Petzl NAO reactive automatically adjusting Headlamp

Until now, head lamps have been only able to adjust to the lighting conditions when the user instructs it to with the push of a button. If you are reading a map, you set the head lamp on low, if you are trying to see a fish washing up on the beach ahead, you set the head lamp on high beam and so forth.

Petzl has created the worlds first smart head lamp. The NAO is a reactive automatically adjusting headlamp, and it uses some pretty exciting and innovative technology to do it. While it still may require the odd button push, the two high powered LED’s are designed to adjust for current light conditions and needs almost instantly.

Using a sensor, the headlamp measures and analyzes the ambient light, and the inbuilt microprocessor tweaks the head lamp to output just the right amount. This has obvious battery life implications, by saving power where it can. Combined with the fact that LED’s use very little power means this unit could effectively have one of the most efficient battery drain times on the market.

Another handy feature is the fact the unit has a lithium Ion rechargable battery. Everybody hates getting ready for a fishing trip last minute, only to find the head lamp batterys have died.

The unit also comes with operating system software, downloaded for free at the Petzl website. You can fine tune your NAO’s performance and personalise it to suit your needs. This giant leap in headlamp technology will be available for purchase around July 2012.

http://www.petzl.com/us/outdoor/headlamps/nao

Shimano Tropical Tackle System

After working in the industry for some years, I’ve seen many a customer bring back hardbody lures that have “exploded” in the Australian heat. Whether it’s been sitting on a dash when its 40 degrees celcius out,and double that in the car, or on just sitting the deck of a boat up north, lures and soft plastics can be annihilated by the heat. The lures are more often than not made overseas, and aren’t designed to cope with such extreme conditions. So until the lure manufacturers start taking this into account, it’s up to the angler to keep their tackle boxes at a reasonable temperature.

Shimano Australia seems to have solved this ongoing problem with their new range of protective tackle bags. Shimano’s Tropical luggage. The body is made from a tough tarpaulin to keep the sun out and your gear cool and dry. Waterproof zippers and heavy strapping is standard on all Tropical Tackle models.

Shimano have integrated leader dispensers into the Tropical tackle series, no more tangled leaders is always a welcome bonus. The bags will fit Shimano’s 360 or 370 size boxes, which is roughly the same as Plano’s 3600 and 4000 size trays. More at http://www.shimanofish.com.au

Mieho Versus Shoulder Bag VS-B6069

As a shore based wading angler, finding a tackle bag that is easily accessible when you are waste deep in the wet stuff is always a challenge.

There are literally hundreds of options out there for tackle bags but not many catered to anglers who fish on the move. Backpacks are the obvious solution and great for storage, but impossible to access quickly.

Waist/bum bags are great for access in shallow water wading, but if are feeling brave and venture a bit deeper then before you know it your gear going to be submerged. Of course there is shoulder sling bags that don’t offer much security for your gear.

The Meiho Versus VS-B6069 shoulder bag seems to have solved all my problems. The over shoulder-across the chest design allows the bag to be rotated around with ease. The zips are positioned so that you have direct access to all the pockets from top down.

The bag contains 3 pockets and 3 meiho/versus tackle trays. The build quality is exceptional and this follows through to the high quality japanese moulded plastic trays. Meiho has hundreds of tackle tray designs available. They are one the largest, if not the largest, manufacturers of fishing tackle trays in the world. If the three trays that come with the bag don’t suit, then no doubt there will be another one available.

The bags over the shoulder straps are held together by an large easy  to use buckle. Keeping the bag securely on your back but quick and easy to take off after a hard days fishing. It’s simple black and grey design is sure to suit many anglers and the back of the back and straps are all padded for comfort.

All in all, the Mieho Versus VS-B6069 shoulder is the bag that all us waders have been looking for. High quality, comfortable and most importantly designed with anglers in mind. These bags are available from Japan for around $80AUD.

The japanese manufacturers website Meiho Gaku http://meihokagaku.co.jp/

CUSH-IT by Luna Sea

We have all had that experience, the gimbal belt getting hooked up on things on the boat, or just generally in the way. If that isn’t bad enough, you’re usually not even wearing it when you get an almighty strike jigging. You have to respond quickly or that fish will bust you off against the reef.

Well, thast where the CUSH-IT by Luna Sea is different. It’s placed on the end of your rod, so it there whenever you need it.

The guys at Nomad Sportsfishing Adventures have seen it all, and on with both tuff customers, and tough fish. They recently picked up the CUSH-IT and have been finding it great for their GT Fishing. GTs don’t offer second chances, so its all about being ready to go as soon as the lure is in the water!

At Tackletester, we have been send a couple to try by Nomad Sportsfishing Adventures, and we hope to get them out jigging over the coming months. If you can’t bear to hear how we have been doing, then run down to their online shop, and grab one for yourself  

 

Kracken Kool Gear Apparels

KrackenKoolGear.com, 100% microfiber angling apparels is manufactured from top of the line multi-layered, performance fabrics. The microfiber performance fabric gives you up to 50UPF skin protection and surpasses the leading brands moisture wicking performance with the state of the art, Dye-Sublimation process done in house, based out of Tampa, Florida, United States of America. The custom designed fish images are not screen printed onto the shirt. The images are applied using a process known as Dye-Sublimation (Dye-Sub). The “cool” thing about Dye-Sub is the fact that you cannot feel the image on the shirt as you can with traditional screen printing. During the transfer process, the image is actually gassed into the fabric on a near molecular level. The image will not crack, curl, fade, or peel. “It will last the life of the shirt” according to owner and founder of KrackenKoolGear.com (KKG), Damien Lavellee.

Micro-Fiber polo shirts, Micro-Fiber long sleeve shirts, Micro-Fiber short sleeve shirts, cotton long sleeve t-shirts, cotton short sleeve t-shirts, hats, visors, accessories, and stickers, are just some of the products that KKG has to offer. They have just under 400 products in their inventory.

I have personally put one of the shirts through 27 washes now and the image still looks brand new. What is the point of wearing high quality wick shirts with any other process like heat printed images, when the image will stick to your body and eventually peel, crack, or fade? The Dye-Sub technology and process allows any images or logos to feel like there is nothing there at all. When held up to the light, you can actually see right through the fibers as if there were no image. The microfiber materials are what you actually feel, silky smooth, cool when hot, and warming when cold, perfect for almost any climate, especially in South Florida or any Tropical region for that matter.

“Dye-sublimation is a high quality printing process. The term, sublimation, refers to the fact that the dye transitions between the solid and gas states without going through a liquid state. Many consumer and professional dye-sublimation printers are designed and used for producing photographic prints. Under high temperature and pressure, the dye turns into a gas, permeates the fabric, and then solidifies into its fibers. The fabric is permanently dyed so it can be washed without damaging the quality of the image. The dye(s) do not build up on the fabric which is why the print cannot be felt on the garment. Colors can be extraordinarily brilliant due to the bonding of the dye to the transparent fibers of the synthetic fabric. Truly continuous tones can be achieved that are equivalent to photographs, without the use of special techniques such as half-screen printing”, according to Damien.

100% Micronized Polyester Denier Fabric or (Microdenier), commonly referred to as “microfiber” textiles are woven with 100% polyester fibers that has been micronized.  This extremely thin fiber allows for the production of fabrics that are tightly woven yet soft, silky and light weight.  The term “moisture wicking” refers to the fabric’s inherent properties.  Unlike cotton, microfiber will not swell and/or absorb liquid.  The smooth plastic nature of the fibers causes liquid to be continually dispersed, like a domino effect, farther and farther from its initial point of origin by Capillary Action or capillarity:  the ability of a liquid to flow against gravity where liquid spontaneously rises in a narrow space.  This effect can cause liquids to flow against the force of gravity or the magnetic field induction. It occurs because of inter-molecular attractive forces between the liquid and solid surrounding surfaces.

KKG intends to be the largest manufacturer of custom microfiber apparels for the outdoor industries. The Kracken brands can be recognized on two different realms, first by Kracken Kool Gear’s signature brand of clothing and the highly detailed images that take an extreme right turn away from the industry norm. Secondly, Kracken can be recognized as a fulfillment center that specializes in manufacturing customized apparels and accessories.  Kracken manufactures private labels and prints apparels for a wide range of clients including other fishing and dive apparel brands, tournaments, fishing teams, artists, corporate logoed uniforms, private retailers, schools, sports teams, and marathon/running/fitness organizations. The list goes on.  At Kracken, they do not believe in the term “competition”.  They will work for and serve the needs of any other brand(s) and/or organizations with the same diligence and pride that they have for their own brand.  They recognized that consumer’s personal tastes in apparels are broad and ever changing.  “There is plenty of room for us all, we believe in the power of team work, the relationships it creates, and the long term profits it gains”, says Damien.

Please visit www.KrackenKoolGear.com for more details.

Berkley Hotwire Line cutter review

With so many ‘super lines’ on the market today, it’s difficult enough for any angler to decide which one to purchase. Then, after deciding which braided line to go with, what do you cut it with? Having used almost every tool on the market from glorified nail clippers to carbonite tip pliers, I found the near perfect tool; Berkley’s Hotwire Line Cutter. The wire tip gets to an astonishing 1200-1500 degrees in a split second, instantly cuts and cauterizes all types of fishing line, and prevents line from fraying and knots from slipping. The replaceable tungsten tip retracts when not in use and comes with a replacement, two AA batteries and lanyard. (Some models may use two AAA batteries).

Most anglers are probably thinking, does this line cutter really work, how well does it cut and most importantly, is this a waste of time and money? All are valid questions that I too asked myself almost three years ago when I got my hands on this little gadget. I’m very ecstatic to say that I haven’t looked back since and I have yet to use the replacement tip.

Near the tip is a little light bulb for night-time use and is powered by a separate battery that comes with it too, which I have not had to change yet either. Both tip and light activate at the simple slide of the thumb. This inexpensive tool is a must for any angler using braided line. It will cut mono or fluoro with no problem but I reserve the tool for braided line only, as mono and fluoro lines leave a film on the tip and can be melted off but uses up the batteries a little faster.

$9.99US dollars is not much to pay for such a great Berkley tool. In an extreme emergency, the tool can be used to light a fire by applying the tip to kindling; something I had to do while my lighter was drying off. I bet Berkley didn’t see that coming.

http://www.berkley-fishing.com/products/tools-and-equipment/classics/line-cutter-hotwire

Finger Savers from ProTackle

Looking suspiciously like man-jewelery, this latest offering from Pro Tackle piqued our interest.

Who hasn’t cut themselves cinching knots in braid, or reached for pliers to really put the welly into a heavy mono knot?

These Finger Savers are anodied aluminium rings, available in 3 colours, with an inset of plastic to stop the line from slipping. They’re sold in pairs and really save your skin when reefing your knots up nice and tight and tight. Even better than gloves, they take up next to no space in the tackle box, so they’re there when you need them next time.

Check them out at Pro Tackle!

easy2hook – The knotless fishing hook

Whether you’re just getting started in fishing, or looking for a quick and easy way to tie knots, the easy2hook solution could be just what you’ve been waiting for.

These knot-less hooks are designed to get your hooks connected and bait into the water as fast and fuss free as possible. So how exactly does a knot-less hook work? Well it’s quite simple actually, instead of the conventional spade or round eye, they have opted for a small “dock point” on the shank of the hook. This is where the loop in your line is connected, and then its as easy as whipping the line around the shank a few times and away you go.

I’ll admit I was a bit sceptical at first. While I’m sure a lot of anglers like myself are confident in there knots, I’m also equally sure that there is plenty of anglers out there who aren’t! Not to mention the quick, hassel free tying that can help us all. I’d imagine in low light situations, this would be quite handy too as there’s nothing worse that trying to tie a knot after dark.

On the 5/0 size that I was testing, it seemed to work well with 40lb-60lb leader, it wasn’t a bit harder with the lighter mono leaders, not that it mattered as I’d normally fish with no less that 40lb on a 5/0 anyway. The small guage hooks have more appropriately sized eyes for lighter leaders.

I will report back with a more detailed on-the-water report soon, weather permitting. In the meantime, here’s a short video done by Topgunfishing stuff.

Trade Enquiries – http://www.topgunfishingstuff.com

Kahara Japan Aluminium fishing pliers available in Australia

A relatively new company, Kahara Japan are in the business of making high quality terminal tackle and fishing accessories. We have previously touched on the range of Easy Lock snaps. Coming soon to Australian tackle stores is the Kahara Japan range of Aluminium(Aluminum for those of you in the US) pliers.

They high quality tools have been in designed in Japan to cater for the needs of the modern day angler. Available in a multitude of stylish colours, including Kahara’s trade mark purple, they just as much of a pleasure to look at as they are to use.

They feature replaceable tungsten cutters that make short work of braid and work equally well on monofilament lines. An ergonomic design means they are comfortable in your hand for repetitive use and come with a handy nylon pouch that contains the pliers securely, as well as additional straps for mounting it on rail/rod holder on a boat. The pouch also has a coiled lanyard to avoid any pliers going overboard.

The lightweight aluminum construction is a major draw card in this particular pair. At 120grams they way next to nothing and you almost forget there is anything on your belt at all.

Available in 3 models. All feature the light weight aluminium body, tungsten cutters, ergonomic handle and the sheath/lanyard.

The first is the Straight Type deckie style plier – a straight nose heavy duty plier. The Split Ring Type – same as the Straight Type style but with a split ring opener. And finally the Slim Type which is still 6.5 inches long, but slimmer designed nose for smaller splits and lighter work.

With a retail price point below most other major brands, Kahara Japans aluminium pliers will cover all your fishing needs and more, and at the right price. Available soon in tackle stores around Oz.

Trade inquiries: www.nobleman.com.au

Palms light game gloves

A good set of fishing gloves never go astray. Palms light game gloves are a good compromise between the strength and durability of leadering gloves and the flexibility and ease-of-use that come with lighter duty sun protection gloves.

Made from a light weight, flexible material, they are precisely cut to avoid any sharp uncomfortable edges. As with most fishing gloves, they are made of mesh to allow quick and easy drying after a days fishing. The mesh is hard wearing and highly abrasion resistant, designed for rigorous fresh or saltwater work. Palms has even gone as far as changing the angel of the strap to allow the gloves to stay securely on, with out putting pressure on the wrist. The thumb and fore fingers are padded with leather to reinforce the two most used digits.

Available now for around $65AUD.

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