Test Drive - BombShell Turtle

Its been a crazy summer, and between breaking in a new boat and a tone of new products, I haven't had much time to set down and write. But as the fall hits and the boat gets wrapped (insert sad face) I can now catch up on many on the product reviews I have been working on this season.

Lets kick it off with the BombShell Turtle

PROs:

The BombShell Turtle is a fairly versatile plastic bait and can be fished with both power and finesse techniques. I had more success with the finesse techniques nose hooking the turtle and letting it flutter fall next to docks and various other structure. If you want to power rig this bait I recommend trying it Carolina rigged or Texas rigged without pegging your weight. The turtle performs better when given the ability to do it's thing. Using heavier weights speed up the fall making it more a reaction bait then it needs to be. 

Your final hook option is belly weighted hook smaller swim bait hooks. This option gives the Turtle the same flutter/fall that the nose hook offers. This is another solid option that may help avoid short stoked you can experience with a nose hook.

Although the legs of these bait can be ripped from the body easily, the large profile body is fairly durable and will hold up for multiple fish. 

All 13 colour options blend well with the baits design. 8 of the 13 are natural turtle variant colours and the others are fish catching colours that work well on almost any bait you can through.

CONs: 

Availability and Price are common issues for baits not made by the big boys of the industry. The Bombshell Turtle suffers from both of these issues, and although they can be found at the Bass Pro Shop, most local shops will look at you sideways when you ask about them or share you a days wage to buy them.

As mentioned above the legs and arms are pretty flimsy, and although this is needed to give the bait its action, it also means it will quickly become and amputee once you get into a few fish. This isn't an issue if the front legs are the first to go, but once you start loosing the back legs its time to switch up baits. 

If your looking to flip the BombShell into heavy cover you will need to play around with your weigh sizes. If you go to light the wide body will catch up on the matting or slop making it hard to slide through. Too heavy and your not utilizing the baits best features (those back legs are awesome). 

Last point here.. I was not a huge fan of how a WG or EWG hook sits on the baits back when Texas rigged. It's awkward to properly rig and the hook point has no place to hide. A slight back slot or guard would make a huge difference in the Bombshells performance.  

Where to Buy:

As mention this is a hard(ish) bait to find, but the below on-line retails should be able to hook you up if your looking to give the Bombshell your own test drive


BombShell Lures - Learn More

Bass Pro Shop - $5.99

Cabela's - $5.39

FleetFarm - $5.49

Kingston Canadian Open 2015 - Day 3 Final Results

(Photo Courtesy of John Whyte)

A shortened version of the Kingston Canadian open is in the books and this year the winner is not only a Canadian but a local Kingstonian,  Lenny Devos with a 2 day total weight of 52.3lbs.. Congrats Lenny, enjoy that $16,000 prize.

Lenny had a solid day 1 and found himself sitting in 3rd place with just over 24lbs.. and followed that up on Day2 with a new tournament record of 28.05lbs' that included the weekends biggest fish (5.75lbs).

In 2nd Place was Cal Climpson who made a short climb from 4th place after day 1 and was just ounces ahead of the Chris Johnston who's second day 21lb bag saw him slip from 1st to 3rd place


below image was borrowed from event MC, Big Jim Mclaughlin and is a screen grab of the official tournament results. Once fully available on-line i will update this page accordingly.

Congrats also goes out to out top Am's in this years event, (1) Brenton Roebuck (2) Tom Streek and (3) Dave Flindall,

I offical pass my 2014 crown to Brenton who takes home a Lund Boat package valued at $3,000.. believe me when I say, get it early Brenton.

Kingston Canadian Open - Day 1 & Day 2 Results

It's that time of year again, a time in which many of Canada's top anglers flock to the city of Kingston on search of monster bronze back on the world class fishery that is Lake Ontario. You might say they also come to test their skills again two Peterborough Boys (Chris and Cory Johnston) and one American (Jeff Coble) who have been dominating the event the past few years.


With one day in the books the Open has a very different look to it this year, first off, the participation level took another huge drop this year seeing last years low of 61 boats cut by yet another 20.. I remember when this event pulled in 100 boats and 200 anglers.. another change can be seen on the leader board, as last years winner Jeff Cobble had a tough day 1 only weighing in 2.3lbs (he set a record last year with over 72lbs for the 3 days.

Here's your top 30 Pro's after Day 1

As always there are some familiar names on the leader board, including the the Johnston Brothers (Chris in 1st and Cory in 9th). The Izumi family also make an appearance with Darren finishing a solid 6th, Uncle Wayne in 16th and Bob at 26th place.

a personal favorite John Whyte is sitting in 22nd and as always is poised to make a run on Day 3.


As for the Amateurs their top 30 is as follows....

Due to High winds Day 2 of this 3 day event has been cancelled, with no word as of yet if the event will be a 2-Dayer or push into Sunday. Tomorrows forecast is calling for a turnaround weather wise and it will be interesting to see if the fish change and how these anglers will react.

Good luck out there.

YoloTek AquaStick.. Don't GoPro without it

Ever since I purchased my boat earlier this year, I have had the itch to finally break back out my old Hero2 GoPro camera. I've had it for a few years now, but in all honesty the head and or chest mount did nothing for me perspective wise so I had just tucked it away giving it very little use from the time I purchased it until now.

But after purchasing my first boat earlier this year I began to search for better ways to utilize my GoPro camera via the various mounts that were available. As a first time boater and casual GoPro user I was looking for an easy to use, but durable product that wasn't going to break the bank.. Id already spent hundred of dollars on GoPro gear (including extra batteries and the Wifi backpack) and didn't want to add another item that I may or may not get a tone of use out of.

Enter YoloTek, I wish I could tell you that my extensive searching found them and their line of dare i say "angler selfie-sticks" (my wife words not mine) but in fact I found them while trolling this years ICAST best of show winners. Their new product the YoloTek PowerStick took home top honours in the gift wear category. And although it was not exactly what I was looking, for it did lead me to their website where I found the AquaStick.

How it works:

The AquaStick is a non-powered adjustable GoPro camera mount that can be plugged into your front or rear navi light ports. It comes either threaded or standard and can quickly be popped in and tighten down in order to withstand speeds up to 30mph. And although I haven't quite hit those speeds I have done 40Km/h with no issues.. I'm Canadian and mph math scares me.

Once in place you can adjust the rods length from 15' to 43", I usually extend it fully to give it that great outer worldly view while on the water. The Camera mount portion is also adjustable if your would like more of an upward or down facing angle, I'm pretty traditional and have been mostly just shooting straight on. 

Options & Choices:

AquaTek has a few options available to anglers, the AquaStick being the entry level product that runs around $59USD . For those with some extra cash or looking to run with the pro's you may way to look at the PowerStick Pro, a powered version of the AquaStick that is not only beefier, (50mhp) but it also provides more height (48") we all as USB ports in order to keep your GoPro powered up and running all day long. It is much pricey at $169USD, but for what I can tell its value would be endless.

For those who spent some time in the salt water, you YoloTek offers the O'l Salty a rig that allows you to get the best salt water footage above and below the water. This is not yet available, but they don't have a signup list for those interested.

Last but not least is this years ICAST winner, the YoloTek PowerStick, is a short pole with 2 USB ports turning your navi lights into a charging station. You can also rig up your iPhone for quick selfies on this little dude, giving it dual purpose. $49USD

Note: If your on the Fence on going Original or Pro, I will admit that I have been kicking myself for not investing in a powered version. My GoPro batteries die out long before my day on the water is over, and that added juice would be welcomed.

I have now had my AquaStick out on the water for multiple trips, it truly has reinvested me in what a GoPro camera can do for you out on the water.  This is one of the best gadgets I've added to my arsenal this season, and like it or not,  your about to see a lot more GoPro footage and stills coming your way. 

 Trust me, once your start this will quickly become a normal part of your boat launch prep.. remove the straps, insert the plug, attached the Hummingbirds and plug in the AquaStick, Go Fishing 

Be sure to check out YoloTek's Facebook page HERE as well as their Instagram Page HERE they are offering prizes for those who post on water images using a YoloTek product

Daiwa J-Braid, smooth, strong and easy on the wallet

If you have never had the pleasure of casting Daiwa's Samurai braid, then you may not fully understand the quality of braid that the Daiwa team is able to produce. I've personally been using it for the past 3 seasons, and other then some line bleed it truly is one of if not the best braid I've ever spooled up.. so when I heard that Daiwa was releasing their all new J-Braid, a strong 8 strand weave that will be retailing for $14.99USD.. they had my utmost attention.

Although I can't be sure (it's not like I asked) I believe J-Braid was created to fill a large gap in the affordable braid market. Since taking the industry by storm not that many years ago the prices on braided line seem to have sky rocketed, each year a company introduces a new line that sets a new benchmark for price. And although currently braided lines do start around $14.99USD it's usually lower end no bells and whistles, while as you add features (like an 8 Strand weave) the prices strart to  go up and can find themselves up over $40USD.  Many quality lines can be found falling in around the $17-$25USD mark. For us Canadians its rare to find a braid under $20 a spool, even the entry level lines like SpiderWire and PowerPro can command this price or more.

With this in mind Daiwa introduced J-Braid a high end tournament grade line with weekend warrior's wallet in mind. Constructed in Japan using a high quality 8 strand braid, J-Braid is stronger, softer and smoother than many braids retailing at twice it's price. This line shares many similarities with this sister brand (Samurai) and even bests it in one area.. line bleed. When you give J-Braid a close look (yes I used an eye-loupe) its has almost a rope line consistency that helps give it its strength. This also provides J-braid with its perfectly round profile and gives you that superior casting distance you and I both crave.

I will warn you that J-Braid has a thicker diameter then Samurai, and you will notice the difference when re-spooling pound for pound. With this in mind in my opinon  J-Braid lends itself to certain techniques, like frog fishing or jig fishing as well as flipping and pitching. This is where it's strength really supports you fish after fish. But when it comes to faster or more finicky techniques in which you are consistently retrieving at higher speeds or over longer distances, I still prefer to use Samurai, it just seems smoother to lay day and I feel it better lends itself to finesse techniques (hell ya, spinnerbait can be considered finesse)

Be sure to check out J-Braid in both the dark green and high vis chartreuse. When it's all said and done, Dawia has another winner here, and both your reels, and your wallets with thank you.

Available in 8lb-80lb Spools

Test Drive - Molix SV Craw Magnum

If there is one thing that Molix has proven to me over the past few years, its that when they put their mind to it, they can design one hell of a bait, sure sometimes they miss, but when you swing for the fences eventually your going to hit a home run.. the Molix SV Craw is the perfect example of this theory in practice.

PRO's:

The Molix SV Magnum offers up a jig style profile in a body design that will allow you to work in heavier cover situations that often required a Texas rigged bait. The body is thick and made of a durable plastic that holds up incredibly well. Believe me when I tell you the arms of this bait will be long gone before the body is rendered useless.

With that said the arms are not exactly a weak point when it comes to performance. They may look short and stubby but they give off an incredible motion in the water and look  lifelike on the  fall (check out the below video and you will quickly see what I mean). 

One of the best features of this bait is that it comes equipped with belly slots on both the top and bottom. This makes it extremely easy to rig and hide the hook point for improved fishability. I don't know why more baits arnt made this way, it makes a huge difference when fishing heavy cover for a long period of time.

The SV Craw is available is 2 sizes, the standard (2.75") and the Magnum (3.5"). Of the two I prefer the Magnum not only for its size but also for the additional color options. There is not a single color I wouldn't use but I quickly feel in love with the "Marron Glace" and "Blue Notte". 

Note: The smaller size is the perfect jig trailer size and I have also seen it fished lightly weighted on wacky or nose jig hook. Both of these hooks offer the bait a slower realistic.

CON's:

I have been fishing the Molix SV craw for nearly two months, and there are only three con's I will touch on. The first being the most obvious and that price point. The SV Craw comes in at a hefty $6.99 per pack, and with only 5 baits per pack the math hurts my head and wallet... yet I have still re-ordered them twice already this season.

Con #2 is the light weight arms, I get it, then need to me made this flimsy in order to give off the amazing action they are known for, but they are also very easily ripped off and your $1.25 bait can quickly become an amputee. You will learn to live with this and fish the baits one armed.. until the second arm goes!

The last con is also a pro, and that's the baits overall girth. The body of the SV craw is thick so you need to ensure you pair it with the right hook choice.. EWG is a must in order to ensure there is room between the hook and your bait.

The Video Store: 

The Video store is a new feature in the test drive section, but I think you'll find its worth your time. If you like what you saw from the Molix SV craw but want to see more.. here are some videos with the inside scoop and some live on water action

Note: The first video is not in English, so feel free to turn the volume down. It is a must watch that truly shows off what the Molix Craw can do in the water

Where to Buy:

Tackle Warehouse

Land Big Fish

Bass Mafia

Daiwa Tatula HD - Built Frog Tough!

As an  angler who spends a good deal of time with a a frog rod in my hands, I can tell you that its often hard, to impossible to find a reel that offers me all the attributes I  need when frog fishing..(1) Strength/Power (2) Casting distance (3) speed/Pick-up. If you share my values, then I will let you in on a little secret, the Daiwa Tatula HD comes fully loaded with this features and is built Frog Tough!

Power

The Tatula HD offers you all kinds of power without sacrificing comfort. The reels overall size is easy to palm and actually feels much lighter then its official weight of 8.1oz. When it comes to fighting fish the Tatual HD is equipped with a 100mm swept power handle and large thumb paddles that ensure the fish never gets the upper hand no matter how nasty the terrain.

Obviously the reels ultimate power test comes down to it's  drag and the Tatual HD has a  max drag of 13.2 thus ensuring you can really hammer the hooks home without ever worrying about slippage.

I often like to make long frog casts and to date the drag has yet to let me down during the hookset or the battle.

Casting Distance

Casting distance and accuracy is often overlooked when frog fishing, sure this type of fishing may be slightly more forgiving then others, but if you want to hit those spots not reached by other anglers then distance and accuracy is key.

The Tatula HD was designed with an additional 30% line capacity proving added distance to each and every cast, and with the now perfected T-Wing system the line fly's off the reel giving you incredible  casting distance while also providing additional accuracy. once engaged the T-Wing lowers and your ready to work.

Tip: Don't be afraid to play with the breaks, slight adjustments can do wonders for you casting distance, obviously you always want to take your frogs weigh and the weather into consideration but other then that.. don't hold back and find your sweet spot.

Speed/Pick-Up

Speed at times can be overrated and over used. For  example, I use a 6:3:1 retrieve reel when frog fishing, the idea behind this is that I'm always trying to balance the need for line pick-up on the retrieve vs. the line pick-up while fighting he fish. Too much line pick-up on the retrieve can alter your frogs performance and may pull your frog out of the strike zone too quickly,  where as too little pick-up can get you into serious trouble when fighting a fish in heavy cover or  slop. In my opinion the  6:3:1 offers the best of both worlds, and although from time to time I may jump up in speed I very rarely would go down.

This is where the Tatula HD really makes it presence felt, most HD or Power reels sacrifice speed for power, often coming in a 5:4:1 or  6:3:1 at the fastest, the Tatula HD is available in slower models but can also be purchased as high as 7:3.1

At times line pick-up and power can be one and the same, so I won't rehash the 90mm handle or larger spool size, but I will add that the air rotation system really helps with this reels overall speed.


Remember us frog fisherman have to stick together, so believe me when I tell you, the  Tatula HD is a dream to fish, and has been built with the best interest of Frog Fisherman in mind. I can't think of another reel I have used that is so well suited to how i fish, and I can't ask for anything more.