PHOTO: PRODUCT PHOTOS COURTESY OF MANUFACTURERS
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[4] Field Test GEAR AND GADGETS THAT HAVE EARNED A PERMANENT PLACE ON OUR KAYAKS
OLD FAVORITES FOR THE NEW SEASON
With all the new gear and gadgets hitting the water this spring, an angler might end up in a daze of bling and cha-ching. As editor of Kayak Angler magazine, I have my pick of the newest and hottest fishing swag. But each season, these five favorites are in my kit and on my kayak.—Ric Bunley
[1] SHIMANO STRADIC FJ
www.fish.shimano.com Whether you fish bass in the backwater or reds, striper and trout in the open ocean, chances are you’re using a spinning combo to cast lures and bait. Shimano’s Stradic series has earned a reputation as a bulletproof spinning reel that handles like a fine watch. Shimano Stradic FJ is packed with rugged features including bearings on each end of the pinion gear and a one-way roller bearing anti-reverse. The gears and ball bearings are corrosion resistant, and the spool has been tested to provide minimal resistance for maximum casting distance. With a light freshwater rinse and occasional squirt of WD- 40, my Stradics have lasted many seasons.
[2] KOKATAT SEA02 PFD
www.kokatat.com I’ve got a pile of PFDs in my garage, but the one I grab over and over is Kokatat’s Sea02. This innovative PFD combines 7.5 pounds of foam flotation with an air chamber that can be inflated for a total of 22.5 pounds of flotation. This means, I get the reliability of inherent flotation, or I can pull a cord to instantly inflate
36 PADDLING MAGAZINE
an airbladder. The Sea02 is lighter and slim- mer than a traditional PFD, but just as safe. It features a front pocket large enough to hold an emergency strobe, whistle and cell phone, with a vertical pocket just large enough for a handheld VHF radio.
[3] AQUA-BOUND SURGE CARBON
www.aquabound.com It took me a few years to build up the mus- ter and save up the dollars for a carbon-fiber paddle. But it only took one stroke with the super-light, super-stiff, high-tech stick to realize what I’d been missing. Aquabound’s Surge Car- bon paddle has survived hundreds of miles and hundred of fish without fail. The paddle weighs 29 ounces but T-700 Carbon makes it a tough. The Surge is a high-angle paddle perfect for high-power strokes on a sit-on-top kayak. Pick up a carbon-fiber paddle and you’ll be sold, too.
[4] COLUMBIA DRAINMAKER PFG SHOES
www.columbia.com I’m a freak about my feet. Some guys fish in sandals or barefoot; I always wear shoes. Since
I first discovered Columbia’s Drainmakers, I’ve tried out several different water shoes. I always end up in my Drainmakers. The Drainmaker looks like a typical running shoe, but has holes in the foot bed that drain water through ports in the sole. Since my first pair, Columbia has updated the Drainmaker III to be stain resistant and improve foot support. Best of all, no matter how wet they get, my Drainmakers don’t stink.
[5] ICEBREAKER COOL-LITE
www.icebreaker.com A few years back, I decided to go all-natural. No, I’m not fishing in the buff, but I have been wearing more wool. While wool is a no-brainer for winter, Icebreaker has developed wool-based fabrics for warm weather, too. Wool dries fast, wicks moisture and is naturally odor-resistant. By adding Tencel, a plant-based fiber and a touch of Nylon to their famous New Zealand merino wool, Icebreaker’s Cool-Lite fabric breathes better than pure wool and wicks mois- ture three times faster. After one season wearing Cool-Lite, I can report the shirt actively wicks moisture and creates a cooling effect without the itchy wool feel.
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