Connecticut Surfcasters Association Demo Day 2018

Posted on January 20, 2018January 21, 2018 by Julio Silva

Today I had the opportunity to attend the Connecticut Surfcasters Association Demo Day. Driving down, James Jewkes, Clayton Patles, and I were discussing the 21 vendors and the 5 seminars. We got there one hour early. Yes. I observed the speed limit! I parked my Suburban at a prime parking spot behind the Clinton Town Hall. We then walked over to The Coffee Break Restaurant to have breakfast. After breakfast, we meetup with our mutual friend Jonathan O’Connor. Within minutes of opening the doors opening at 9:00 AM, the hall was full. WOW!!!

Fish360 CSA Demo Day 2018

Each exhibitor brought their gear. We visited every booth. There was no shortage of gear. The wide spectrum of plugs was amazing. I dropped off my reels for service at the ZeeBaas both. The 3-Tan reels looks very interesting! The booth that had the most action (literally) was the High Hook Lures both. Mike Mullen brought his lathe and turned one of his fish-catching needle fish right there at the show! W OW!!!

Fish360 CSA Demo Day 2018

Each seminar was unique. The one that was particularly interesting to me was the “Guide Layout & Rod Types” seminar by Bill Delizio and John Martinez. I learned a lot about the complex interdependent relationship between blank action and guide placement and how they effect casting and landing fish. WOW!!!

Fish360 CSA Demo Day 2018

This was my first time at the Connecticut Surfcasters Association Demo Day. I got to see old friends. I made some new friends. I am looking forward to next year’s show. WOW!!!

Old Metal, New Fish

Posted on January 18, 2018April 1, 2018 by Julio Silva

While targeting Lake Trout on the Wachuset Reservoir last season, I winched up an old 1 oz Kastmaster. With some simple tools and materials, I made this old metal new again so that it can catch fish anew.

Fish360 Kastmaster DIY

I removed all the old hardware. I painted half of the metal with a blue Sharpie and sealed the color with a layer of Loon fluorescing hard head epoxy. And then I dressed the metal with a custom tied siwash tail hook.

Fish360 Kastmaster Loon Outdoors Sharpie

Kastmaters cast far and catch fish. But. They also last a long time! Give your weather, tide, current, and fish beaten Kastmasters new life using this simple technique.

Custom Ice Fishing Rig

Posted on January 7, 2018January 8, 2018 by Julio Silva

When I left my house this morning to go ice fishing, the temperature was -4 degrees Fahrenheit! On my way to the lake, I stopped by Merrimac Sports Bait and Tackle to pick up some lively shiners, worms, and tungsten jigs.

Fish360 Merrimac Sports Bait and Tackle

When I got to the lake, I quickly set up my Jack Traps tip ups in a straight line configuration across a dropping bottom structure. Four of the tips up had a tin split shot and shiner rig. One tip up has a custom rig: a shiner at the bottom, followed by a split shot, which was then followed by a drop soft hook dressed with a worm. After 3.75 hours on the ice, which tip up hooked a fish? The one with the the custom rig!

Fish360 Ice Fishing Yellow Perch

My new tungesten jigs worked amazingly well. The air was so cold that the water literally froze on my line! Good thing I was fishing braid! Jigging out in the open became impossible. A crew from the Plum Island Surfcasters was kind enough to let me jig inside their heated pop-up tent. OMG! I was spoiled: no skin burning wind and no frozen line. Note to self: buy a Mr. Heater!

Fish360 Ice Fishing Jigging

Today was my windiest and coldest day on the ice. Fishing was very challenging for everyone on the lake. Only a few us frost-bite fearless anglers managed to hook and land fish. I love fishing under challenging conditions because they inspire me to invent novel gear and methods! A new DIY project coming soon!! Subscribe to our newsletter to be in the loop. 😉