Here’s the rundown on six hunting and fishing products that you may find useful in the woods, fields and waterways. We did.
ARDENT C400
For $170, this high-performance casting reel features a 6.3:1 helical gear ratio and a Comfort Grip frame made of corrosion-resistant aluminum. Its Strike Saver drag system provides smooth and reliable performance.
Ardent is a relatively new reel company that is earning a ton of good publicity because professional angler Alton Jones used an Ardent baitcasting reel to win the 2008 Bassmaster Classic.
Ardent’s high-quality fishing reels are made in the USA and are backed by a full 3-year warranty. They are definitely worth a look.
ardentoutdoors.com
(660) 395-9200
BUTT OUT TOOL
For $10, this field-dressing tool that quickly removes a deer’s anal cavity without awkward cutting or sawing the pelvic bone. Just insert, twist and pull to extract a portion of the anal membrane, then tie it off and cut. Once this membrane is removed, you can easily continue the field-dressing process.
Hey, I know what you are thinking… and this isn’t a joke. It’s true these tools might have sold well at first because people bought them as gag gifts. But, now they are selling because they work! I cleaned five deer using the tool last year, and I’ll definitely use it again during the upcoming 2008 deer season.
hunterspec.com
(319) 395-0321
BERKLEY LIGHTNING IM6
For $40, this 6-foot, 6-inch medium-light spinning rod uses a strong, lightweight and sensitive IM6 graphite blank. The rod handles 1/8- to 5/8-ounce lures and 4- to 10-pound line.
When going on a week-long camping, canoeing and fishing trip, I like to take along relatively inexpensive equipment, because I usually end up breaking something along the way. I like the Berkley IM6 Lightning Rod because it is durable, smooth-casting and reasonably priced.
berkley-fishing.com
(800) 237-5539
FLEXTONE BUCK RAGE PLUS
For $20, this dual-call combination includes the versatile all-in-one deer call that is able to create growls and grunts, plus bleats and distress bawls. You also get an attached Killer Wheeze call used create aggravated snort-wheeze sounds.
I'm a gadget guy, so carrying 4 or 5 calls with me in the woods is standard practice. But this year I am slimming down. These two calls provide all the vocalizations of deer that I need, and the lanyard helps me avoid losing them (again).
wildgameinnovations.com
(866) 995-4263
SALMO BULLHEAD
For $9, Bullheads are available in floating, sinking and deep-diving models, as well as several color patterns. A flat head gives the Salmo Bullhead a unique wobbling action ideal for bass, walleyes, trout and other species.
I am a fan of Salmo lures, ever since I caught a limit of crappie using the smaller-sized Salmo Hornets. These crankbaits have a tight wobble due to their expertly shaped high-density foam bodies. And, their selection of color patterns is simply excellent.
salmofishing.com
(952) 224-3649
ULTRATHON INSECT REPELLANT
For $10, Ultrathon insect repellent lotion resists perspiration, rain and water and contains 34.34% Deet to repel mosquitoes, ticks, biting flies, chiggers and gnats for up to 12 hours.
Going GREEN is all the rage lately. Alright, so Ultrathon lotion has almost 35% Deet which might not be considered “all-natural” or “green.” But a high amount of Deet is proven to protect you against ravenous bugs in swampy waters and thick backwoods. That’s the goal, right? And at least it’s in a green-colored bottle!
3m.com
(800) 430-5000