It goes to show that attention to detail and quality control goes along way. These spinnerbaits catch fish for me, and I know they will for you too. So check them out, and tell 'em, KEVIN SENT YA!!!!
Some Pictures of Lures by S.O.B. Fishing Products:
Visit S.O.B. Fishing Products Website at www.soblures.com .
The very first thing you will notice when you pick up a rod by Airrus is the fantastic taper of the blank. This is exactly what you want in a rod because it provides the softness and sensitivity at the tip for casting, yet provides the strength and power needed for solid hooksets and fish fighting. These rods have much more of a fast tapering blank than almost all the other manufacturers on the market, and it is no secret why.
My review wouldn't be complete if I didn't talk about the unique rod handle grip section that is unique to all Airrus Rods. Hypalon and Portuguese cork blend in harmony to welcome a soft feel that won't leave your hands tight and tired at the end of the day. I find it particularly comfortable when cranking big baits that cause us to unknowingly apply a death-grip to our rods. Don't worry about loss in sensitivity, it amplifies down the blank and Airrus has gone a step further to provide direct-blank finger access under the grip.
If
you're like me and hate throwing away plastic baits that a bass has torn
from a strike, this glue is a must-have and will save you from going
through a whole pack of baits just from missed fish! Not only will
it save you time but will also save you money. Usually my worms
will tear near the head after a bite or two, causing it to constantly
slide down the bend of the hook or completely off. I use PRO's
Soft-Bait Glue to repair these baits and get them back in the water in
only about ten seconds. Just put a drop where the bait has torn
and press the plastic together for a couple seconds and your bait is
brand new again. I also got a chance to take this glue fishing
with me out on the Chesapeake Bay for striped bass. I like to
throw big soft plastic swimbaits, and these aren't cheap! I had
bluefish (razor-sharp teeth) and rockfish ripping my baits left and
right. A bluefish nearly ripped one in half, but a couple drops of
PRO's Soft-Bait Glue and I was back in action.
It's
amazing how versatile this glue is, and I'm sure I'll keep finding new
uses for it each time I go fishing. PRO's sells a nice velcro
bottle holder that you can either throw in your pocket or put on your
belt. This really was nice when I was busy on the deck and wanted
it quickly. I also got a chance to meet the owner and developer of
PRO's Soft-Bait Glue at a local bass fishing show he was in town
for. They truly are great guys and they stand behind their product
100%. I would recommend this product to every fisherman. You
will find uses for this glue on every fishing trip and you'll be glad
you have it! Visit their website and try it out. They're
good people with a great product.
A
great feature about these baits that set them above the rest is the
amount of salt that is impregnated in them. Fish love salt, and
you will notice that fish are not nearly as quick to spit these baits
out like they do with jigs and worms. It buys you a lot of
needed time to set the hook with those finicky and picky bass. I
wrote an article, '
