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How to repair leaking fishing waders

The big blue — Sun, 15 Jul 2007 09:27:07 +0000

How to repair leaking fishing waders

There are many different kinds of wader’s leaks: the torn crotch leak, the barbwire leak, the abrasion leak, the falling down on sharp rocks leak and worse of all – the hiding leak.
For all the visible leaks, it is very easy to repair a leaking fishing wader.
Most fishing waders come with a repair kit to be used once you notice a leaking, so use it in the following way:

Make sure that you marked the entire leaking area. There is nothing more annoying than fixing what you thought was leaking only to find your socks wet again on your next visit to the lake
The area you’re about to repair must be clean and dry
For the patch to adhere effectively, avoid any loose debris, grease or oil
You can stick a patch on the inside or the outside of the wader
Patch should overlap tear by at least 1 cm in all directions
Remove the release paper from the back of the patch, lay the wader on a smooth flat surface and apply the patch using finger pressure (adhesive side down)
Rub patch surface in a circular motion from the center out covering the entire patch area
The durability of the patch can be enhanced by applying heat and moderate pressure. Use a clean iron and set to medium heat. Press with moderate pressure in a circular motion for 30 seconds
The wader can be used immediately; however, the adhesive will continue to strengthen over the next 12 to 24 hours

When the leak in your fishing wader is caused by a small hole - the barbwire leak or the notorious hiding leak, the easiest way that I’ve found to fix the leak is a product called “aqua seal”.
“Aqua seal” is a kind of a liquid patch that you simply spread over the area in need of a patch and let it dry.
It works great and is the in cases of small holes it’s better than using the patch.

Trying to repair leaking fishing waders becomes a real challenge when you’re facing the hiding leak.

You are busy fishing, and suddenly realize that your socks are all wet.
When you examine your fishing wader carefully, you cannot detect anything that could cause the leak.

So, how do I detect the invisible leaks?
There are a few ways I found useful:

Put a low pressure air hose (e.g. a blower side of a vacuum cleaner) into the waders and tie it off at the chest opening.
Turn on the vacuum and blow up the waders like a balloon. Rub the waders with soapy water and look for bubbles. Anywhere you get bubbles you have a leak. Mark the leaking spots, wait for the waders to dry and apply the “Aqua seal” or patch.
(Remember use a low air pressure for not damaging the wader)
If you don’t have that kind of a vacuum cleaner, fill the wader’s legs with water (one leg at a time), and rub each leg with a soapy water.
The rest is the same as the vacuum cleaner technique
Take the waders into a darkened room along with a flashlight and a marker. Insert the flashlight into the wader legs and run it back and forth over the boot and leg. If you see a light coming out at one point, this is a leaking point.
Mark the hole / holes and apply the patch over the marked area
The following

technique works well on breathable waders, but will not work for neoprene waders:
Turn your waders inside out and let them dry completely.
Put some rubbing alcohol in a spray bottle and spray the area you suspect to be leaking.
If you see lingering dark spots as the alcohol evaporates off; you’ve found your pinhole leaks.
That kind of holes are best fixed using the “Aqua seal”

Remember that although it’s not complicated to repair leaking fishing waders, the best way is to avoid the leaking in the first place.

Following this great and simple tip helps to prevent leaky waders:
When you get back home from fishing, make sure you store your waders hanged upside down to dry out.
Just leave it hanging that way until they’re needed again. This is true for both neoprene and breathable waders.
This prevents folds which are potential weak points and also allows the air to get inside the wader, to help prevents mold.

Happy fishing

The Nomad - A new rods series for Kayak Fishing

The big blue — Thu, 05 Jul 2007 08:36:59 +0000

The Nomad, Hookset Global’s Kayak Series - The Answer for the Paddlers’ needs?

Over the past 10 years kayak fishing has quickly evolved as a truly mainstream style of fishing. Sit-on-top style kayaks are the most common boats used for the pursuit of both freshwater and saltwater fish. These affordable and easily launched craft offer exceptional access to prime fishing areas, while their quiet, low-profile presence on the water provides for stealthy presentations to wary fish.

The unique characteristics of kayak design, however, create challenges for traditional rods, and as it’s the hottest trend in fishing recently, the right solution was just a matter of time.

With the introduction of Hookset Global’s Kayak Series – the “Nomad”, paddlers now have specialized rods, especially designed to excel from a kayak.

Hookset Global’s Kayak Series, the “Nomad” includes four saltwater models, two spinning and two casting.

Two kayak fishing rods are built in one piece, measure 2.10 meter in length and the other two kayak fishing rods in the Nomad series are built in 2+1 pieces, measure 1.80 and 2.10 meter, all feature fast actions, built from high quality carbon, and come with high quality Fuji guides.

The Nomad Series consists on lightweight, sensitive and agile rods that deliver an incredible amount of power and long-term durability.

You can clearly see that every detail in the Nomad Series kayak fishing rods was specifically design to answer the needs of kayak fishing.

The 2.10 meter rods were design for the longer kayaks, of size 4.10 meters and above.

The benefits of 2.10 rod length and fast action begin with trolling and continue through fighting fish. The specific length assures the trolled line will not interfere with paddling, even when your rod holders are placed in front of the angler. With a fish on the line, the rod length and fast action assures that the angler can follow it around the ends of the kayak while remaining safely balanced in the cockpit.

The 1.80 meter rod is designed for shorter kayaks or for situations when you are targeting massive fish.
The JIG2C and JIG2S rods offer a great solution for those who can’t decide which length is better for their needs.
The JIG2 rods consist on 2 + 1 pieces – the handle and the blank, when the blank comes in two different lengths, to built either a 1.80 or 2.10 rods.

The size of the rod also affects its strength, when the 1.80meter rod is rated for up to 70 lb line support.

The high quality carbon provides the confident power needed to land fish.

In the absence of a partner’s assistance, the angler must “high-stick” the rod to bring fish within range of a net or gaff. The Nomad rods offer the structural stability to withstand “high-stick” landing of fish, without having to fear any damage to the rod.

The Nomad series handle design is configured for use from a sitting position.

The rear grips are shortened for easy maneuverability around the torso and thighs while the fore grips are lengthened for a firm grip, generating leverage from the upper body only. The lengthened fore grips also provide ample room to attach rod leashes where they will not interfere with a comfortable hand position.

The Nomad Series casting models include: TRL210C, rated for 30- to 50-lb line and the JIG2C, rated for up to 60 lb for the 2.10 rod and 70 lb for the 1.80 rod.

The Nomad Series spinning models include the TRL210S, rated for 30- to 50-lb line and the JIG2S, rated for up to 60 lb for the 2.10 rod and 70 lb for the 1.80 rod.

Happy Fishing J

Catch and Release

The big blue — Mon, 25 Jun 2007 10:25:04 +0000

There are many reasons to use the “catch and release” technique while fishing:

· Catch and release because - The increasing popularity of recreational fishing has led to the problem of too many anglers, not enough fish

· Catch and release because – It’s important to catch as many fish as possible, as it helps you to improve your techniques towards catching that big fish we all dream of.
Releasing the fish allows it to grow, so maybe the next time it’s caught it’ll be the fish of your dreams

· Catch and release because - It offers a sensible way to extend the fishing trip after a reasonable or legal catch limit has been reached

· Catch and release because – Be kind to the sea, the sea will be kind to you J

There are many reasons to Catch and release, but choosing to do so is not enough.

You don’t want to release a dead or dying fish, so there are a few things to consider while using that technique, to help improve your fish’s chance of survival once released back into the water:

Try to land the fish as quickly as possible
The longer you fight the fish, the more exhausted it gets and it lessons its chance to survive.
(It would be a shame to release the fish just to see it taken by another predator J )
Do not let fish flop about in shallow water, on the ground, or in the bottom of your boat
Try to avoid using a landing net. If you must, use landing nets made with soft or knotless mesh
DON’T USE A GAFF
Removing the hook carefully is most important
- Remove the hook quickly, keeping the fish underwater
- Use long nose pliers to back the hook out, back it out the opposite way it went in
- If the hook is very deep within the fish or it can’t be removed quickly, cut the leader close to the fish’s mouth and let it go. It still got a fair chance to survive
  (because of situations like that it’s better to se steel hooks that will eventually rust out)
- If the fish is bleeding form the gills, it is likely to die and you better keep it
Try to reduce the handling of the fish
- Leave the fish in the water as much as possible during the release
- If you must handle the fish, try to use a wet towel
- Keep your hands wet. It helps to prevent removal of the fish’s natural protective mucous layer, and reduces the chance of the fish’s skin getting infected
Release the fish
- Return the fish to the water headfirst
- Release the fish by holding it upright in the water, facing the current
- If the fish is not strong enough to swim own his own, hold it gently by its tail and move it back in forth till he can swim away on his own

Please practice catch and release whenever possibleTake a picture to show your friends, and after enjoying the excitement of catching the fish, learn the joy of releasing it.

Happy fishing

Save the whales (and the rest of the ocean :-) )

The big blue — Sun, 24 Jun 2007 14:33:39 +0000

Save the whales (and the rest of the ocean)

While fishing, I found myself changing weights at least once every time I go fishing.The need for changing weights is caused by many different reasons: the weight is stuck at the reef; a fish took the rig etc.Attaching a new weight is a bit of a bother – you always have to have spare weights, it’s a waste of fishing time (very precious time when I manage to get away from the daily hassle) but you never think about the most disturbing issue (at least I didn’t) – you pollute the sea!Just like many other fishermen, I like to prepare some of my fishing gear myself.

It’s true that everything can be bought today, but it’s much more exciting to work with home made fishing gear (and my most popular lures are those I made myself).

The only tackle I never play with is weights.

I thought of doing it, but after reading about the pollution hazards that’s caused by the led I’ve decided that it’s best not to play with it.

So, if led is so poisons for humans, it can’t be too good to the oceans, can it?

For many years there was no alternative, but recently I came across the best solution: an internet shop (www.thebesttackle.com) is selling weights made of stone.

The weights are made of pebbles, each has a swivel drilled into it, and the weight’s weight is clearly written on each pebble.

Working with the weight is much easier as your line goes through the swivel, if you want to change a weight you don’t have to cut the line, and most important – if you loose the weight it’s just like throwing a stone to the sea – no ecological damage done!

When ecological gain is achieved and my well being gets even better there’s no doubt – from now on only stone weights for me!

Happy fishing

Fishing Lures

The big blue — Mon, 11 Jun 2007 18:39:59 +0000

LURE FISHING is one of the most exciting ways of catching predatory fish.The sight of the first predator attacking your lure and gobbling it is a sight you’ll never forget.

There are five main types of lures: Spoons, Spinners, Plugs, Jigs and Soft Lures.

Within each category there’s a huge diversity, in this post I’ll try to cover the basics.

Spoons:

Spoons are named so because of the shape of their head that resembles a spoon.

Spoons are excellent lures for beginners, as they are easy to use and relatively inexpensive.

The spoon lure’s action resembles a real fish, as it flickers and wobbles through the water. Its bright colors and random movement helps it attracts the predatory fish.

Spinners: The spinner bait has one or more metal blades located close to the swivel or head.

When reeling the spinner in, the metal blades spin, rotating the lure as it’s being pulled through the water, making the blades shine and flash as the sunlight reflects off of it .

You can find spinners with additional feathers, plastic tassel or even a tail attached, to make the lure more attractive when targeting specific species of fish.

Plugs:

“A Plug” refers to a whole family of lures made of hard plastic or wood that imitates all manner of baitfish, usually attached with two or three treble hooks.

Plugs are designed to look and move in the same way as a small fish, which often swims in distress.

Plugs come in a great variety of colors, sizes and shapes, and are divided into a few “families”: top-water plug, float diver plug, crank-bait plug, jerkbait plug and suspending plugs.

The plugs world is so rich; I’ll have a dedicated post for it in the next future.

Jigs: One of the most basic and effective lures for targeting any predatory fish during any time of the year is the jig.

A jig is a heavy, lead-headed bait with a single hook. The jig’s color may vary between brightly colored to black, and may have additional feathers, tails or reflective parts (the additional parts’ color can be altered to change the appearance of the bait quickly and economically).

Jigs are usually used for fishing close to the bottom of the sea, where the jig is bounced off the surface, giving the “jigging” motion to the lure.

When using a jig, it’s best to use a fast action, medium-heavy to heavy rod, in length of 1.80 meters to 2.4 meters.

Soft Lures:

Soft lures are mostly made up of scented latex and are divided to two main categories: soft baits and soft sticks often referred to as fry worms.

The soft baits are featured with a thicker head and belly with a tapered tail, sometimes forked like a baitfish. When using soft bait it’s best to reel it back as slowly as possible.

The soft sticks do not have a defined head or tail; rather, they look like short blunt-end worms. These sticks are most often presented as drop or drag baits.

That was just an introduction to the lures world, a separate post for plugs and posts about lures fishing techniques are yet to come.

Happy fishing

Fishing waders

The big blue — Mon, 04 Jun 2007 10:08:08 +0000

Getting started…

The big blue — Tue, 30 Nov 1999 00:00:00 +0000

Hi. My name is Dan Levy and I’m an alcoholic.

Darn it - wrong post…

When a friend invited me to go fishing with him for the first time, I thought he must be out of his mind.I was convinced that fishing is the most boring sport, assuming it can be considered a sport… (My hobby at the time was off-road cycling and fishing seemed like the exact opposite.) No one warned me that unlike the fish, when you get hooked there’s no going back J As I had no fishing gear I went to the closest fishing gear shop to buy what it takes (when it comes to hobbies I believe in “buy now, think later”)Being used to the bicycles market I was amazed by the low prices, it took me a few month to realize that just like bicycles, you can start cheap but when you get into it the sky is the limit. So I bought the basic gear and went fishing for the first time in my life.Having a beginner’s luck the fishing was productive (we went for saltwater fishing from a pier) and it was a love from first fight. Many years have passed, many different fishing types and gear, and now I have decided to open a Blog to share my passion and knowledge. In my Blog I’ll give the most update information in various fields: Which fishing method is suits you best? What’s the hottest fishing accessory on the market? Rods and Reels reviews, and why the hell there are plastic fish in my basket??? Everything you’ve ever needed to know about fishing and fishing gear is now at your fingertips on my exciting new site.Fishingtreats.com aims to keep you up-to-date on all the latest fishing news, reviews and trends and to expose you to my fishing tips, success stories (sometimes the success is mine, sometimes the fish got lucky) and more.

I hope you share my passion for fishing, I know you will love my blog