Hot Bass Fishing Accessories From 2006
Rodwraps and ReelGrips prove to be valuable additions to anglers in 2006.
Portland, OR – December 13, 2006 - I originally thought some of the new bass fishing accessories were a means for some optimistic manufacturer to make more money. However in 2006 I was exposed, up-close and personal, to some of these new gadgets. I have to admit I was quite surprised by their overall performance.
Better Ways Products Rodwraps.
This Spring I remember making light hearted jokes about Rodwraps with a good friend while pre-fishing a tournament. “How can wrapping something around your rod actually help you with grip, sensitivity, and overall performance?” I questioned. Ironically, a few months later a long-time tournament mentor gave me a Rodwrap to try for myself. After catching only a few fish on that rod I said looked to him and said, “I want these for all my rods. Where can I get these?” Now I’m not claiming that wrapping my rod actually lured more fish onto my hook, but I did find some very compelling benefits. Here is a list of benefits and ideal usage scenarios that have been reported by many pros:
Comfort. All power fishermen should at least try a Rodwrap and see if you like it. You’ll be amazed at your comfort level when throwing a bait 1500+ times in a day. At the end of a long day I experienced much less soreness & less hand cramps during the day. If holding the rod fatigues you or cramps our hand, give a Rodwrap a try. Female anglers who tested them say they love them because of the comfort.
Warmth. In a Fall tournament on Clear Lake, CA, the morning temps were in the mid 40’s and the long boat ride at 70 MPH didn’t make things any better. My partner was complaining about his hands being numb because his reel seat was ice cold. At that moment I realized my Rodwrap was actually keeping my rod from getting cold and also holding in the warmth of my hand!
Grip. I never thought I’d say this, but having better grip can actually help you get better hook sets. I didn’t know this but after using the Rodwraps for a few months I noticed I was able to set the hook better and I fumbled the rod less during hook sets or when fighting fish. Many professionals on TV fumble the rod during hook sets too; this is why more and more of them are going to Rodwraps.
Who Uses It. When I called the factory to write this story I spoke with the owner, Steve Brown (Bend, Oregon), and he said all the pros on tour we see (on TV) using Rodwraps are using the product at their own will; meaning he’s not paying anyone to use it. I’m not sure if you comprehend what that means, but in a nutshell most Elite Series pros don’t use anything for free unless they honestly believe it will drastically help their overall fishing performance.
Summary
Overall satisfaction: Very satisfied
Best benefit: Comfort is greatly increased when casting reaction baits all day. Color coordinate rods to identify them easier.
Any negatives: Learning to put the wrap on was difficult, but the online tutorial helped.
Tip: The black color is best because when the wrap gets dirty you don’t see the dirt on the wrap.
Cost: $3-$8
Retailer: Bass Pro Shops, Sportsmen’s Warehouse
More Info: www.betterwaysproducts.com, www.basspro.com
ReelGrip.
In the summer of 2006 I bought a new baitcasting reel and the salesperson sold me a set of ReelGrips. I have to admit, I was skeptical at first as to why anyone would really need this product. However, when I went out and fished with these ReelGrips for a few hours, I quickly realized I actually had better grip of my reel handle when setting the hook.
Let me ask you this: How may times do we set the hook on a fish or crank a bait over an object and your hand slips off the handle? For most of us this goes by completely unnoticed, but if you ever watch yourself on video or watch Elite series pros on tape, you’ll realize this happens as many as 50 times in a 8 hour trip according to one touring pro I talked too.
Now this whole thing might sound somewhat trivial at first, but all the anglers out there who have a “boat shaking hook set” are nodding their head right now. (Anglers who set the hook hard, usually experience our hand slipping off the reel seat more often.)
The more I fished with ReelGrips, the more I have come to realized that I set the hook much cleaner, reeled fish in better, and reduce the amount of times I lose the reel handle during retrieves; which means I lose less fish between the time I get a strike to the time the fish enters my boat.
Try out a pair this season and see what you think. They fit any baitcasting reel and come in tons of colors. If you’re into color matching or color coordinating reels to identify them quickly this product can be great for that too. They also wash easily in the dish washer if they get dirty with fish slime.
Summary
Overall satisfaction: Surprisingly satisfied
Best benefit: Overall grip is greatly improved but the best benefit is overall grip of the handle when the reel is wet in the morning or during the rain.
Any negatives: Took a little while to get use to the feel.
Tip: Wet the inside of the grip before putting it on so it’s easer to slide it over the handle.
Cost: $4.99
Retailer: www.basspro.com, Sportsmen’s Warehouse More Info: www.reelgrip.com
