I’ve always had this number in my head — 70 bucks — that was never to be exceeded when buying felt soled wading boots. My perhaps flawed logic went like this: Why spend a zillion dollars on a pair of good wading boots when the felt is going to wear out in a season or less anyway? I know, I know, you (allegedly) can re-felt wading boots, but let’s be realistic here. I just don’t have the time or ambition to embark in such a project, so I kinda consider wading boots kind like Bic razors — use ‘em up and huck them in the trash and buy some new ones.
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Lucky Craft’s line of Pointer ripbaits have gained quite a reputation in bass fishing circles over the past several years. They’re handsome baits with nice finishes, but at nearly $20 a pop, are they worth the cash?
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You’ve only got a week or so left to get your raffle tickets in and win this brand-spakin’ new, fully-loaded 21-foot FishRite Rivermaster inboard jet boat.
All you’ve got to do is buy a raffle ticket (or 100 of ‘em) for $10 each…proceeds will benefit the American Fishing Foundation’s efforts to help restore the West Coast’s anadramous salmon and steelhead populations.
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Here’s a fun little exercise: Walk into a bar near a bass lake and ask the assembled patrons what the best bass lure of all time is.
You’re sure to get a very spirited debate (you may want to leave if bottles start flying) and about as many answers as you have fishermen. While there are many good bass lures worthy of mention, I think there’s really only one lure that could be considered the all-around best.
It’s the one that, if faced with the decision of only having one lure in your box for the rest of time, you’d pick…the bait that, if you only had one lure in your box and you were starving, you’d use.
I know what my choice would be…
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Aug. 5, 2008 is a date that Frank Ualat of Gilroy, CA won’t soon forget.
Down to his last bait at Central California’s O’Neill Forebay, Ualat hooked this mammoth 70-pound, 6-ounce striped bass.
The enormous fish measured 52.5 inches long and had a 36-inch girth and was caught on a pileworm fished on an 11-foot G. Loomis Surf Series spinning rod and a Team Daiwa Advantage 4000 reel spooled up with 50-pound braid.
But that’s not the whole story…
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Mr. Iluv Cheeseheads sent in this chrome beauty of a king to be entered into ourSmoker of the Year Contest.
Mr. Cheeseheads said that the fish fought, well, kinda like an old gym sock but…being a huge fan of salmon jerky, he was really excited about the fact that the fish was ready to eat as soon as he got it ashore.
The fish bit an egg pattern Mr. Cheeseheads calls the “Skunge Scraper,” which he says is murder on kelts, sore tails and cheese heads.
This one comes from the “I’m not sure if I want to jump for joy or puke” file…
An adaptation of my favorite book…David James Duncan’s classic novel, The River Why, the tale of Gus Orviston’s search for steelhead, self-enlightenment and the perfect schedule, is currently being filmed on location in the Northwest.
With all apologies to stars William Hurt and Amber Heard, I’m just not sure this thing can be pulled off. It’s just one of those stories that should probably stay on a page. We’ll see…
Jake Martinson is a kid I used to work with in Alaska years ago who has since turned into quite a guide himself. He’s in his first season working on the Togiak River and has been putting the wood to some big kings…and very nice rainbows like this one.
Good work, my man!
