Ultimate Fishing Gear

Ultimate Fishing Gear For The 21st Century

It might not be “the world’s oldest occupation,” but fishing sure comes close.  For as far back as we can find records, people have been telling fish tales, landing “the big one. “  Men have survived by the sport and necessity of fishing. 

Today, for the average man, it’s more for the sport than necessity, but fishing remains important throughout the world.  Yet, regardless how old the sport of fishing is, that doesn’t change the fact that with the dawning of the 21st century came a whole lot of cutting-edge products to improve your results with those bass and trout and all their friends, giving sportsmen even bigger fish tales to tell.

Remember back in the 1970’s when “The Pocket Fisherman” was all the rage, advertised just about every night in those late-night TV spots?  Today’s cutting-edge fishing poles have matured beyond all recognition. 

For instance, available at www.Amazon.com is the Shakespeare Ugly Stick.  This spinning rod comes in various models and costs around $30.  It has a graphite core, which is surrounded by fiberglass, and is excellent for casual fishing.  The Shakespeare is quite strong and yet highly flexible.  In one magazine test, a reviewer could not break the rod even after loading it with 55 pounds, but that could be another of those fish tales.

Over at www.Buy.com, you’ll find the Okuma Guide Select.  This offers features that are normally found only in more expensive fishing rods.  For instance, it has a graphite shaft, and your grip will be sure with its high-grade cork handle.  The rod is quite light, at 7 to 8 ounces, and yet it’s strong enough that the company gives a lifetime warranty.

Another first-rate rod you can find at www.Amazon.com is the Shimano Cumara.  It’s a bit on the pricey side, but it’s still cheaper than many other models with comparable features.  It’s a graphite spinning rod with a light shaft that offers sensitivity, comfort, speed, accuracy, and flexibility.  It has a very nice carbon reel seat.  Bottom line:  The rod is light enough that you’ll be able to tell if a goldfish bites, and yet the shaft is strong enough that there’s a lifetime guarantee.

It’s when you get into the area of fishing accessories that things get, not only cutting-edge, but also positively high tech.  The newest and hottest fishing accessories not only help you fish, but find your way back home, too! 
For instance, there are the ever-helpful fish-finders, which offer GPS technology to help you locate the big catches.  Particularly hot today are color displays on the fish-finders.  Anglers no longer have to wonder what it is that’s just beneath the water’s surface.  New color displays make it clear what’s down there, and help the anglers to identify targets, structure, and yes, fish.

One of the best models is the Lowrance X-135, available at http://www.arkansasstripers.com/lowrance-x135.htm.  At a resolution of 480 by 480 pixels, the image and contrast are great.  Garmin also makes some great models.  Some of the best prices on Garmin models can be found at http://www.basspro.com. 

Sonar can also help you tremendously with fishing.  There’s no better illustration of this than the new FishStrike big-screen recording sonar unit offered by Eagle.  This device gives inland anglers big-color, powerful sonar performance, all with a WAAS plus GPS mapping option.  You can find it at http://www.landbigfish.com/tacklestore/showcase.cfm?PID=3401.

Would You Believe - Cutting-Edge Bait?

Even the lowly fish bait has entered the 21st century in a high-tech way.  Witness the Bait Bomb.  This was developed by three fisher-entrepreneurs who founded the Bait Comb Company.

Here’s their story, or it may be yet another fish tale.  During a soccer match in the UK, (they would say “football match”), three young men had shared their own experiences fishing.  The three men expressed their feeling that there were limitations associated with traditional bait feeders, not to mention problems with attempting to create an ideal ground bait mix, all the while keeping the feeder’s contents intact during cast-sinking operations.

This little chat led the men to design a totally enclosed “Bait bomb.”  They developed it using advanced surface and solid modeling technology from Vero Software.  They worked with technologists from The Warwick University Manufacturing & Design Group and Coventry University to produce some quick prototyping models throughout the design cycle, all the while testing the design’s aerodynamic performance. 

Throughout the testing, those involved in the process tried to improve flight stability.  They did this by modifying the CAD designs.  These modifications included adding dimples and tail fins.  The team also worked on internal balance to make sure the Bait Bomb would always fall top side up.

After many months, the team finalized the CAD design.  They then designed a bio-degradable clip, which causes the time-bomb effect.

When the Bait Bomb enters the water, the clip on it dissolves, and the “bomb” opens via a spring-loaded hinge.  The device’s internal fingers arrange the bait so it’s all around the hook; it creates a bait cloud to attract the fish’s attention.

There’s now a wide variety of Bait Bombs available at such Internet sites as http://www.trophyteasers.com/Default.aspx?tabid=964.

It’s inevitable:  Eventually, high-tech will even take over the clothing that fishermen wear.  In fact, nanotechnology is already allowing manufacturers to do some amazing things with clothing.  Some companies are experimenting with the technology to eliminate odor, while others are trying ways to keep the person wearing the clothing warm.  Most of it is being considered for the gun-and-rifle hunter, but you can bet that it will also be adapted for fishing.

While we’re on the subject of clothing, Woolrich is one company boasting about a new breathable fabric called 3XDRY.  It’s extremely effective at repelling water from the outside of the person, as it disperses bodily moisture.  Unlike the nanotech, this is being developed specifically to help fishers.  Find out more at www.3XDRY.com.

Make no mistake.  No matter how high-tech we get, we’ll never get past the day of the fish tale.  Grandpas, dads, and husbands will still have their own fish tales about the one they caught and the one that got away.  But thanks to new technologies, hopefully fewer will get away than was once the case.