I have several surfcasting belts.  I purchased each belt because it improved on the previous one.  I recently ordered the Tiderunner Ultimate Surf Belt because of it’s design, usability, and versatility.

The Tiderunner Ultimate Surf Belt was designed (U.S. Patent Pending) by Steve Knapik.  This belt is made from heavy duty nylon dive belt webbing.  The feature that differentiates the Tiderunner Ultimate Surf Belt from other belts on the market is it’s multi-stage locking system.  The first stage is the 304 stainless steel compression dive buckle.  The second stage is a two inch wide industrial strength Velcro strip with a water resistant adhesive.  Hence, if the 304 stainless steel compression dive buckle was to open, the belt will hold and not fall via gravity.

The Tiderunner Ultimate Surf Belt allows me to quickly and easily adjust the belt based on my circumference, which varies based on what I am wearing: wetsuit, waders, T-shirt, or wool sweeter.  In addition, locking and unlocking the buckle can be done with one hand.  Other surf belts on the market have a plastic buckle that requires synchronized multi-step actions to un-lock.  Time is fish!

The 2″ width can accommodate standard accessories like D-rings.  This allows me to easily configure my Tiderunner Ultimate Surf Belt for chunking, plugging, or fly fishing.  The stiffness of the belt is particularly helpful when you have a stripping basket! Standard fly fishing belts lack “backbone”.

No surfcasting belt is perfect.  Structurally and functionally speaking, the Tiderunner Ultimate Surf Belt is close.  In addition its design, usability, and versatility, I like the fact that it is made in the USA by a surfcaster for surfcasters at a price that will not break the bank.

The KVD Sexy Frog from Strike King was designed by Kevin VanDam for versatility.  This hollow body frog fishes well in open water, heavy cover, and everything in between.

The KVD Sexy Frog is available in 7 colors: black, tiger black, tiger, sexy frog, leopard perch, copper frog, and stump jumper.  My go-to color choice is the leopard perch.  The frog only weights 5/8 oz.   The only modification I make is to add a Lake Fork Trophy Lures Frog Tail Hook.  Since the Gamakatsu wide gap 4/0 hook travels behind the frog pointing towards the sky, it’s virtually weedless.  The hook also does not hinder the frog’s action.  I have hooked many fish on this hook.  I have also hooked BIG fish on the frog’s main double hook.

I have retrieved the KVD Sexy Frog at various constant speeds.  I have also varied the speed of the frog across the top of the water during a retrieve from a dead stop to full speed.  I have experimented with different actions.  The most productive retrieve is a slow and steady retrieve with the frog’s natural action.  I have caught multiple species on this retrieve.  Large mouth bass, in particular, simply cannot resist a KVD Sexy Frog moving across the water’s surface slowly and steadily.

When you fish the KVD Sexy Frog with the Lake Fork Frog Tail Hook, make loooong casts. Retrieve the frog slowly and steadily while keeping constant eye-to-frog contact. Hold onto to your rod because the strikes will be sudden and explosive! 😉

Hogy is an innovative company.  When I leaned that they were offering soft plastic swim baits, I was instantly interested in how they were going to introduce innovation into such an established lure category.

First, the 6.5 inch swim baits are available in 2, 3, 4, 5, and 6 oz sizes.  This is brilliant because it allows anglers to fish the same profile bait at various depths in the water column.  Traditional swim baits with embedded jigs increase weight as they increase in length.

Second, each swim bait comes with a VMC Barbarian hook.  This hook is strong and sharp.  Traditional swim baits with embedded jigs increase hook size as they increase in length.

Third, the swim baits are made from a specialized blend of UV infused soft plastic.  The material is professionally molded around the VMC Barbarian Jig Hooks.  The result is a durable and flexible soft plastic swim bait with increased visibility in low light conditions.

I like the Hogy Pro Tail Paddles because they offer the same length and profile in a series of weights with the a strong and sharp VMC Barbarian hook.  No compromises!  No rigging required!!  Just add water!!!