Monthly Archives: February 2015

DIY Lanyards

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Lanyards are standard equipment for extreme surfcasters and kayak anglers. Finding a quality lanyard at a price that will not break the bank, can be more challenging than catching fish! 🙁 But! With some simple tools and a recycled mobile phone car charger, you can create your own lanyard. 🙂

DIY Lanyard Materials

Making a lanyard is easy! First, cut off the ends off the mobile phone car charger. Second, insert one end of the cord through the first hole in an aluminum ferrule. Third, form a small loop by inserting the end of the cord back through the second hole in the aluminum ferrule. Fourth, using a pair of pliers, crimp both sides of the aluminum ferrule. Repeat steps 2 – 4 for the other end.

DIY Lanyard

I build my lanyards for specific applications. The first lanyard that I build has two small loops at each end; I use zip ties to anchor each end. The second lanyard that I build has a small loop at one end and a clip with an eyelet at the other end; this makes anchoring my gear to my AquaSkinz belt or kayak a snap! The third lanyard that I make has clips at each end; this is a heavy duty lanyard.

The first advantage to building your own lanyards is costing savings. The second advantage is customizing your lanyards to your specific application, which is priceless.

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Ice Fishing Shelters

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Ice fishing is fun! :-). But, standing on water with bone penetrating winds lowering your core body temperate is unpleasant. Ice fishing shelters have come a long way from the days of wooden shanties. When selecting an ice fishing shelter, the key is to first define your needs.

Cabelas Ice Team Hub Ice Shelter

Selecting the right portable shelter can be challenging. Do you fish primarily by yourself or with friends? If the latter, how many friends, really? Do you primarily jig or tip up? Are you pulling your sled via human power or towing it via ATV or snow mobile?

I personally tend to fish by my self or with 1 to 2 friends. I primarily fish tip ups. But, I am also exploring vertical jigging. I pull all my gear via sled. Thus, I chose the Cabelas Ice Team Hub Ice Shelter. The shelter has a 6 ft x 6 ft foot print and a center height of 80 inches, which houses 3 anglers comfortably. The shelter sets up and tears down in minutes, complements of the integrated heavy duty 11 mm fiberglass poles and hubs. At only 30 lbs, I can transport it on my sled without much ado. I really like the over-sized storage bag with shoulder straps and the extra side pocket to store the anchors.

If you chose a portable shelter without a built in sled, make sure that it comes with anchors! During a recent ice fishing trip, after I set up my tent, I turned around to get the anchors and woosh!!! If I did not have anchors, it would have been a really short trip! 😉

There are several great ice fishing shelters on the market. Pick a quality one that satisfies your needs. You will be amazed at how it will extend your trips.

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Plum Island Surfcasters 19th Annual Fishing Show

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The Plum Island Surfcasters are hosting their 19th Annual Fishing Show on 21-FEB-2015 at the Elks Club in Newburyport, Massachusetts.

Plum Island Surfcasters 19th Annual Fishing Show

This year’s show has two “wicked awesome” seminars. Greg Myerson, IGFA All Tackle World Record holder for striped bass (81 lbs and 14 oz), will be presenting Better Fishing through Science”.

Greg Myerson

Joe Brotz, an eel sharpie, will be presenting “Eeling with Success”.

Joe Brotz

One of the exhibitors this year is Striper Maine-iac. Ron and Lee will be selling their fish catching plugs at show prices! OMG!! Stock up now before they are sold out!!! 😉

Striper Maine-iac

World Record Striper Company will also be exhibiting at the show. They will be selling their rattle sinkers and rattle jigs. They have mastered sound as an attractant. Stock up and you will be soon be landing fish from the depths of the Atlantic. 😉

I will be exhibiting for the first time at this show. Be sure to stop by and see Fish360 Journal Beta 3! It’s wicked fishy! 😉

All attendees can enter to win the door prize: a 35Q Pelican Cooler!!!

Pelican 35Q Cooler

The show has a “Furthest Traveler Prize”. This year, the attendee who traveled the furthest to the show will get The Big Bobber Floating Cooler. This cooler keeps 12 cans cool while floating! Now that’s cool!! 😉

The Big Bobber Cooler

One of the unique features about this show is their raffle and silent auction tables. This year, there there is more than $4,000.00 worth of gear!!! Including a Stormr Surf Top.

Stormr Surf Top

You can buy lunch from their galley at prices that will not break the bank. The menu has been completely redone for this year’s show. Be sure the try the tasty meatball subs! 😉

Admission to the show is only $10.00 with an online coupon. If you join the club before or at the show as a new member, then you can attend the snow for FREE! Admission for current members is only $8.00. Children under 13 enter FREE.

I attend and exhibit at several fishing shows. I enjoy them all. But, the Plum Island Surfcasters Annual Fishing Show is my personal favorite. This family friendly show is a genuine grass roots show that is 100% focused on fishing. Attend the show. Bring a friend. Bring your family. You will quench your thirst for new fishing knowledge. You will very likely win something. You will be surrounded by people who share your passion for fishing. For me personally, such an experience is priceless! I hope to see you at the show.

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New England Saltwater Fishing Show ~ 2015

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The Rhode Island Saltwater Anglers Association is hosting the New England Saltwater Fishing Show at the end of this month at the Rhode Island Convention Center. This is the LARGEST saltwater fishing show in New England. A must attend show for saltwater anglers and professionals.

New England Saltwater Fishing Show ~ 2015

There are 246 exhibitors! You will not run out of booths to visit. 😉 I personally am planning to visit:

  • AquaSkinz ~ 903 – 904
  • ZeeBaaS ~ 409
  • RH Custom Rods ~ 931 – 935
  • On The Water ~ 102 – 105
  • Striper Maine-iac ~ 427
  • BioEdge ~ 429

I will also be exhibiting in booth: 323. Stop by to see Fish360 Journal Beta 3! 😉

This year’s show has 86 seminars by top anglers. I will be in the front row in the following seminars:

  • “The Basics of Shark Fishing” ~ Matthew Kriedel
  • “Rigging A Kayak For Saltwater Fishing” ~ Jeff Hall & Mona Rodriguez
  • “Fishing Away From Home” ~ Ron McKee
  • “Fly Casting The Salt” ~ Sheila Hassan”Hands On: How to Tie a Haywire Twist” ~ Capt. Mike Vitagliano

I will be presenting “Skishing: eXtreme Surfcasting” on 27-FEB-2015 at 6:30 PM. So stop in and learn about Skishing. You may just be inspired to try it! 😉

Fish360 Skishing eXtreme Surfcasting

Do you fish saltwater? Then you simply must go to this show. So, mark your calendar. Print the admission coupon. And stop by and say hello at the show! 😉

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HX Chunking Rig

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The two most widely exploited chunking rigs by surfcasters are fish finder rigs and high-low rigs. Both rigs are effective when fish correctly. But, my personal go-to chunking rig is a variation of the high-low rig. I call it the “HX” rig. The HX rig is a high-low rig without the “low” dropper loop.

Fish360 HX Rig

The technical advantage of the HX rig versus fish finder rigs and high-low rigs is casting distance. Having the weight at the bottom of the rig, as apposed to at the top of the rig like fish finder rigs, “pulls” the rig through the air. A single dropper loop provides less wind resistance than the two dropper loops on a high-low rig.

The HX rig is also very versatile. I have caught fish with it from 2 feet of water to 30 feet of water. I always carry a spectrum of bank and pyramid sinkers from 1 1/2 oz to 6 oz. I use circle hooks with bleeding sharp points like the Owner SSW inline circle hook (9/0). Circle hooks hang a chunk better and once they penetrate, they do not come out.

Chunking is a very productive method to land keeper and trophy fish. But, casting a piece of meat into the ocean is no guarantee that you will catch fish. The superior castability of the HX rig will help you to place your tasty chunk in the strike zone.

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