A few years ago Shimano started pushing the envelope in the sub-$100 baitcasting reel arena. Offerings like the Caius, Caenen, and Casitas have reinvented what quality for under $100 looks like. The newest offering from Shimano is the Shimano SLX, a $99 baitcasting reel that has a different look and feel than other models. I spent a couple of days Continue Reading
Reviews
REVIEW: YakGadget Motor Mount for Kayaks
When you have more than 15 years of paddling and fishing like me, sometimes I want to cheat a little and let a motor do the work for me. Or maybe you might want to be efficient with your time on the water and do more fishing than paddling. You might be considering a motor. The problem is only a Continue Reading
REVIEW: NRS Champion Bibs and Jacket
Cold and wet are the norms in kayak fishing, especially for the tournament angler. NRS tapped into their fishing team and ambassadors for input on their newest offering, the Champion Bibs and Champion Jacket, named after Ron Champion, a fishing team member and industry veteran. I got the chance to meet up with David Feucht of NRS and fellow Texas Continue Reading
REVIEW: Flambeau Tuff Krate Premium
Flambeau introduced their Tuff Krate and Tuff Krate Premium last summer at ICAST and this winter they hit shelves for consumers. At first glance, it looked like a milk crate mod that had been around for several years but I’ll admit, I was curious. One of my fellow Heroes on the Water volunteers, Pedro, hit me up on Messenger letting Continue Reading
REVIEW: NRS HydroSkin 2.0 Forecast Gloves
The best time to test some cold water gear is when it’s cold and you are actually on the water fishing. Cold weather kayak gloves that don’t inhibit fishing are always high on the search list from November through April across the US. I recently had occasion to test out the NRS Hydroskin 2.0 Forecast gloves when the weather was Continue Reading
REVIEW: Crescent Ultra Lite Kayak $699
The long talked about Crescent Ultra Lite Kayak is finally starting to hit stores right about a year after it was unveiled as coming soon. Purporting to be a true throw and go kayak that is easy on the shoulders and wallet but well outfitted, the Ultra Lite made its way to my house for a run through the paces. Continue Reading
REVIEW: Line Taming Serum Line Memory Reducer
Want to stretch your dollar further or can’t seem to find a line that doesn’t have memory? I am always on the lookout for good deals or products that can help me with saving a few bucks. I recently came across Line Taming Serum made by John Adams from Tennessee. I figured if it works out well I could save Continue Reading
REVIEW: Daiwa Tatula 100 Baitcasting Reel
Daiwa introduced the redesigned Tatula 100 at ICAST 2018 and users of the previous subtypes of the Tatula rejoiced. Dropping some weight and height, the 100 promised to be a perfect reel for smaller handed anglers and anglers looking for an easily palmed, finesse reel. Last week we talked about the Daiwa CR80 which shares similar height and weight as the Continue Reading
REVIEW: Daiwa CR80 Baitcasting Reel
The CR80 is a new baitcasting reel from Daiwa that is packed with tons of great specs at a sub-$100 price point. Most retailers are offering the CR80 at $79.99. The real question is how does it perform? We’ve all seen bargain reels and the oversaturation of the budget reel market so is it a good buy or not? I put Continue Reading
REVIEW: OGT Companion 400 Pro Survival Tool
Whether it’s Christmas season, a birthday, or anniversary, shopping for the outdoor enthusiast can be difficult and sometimes pretty expensive. It doesn’t have to be though. I found the Off Grid Tools Companion 400 Pro Survival Tool surfing the web and decided to give it a shot as a potential recommended gift item. The $25 price tag and features seemed Continue Reading
