Everyone likes to do a little research before you go and spend a few hunderd dollars or more on fishing equipment. Therefore, I try to get my hands on as much equipment that I can to test out for you! Over the years I have done a number of fishing gear reviews. These are based on my honest opinion of the product and the companies service. Check my reviews out, and if you have any questions just email me: Ramblingfisherman@gmail.com
Maui Jim Sunglasses – Worn for 145 Fishing Days
Last summer I brought 4 pairs of cheap ($30 – $50/pr) polarized sunglasses to Haida Gwaii for the three-month guiding season. I thought that would be plenty to get me through the summer. I put a lot of wear and tear on my sunglasses, and a pair rarely lasts me more than a couple of months; getting broken or so scratched I can no longer see through them. Until now I have refused to pay more than $50 for a pair thinking that all sunglasses were created equal. Halfway through the three month guiding season last summer, I...
read moreSage Launch 8wt Fly Rod review – To a switch rod?
Back in 2006 I purchased an 8wt Sage Launch fly rod at www.riversportsman.com and a Grey’s reel with shooting head fly line for beach fishing in front of little river. After catching a couple Coho on my new rod I was hooked. I used that rod for every river, lake and beach I fished around Vancouver Island. In fact, twice I used it on the North fork of the Clearwater river in Idaho for Steelhead and trout. This rod has seen 100′s of hours and 100′s of fish and only broke it once, on a gear busting 20lb Chum...
read moreChoosing a new wader – Redington Sonic Pro’s
Is there anything worse at the end of the fishing day than being completely soaked because your waders leak?? There’s nothing worse on the river than leaking waders and unfortunately my waders now leak, badly. I own a pair of Bare Backwater waders which I purchased from Gone Fishing about 5 years ago for $300. I have worn them probably 300 times and they have been excellent but now I don’t exactly enjoy the cold water running up and down my legs. So, it’s time to invest in new ones. There are a lot of different styles...
read moreIslander Reels MR3 – Product Review
Last summer I spent 85 days guiding on the coast of the Queen Charlotte Islands (Haida Gwaii) with my brand new Islander MR3′s. Both I got brand new in June 2011. I had HIGH expectations that this reel would be awesome due to the fact that they are worth almost $600 each! The MR3 is machine crafted out of solid aluminum and have a very nice finish, I find them to be a good looking reel. The Mr3′s have a larger arbour than the MR2′s which allows it to hold a massive amount of line, which I found to be completely...
read moreRevo Toro Winch – Final Review
I received the Revo Toro Winch made by Abu-Garcia back in the winter of this year. Abu agreed to let me test this reel and give a very honest report on how it performed. I wasn’t able to really put it to the test before I had to leave for the Queen Charlotte Islands. Since I got back to the Island that reel has been used almost everyday on the river by myself and most of my guests. The reel has realistically played nearly 100 fish in the last 45 days. So, it has been fully tested and worked very hard in all...
read moreTop 5 Offshore Fiberglass Sport Fishing Boats
Fishing offshore of the West Coast of Vancouver Island requires a boat that will troll all day 20 miles from shore in safety and comfort then be able to get you home quickly when the weather starts to blow. So today I’m going to give you my list of the Top 5 single engine offshore fiberglass fishing vessels for the West Coast of Vancouver Island. 1. Hourston Glascraft – 23ft sedan This vessel has the very best reputation for having a seaworthy bad weather hull in British...
read moreKingpin "Imperial" Centerpin Reel – First Impression
Kingpin (http://www.kingpinreels.com/) owner Stuart Ward sent me an Imperial reel for me to test. It arrived in a very nice Kingpin box with a excellent quality neoprene Kingpin reel cover. As soon as I removed the reel from the cover my very first impression was this is a very high quality reel. The precision in the manufacturing of this reel is very evident. For example, the spool sits inside the back plate and the clearance of the spool to the backplate is so fine you can not slide your fingernail into the...
read moreAbu-Garcia’s Revo Toro Winch – First Impression Review
The Abu-Garcia Revo Toro Winch is a solid piece of machinery. You notice how solid the reel is as soon as you pick it up and hold it in your hand. It weighs the same as my Abu 6601 level wind reel, but somehow this reel does seem more solid. The first thing I noticed when I took the reel out of the box, is that the manufacturer includes a second handle that resembles a crank, which leads me to believe that I can use this reel in the saltwater… great! This reel has a really nice star drag system, which clicks gently when you turn...
read moreAbu-Garcia’s – Revo Toro Winch
Abu-Garcia’s Revo Toro Winch Level wind reels (LWR) seem to be the standard reel that are being used on the Vancouver Island rivers for steelhead and salmon. LWR’s are great because they cast easily, they allow for free drifting your gear and they retrieve the line quickly. LWR’s do come with some issues, the problem I have found with some LWR’s is that if you get a lower quality one you start to encounter little problems with the parts, like they break off or bearings wearing out, the handle starts to wobble,...
read moreGreat Lures for Pink and Sockeye Salmon – Wigglewood lures.
http://www.blackcreekflyandtackle.com/ Hey anglers, it’s that time of year when I get to spend a lot of time in the shop creating new versions of my Wigglewoods to meet the coming season. Not that the existing colour line isn’t producing. In fact the Cotton Candy pink is one of my hottest sellers. I have personally caught rainbows, cutties, sockeye and pink salmon all on this colour alone. But as they say, “Variety is the spice of life.” Also, we have been getting requests for some specific colours to round out our line. As a...
read moreMy Steelheading Gear for 2011
This year I have kept my Steelheading lures very simple. Haven’t been using a lot of jigs, corkies, trout beads, or fancy spin and glows. Just simple egg patterns and bait. Here is some of the gear that have been successful for me so far this year. The Luhr Jensen Egg Clusters in Orange (5 Egg) - This got me the largest Steelhead of my life. Purchased at: Gone Fishing in Port Alberni $3.97 for a bag. The Luhr Jensen Egg Cluster in Red (5 Eggs) Purchased at: Gone Fishing in Courtenay $3.97 for a bag. Luhr Jensen Egg – BC...
read moreTorphy XL Royale Rod, Temple Fork Outfitters 3113 Centerpin Rod and an Okuma Aventa VT1002 Reviews
Centerpin Rod and Reel Reviews: Last year (2009) my wife got me an Okuma Aventa VT1002 Centerpin reel, for Christmas. It is my first and only centerpin reel. A friend of mine that owns a local sporting goods store had given that reel excellent reviews and for less than $200. The week after Christmas I purchased a Trophy XL Royale Centerpin Rod from Island Outfitters in Victoria.[Link] Here is my review of these products. Trophy XL Royale Centerpin Rod: The rod is an attractive brown colour with a nice low position to seat your...
read moreI have to give Credit where Credit is due – Tyee Marine Courtenay
Courtenay 870 Cliffe Avenue, Courtenay, B.C., Canada, Phone: (250) 334-2942 Fax: (250) 334-2948 http://www.tyeemarine.com/ I recently purchased a hunting rifle, a Savage Edge .270 scope combo for $459. It’s a value rifle, but it’s all that could be afforded and it had good reviews. After purchasing the rifle at Tyee Marine in Courtenay I noticed that the gun would not feed the rounds into the chamber properly and most of the time the bolt wouldn’t pick up the next round from the magazine. Promptly, returned to...
read moreAces High!
Ace line Haulers are for the serious prawn fisherman. Anyone who knows anything about sport prawning will tell you that they either have an Ace Line Hauler or the want one. The Ace Line Hauler BRUTUS line of trap pullers are the most efficient, easiest to use, and highest quality crab and prawn trap haulers on the market. If you have ever hauled a prawn trap from 350ft down, you wish you had a line hauler. Everyone that has fished prawns on my boat knows that as a deckhand you are going to haul rope, lots of rope and for some reason...
read moreWigglewood Lures… Black Creek Fly and Tackle.
- My good fishing buddy makes these Wigglewood lures by hand in Black Creek, and we have fished them in the ocean and in the river, I have to say that they work, and they are not made of plastic. In Port Hardy we hooked up on quite a few Salmon with this lure. Here is some more info taken from Wigglewood lures: Whether you are new to fishing, or a veteran of many angling campaigns you should check out Wigglewood lures by Black Creek Fly and Tackle. These lures having been gaining ground in angling circles in the last three years and it is no...
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