Sun2Sea FishCulture Shirt - Review

Mildura is arguably one of the hottest destinations along the murray and as a kayak fisho I am constantly reminded of just how parched and burnt one can get when fishing along this mighty river during the summer months.

So, when I was asked to provide a product review on the Sun2Sea fishing shirt, I was naturally enthusiastic.

First and foremost, the Sun2Sea range of shirts offer 50+ UPF protection and this protection is backed up by certification from Australia’s own UV government body, ARPANSA.

There are a lot of manufacturers out there advertising “swimming’ or “fishing” shirts that offer no or little UV protection at all so it is refreshing to see a company ensure that the product they sell is tested and certified, ensuring maximum sun protection for the end user.

The shirt I received was a Fish Culture product and even came with a handy fish measure printed on the left sleeve.

These shirts are extremely comfortable, quick drying and can be worn wet or dry because the material is light and non ‘clingy’.

The polo has a nice long collar and the cuffless sleeves are really appreciated after a long day casting. The good people at Sun2Sea must have had us fisher people in mind when they were designing this shirt because the cuff is long, loose and non restricting.

The Sun2Sea range also includes:

• V-neck 
• Polos
• Hoodies

There is a Sun2Sea shirt to fit the whole family and they also have a great range of sarongs, gloves and kayak covers.

The team at Sun2Sea can even have your shirts personalised with a club logo or sponsor details.

I am really impressed with this product and I will definately be placing an order for the new Yakkin Tackle shirts in the very near future.

Contact Robbie at Sun2Sea today and that dreaded lobster look will become a thing of the past.

http://www.sun2seauvprotection.com.au

Costa Del Mar Blackfin - Review

I had heard many glowing reports about the Costa Del Mar range of sunglasses and I was keen to get my hands on a pair to see what all the fuss was about when the generous team at Black Pete supplied me with my new Blackfin sunglasses. 

The timing was absolutely perfect because I had just lost another pair of sunglasses to the murky depths of the Murray river.

The Costa Del Mar brand is one of the most recognised fishing sunglasses brands in the US and sales figures are improving out of sight in the Australian market where traditionally only one brand ruled the roost.

The first thing you notice about the Blackfin sunglasses is flawless design and wrap around lens.

This design gives full eye protection from the glaring Australian sun, wind and any other foreign objects.

Costa Del Mar sunglasses offer a wide range of lens options including:

• 580 Glass
• Poly Carbonate
• Plastic

I opted for the Glass lens in the Copper. This lens is ideal for the freshwater environment because it reduces glare and enhances contrast.

The clarity of this lens is absolutely world class and it becomes obvious why industry insiders have dubbed this lens “ the clearest lens on the planet”.

I was amazed at the depth of clarity among rocks and other structures and the scratch resistant glass is easy to clean and feels well balanced with the nylon frame.

The stylish practical design of the Blackfin sunglasses make this product ideal for fishing but it is Hydrolite™ technology that is the real star of the show.

My pet hate is something I refer to as “brain crush”. This highly technical term refers to the painful sensation of my sunglasses arm squeezing in on my temple area.

Hydrolite™ is a co-injected plastic compound that runs the length of both temples and extends up to the nose pad. This makes for a very comfortable fit and ensures a snug fit to the face. 

This is the paragraph where I should write the negative points about the product but I can honestly say I cannot think of one thing because the Blackfin sunglasses are flawless and I suppose the only negative is that they are not readily available in all reputable tackle stores. 

I have a feeling that tide is changing and that we will be seeing a lot from Costa Del Mar range in the near future.

Black Pete are the Australian distributors of the Costa Del Mar range and they would be more than happy to help you locate your nearest dealer.

http://blackpete.com.au/

Compact Lip Grips - Review

I was recently handed a pair of these new compact lip grips from my local GotOne Tackle store and I am happy to report I won’t be handing them back any time soon.

I need everything in my kayak to be light, compact and accessible because space is critical in such a small area and the last thing I need is a big heavy cumbersome pair of grips rattling around at my feet.

The grips weigh a mere 210 grams and the ergonomic design makes them ideal for kayak anglers, boaties or land based anglers. 

Constructed of stainless steel and magnesium alloy, the grips are strong, corrosion resistant and the manufacturer claims a lifting weight of 15kg. Unfortunately I haven’t been able to test them out on a model that large but with Cod opening just around the corner, I’m hoping to let a big green monster put a pair through it’s paces.

The jaws have a strong closed position and the spring loaded trigger is easy to use.

My grips have been hung out in the weather for over two months to test durability and I am happy to report there does not seem to be any signs of rust or corrosion and all components are still moving freely.

Obviously salt water anglers would need to thoroughly rinse and spray with a WD40 product to ensure the lifespan of the product.

The grips come standard with a handy little lanyard attachment that is ideal for attaching to the side of a yak or a pfd fishing jacket. The small clip is of low quality  and I promptly replaced this with a stainless steel carabiner.

I highly recommend this product to anyone who is after a light and compact alternative to the regular grips. The compact lip grips are available through all good tackle stores and retail for around $35.00.

Keep Yakkin’

Lowrance Elite/Mark 4 quick release Ram-mount - Review

The Ram Mount brand is synonymous with quality mounting products for all types of purposes and the RAM-B-101-L011 is no exception.

This particular model will suit all Elite/Mark 4 Lowrance units and is clearly labelled as a ‘Light Use’ mount. There is also a model to suit all Elite 5 and Mark 5 Lowrance sounders (‘rugged use’).

I have the Lowrance Elite 4 DSI and the sounder specific mount seemed an obvious choice for my new kayak sounder install. The mount is really easy to install and the large 1” rubber ball joint allows for a full range of viewing positions. 

The Lowrance adaptor clips into the rear of the sounder effortlessly and I have found the quick release system quite robust despite the ‘light use’ specification.

This type of quick release mount is ideal for kayak use and the powder coated aluminum construction makes for a light but sturdy unit.

This is a really well thought out collaboration between Lowrance and Ram Mounts and I highly recommend this product to any Kayak fisherman who own one of the compatible sounders. 

The guys at Southern Insight are a pleasure to deal with and will happily advise you of your nearest dealer.

http://southerninsight.com.au/

Keep Yakkin’

Boomerang Tools : 'The Snip' Review

It always seemed strange to me that we can put a man on the moon but we could not produce a pair of good quality braid cutters without the huge price tag.

Luckily, the Boomerang Tool company came to the rescue with a little tool aptly named ‘The Snip’.

The Snip received raving reviews in USA last year after it’s launch at the prestigious ICAST  

fishing tackle trade show and I am told it was once again the star of the Boomerang stables at this years show.

The first thing you notice about this little pocket rocket is its compact and ergonomic design. Weighing in at approximately 35 grams, The Snip is comfortable and light, making it ideal for a jacket or kayak attachment. The styling of this tool is very clean and the ‘safety lock’ function ensures the blades are protected and out of harms way when not in use.

Basic Model shown with retractable cord

Premium Model shown with LED light

The super sharp blades are made from a 420 grade stainless steel and the serrated blades leaves a clean cut with no frayed edges.

I tested the tool on 10lb, 20lb and 50lb braid and The Snip was easy to use and I was absolutely amazed at how well this tool sliced through everything I threw at it. So it is no real surprise that it cut through 60lb leader material like butter.

This unit also has a very handy retractable leash. The cord is made from a Kevlar material and extends to approximately 900mm.

There is two models available, a basic model and a premium model with a handy LED light, making it ideal for those low light conditions out on the water.

I am really impressed with all aspects of this little braid cutting marvel and it is now one of the first tools attached to my Yak whenever I am fishing.

The snip has a RRP of $19.95 ( basic model) and is in stock at GotOne Mildura. ph : 03 5022 8444. Alternatively, ask your local tackle store to order one in.

http://www.boomerangtool.com/ 

GLoomis Rod Grip Modification

Before

About 6 months ago I purchased a new Gloomis GL2 7’1” for flicking around on the boat. I loaded the rod up with my favorite Shimano Stradic Ci4 2500 and took it out for a session chasing Yellow Belly. 

I soon realised just how good these new Australian designed rods were after snagging two decent sized fish and I was amazed at how balanced the combination felt together.
This rod felt too right to become my part time boat rod and I made

the decision that it was to become my new light spin rod for

Yakking.

The only problem with promoting this star to my Yak quiver was my preference for a short grip when kayak fishing and the Loomis handle felt long and got in the way when casting.

Most Yakkers don’t have a problem with standard spin rods but I like my grip to be a lot shorter from the reel set down.

Once I decided on the finished length of the rod grip, I took my rod into Alan at GotOne, Mildura and from there it was no turning back.

Any trepidation I had about this modification soon disappeared when I saw the finished product, this thing was now an absolute weapon.

The rod builder used by GotOne is an absolute perfectionist and his eye for detail is impeccable. He had even managed to re use the cork stop on the end of the rod and you would swear that this rod had arrived straight from the Gloomis factory.

In total, I had approximately 60mm cut from the grip length and now there is only about 60mm in length from the bottom of my hand to the end of the rod handle. The short grip improves rod maneuverability in the confined space of a kayak and it enables me to execute short, sharp casts into those snaggy areas that hold fish.

Compact grip 

After

Everyone has their own preferences and a short handle may not suit all yakkers, but if you are new to kayak fishing and your favorite outfit doesn't feel quire right when casting from your kayak, go in and see your local tackle store or rod builder and ask them what can be done.

note ; any rod modifications may deem warranty void.

Hobie Centre Hatch Storage DIY Project

Unless your lucky enough to own a fully decked out Pro Angler you will understand the frustration of having your tackle boxes shuffle around under the centre hatch.
The centre hatch gives storage from near the seat position to just in front of the mirage drive system and the trick is to utilise this storage space effectively without having to dive your hand in like a lucky dip at the carnival.


I had previously used a cut down plastic bucket from bunnings and this worked but it restricted my storage capacity to  a round area slightly larger than the hatch opening.

There are several different DIY style methods on forums, including a clothes basket and I am told this also works quite well.


Browsing through the many forums about centre hatch ideas, I stumbled across a method of using plastic trellis to create a tray that I thought would work well and I must say that this is the best storage DIY I have seen thus far.

cut trellis to 1200mm

Materials needed for this project include : 

             25mm weave plastic trellis ( 900m x 3m)
             Cable Ties
             Stanley Knife 

Step 1. Cut the trellis at 1200mm (there is enough trellis to make
              two trays).    
Step 2. Cut 160mm down all four sides of the trellis to create the
             side folds.
Step 3. Fold the four sides up and secure with cable ties. 

 

                                                    

sides cut to 160mm

This should give you a tray with the dimensions roughly 880mm x 580mm x 160mm high. The tray is then rolled up and inserted into the hatch.

The 880mm side is installed across the width of the kayak and the shorter 580mm side runs from under the seat to the mirage drive.
Ensure the rope pulley for steering and the rudder are clear of the tray before finalising position.


This install claims back all of the valuable storage space under your seat area and having everything packed neatly on the tray means more time fishing and less time searching for missing tackle.

finished tray

some of the tackle now stored in hatch

installed neatly in hatch

SealSkinz : Mid weight Mid Length Sock - Review

I think every Fisherman will agree, our worst enemy in winter is cold wet feet. Whether your casting from a bank or paddling across your favorite lake, dreaded soggy wet socks can lead to a very uncomfortable day on the water.

The SealSkinz patented technology includes a 3 layered construction and this particular sock has a merino inner layer for extra warmth and comfort.

When I fish from my kayak in areas with a lack of launching facilities or boat ramps, I often have to enter the water to get into my kayak and I was astounded at just how dry my feet were after stepping into the cold water and how quickly the outer layer of the sock dried out.

My very stylish fashion statement!

 This sock is designed for a calf height fit and I was impressed with how it kept its shape. My socks have been through the wash around 30 times and are as firm and comfortable as the day I purchased them.

 My SealSkinz socks are a mandatory item in my winter fishing arsenal and I couldn’t imagine a winter yakking trip without them being on my feet.

Stay tuned for a Sealskinz gloves review coming soon.

http://www.sealskinz.com/