July 10, 2024
By In-Fisherman Staff
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Staff Tested Tough Check website for pricing, garmonttactical.com Garmont Tactical Boots are high-performance footwear for Military, Law Enforcement, and EMS/Rescue applications, but also serve superbly in the boat or on the bank, says In-Fisherman Editor In Chief Doug Stange after wearing a pair of T-H Groove G-Dry for the past two seasons. The comfortable, durable, lightweight boots have Vibram S381outsoles plus G-Dry membrane for waterproofing and breathability—check website for pricing, garmonttactical.com
Protection, Comfort, Durability $219, skeletonoptics.com The Skeleton Optics Outlaw Original Edition has polarized polycarbonate lenses by Zeiss, ensuring clear vision while reducing fatigue and discomfort caused by water glare. The advanced TRI-PEL/RI-PEL coating enhances visual clarity, and the lenses are scratch- and impact-resistant. A TR-90 Frame ensures durability—$219, skeletonoptics.com
Rigid, Durable Twinpower FE $449.99-469.99, fish.shimano.com The Twinpower FE spinning reel from Shimano has a unique dual-material body construction combining aluminum and Shimano’s proprietary carbon fiber-reinforced CI4+ technology, eliminating flex in the body of the reel. Technologies like Infinity Drive and InfinityXcross offer exceptionally light winding under heavy load and efficient distribution of force over gear tooth surfaces to improve durability. DuraCross drag is exceptionally smooth—$449.99-469.99, fish.shimano.com
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The Jon Boat Years $21.99, The University of South Carolina Press, uscpress.com Jim Mize is an occasional contributor to our Reflections column. The Jon Boat Years is a collection of essays about his life and times in the outdoors. The writing’s delightfully engaging, full of wit and wisdom, poignant observation, and gracious good humor. It’s great fun—$21.99, The University of South Carolina Press, uscpress.com
Starfire X $39.99 to $119.99, fishusa.com The newly redesigned Eagle Claw Starfire X rod series consists of 13 trolling rods and combos constructed of durable technique-specific materials, including composites and fiberglass. Options range from bottom-bouncing to planner boards and diver rods in lengths from 7 foot 6 inches to 10 feet. Combos have reels to match—$39.99 to $119.99, fishusa.com
Inherit the Hunt & Beyond Fair Chase Look for the books at various outlets online . These are noteworthy and timeless books on hunting ethics and conservation, but they also speak to anglers. Indeed, author Jim Pozewitz, who worked in many capacities as a fishery biologist in Montana during his career, was a tireless defender of free-flowing streams and clean water. He and others are the reason the Yellowstone River remains the longest free-flowing, undammed river in the Lower 48. Look for the books at various outlets online .
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Backward is the New Forward $14.99, scheels.com Designed to be fished with forward-facing sonar (FFS), the Berkley Krej hardbait defies conventional jerkbaiting by working upward on the retrieve, imitating a fleeing baitfish, only then to fall backward toward following fish when the retrieve is paused, almost forcing fish to eat it. Paired with FFS, “Krejing” allows the angler to see how a fish is reacting and present the bait accordingly to trigger a strike. Krej measures 3.9 inches, weighs 1/2 ounce, and comes in 10 forage-imitating colors—$14.99, scheels.com
Eagle Eye Walleyes Pricing varies but 5 jigs typically are about $4.99, opticsplanet.com The Eagle Claw Lazer Sharp Eagle Eye Jigs, with their Pro-V bend hook, have been popular since their introduction in 2019, and are now available in 5 colors distinctively appealing to walleyes, which see best in the red-orange-yellow-green portion of the light spectrum. The jigs are 1/8 or 1/4 ounce, with 2/0 or 3/0 hooks, in standard or weedless configurations—pricing varies but 5 jigs typically are about $4.99, opticsplanet.com
D-Boxes $13.99 to $15.99, opticsplanet.com D-Boxes from Daiwa are made of recycled polypropylene plastic to reduce waste, while production yields no toxic emissions. Deep, Regular, and Shallow styles in 3600 and 3700 sizes have a water-resistant gasket under the lid and 4 clasps—$13.99 to $15.99, opticsplanet.com
Legendary Quick Silver $11.99 to $12.99. williams.ca Widely popular because they’re wildly productive for trout and salmon, walleyes, and pike, the Williams Quick Silver line is further enhanced with four new colors, Orange Black Dots, Pink Eye Silver back, Pearl & Blue Silver back, and Pearl & Red Silver back. The 1/3-ounce spoon measures 3 inches, while the 4-incher weighs 3/5 ounce. The line now consists of 16 color options, with pricing generally ranging from $11.99 to $12.99. williams.ca