Recipes are great for both cooking and fishing — follow this set of instructions, and you’ll get that desired result. Professional chefs, however, understand which flavors combine well to create their own delectable dishes. Charter captains, who fish many days consecutively, through varied weather, temperature and tides, similarly understand how a lure’s specific characteristics — its flavor, if you will — mix with given water conditions to convince fish to take a bite.

With that in mind, I asked 11 striped bass experts to pick their favorite striper lure and explain when and how they fish it. I also asked each why he believed that particular lure to be so mouthwatering to striped bass in those circumstances. Sure, pro anglers typically name as their go-to striped bass lure one made by a manufacturer who sponsors them. But knowing it has proved consistently effective for them, then understanding why — both their “recipe” (what to fish, when and how — as well as their reasoning) — will help all striper enthusiasts increase their success. Here are the best striped bass lures you can buy today.

Quicklook: Best Fishing Lures for Striped Bass

• Hard Baits
  • Gibbs Danny Surface Swimmer
  • Rapala Skitter Walk
  • Sebile Magic Swimmer
  • Rebel Jumping Minnow
  • Shimano ColtSniper Jerkbait
  • Strategic Angler Cruiser
  • Tsunami Talkin’ Popper
  • Yo-Zuri Mag Darter
• Soft Baits
  • RonZ Original Series
  • Lunker City Slug-Go
  • Storm WildEye Swim Shad
  • Berkley Gulp! Shads and PowerBaits (for East and West Coast Fishing)

Hard Baits

Gibbs Danny Surface Swimmer

Where, When and Who Along Long Island on New York’s southwestern coast, from Jones Inlet to Fire Island, Capt. Al Lorenzetti targets striped bass on current edges along inshore sandbars from late May through mid-July, and then again in October and November.

Lure Choice and Conditions “When I’m anchored ahead of a rip, the blunt tip of the Danny, plus that metal lip, gives it a wobble that stripers want to pounce on, even with minimal forward motion through the water. Just the current makes the plug work.”

Read Next: Striped Bass Fishing in New England

How and Why “One angler on one side of the boat just holds the lure right in front of the edge of the rip. Another angler on the other side casts behind the rip and reels right up to it. The most experienced angler in a group of three then throws between the two and reels the plug right along the rip line, just fast enough to make it wobble. It lays over side to side and looks like the slow-moving bunker or shad that frequent those rips.”

Size and Color 3½-ounce in yellow (which is intended to resemble bunker)

Unique Rig Bend the metal lip down, not quite to 90 degrees, to keep the lure on top, where it’s easier to keep an eye on it as well as see spectacular striper surface bites.

When to Switch “Casting into the wind, the line tends to foul the Danny’s front hook, and if I can’t get close, like at a breaking inlet bar, it doesn’t cast far enough.” At such times, Lorenzetti goes with Gibbs’ Polaris Popper. “It doesn’t foul, and I can throw it a country mile.”

-Lorenzetti is a pro staffer for Gibbs.

Rapala Skitter Walk

Where, When and Who North Carolina sounds — really, one huge, shallow inland sea — provide stripers year-round, with “dynamite action from late April through November,” says Capt. Gary Dubiel.

Lure Choice and Conditions If he knows where to cast, and stripers are either in shallow water or actively feeding on top, Dubiel says the distinct, loud rattle of the Skitter Walk attracts bigger fish than most other lures will.

How and Why “Use a lot of rod tip and reel slowly” — the classic walk-the-dog, Dubiel says. “Rock the bait aggressively side to side to move that big rattle inside, and keep it moving toward you with slow momentum. The rhythmic noise and motion seem to trigger fish.”

Size and Colors 4 3/8-inch with a white or chartreuse belly, or — in particularly dark, tannic water — a model in orange hues

When to Switch In choppy water that muffles noise, or when fish are deeper or more scattered, Dubiel prefers the louder sound and heartier surface action of Storm’s Rattlin’ Chug Bug, a cup-faced popper, which he says is also easier for many anglers to fish properly.

-Dubiel is a pro staffer for Rapala.

Rebel Jumping Minnow

Where, When and Who Beginning in May, striped bass show up on bars and along marsh edges on the Merrimack River, just south of the Massachusetts/New Hampshire border, says Capt. Chris Valakatgis.

Lure Choice and Conditions “On a calm day, you see the Jumping Minnow on top, even if it stops, and you hear the rattle. That helps get you into a rhythm and adjust your retrieve until you find the cadence that entices bites.”

How and Why “Start with a slow walk-the-dog motion, then use slow twitches of the rod tip to make the bait swing out wider to the side. If stripers are breaking on the surface, try speeding up the cadence and tightening the zigzag.”

Size and Color 4½-inch in bone

Unique Rig Replace original hooks with larger No. 1 or No. 2 trebles to handle 40-inch fish, but crush barbs to aid releasing smaller schoolies.

When to Switch “The Jumping Minnow is so light, it’s hard to cast in any wind, and if it’s choppy, you need a lure with more surface commotion to stand out,” Valakatgis says, so in those conditions, he switches to the rear-weighted Cordell Pencil Popper for better casting and heartier action.

Sebile Magic Swimmer

Where, When and Who After spawning in the Hudson and Delaware rivers, stripers return to the coast beginning late in March and hang there through June, says Point Pleasant Beach, New Jersey, Capt. John Luchka.

Lure Choice and Conditions “When adult bunker are around, the fast-sinking Magic Swimmer targets fish on the surface, midwater and all the way to the bottom,” Luchka says. Stripers are drawn to the vibration the jointed body creates and, the guide says, it looks like an injured fish once the fish get close.

How and Why “They’re not super ­aggressive until they’ve had a few meals. Cast the lure outside the edge of the bait school so it looks like a wounded bait separated from the school. Let it sink, then bring it in slowly a couple of cranks and pause, a couple more cranks, and pause. They crush it on that pause.” A faster retrieve entices those same fish after they’ve eaten and become more aggressive.

Size and Colors 7½-inch, 3-ounce fast-sinking in bunker, or the brighter American shad color in murky water

When to Switch When smaller prey are prevalent, Luchka prefers “Sebile’s Stick Shadd, which is a bit rounder, and better matches the body shape of peanut bunker.”

-Luchka was a pro staffer for Sebile, back when the company was producing lures.

Shimano ColtSniper Jerkbait

Where, When and Who Chris Fox’s flexible schedule gets him on the lower Chesapeake Bay as regularly as many pro captains where, from October through early December, he parlays that expertise into frequent striper, trout and redfish slams, all from one lure.

Lure Choice and Conditions Near the mouth of the York and James rivers, green shrimp — which are actually white — show up thick in shallow water near man-made structure such as old pier pilings. “The ColtSniper‘s lip drives the lure underwater a foot or two, where the long, skinny body and white color match the shrimp.”

How and Why From deeper water, “cast it up on a flat and just reel it in slowly. It flashes white as it wobbles and rolls side to side. The fish usually hammer it right at that drop-off,” he says. As the water temperature falls below 50 degrees, “I slow the retrieve drastically, almost to the point of boredom,” he says — until a 40-inch striped bass piles on.

Size and Colors 140 mm (5.5 inches) in bone color with pink highlights underneath

When to Switch When the fish hang deeper than the ColtSniper will reach, “I switch to a sinking version of Hayward Tackle’s Genesis and twitch it for a walk‑the‑dog action.”

Strategic Angler Cruiser

Where, When and Who Along Cape Cod’s eastern shore and north past Cape Ann, Massachusetts, from mid-May through mid-July, tremendous currents from 12-foot tides over bottom with minimal structure to hide behind force striped bass into huge, roaming packs. They’re “more like open-water pelagics” — not their normal ambush hunting style, says Capt. Dom Petrarca.

Lure Choice and Conditions For about an hour on either side of slack tide, Petrarca says, “the stripers push the mackerel to the surface and attack from underneath. The long, wide Cruiser makes a lot of surface noise and offers the mackerel profile that bass are keyed in to.”

How and Why “Every couple of cranks, give a light twitch to the left [for spinners with the handle on the left side]. The wide body is weighted so the narrow nose digs in and it kicks out to the side, then comes back in an S pattern,” Petrarca says, which mimics the quick lateral movements of ­mackerel fleeing predators.

Size and Color 10-inch in a blue- or green-mackerel pattern

Unique Rig Owner Stinger 3/0 treble hook plus a Gamakatsu 8/0 live-bait hook at the tail

When to Switch During ripping currents between high and low tides, striped bass change hunting tactics. “They stack up, looking like a long wave on the fish finder in the middle of the water column.” That huge wall of striper mouths swimming with the current sucks up any unfortunate prey it rolls across. “Get in front of the school, and drop a 3- or 4-ounce jig.”

-Petrarca is a pro staffer for Strategic Angler.

Tsunami Talkin’ Popper

Where, When and Who Capt. Scott Leonard starts his season in May on Long Island, New York’s central south shore, and he moves to Montauk and beyond as the fish migrate east from July through September.

Lure Choice and Conditions “The Talkin’ Popper fishes really well when it’s flat or fairly calm — 12 knots of wind or less. It casts well too when stripers are up tight to the beach and hard to get to.”

How and Why “Cast along the outer edges of the bunker school, where big bass tend to be. Pop it, let it settle, then pop it again, while reeling nice and slow. The slower the better for bigger fish,” he says. “The way it splashes, it looks like a wounded bunker separated from the school, and stripers climb right onto it.”

Size and Colors 3½-ounce in yellow, to mimic ­prevalent bunker

When to Switch “When conditions are rougher, with a lot of surface commotion already, I’ll go with a surface swimmer like the Gibbs Danny.”

-Leonard is a pro staffer for Tsunami.

Yo-Zuri Mag Darter

Where, When and Who Capt. Carter Andrews fishes far and wide for The Obsession of Carter Andrews television show, but he often returns to New England during peak early‑summer striper fishing.

Lure Choice and Conditions The Mag Darter fishes really well in strong New England currents. “It doesn’t roll to the side like a true lipped lure,” he says. “With the magnetic weight-transfer system, super-long casts maximize my opportunities farther from the boat.”

How and Why “With just a slow, steady, straight wind, it darts really well side to side,” which he says entices striped bass in most conditions. To spice it up, though, “on every second or third crank, I give it just a little twitch.”

Size and Colors 6½-inch in bronze or bone, or, at times, holographic pink

When to Switch “When I’m up the rivers, in calmer conditions with less current, I can throw the 5-inch Mag Minnow like a dart,” he says, to more accurately target specific points and pockets of marsh grass where striped bass might lie.

-Andrews is a pro staffer for Yo-Zuri.

Soft Baits

Hard baits require specific angler actions to convince stripers they’re a natural food source. “Soft baits already look and feel real,” says Rhode Island charter captain Jack Sprengel, who offers several hot tickets.

RonZ Original Series

Early in July, as fish move into deeper water off Block Island, Sprengel says, “they’re often using current breaks behind structure to carry feeding opportunities to them. The original RonZ series lure’s tapered body swims just from water moving across its body.” Simply drop a 6- to 8-inch lure from a drifting boat, choosing the weighted head based on drift speed. Alternately, “cast into the direction of the drift and let it sink to the bottom, then slowly jig it all the way back to the surface.”

-Sprengel is a pro staffer for RonZ.

Lunker City Slug-Go

Beginning in May in Narragansett Bay, “when they’re in shallow water and easily spooked, it’s tough to beat a soft-landing, slow-moving bait like the original Slug-Go, presented at or just below the surface,” Sprengel says. A 6- to 10-inch bait should be rigged with a single-hook head. “Less is more. Don’t botch the presentation by adding too much input. If the strike doesn’t come right after it lands, retrieve any slack, give it two sharp twitches, pause, and repeat.”

Storm WildEye Swim Shad

Regarding another favorite of Sprengel’s, he says: “Near a jetty or pier, a weighted paddle-tail shad with tight but erratic action, such as Storm’s swim shad, sinks quickly down into the strike zone along and between structure contours.” Start small, 4 to 6 inches, or as large as 9 inches to target large stripers. “Reel slowly and let the paddle tail do its job.” Sprengel favors these swim shad in bright colors on bright days and darker colors on dark, overcast days. “Hold the lure over your head,” he suggests, “and see how it contrasts with the sky — as fish will see it.”

Berkeley Gulp! Shads and PowerBaits (East and West Coast)

With a West Coast spin on striper fishing, widely known Northern California fishing journalist Steve Carson says: “On major rivers, the 8-inch black PowerBait Maxscent Kingtail rigged on a ½- to ¾-ounce jig head replicates local eels. In the California Delta, Berkley’s 4-inch Havoc Sick Fish and 4- or 5-inch PowerBait Ripple Shad are good for blind-casting at known holding areas, or cast the Gulp! 5-inch or 6-inch Saltwater Jerk Shads into visible boils. Carson adds, “Shad- or trout-replicating colors are usually best, though chartreuse can be very effective in dirty water.”

-Carson is a pro staffer for Berkley.

Back on the East Coast, pro tournament fisherman Capt. Seth Funt (@teamthreebuoys) says, “The fish in Long Island Sound in March and April are tuned in to worms and small sand eels,” so he opts for a ½- or ¾-ounce Spro Prime Bucktail Jig in pearl, tipped with a 4- or 6-inch Gulp! Power Worm in pumpkin color. “It gives them a big, fat sand eel to get excited about. Just twitch, twitch, pull, and then let it fall a little. Worms and juvenile eels don’t swim along like baitfish; they just move with the current, so present it the same way.”

Try Them Out for Yourself

No matter your preferred striper lure, the key is to match it to the seasonal patterns and feeding behaviors of the striped bass you’re targeting. With the right lures and some well-timed casts, you’ll be hooking into plenty of these hard-fighting fish in no time. So get rigged up with some proven striped bass lures and get out on the water — the next trophy is waiting for you.

The post Best Striped Bass Lures appeared first on Sport Fishing Mag.

Who doesn’t love a good hammock? After a day with the rod and the reel, a hammock offers you the relaxation you’ve been craving. And don’t worry: Hammocks have evolved quite a bit since we first became infatuated with them when the gang on TV’s “Gilligan’s Island” used them after setting ground on the shore of an uncharted desert isle. Truth is, there’s a hammock out there for any outdoor adventure – and ones indoors too. Here are our favorites.

You’ll be lugging enough gear to the campsite so why should your hammock weigh you down? We love this model for its light weight and portability. Attach the hammock to two trees or anything sturdy and start relaxing in the great outdoors.

We know the dilemma: You’re craving a hammock but you’re not sure where you’ll end up using it most often – by the pool, on the beach, in the woods. The DoubleNest was designed for every destination.

Is it just us, or does this remind you of Aladdin’s magic carpet? It’ll fit right in with your other patio furniture – or if you’re adventurous enough, you can even hang it indoors.

Brazilian-style hammocks are known for their “cocoon effect.” If that means they’re the perfect way to spend an afternoon or night asleep, then sign us up. Plus, we love the idea of sharing the space with our kids and pets.

The post Great Hammocks for Outdoor Adventures appeared first on Sport Fishing Mag.

Chances are you don’t need a ton of fishing tools to have a successful day of fishing. Many tools are dedicated to some specific fishing purpose which you may or may not need. But some basic tools are important to keep handy on the boat. These are the types of fishing tools that help anglers rig tackle and handle fish safely.

How can you cut your fishing line without a tool? Don’t use your teeth! What if you need to remove a hook from a toothy fish? How can you safely handle a fish without affecting its slime coat? Here are three fishing tools to make sure you have on your next trip. These tools are important in fresh or salt water.

Easily Remove a Hook from a Fish

Part of catch and release fishing is being a responsible angler that handles fish with care before releasing. When a fish is bleeding from inside the mouth or throat, there’s a strong chance the fish won’t survive. Trying to unhook a fish that’s hooked deep in the gut can often lead to a bloody mess. A tool is available for anglers called a hook remover, or dehooker, that helps remove hooks in the gut. The Daason Easy Fish Hook Remover utilizes a long neck and a pair of handles to grab hold of a hook and release them with minimal harm to the fish. The neck reaches deeper than a fisherman’s hands, plus doesn’t rip the hook out like a pliers. The tools anodized aluminum construction has good corrosion resistance against salt water.

A Fish Handling Tool

The ZACX Fish Lip Griper is meant to help the angler handle a fish safely. The lip gripper has a pair of jaws that grab hold of a fish’s mouth. Do not hold the fish vertically with the lip gripper, instead hold the fish horizontally with one hand under the belly and one hand holding the lip gripper. The lip gripper allows an angler to hold a fish’s mouth without getting cut by teeth. To remove a hook or lure, leave the fish in the water while holding onto the lip gripper. Use your free hand to unhook the lure from the fish’s mouth. The ZACX lip gripper features an EVA foam grip and T-handle that’s spring loaded.

A Tool to Handle Knots and Pliers

Quality fishing pliers perform many functions for anglers. They can open split rings to remove and add treble hooks to lures. They can squash down the barbs of your hooks. They can cut line and leader. They can help you tighten your fishing knots. But most importantly, they can grab hold onto a hook and help remove the hook from a fish’s mouth. The Piscifun fishing pliers performs all these functions, built from anodized aluminum to deter oxidation and rust. Replaceable tungsten carbide cutters make short work of braided lines, heavy mono, fly lines and backing lines. The spring-loaded pliers come with nylon sheath, belt loop and coiled lanyard.

The post Three Great Tools for Fishing appeared first on Sport Fishing Mag.

If you have a high number of fish to fillet, or the fish you catch are massive and take time to dress down and fillet, consider adding some power to your fillet knife. Fillet knives with batteries and electrical cords are available to give you extra power and shorten time at the cleaning table. If you don’t have access to electrical hookup near the fillet table, then a battery powered option is a no-brainer. Choose the right fillet knife for your fishing needs.

A Basic Fillet Knife

The KastKing Spartacus Fillet feature an ultra-sharp, 8Cr14 Stainless-Steel blade for added performance and durability. These blades have a high carbon content to retain sharpness and chromium to increase corrosion resistance. All Spartacus knives are coated with Cerakote ceramic finish. A Kraton G Polymer grip performs at all temperatures and provides a comfortable and slip-resistant handle. This knife is perfect for fresh- or saltwater anglers who want to clean their catches comfortably.

Lessen Time at the Fillet Table

The American Angler PRO fillet knife is meant to handle big fish. The PRO Series motor boasts two times more torque than other heavy-duty electrical knives. Plus, with quality interior components, expect this knife to last season after season. Fillet comfortably with an ergonomic handset that stays cool for hours of continuous filleting. The PRO series handset is compatible with different American Angler replacement blades, so you can pick the length and style you want to use. This knife is a great option if you take filleting fish seriously.

Fillet with Power

The Rapala Lithium Ion Cordless Fillet Knife utilizes a battery to provide a consistent speed and torque from fillet to fillet. Your battery won’t slow down as power wanes, producing 80 continuous minutes of run. This is the perfect knife for a Louisiana trout fisherman who loaded the cooler with specks. A storage case includes cordless knife, 2 Lithium Ion batteries, 6 and & 7-1/2-inch reciprocating style blades, and wall charger. This is a great knife you can use off the grid.

The post How to Choose the Right Fillet Knife appeared first on Sport Fishing Mag.

Action cameras offer a first-person point of view, with the angler or boater recording on camera the perspective they’re seeing. Increasingly, action cameras are now built with view screens on the front and back of the camera, allowing the operator to see what’s being recorded, whether they’re facing the camera or shooting away from themselves.

The newest action cameras are loaded with features, able to perform underwater, shoot 4K video, and shoot at different frame rates. Slow-Mo options, image stabilization, and other features available on current camera models. Check out the action cameras highlighted below. Which features do you want in your next action camera?

A Budget Action Camera

The Akaso Brave 4 Action Camera is priced to sell at under $100, but still has the impressive features of more expensive cameras. Shoot in 4K at 24 frames per second, 2K at 30 frames per second, and 1080P at 60 frames per second, or shoot 20MP still photos. Adjust the view angle of this action camera to 170, 140, 110, and 70 degrees. Take the camera as deep as 100 feet underwater too. WiFi connectivity and HDMI port are also included. This is the perfect beginner model for someone new to action cameras. Learn what today’s action cameras can offer without major financial investment.

Vlogging Cameras

DJI, known for its drones, released the Osmo Action Camera to compete against the GoPro Hero 7. The two cameras have similar specifications and features. The Osmo Action has a 1.4-inch front screen (300 PPI) and 2.25-inch back screen (325 PPI). RockSteady stabilization technology gets rid of the extra motion in videos that can be distracting or even nauseating. The camera shoots in detail at HDR 4K video at 60 frames per second, slow motion under 1080P at 240 frames per second, as well as utilizing bit rates up 100 megabits per second. Other good accessories for anglers to incorporate with this camera are the 128 GB micro SD card and helmet strap mount that often come packaged with the camera.

Image Stabilization in Action Cameras

The GoPro HERO8 action camera wanted to get serious about image stabilization. The camera has three levels of stabilization under the Hyper Smooth 2.0 settings. Even better, Hyper Smooth works with all resolutions and frame rates, and features horizon leveling. A Time Warp 2.0 setting records super stabilized time lapse videos while doing an activity like casting, fighting a fish, paddling or leadering a fish. Time Warp automatically adjusts speed based on motion, scene detection and lighting. Slow-motion and live-burst features allow anglers to get artistic with their video while fishing. The HERO8 has all the features and video quality necessary for a fishing action camera.

The post Pick the Right Action Camera for Your Fishing Trips appeared first on Sport Fishing Mag.

Life jackets, by law, are required to be on your boat, so check state regulations for the exact regulations. Some styles of life jackets must be worn to be considered legal, not just stored in a hatch on the boat. So never feel pressure not to wear a jacket because it doesn’t feel cool; wearing a life jacket is self-preservation from that unexpected on-the-water emergency. Even kayakers and paddleboarders should wear a personal flotation device in their shallow-water excursions.

Life jackets are rated in different classifications or types. When researching to buy your next life jacket, knowing what a life jacket is rated helps to understand how it will handle in an emergency situation. Type I life jackets are offshore jackets, with over 22 pounds of buoyancy, meant for survival conditions where rescue times may be slow. They will flip an unconscious person face up. Type II life jackets are meant for coastal applications, with over 15.5 pounds of buoyancy. Many will flip an unconscious boat face up. Type III life jackets are comfortable to wear when boating or fishing, but most will not flip an unconscious person face up in the water. Type IV life jackets are throwable flotation devices. Type V life jackets are often used in work setting on the water and must be worn while on the water.

The Classic Orange Life Jacket

The Airhead Type II Adult Keyhole life jacket is the classic-style, boxy life jacket that’s a great option if you need something reliable but don’t plan to wear it regularly. The bright orange life jacket is inexpensive and is designed specifically to provide minimum buoyancy and turn an unconscious person face up. The life jacket is made for anyone who weighs more than 90 pounds.

Inflatable jackets are growing in popularity too, as they are lightweight and allow you to do things like a cast a reel or drop anchor without noticing you’re wearing the device.

Inflatable Vest Jackets

The Eyson Inflatable Life Jacket Vest Preserver manually inflates when you pull the handle, opening to full size in about 3 seconds. On the left side of the jacket, you can blow up the jacket via tube if something were to happen to the inflator. This type of jacket is a great option for anglers who need the ability to move around a boat cockpit.

Inflatable Belt Jackets

The Onyx M Series Belt inflatable life jacket is extremely low profile. The 1-inch buckle and body belt is made from 200 denier nylon. The Type V life jacket has Type III performance, says the company, approved for persons at least 16 years old and over 80 pounds. This type of personal life jacket is the kind you can wear all day and forget it’s even there.

The post How to Choose the Right Life Jacket appeared first on Sport Fishing Mag.

Today’s trolling motors allow anglers to fish a shoreline methodically and quietly. Trolling motors allow a boat to stay in one spot when fighting against current or wind without deploying a physical anchor. Tilt the outboard engine out of the water and use the trolling motor to explore areas that are otherwise to shallow too access.

The 1980s saw trolling motors really enter the fishing scene and advancements in the motors have been occurring ever since. Current options include trolling motors with sonar transducer and temperature sensors, trolling motors that link up with your fish-finder electronics, and trolling motors that can stay in one spot based on GPS location.

Bass boats, bay boats, flats boats, pontoon boats, smaller center consoles and even kayaks regularly utilize trolling motors nowadays. Find out which trolling motor fits your needs for fishing

Hand Control Options

The Minn Kota Endura is a 12-volt transom-mount trolling motor with a 30-inch shaft. This type of trolling motor is perfect for using on a lightweight Jon boat. Explore lakes and creeks quietly. A 6-inch telescoping handle and tilt twist handle mean you’ll need to use a hand to steer. A total of five forward and three reverse speeds give anglers options when maneuvering around docks and fallen limbs. This basic trolling motor is one that can easily be removed and added to the boat before and after a day’s fishing. Buy now

Steer With A Foot Pedal

The MotorGuide X3 trolling motor likely interests fresh and brackish water anglers that want to fish hands free. The foot control unit of the trolling motor has a heel-toe design and directional indicator for simple steering with your foot. Patented Variable Ratio Steering (VRS) accurately positions in the wind, rough water, and other less than favorable weather. Rigid aircraft grade aluminum mount and stainless-steel bushings provide a strong base at the bow. This quiet trolling motor is a great entry level option for anglers that want a bow-mounted trolling motor. Other manufacturers in this class of trolling motor produce similar options. Buy now

Remote Steering and Beyond

The Minn Kota Riptide Power Drive trolling motor excites the angler looking for a saltwater-strong trolling motor with plenty of features. The company’s iPilot feature uses GPS to control your trolling motor. For example, Spot Lock holds the boat in one place with surprising GPS accuracy. Auto Pilot navigates your boat in any direction you choose; head a certain direction and the motor will keep that track even when battling winds and waves. The motor also allows anglers to record paths, control speed and steering with a remote, and utilizes digital maximizer for increased run time with a single battery. This class of trolling motor is for the experienced angler who expects a lot from their trolling motor and works it hard throughout the day. Buy now

The post Why You Should Have a Trolling Motor on Your Boat appeared first on Sport Fishing Mag.

Dry bags are almost always made from PVC, nylon, or another waterproof material. Most dry bags are designed the same with a top section that rolls airtight and locking clip. Dry bags come in all different sizes, available to accommodate different-sized items needing protection from the elements. Consider the different styles of gear bags available to anglers and boaters today.

Duffel Dry Bag

If you want space to hold a lot of gear, consider a dry bag that’s more like a suitcase. The 60-liter Gonex Waterproof Duffel has straps on both sides for a handle, a top handle, and straps for cross body carrying. The duffel is completely waterproof. The bag closes by hook and loop, then finishes with an easy rolling top section. Lock it all down with a strap. An outside nylon zip pocket is designed to hold wet items like clothes or shoes, while staying separate from other items in the bag that must stay dry. The duffel style bag is a great option to use on airplanes, especially if you expect to experience rain or snow in your travels.

For Your Back

A rugged backpack dry bag might be the perfect option if you plan to go wade fishing or walk the shorelines while fishing. The Piscifun Waterproof Dry Bag Backpack is fully waterproof, made from 500D PVC to withstand the elements. Fully welded seams provide additional waterproofing when compared to traditional sewn-and-taped seams. Store all your fishing gear in the bag while sight fishing along the shorelines. A quick-access outer mesh pocket provides additional storage for items that can get wet such as pliers, fishing lures or sunglasses.

Pint-Sized Option

Some dry bags are just big enough to hold small personal items like phones, keys, wallet, pocket knife or lighter. The HEETA 2-Pack Waterproof Pouch is built from 100 percent waterproof PVC, designed with three zipper locks and Velcro closure. The pouch is lab-certified to handle an hour under water up to 35 feet deep. A pouch like this would make a great option to throw in your belongings if you have an open center console boat that gets little protection from the elements. Rather than jamming everything in pockets or throwing in cup holders, stash it in the pouch for when that inevitable rain storm appears.

The post What to Look for in a Dry Bag for Fishing appeared first on Sport Fishing Mag.

Most anglers want to bring their own fishing tackle, feeling more comfortable with their own gear. The tricky part is getting your gear to your destination in one piece, without breaking any of the rods, rod guides or reels. Reels, line, hooks, pliers and other terminal gear can be packed in a suitcase; your rods likely require a specific rod carrier. The rod carrier might be different if you’re flying or driving, or packing spinning, conventional or fly tackle. Check out some of the designs available to anglers today, built with different features and materials, and priced at different levels.

Protect Against Rugged Air Travel

The beefy protection supplied by the hard-shelled Flambeau Bazuka Pro Rod Tube is perfect for taking your fishing rods on the airplane. The one-piece rod tube telescopes from a base of 63 inches all the way to 87 inches. The rod tube holds up to six 6-foot, 6-inch rods and meets all Transportation Security Administration (TSA) air travel requirements. Although the rod tube is lockable, TSA may cut the lock to take a look at what’s inside. The rod tube comes with a durable handle so you can carry the case with one hand. Add shirts and pants to the rod tube, that might otherwise go in your suitcase, to pack tight and protect the rods in transit. If there’s any extra room in the rod tube, don’t be afraid to add other fishing tackle like weights, hooks, or lures. Flambeau makes one larger rod tube that telescopes to (8.5 feet) 102 inches.

Bring All Your Light Tackle Fishing Setups

If you want to pack all your gear in one bag, but don’t need a hard-shell covering, consider soft-sided storage. Soft-sided storage works great for travel in a car or truck. The Etna Fishing Rod Case Organizer storage bag allows anglers to store and carry up to 5 rods and reels in the sleeves on the outside of the bag. A 34-inch pocket on the outside has an adjustable clip lock. An interior compartment has room for extra reels, tackle and gear. When not in use, the bag folds flat like a duffel bag. Add a cardboard tube from your local home improvement store to make the inside bag rigid.

A Rod Carrier for Fly Fishermen

Fly fishermen who have delicate fishing rods that break down into 3 or 4 pieces can utilize less bulky rod storage in hard or soft sided versions. The Allen Cottonwood Fishing Rod and Gear Bag is soft sided, but handles up to four 4-piece 9-foot, 6-inch rods. Eight adjustable dividers inside allow the angler to pack rods one trip, or maybe reels, line, tackle trays and other gear on another trip. Interior see-through zippered pockets are great spot to pack tippets or pliers. The main compartment inner dimensions measure 30.5 inches by 8.75 inches by 3.75 inches.

The post How to Select Your Next Travel Fishing Rod Carrier appeared first on Sport Fishing Mag.

Rain Jacket Breathability

The technical term for breathability is called moisture vapor transfer. The process works like a cold glass of water on a hot summer’s day. Warm moisture in the air travels toward the glass, causing the outer glass to sweat droplets. In the same way, warm body moisture on the skin wants to travel toward the layers of a cooler jacket. Hydrophobic and hydrophilic coatings are often added to fabrics to help pull the moisture away from the skin —a hydrophilic coating on the inside of the fabric attracts the moisture and a hydrophobic lamination on the outside forces the moisture away.

Now that you understand what breathability is and how it works, you’ll be better prepared when a rain jacket’s description lists two numbers like 10,000/5,000. That’s the standard numerical rating used to assess a jacket’s waterproofing and breathability. The first number is waterproofing measured in millimeters, while the second number is breathability measured in grams.

How Waterproof is Your Jacket?

The waterproof number is tested by putting a 1-by-1-inch square tube over a piece of fabric and filling the tube with water. The height of the water in the tube when the fabric starts to leak is the jacket’s waterproof ranking. For example, a jacket might have 0, 5,000, 10,000, 15,000 or even 20,000-plus millimeters of waterproofing.

The breathability number represents the amount of water vapor that can travel from the inside to the outside of 1 square meter of the fabric over a 24-hour period. The higher the number, the more body moisture is allowed to escape through the fabric itself.

Keep these two rating in mind when buying a rain jacket. In down-pour rains, you’ll want a jacket that has a high waterproof raining to prevent from getting soaked. While in windy or cool conditions, maybe you don’t need a high waterproof rating. In warm and humid conditions, a rain jacket that breathes is an absolute necessity. For example, the afternoon summer showers in Florida can soak you, but if you’re not wearing a breathable rain jacket, your sweat will soak you from inside the jacket.

Check for Taped Seams

One last important detail when considering a rain jacket. Find gear with taped seams to prevent water intrusion. A soft-shell jacket might have critically taped or fully taped seams, or use durable water repellent to stop water.

The post Why Waterproofing and Breathability are Vital When Buying A Fishing Rain Jacket appeared first on Sport Fishing Mag.