As we re-fit TLF for it’s new voyage onto the Internet seas, we find ourselves not wanting to throw out some of the useful older content. To that end, below we’re including our Tackle Guide. It still includes lots of useful URL’s and phone numbers as well as reviews of the companies themselves and some products.
We’re currently working with manufacturers to update this, so stay tuned as we update this, manufacturer by manufacturer.
RODS
BAREFOOT RODS AND TACKLE
North Carolina Outer Banks native Captain Tim Barefoot recently crashed into the fishing industry with his line of lures and rods. We met Captain Tim at last summer’s ICAST show where he showed us all of his new products and instructional videos. One of the most interesting products was his Gitzem Jigs, a jig that has a unique head that makes the lure have a unique side-to-side action and gamefish react. He showed us videos of fish taking the lure, and the fish that were taking the lure included stripers, bluefish and tuna! Barefoot also offers a number of other saltwater jigs, poppers and lures, as well as multiple lines of surf, casting and boat rods. For more information on Barefoot Rods and Tackle and their rods and lures, log onto www.fishingbarefoot.com.
FALCON
The Falcon rod lines feature quality components available, built with their own American-made blanks and 100 percent Fuji components. However, the manufacturer says that the fishing know-how that’s behind each rod is really what makes them the best. They indicate that every Falcon rod is designed with a particular way of fishing in mind–whether it be jigging or trolling offshore. They indicate that everyone at Falcon fishes, and that helps them make a better rod. Their Coastal line is a saltwater line intended for small and large gamefish, and their Cenderi TI series is an inshore line of rods. For more information on Falcon Rods, log onto www.falconrods.com.
ROGUE
The Rogue Rod company continues to grow and gain popularity as time progresses. They attribute their successes to the fact that they believe that sensitivity and power in a rod is determined by rod weight, action and balance, not just material type. They employ a 5/D (5 dimensions) design to create rods for specific species (their 5 dimension design calculates length diameter, taper, wall thickness and Material).
Rogue offers a number of saltwater rods, including a surf series, East Coast saltwater, and popping rods. Their rods are available in a number of sizes, and their prices are reasonable. For more information on Rogue Rods, log onto www.roguerods.com.
SEEKER
Seeker continues to offer a number of boat and surf rods for the saltwater angler. The latest offering is their East Coast American Series of rods, designed especially for the northeast by east coast charter captains and fishermen. East Coast fishermen demand the right action in their rods, according to the manufacturer, and their East Coast American blanks are carefully designed to produce a durable, lightweight rod.
Seeker also continues to manufacture and offer quite an interesting line of rods that includes popping rods, bluefish boat rods, stand up trolling rods and one piece surf rods. Want more? They also offer bunker spoon and wire line rods, and all roller guide rods as well. Seeker’s got something for every saltwater angler. To see this line of rods yourself, log onto www.seekerrods.com.
LINE
EAGLE CLAW
This huge hook manufacturer has expanded its arsenal in the past few years to include more than just hooks. Eagle Claw now offers everything from hooks, weights and attractants to line, rods, reels and rod/reel combo outfits.
There’s plenty that’s new in 2006 from Eagle Claw. The manufacturer claims to have the most complete line of ready-to-fish combos on the market, and many all-new aluminum body precision-spinning reels, such as its Colorado Reel line. In hooks, they now offer a new wide-gap jig hook as well as a Kahle Hat Hook, and most of their hooks can be purchased in a variety of colors, including red and the latest chartreuse. Eagle Claw’s weights are all non-lead, and this year offers a number of split shot, egg sinkers and assortments. Its Lazer Line now has Tactical HP and Ice products that boast low memory, maximum sensitivity and extreme knot strength. The Nitro Fish attractants continue to offer a number of products that contain their Factor X2 ingredients that are strong in pheromones. For more information on Eagle Claw’s family of products, log onto their website at www.eagleclaw.com.
HI-SEAS
This line manufacturer continues to grow and offer more products in its arsenal. In addition to all of the lines and leaders that the company offers, it also manufactures rigging components, sleeves, gloves and tools that are all necessary when targeting big game. New this year is its White Lightning Advanced Co-Polymer micro-thin diameter monofilament. The company says that the line, “narrows the performance gap between mono and braid.” Its engineering allows the line to have less stretch than any other mono lines. Hi Seas also has additions to its Sea Grip Wet Grip Gloves with a new SuperFabric, offering both an inshore and offshore glove. For more information, log onto www.hiseas.com or call, 800.824.9473.
MAXIMA
Line is all that Maxima makes, and it has become well-known for quality monofilament lines. New for 2006 is a new type of fluorocarbon line, amply called Maxima fluorocarbon. According to the manufacturer, the line is produced with the latest technology, offers outstanding castability and the hook-setting power that is needed for quality catches. It is also treated with UV protection to ensure that the properties of the Maxima Fluorocarbon lasts longer. The Maxima fluorocarbon is available in leaders and one-shot spools. For more information on all of Maxima’s lines, log onto www.maxima-lines.com.
P-LINE
POWER PRO
The line that revolutionized fishing, Power Pro continues to please anglers in both fresh and saltwater. The line is made by Spectra, a fiber that’s actually created by Honeywell, but it’s a very thin line that is very strong. The company calls the line Microfilament, and it is just that – 30-pound test Power Pro shares the same thickness as traditional 8-pound monofilament. While there are no new innovations for 2006, some of the latest Power Pro innovations include their Hollow Core lines, particularly made to make splicing to monofilament for leaders easy. For more information on Power Pro and its line of products, log onto www.powerpro.com or call 970.242.3002.
RAPALA/NORMARK
European fishing history is all about Rapala, and its name continues to convey the quality that the company produces in fishing products. From a constantly-growing line of lures to fillet knives and tools, the company’s products illustrate quality products. New for 2006 are a number of lures, including the X-Rap Magnum lures, deep-diving lures that won New Product Showcase Honors at the 2005 ICAST show. They also are releasing a DT (dive to) Flat lure line that dive to the depth that’s specified. Rapala is also offering a number of new tool combinations and junior fishing products. In addition, the company continues to sell rods, reels and combos, like many other large manufacturers. For more information, log onto www.rapala.com.
SEAGUAR
YO-ZURI
Over the years, the name Yo-Zuri has become synonymous with quality lures that catch fish. Period. The company’s lures have life-like, realistic finishes that are effective in catching fish. They offer a number of lures from poppers to diving plugs as well as fluorocarbon and hybrid leaders. New for 2006 are additional colors in their Hydro Magnum and Magnum Deep Diver lures, as well as a new yellow mullet addition to their Live Bait Minnow line. They have also added the H.D. Carbon fluorocarbon leaders to their line of leaders. For more information on Yo-Zuri’s product line, log onto www.yo-zuri.com.
LURES
ACME
With the motto, “designed to catch fish, not fishermen,” Acme lures consistently meets this motto with its Kastmaster and Phoebe lures. In addition, the company manufactures a number of other spoons, including Wobbler and Fiord Spoons. Those looking to land bluefish, stripers, cod or pollock should check out the newest Kastmasters with tube tail, offered in 1, 1-1/2, 2, 3 and 4-ounce weights. These lures should be deadly when jigging everything from bluefish and stripers to cod and Pollock. For more information on the Acme line of products, log onto their website at www.acmetackle.com or call 401.331.6437.
BILL LEWIS – RAT L TRAP
The Rat-L-Trap lure is yet another lure that anglers have learned to love because of its effectiveness with fish, particularly striped bass and the other inshore gamefish. We spoke with the folks at Rat-L-Trap at the ICAST show, and they said that their lures perfectly imitate a wounded baitfish in terms of the sounds made by them, getting them more strikes. New for 2006 is the Liv-N-Sound Color Clector product, a product that matches water clarity with other variables to provide anglers with the best colors to use to catch fish. In addition, Rat-L-Traps are now offered in over 150 colors which work with the system. They also offer the larger Super Trap, a 4-3/4-inch, 1-1/2-ounce lure that is specially made for the saltwater angler. For more information on all Rat-L-Trap lures, log onto www.rat-l-trap.com.
HOPKINS
Ahh, the old standby Hopkins. They continue to catch fish in both saltwater and freshwater. The larger models cast a country mile and have a great action that fish love. The company’s products continue to please anglers, and while there are no new products for 2006, its arsenal of lures is one of the best in the industry. The company stands by the motto, “Don’t be caught without a Hopkins.” Many of us would agree with that. For more information, log onto their website at www.hopkinslures.com or call 757.855.2500.
LUHR JENSEN
There’s plenty that Luhr Jensen offers the angler, although they’re often in other names. Some of these include the Crippled Herring, Needlefish, Krocodile and Dipsy Diver. The company continues to develop and innovate, and 2006 is another year for their innovations. New for the Needlefish, Crippled Herring and Krocodile lines are finishes that are more lifelike than before, including an Everglo glow-in-the-dark finish for the Needlefish trolling spoons. Other innovations this year includes the Big Game Woodchopper Slim topwater wood plug that has a turbo prop, intended to entice the most finicky gamefish. For more information on Luhr Jensen and its line of lures, log onto www.luhrjensen.com or call 800.535.1711.
MANNS
In the past few years, Mann’s has revolutionized the way we fish for some of our popular saltwater gamefish, particularly striped bass and bluefish, through its Stretch 25 line of trolling lures. No longer is wire line or downriggers required to get lures down to fish, making life a lot easier for many anglers. The company continues to innovate and offer new products, and in 2006, it’s introducing the Hard Nose line of lures, the only one-piece soft plastic bait with a hard head. Mann’s offers a number of freshwater Hardnose lures, but the tidewater angler will be especially pleased by the Hardnose Jerkbait and Mullet. These products have the best of both worlds, including the action that only a soft bait can offer combined with the consistency of a hard lure. We got a chance to see the product’s debut at last year’s ICAST show and were impressed by its realistic look and feel. For more information on Mann’s products, log onto www.mannsbait.com or call 800.841.8435.
MIRROLURES
The MirrOlure line of products continues to expand and offer anglers with effective lures. One of the latest offerings for 2006 is the MirrOminnow Suspending Twitchbait, a lure intended to mimic a glass or rain minnow. The lure’s design allows anglers to fish it at varied depths, including flats and shallow water environments. The company has also added colors to its Floating Twitchbait and Suspending Twitchbait lines. They offer a number of saltwater colors for all of their Coastal Classics lures as well. For more information on the MirrOlure line of products, log onto www.mirrolure.com.
STORM
As we sit here and assemble this year’s Buyer’s Guide, we realize that most manufacturers changed the fishing industry-for the better – through their products. Storm is another one of these companies that helped anglers catch more fish through its products, particularly its Wildeye Swim Shad line of soft lures. Storm’s name stands for the modern angler and his use of the latest technologies and holographic products to catch fish. Now, the Wildeye Shad continues to catch plenty of fish and be refined by the manufacturer. New for 2006 is a number of lures, but the most interesting for anglers is the WildEye Live Swimming Crab and Live Shrimp. We’ve always had difficulty fishing artificials that imitated crab and shrimp; not any more! These new products come in a number of natural color patterns, including the glow-in-the-dark Glow Crab, have a lifelike swimming action and have a strong soft body with an internal lead head. For more information on Storm’s lures and fishing rods (that’s right, they also offer fishing rods), log onto www.stormlures.com.
YAKIMA
The Yakima Bait Company continues to refine its line of products, and 2006 is like no other. This year, it is offering its Sea Tiger lure in a number of additional sizes. When introduced last year, it was only available in a 2-ounce, 8-3/4-inch version. Now, anglers can fish the product in a larger 5-ounce, 11-1/2-inch version and a smaller, 1-7/8-ounce, 7-1/4-inch size. All three sizes of the product feature a one-piece, molded grip and body. When trolled, the largest Sea Tiger will dive up to 50 feet, and the smallest version will dive to 25 to 30 feet. It is available in over 20 colors and patterns. To view the full line of Yakima Bait Company products, log onto www.yakimabait.com or call 509.854.1311.
TERMINAL TACKLE
AMERICAN FISHING WIRE
One of the leaders in the fishing wire industry, the company continues to expand and grow, offering new products each year. From its duo lock snaps, split rings and swivels to pliers and all types of wire line, most saltwater anglers will have a number of American Fishing Wire components in their tackle box. Monel trolling wire, downrigger wires and many different types of leader wires all grace the American Fishing Wire arsenal of products. New this year is the Bleeding Leader Wire, stainless steel leaders that are coated by red nylon, hence the “bleeder” name. If you’re looking for something to differentiate your leaders and maybe get that strike from the wary fish, this may be it. Another new product is the Surflon Micro Supreme Knottable Leader Wire, a wire that you can tie anything from the Clinch and Albright knots to the Perfection Loop. For more information on American Fishing Wire products, log onto their website at www.americanfishingwire.com or call them at 800.824.9473.
MUSTAD
When you think about a fishing company with history, Mustad is one of the companies you think about. With 125 years and over 10,000 hook patterns, the organization has seen fishing evolve into the sport that it is today. Like other companies, they’re more than just a hook manufacturer and openly state that they’re, “charting a new course,” offering monofilament lines, tools, swivels and pheromone attractants. When asked why, they said that today’s anglers demand more, and they trust Mustad to deliver the very best.
New for 2006 is a number of hooks, including circle, O’Shaughnessy, Octopus and Kingfish trebles. Its Ultrabite Line also continues to develop and now includes Ultrabite pellets, something that we saw in person at the Folsom Distributor show in January. For more information on Mustad’s line of products, log onto www.mustad.no or call 315.253.2793.
FRABILL
Most every angler has a Frabill product, from a Flow Troll bait bucket to a Frabill net. The company’s accessories, which include live bait aeration systems, nets of all types and more, continues to grow. The year 2006 sees Frabill offer a whole new line of products under the Doc Chumly name. Anglers can now purchase their chum and using it immediately. In addition, the Doc Chumly line also features cut bait, reusable chum bags, a glove and hand Stink ‘N Slime hand soap. This year, they also are introducing a new line of whisper quiet aerators. For more information on these products or to see their entire line of products, log onto www. Frabill.com.
