INSIDER New Topics

A selective look at some of the more notable things happening in tackle and paraphernalia from the desk of Editor Jeff Simpson.

SHARP EYES
Whether your looking for landmarks, the boat ramp, or a buddy in another boat, few things work better for finding your mark than a pair of good binoculars. In top-of-the-line equipment, Swarovski Optiks make some of the finest binoculars in the world.

All their lenses and prisms are precision made and provide razor-sharp, high-contrast images with true natural color reproduction right up to the image edge--even at the strongest magnifications. Their patented Swarotop and Swarodur coatings reduce surface reflection (normally 4 to 6 percent) down to as low as 0.2 percent for each lens, improving performance up to 30 percent or more for a bright high-contrast image.

The lightweight, corrosion-proof housing is made from either aluminum or magnesium alloy. Airtight, dustproof, and watertight, they're submersible to 13 feet. The twist-in eyecups can be individually adjusted, unscrewed for cleaning, and are interchangeable with winged eyecups that prevent the entry of ambient light.

The SLC Binoculars were built around Swarovski's guiding principle: "Constantly improving a good thing." Twist in-out eyecups are perfect for people who wear glasses. Phase correcting, roof-prism coating, and mirror technology offer a wide field of view and color phase correcting.

The EL Binoculars incorporate all of the traditional Swarovski characteristics, along with an exceptionally large wide-angle view, extreme image sharpness, and a neutral transmission color balance. The lightweight housing is made of magnesium alloy and is totally airtight, dustproof, and waterproof. A new ergonomic design incorporates a unique narrow tube grip for fast focus.

The new Swarovski Optik Doubler attachment doubles the power of one ocular barrel by a factor of two, creating a 20X spotting scope from one of the two 10X optical tubes. Each binocular comes with a carrying strap, view lens cap, screw-in-eye cups, focusing wheel, dioptic scale and zero point, object cap, and storage bag. Retail: $1,532.22 (EL 8.5x42); $1,076.67 (SLC, 7x42); $887.78 (SLC, 7x30WB).

Swarovski Optiks, www.swarovskioptik.com


SOFT PLASTIC SWIMMING LURE
Storm's Vertical Jigging Soft Minnow is the first soft plastic swimming lure on the market that should be excellent for walleyes in open water and under the ice. The lures come prerigged with a single jig hook out the back and a VMC treble hook on the belly. An internal belly weight sinks the bait, while the heavy soft plastic boot tail and line-tie placement, coupled with the holographic Swimm' flash foil and natural colors, bring the bait almost to life when vertically jigged. On the rise, the bait darts horizontally, similar to a Swimming Rapala; and on the fall, it wobbles side-to-side in a descending circle. It's available in 2-, 3-, and 4-inch sizes and seven color patterns, including a few that glow. Retail: $2.99 per 4 pack (1/8, 1/4, and 3/8 ounce).

Storm, www.stormlures.com

ICE RODS
Rapala's Ice Series Rods combine custom-engineered blanks with high-grade components. High-modulus graphite offers strength with sensitivity. Premium guides also increase sensitivity and balance while enhancing hooking and maximizing rod power. Their Solid HM (High Modulus) Graphite Rod offers an ideal balance of sensitivity, light weight, and strength. It features blank-through handle construction, graphite reel seat, and oversized friction-resistant titanium carbide guides to reduce line wear. Their Tubular HM Graphite Rod features many of the same features, but has aluminum oxide guides that are lightweight and friction free. Seven different rod actions and lengths are available in each series. Retail: $9.99 to $14.99, depending on model.

Rapala, www.rapala.com


HEADLAMP FOR THE NIGHT BITE
Great for boat, boot, or ice fishing after dark. MYO Series Headlamps from Petzl America make those walleye eyes shine. The lamps offer two lighting levels, long-distance for navigation or walking and close-range for landing fish, tying knots, and countless chores that become trickier after dark. The MYO 3 is waterproof and has an adjustable cloth headband. It runs on four AA batteries that are included. Retail: $44.95.

Petzl America, Freeport Center, Building M-7, PO Box 16047, Clearfield, UT 84016, 801-327-3806.






MINI AIR-PLANE JIG
Northland's new Mini Air-Plane Jig features side fins and a plastic tail fin that allows the bait to dart horizontally when jigged and also glide and circle when free falling. It's available in two sizes (1/4 and 3/8 ounce) and a variety of Northland Baitfish-Image colors, including a few super-glow patterns. Retail: $4.99.

Northland Tackle, www.northlandtackle.com



CELL PHONE HOLDER
RAM's Power Grip II is a universal holder designed to hold cell phones securely in place, making your phone easy to find, and it won't bounce out of the boat when you're skipping over waves. The cradle features multiple rubber fins on the interior walls of the rubber box to grip and hold most cell phones. Retail: $38.

National Products, 1205 S. Orr St., Seattle, WA 98108, 206-763-8361.


THE BUZZ STIX
The Buzz Stix is an invention of Nature Vision's Jeff Zernov, of Aqua-Vu underwater camera fame. Zernov's "vibro rod" produces a lure movement that duplicates the micro swimming movements of the insect larvae that fish feed on. For years, top ice anglers jiggled their ice rods just so to achieve a "quiver" to entice fish to bite their bait.

Buzz Stix technology allows anyone to quiver baits. A miniature vibrating motor is attached to the rod, along with a battery-to-button assembly. Depress the button to produce rod-tip oscillation that provides lure action unobtainable with human hand action. Rods with a variety of lengths and actions are available. Retail: $29.99.

Nature Vision, 213 NW 4th Street, Brainerd, MN 56401, 218-825-0733.


PRECISION CASTING GUIDE
Mark Romanack and Dr. Steve Holt, the world's foremost crankbait testers, have been at it again, this time publishing the first guide to the running depth of crankbaits when cast. Building an efficient testing apparatus proved a more daunting challenge than their previous research on trolling depths, but they developed a successful protocol to report data on 140 popular crankbait models.

For each lure, a dive curve is drawn, along with a matrix that shows the lure's maximum depth for six line sizes (8-, 10-, 12-, 14-, 17-, and 20-pound mono), along with depths achieved with short, average, and long casts (40, 70, and 100 feet). It's surprising how far many baits have to travel to reach maximum depth. Retail: $24.95.

Precision Angling Specialists, PO Box 317, Tustin, MI 49688, 800-353-6958.

BECKMAN PRODUCTS
Beckman, makers of premium landing nets, recently expanded their line. Their Ice Fishing Rod Bag features durable PVC tubing that protects rod blanks. It can hold three to four walleye rods, depending on reel size and rod length.

Tackle Wallets (4 x 6 and 6 x 9 inches) feature foam dividers for categorizing favorite ice lures. The design of the wallets provides ventilation that prevents rusting. Retail: Ice Fishing Rod Bag, $19.95 to $22.95; Tackle Wallets, $8.95 (4 x 6 inches) and $10.95 (6 x 9 inches).

Beckman, www.beckmanfishing.com