Lure Package Recycling Project by IMA

I was checking IMA's website and clicked on this interesting page. It is all composed by images so I couldn't translate any text via google, but the idea looks clear enough. IMA has started a project aimed at reducing the pollution created by thousands of PET lure packages that are thrown away in the garbage every year. 

They basically invite everyone to collect the empty lure packages and mail them to a specific address (IMA Head Quarters?). For every 10 packages sent back they give you a small promotional gift. Sounds just right.

Well done!

Reduce garbage, for the future.

Some of the IMA's packages.

Collect 10 packages and mail them.

Used Tackle? Tackle Berry!

I always liked the idea of buying new or used fishing tackle and trade it for something else over time. I do it sometimes using classified ads or fishing forum. I use rods and sell them once I am bored or better get some new lures after selling some of those that I don't use much. This kind of trade is pretty common in the fishing world, but there is a company that has taken this process a level above and I have do admit that I think it is brilliant!

In Japan -where else?- there is a chain of tackle shops that sells all used fishing gear and it does it with a huge number of stores across the country. It is called Tackle Berry and it a huge hit in Japan.

Thanks to "google translate" I like to spend some time on their official home page. I check their stores, the myriad of products up for sale and the blogs that every store carefully updates on a daily based.

Stores everywhere...but in Japan.

It was founded in 2000 and in 11 years has opened more than 150 stores (there is a list here) across Japan.
They range from huge shops to smaller corner shops, yet all of them stock very nice used gear.
What I like most is the blog update system they use to promote the latest additions to the stocks. I browsed the blogs and saw used items at very good prices. Also they have a rating system for every product they put online. Rates goes from A (excellent) to C (average). I assume they have products that they put on sale online.

They even have the Berry Girls!!!

Certainly we (anglers living out of Japan) are not going to benefit from this stores (yet) but I think what Tackle Berry created is brilliant! I just hope one day we will have a similar shops where we can trade and buy used gear. The wide choices of used gear would be great indeed. Imagine yourself buying a Major Craft or Yamaga Blanks used rod and then sell them for a Megabass rod.  I think you need a serious fishing tackle market for a system like Tackle Berry's to work.

Rods

Lures

Reels

Fuji K Guides

A couple of days ago I have written about the new Major Craft Crostage rod with the Fuji K guides.

The K series are the latest addition by Fuji to their wide range of guides. I consider Fuji to be one of the best guide makers out there. I always trusted them, from cheap Aluminum Oxide to SIC. Always reliable.

I have found a nice video that explains the advantages of the K guides. Basically the new design avoids any kind of tangling of braids over the guides during a cast. Details are available here (Japanese)

Say "Cheese" Tide Minnow!

I like photography. I like fishing. When you combine both passions the result can be quite pleasing.

I enjoy taking pictures of everything I find interesting and aesthetically appealing. This is why nice fishing lures and my camera are good friends. I took them out of the boxes, brand new, and take photos.

The latest one I considered worthy of taking pictures is this amazing Tide Minnow SLD-F by DUO. It is a real work of art. When you inspect it close and take some macro pictures you understand the meaning of "quality" and aesthetic. This is a good reason for me to grab my camera and put it under some bright light.
The colors are brilliant, the lure's eyes look sharp, almost with a personality. I consider this photo session as a way to thank the lure before taking it out fishing. Sooner or later it will be bitten by fishes, hit rocks or worst, got lost somewhere deep in the sea.

OK, so it is good looking and made with the utmost care by our friend at DUO. How it works, how it swims? These are questions that I will answer once I have the time to take it out for some testing. Right now the weather and the fishing conditions are not optimal.
First chance and the lure will be out in the water waiting to fool some nice seabass. Which I think this lure is perfect for that job.

Some details.

In the meantime lets read what DUO says about this lure on its official page:


An Entry Model 12 cm Minnow
A seabass lure’s castability does not only give a great advantage to the angler, but is also an important factor for keeping up his motivation. The Tide-Minnow SLD series was developed as a slim-type, long distance model, with castability as the top priority. It is a basic model that can be used in a wide range of locales (surf, estuaries, off the rocks, etc).  It features a ‘wobble and roll’ action with a pleasant feel. It is able to catch the small-scale flows in the current, even when retrieved slowly.  With its great castability, it is the perfect entry model.

Specs:

Length:125mm

Weight:14.5g

Type: Floating

Action:Wobble & Roll

Hook: Owner ST46 #6

Those yellow eyes...

...they just follow you.

By the way, the Tide Minnow has also a Facebook page!

New Contest by DUO!

DUO keeps introducing new contests for all its facebook fans. After two successful contests here is the third one. As the previous contests, this one is again, a simple one.  Duo is asking again a question:

What is your favourite lure color to use?

In order to participate you just have to be a fan of the Official DUO Facebook Page and send your answer to this email address: duocontest@gmail.com . Also just put “my favorite lure color” to the email subject.  

You can tell your favorite colors by describing them or just write the colors codes of the DUO lures. 

The contest ends the 25th of December at 5:00PM 

More info here 

What is the prize? Another great assortment of DUO lures and promotional items.

Don’t miss the chance!

By the way, here are some nice lure colors. My favorites:

SCALE Magazine

Another very nice digital fishing magazine that I have recently discovered is SCALE Magazine. Full of great articles and very cool photos it deals with lure and fly fishing. I like the quality of the articles and the use creative photoshopped photos adds great appeal. Available both in English and German. The third issue is already out. Please check it and don't forget to read the past issues too!! A+

Issue No:3

One of the pages of the magazine.

There is even an article about my friend Takatoshi!.

RC Fishing Rate: