News from DUO: Realis Minnow 80SP

I am a fan of saltwater lures because I "love" fishing in the salt. However sometimes I use lures that are designed for freshwater fishing but that are excellent on the fishes that I catch. In Europe, anglers usually say that the seabass can be caught with almost everything that is used for freshwater bass. Small minnows or soft lures always got the interest of the European seabass.

Realis is the name of  lures for freshwater bass made by DUO. They keep expanding this line with new models and 2012 looks like an interesting year.
There is a lure that caught my attenton the Minnow 80SP. I like it a lot. 80mm for 4.8g and many colors to choose from. This lure is a suspending model ideal for twitch and jerk technique.
The price is good (1.100YEN) and I am very interested in the D-62 and D-77 colors. The D-62 especially for some murky waters.
It looks like a terrific lure for some seabass fishing in port area or calm estuary waters. Oh, also I am sure it will be terrific for catching some freshwater bass as well.
Check it here

50 Followers

50 is not a great number but it means a lot to me. Today I have reached 50 followers and this makes me really happy.
I have started this blog in October and in a short time I have met new friends and received good comments from all over the world.
My intention is to keep this blog always updated and easy to read. It is just an hobby, a way to keep in touch with the world of fishing and share my experiences and ideas about this great outdoor sports.

I thank everybody for reading my posts and giving me support. It is much needed and appreciated.

I hope to write a post that says "100" in a short time :)

Blog: Labrax Squad

This is a blog that I have discovered a couple of weeks ago. The name of the blog is already cool, but what strikes me is the original layout and the very informative posts that you find in it.
It is a blog run by some European Seabass fanatics living in Holland. They have anything from videos to tackle news. It is a new blog with not many posts but I am sure it will grow bigger in no time.

I recommend you to give it a look. It is a nicely made blog and look promising.

Source: Labrax Squad

Carolina rig setup for Ultra Light Fishing

When fishing for horse mackerel I usually prefer a regular setup with a 1.5-2.g jighead, 5lb fuoro and 0.6 PE braid. Sometimes, if I need distance I rely on a carolina setup. It is basically a setup that involves a weight followed by a leader and very light jighead or weightless hook.
The trick here is to decide on what weight to use for casting the small soft lures.
There is a company in japan named Tict that offers a special "caro weight" for this kind of setup. The website offers a nice draw on how the setup is supposed to work. Also there are videos that show the rig in action.

The setup: FC or braid line + Caro Weight + small swivel + 20/30cm FC leader 3/6lb and final light (0.2 / 0.4 g.) jighead.

I am not a fan of "weights" between the line and the lure, but sometimes it is needed to reach some distance or a certain deep when using ultra light soft lures. 

I have also tried a different setup using these as weights.

The Tict version might be better because has the small "pipe" that is snug free. I also used a similar one made by Italian company Stonfo. 

With a 4gr. models I was able to cast about 35m with a ultralight rod setup.

What about the jighead?

I go with these models. Or you can try these by Tict:

Source: Tict , Owner

Lure Photo 14: Rapala X-Rap 6

More info here

Power Pro Super 8 Slick: First Impressions

I have been lure fishing for years and until now I have only tried and used a bunch of braids. My first choice has been the TUF Line XP. A braid that I used with good success for years. A regular 4 strand braid with good castability and abrasion resistance. I had friends who used the regular Power Pro saying that it was the best braid out there. In all these years I have tried it only once on my friend's reel and I didn't see much of a difference compared to the TUF line. It was good but in my opinion not any better than the Tuf XP.
Last year, after extensive reading on the net, I decided to switch to a 8 strand braid made by Varivas (Super PE) and I was quite pleased with the smoothness and the overall small diameter of the braid. I quickly felt  the  the difference of four strands vs eight strands.The advantage of 8 strands was so clear that I decided to stick with it for my future purchases. Just when I was about to ditch the TUF line and the Power Pro, I read about the new Power Pro Super 8 Slick braid. My first thought was "If Power Pro is good, a 8 strand version must be even better". I finally placed an order over the net and this week I received my Power Pro Super 8 Slick from Cabelas. 

10 lb test 150 yards

It is still on the box and I haven't spooled it yet. For now I will just give my first impressions and later do a proper test on the water. I got a 10lb aqua green color spool.

Aqua Green color looks much better than the previous green.

At first look, the aqua green color is an improvement over the "old classic" dark green. It looks fresh and the color is bright enough to be seen in the water. Not as flashy as the yellow but still easy to spot in the water without scaring fishes.
The braid looks tight woven, round and neat. There isn't anything sloppy or presence of frayed fibers.

The braid is smooth.

Time to spool it on my Elf 2500.

At the  touch, I can easily tell the difference with a regular Power Pro. This things is smooth as silk. The 8 strands do really feel great. Compared to the Varivas I couldn't tell much of a difference. It is just smooth. Maybe it is a little larger in diameter than the Super PE at a similar breaking strength but still feels light and silky.

The question is how it casts and how it resists abrasion. Also wind knots are a big question. These are details that need to be checked on the field. Details coming soon...

Info:


8 yarn Spectra Fiber.
Available sizes: 10,15,20,30,40,50,65,80lb
Available colors: Hi-Vis Yellow, Aqua Green, Timber Brown and Marine Blue)
Price:   $19.99 for 150 yd (135 mt)