Category Archives: Gadgets

Gear Review: “The Perch” Rod Balancer

Posted on April 22, 2012 • 8 Comments

The Perch Rod Balancer


When it comes to bait dunking, one of the greatest keys to success is to get your rods out of the rod holders and onto a balancer.

With the rod sitting on a balance point device, a fish can pull the tip down without feeling any resistance — and the result is a much, much higher rate of success. These things can take your lake trout bait dunking, river sturgeon and striper fishing and even salmon and steelhead fishing to all new levels. There are bunch of balancers out there and we’ve tried most. Lately, I have been using “The Perch” by NIMA Co. Here’s how it’s done in extensive river striper testing…… Continue Reading

Filed Under: Gadgets, Gear

LifeProof Waterproof Case for iPhone review

Posted on March 1, 2012 • 3 Comments

The iPhone 4S happily encased in a LifeProof


Smart phones are super handy tools for anglers these days…for things like checking river flows, taking pictures of your buddy’s fish (and going world wide with it on various social media sites), finding your way to the launch ramp, checking the weather…and, heck, even making phone calls. But these things are typically designed for the city slicker, not the outdoor enthusiast. A little splash or drop in the sand can kill a smartphone dead.

But LIFEPROOF has an interesting new entry into the iPhone case market that claims to be waterproof to 6.6 feet (you can shoot underwater video with it!),and is also impervious to snow, sleet, mud, sand, dust and grime…and shockproof as well.

Rather than get to into all the fancy features of the case, I figured I’d just give you the info you’re looking for: How does it hold up to those claims?… Continue Reading

Filed Under: Gadgets, Gear

New Gear: The Snap Shot Ruler

Posted on July 31, 2011 • 7 Comments


Here’s a cool little device that should help solve some future arguments between you and your buddies about the length of fish you caught.

The Snap Shot Ruler is a vertical fish measuring device that you can easily attach to your line or fish gripper (BogaGrips, etc). It’s a two birds with one stone type of deal: You can simultaneously snap a photo of your fish while getting a measurement… … Continue Reading

Filed Under: Gadgets, Gear

The Coolest New Fishing Gadgets and Gizmos for 2010!

Posted on February 16, 2010 • 5 Comments


We’ve been out scouring the West Coast sportsmen’s shows this winter, in search of the coolest new fishing stuff…and let me tell ya, brother, we found plenty! From boats to plastic baits and everything in between — there’s a lot of stuff out there that you just may need.

Here are some of our favorites…… Continue Reading

Filed Under: Boats/Watercraft, Gadgets, Gear, Lures/Terminal Gear, Rods

Scotty Hammerhead Rod Butt Cap

Posted on June 27, 2009 • 4 Comments

Hammerhead 1
Nobody likes a bruised groin, right? Well, thanks to the folks at Scotty, the black and blue spots on your hip, groin and boiler are a thing of the past…… Continue Reading

Filed Under: Gadgets, Gear

XTOOLS 6″ HybridX Pliers

Posted on June 12, 2008 • 0 Comments

Are XTOOLS’ 6-inch HybridX floating pliers a brilliant design or simply a gimmick? Read on to see how they fared in the real world…XTools HybridX Pliers

General Overview

Pliers that are light as a feather, float and resistant to rust…sounds like a great idea. Early models, however, had their flaws but the HybridX version is a different animal entirely.
… Continue Reading

Filed Under: Gadgets, Gear