We receive many new innovations, designs and improvements in tackle, to test for the manufacturers.   With the many days we spend on the water in amongst the fish, our rods, reels, lines, harnesses and terminal tackle, including lures, hooks and the likes, get tested to the limit.  In a charter situation it either works well or it doesn't work at all.  We have to make sure our clients catch and land fish so there is no time for breakdowns or lures that don't produce strikes.   This page will let you know first hand, as to the success or failure of the tackle we test.  It will also give a very good guide for your tackle purchases - and the most fundamental factor in successful fishing is having faith in your tackle.

Every now and again a product comes along that is so creative yet simple that it leaves you shaking your head and using the good old phrase "why didn't I think of that".   When I received a mail from Mike McLain, sales coordinator for HIDES, my first reaction was it's just another strap for sunglasses ... how wrong first impressions can be.

For anyone spending time outdoors and more especially on the water, sunglasses not only reduce the glare and keep your eyes cool, they are a necessity to protect your eyes from the harmful rays of the sun.  I spend most of my days on the water and without sunglasses I would be blind by now (well so my optometrist tells me).  And South Africa has some really harsh sun most of the year.

My problem is that I go through about 4 pairs of sunglasses in a season ... and all the expensive polarized kind at that.   I, like many others who get busy at sea, tend to abuse my glasses by throwing them down on the consol when they get splashed and I need to work with clear vision.  I also change from blue lenses on bright days to yellow lenses in low light so I always have a pair of glasses lying somewhere.   The result is they get so scratched I can't see out of them anyway - and it's time for a new pair.

Mike sent me one of his products, the HIDES TECHNOSKIN to try.   When I first unpacked the product I was amazed at it's simplicity and functionality.  The microfibre cord material is tough and durable yet soft enough not to scratch your neck, especially the sunburn.   This product is the only eyeware retainer with a soft case and cleaning cloth hidden inside.

Now let me try to explain what this sunglasses neck cord is all about.   You attach each end to the arms of your sunglasses so you can hang them round your neck ... clever hey?   Yeah I know ... you've seen loads of these things around and probably already use them.   WRONG.

This strap is divided into three sections - one for each arm of your glasses and detachable middle section that opens up to wrap your glasses in to protect the lenses from being scratched when you decide to abuse them ... and you will.   The centre section of the microfibre cord unrolls to become a lens-safe cleaning cloth and can be stretched from hinge to hinge across the glasses to become a convenient soft case.

If that alone isn't clever, you can take out the middle section and clip the two arm sections together which makes the strap smaller and saves your glasses from being blown off in the wind or falling off your face when leaning over the side of the boat.

I have now used the HIDES strap for some time and still wear the same sunglasses I started off the season with.   Now that to me is a huge saving and makes these HIDES a valuable piece of my fishing equipment.

There are 4 designs, being 'Classic', Technoskin', 'H²O' and 'Goggleskin' for divers or motorcyclists.   Each has a practical function depending on your required application.   The colour range is extensive and you're sure to find your favorite colour amongst them.

For me to suggest a product it has to be good, tested by ourselves to ensure the quality and practicality and it must be a functional fishing product.   And I recommend you take a look at the HIDES range at a store near you.   If you can't find them you can drop me a mail (click here j) or check out the web site www.hides.com

Get them, they're good.

Depth Charge                                  Wrecker

It had to happen and at last it did.   Williamson Lure manufacturers are undoubtedly the most innovative and progressive lure manufacturer in Africa.   We have been asking for a swimming plug which covers greater depths and makes a noise and true to their word, they produced a lure which does just that.   Some may say they're a copy but once you've used them you will see they are best described as an improvement.

Andy has been working on these lures for some time to perfect the material, swimming action and noise they produce underwater.   The lures are constructed of a very hard poly-carbonate which makes them durable and able to withstand many attacks from even the most toothy fish.   The stringer which holds the hooks and front ring, is cut from a solid stainless steel plate so there is no chance of the hooks, or the lure itself, pulling off - unless the hook rings straighten which is most unlikely.    These lures are fitted with extra strong Mustad trebles so the chances of a hook opening are greatly reduced - and you won't even have to change hooks before using the lure.

Now I am a strong believer in the use of sound as a fish attracter as you will see in many of the articles I have written.   But the sound emanating from a lure needs to be in a certain range or it can work against you.   The sound that has finally been obtained from these lures is perfect as you will see when I describe some of the tests we did.

These lures are equipped with interchangeable poly-carbonate, a high tensile and very durable type of plastic, bibs.   Now on a charter boat this saves you loads on money.   Here we have a lure that we can regulate to swim at various depths depending on where the fish are feeding, instead of having to carry duplicate lures.   But probably the biggest benefit is only having to replace a bib when the lure gets smashed on the boat by a big fish, as opposed to forking out for a whole new lure.   And we all know that old lures produce more fish than new ones.

My pet hate with a deep diving lure is when they take-off to the side.   They create the worst tangles possible and, because of the nature of the lure, these tangles are more difficult to undo.   I tested 8 prototypes and to my absolute delight, every one of them swam perfectly straight.    Now it is finally possible to swim 6 deep divers together with the utmost confidence that they will not tangle - unless the skipper gets gung-ho on the wheel.

The colour range will leave you dreaming, bewildered and out of pocket.   But a lot of thought and effort has gone into the colour co-ordination so you will find some exciting new combinations along with those which have been proven fish catchers.

Now for an incident which happened during the initial test of these lures.  The prototype lures had arrived on the Friday, I had a charter for the next day and we had some excellent Tuna catches during the week.  A great combination and I couldn't wait to try out these new lures which Andy and I had talked about for months.

We headed out to the Tuna grounds and more specifically to a lat/long position where good catches of Yellowfin were made the day before.   As we approached the area the signs looked too good to resist, so in went the regular lures and we began the troll.   Two big CD22 deep divers way out far, a 5 meter deep diver either side of the trolling board, 2 Australian deep diving lures inside of these and a Bulb Squid down the middle.   After about 20 minutes of trolling we neared the position we were running to and still the fishing reports were quiet.  

I had left one rod holder vacant in case of a sudden charge by a shoal of Yellowfin, which is fine later in the day but certainly not as a warm-up for a charter.   This didn't seem likely so I took out one of the new Williamson prototypes (an orange and yellow combination as it was still fairly early) and with a few jokes as to how privileged the guys on board were to witness the first swimming of a lure, I clipped it onto a 30 pound stick.   I placed the lure in the water to check its tracking was straight and let it go back into the spread.

As I pushed the drag lever forward the reel exploded in my hand.    A Yellowfin ate the lure immediately.   I cannot describe the astonishment on the faces of the clients suffice to say they were too dumb-struck to run for the stick.   I held my composure as best I could without showing any signs of my excitement, and asked "who's up first", as if this was expected.

We only caught three Yellowfin on the troll that day (the other twelve came on the bait) and all three fell to that one lure.   Not one of my regular lures got a pull.                             

These lures have since caught Yellowfin and Albacore (Longfin) Tuna, Yellowtail and Snoek during the test phase and will, without doubt, be attractive to any gamefish wherever they are fished.

Oh! I almost forgot.   They are about half the price of their imported equivalents. Enjoy them as I have.

There can be no more strenuous test for a monofilament fishing line than to end up on a charter boat. I am constantly asked what brand of lines we use, why we have a preference for that particular brand and what brand would I recommend.  It is mainly because anglers require different properties in a line and subject their lines to different rigors of use that I have always been hesitant to recommend a particular brand of fishing line. 

Over the years we have fished with many different brands of lines and enjoyed varying degrees of success.   Basically they all initially do what they are supposed to, what makes one line better is when it retains its design properties longer than the others on the market. 

Our requirements in a fishing line are basic and primarily include durability, fishability, and accurate line class rating. Over the past few years I have been using Berkley Trilene Big Game line on all the reels on the boats and it has certainly met, if not exceeded our requirements.   But let me rather quantify my findings.

Durability:  The last thing any charter operator wants on his boats is a broken line.  Firstly the client is disappointed at loosing a fish, secondly it usually means the loss of an expensive lure but most importantly, there is now a distressed fish swimming around with a lure jammed in its mouth and trailing a length of fishing line.   The life expectancy of that fish has just been reduced to zero and really, fishing is not just about killing fish.   Although there are many factors which can lead to broken lines, line fatigue is the highest contributor.   It is for this reason that we immediately change lines that start to show signs of fatigue.

Line fatigue is caused by constant exposure to the sun's UV rays, continual emersion in salt water, stretch and contraction, heat of the sun, age and the abrasion of the guides on a fishing rod.  Generally a particular brand of line will excel in durability in one or two of these causes but seldom will you find a line which resists all.  

I have found that Berkley withstands these rigors far better and for much longer than most other lines we've used.  Not that it doesn't suffer from fatigue because it does, but the nice thing about it is that it lets you know when it's time to change the line.   I use the blue colour line as I believe that a solid colour line is less prone to absorbing UV rays than a clear line.   When  the line looses its shine and the blue starts to fade, the time has come to change it.   Although it will certainly last a few more trips, I have found that the risk of broken lines is just not worth it.

Fishability: Basically it indicates how the line feels to the angler, because there must be total confidence in the line you use.   It's no good fishing with a line which is not comfortable or is just outright annoying.  Factors making up fishability include touch (supple or hard), memory (does it lie straight or curl up when it comes off the spool) and stretch. 

Berkley has a very nice feel, it is soft yet not spongy, fairly low memory so there is very little spool curl and just enough stretch to assist the angler on a big fish while not enough to make setting the hook a difficult task.

Accurate Line Class Rating:  When it comes to fishing in tournaments and claiming records it is imperative that the line does not exceed the specified breaking strain.  For this reason manufacturers produce lines rated to IGFA line class specifications.  Many IGFA rated lines will break at varying degrees below the specified class but that can be more hindrance than a help.  The object is to use a line which consistently breaks on or slightly below the specified strain - without getting weaker during a long fight.

I have found that Berkley IGFA rated Trilene breaks closest (and never over) to the specified strain than most other brands and it withstands fights of three to four hours quite comfortably.

Although Berkley Trilene Big Game is at a slight price premium the benefits make it far more economical in the long run.   We now only have to change lines every 15 to 18 trips where we were changing at 6 to 8 before.   We loose very few lures, if any, through line breaks and the lines feel good to fish with.   I have all the confidence in the world in fishing with Berkley, which is half the battle won.

A few tips to protect your lines from fatigue :

1. Minimise exposure to the sun

2. Avoid contact with solvents

3. Wash lines in fresh water after every trip

4. Pack lines firmly on to the reel

5. Regularly check your guides for cracks, chips or breaks

6. Store your reels in a dry, cool and dark place when not in use

7. Change the top 150 meters of line regularly

8. Constantly check for nicks or abrasions in the line

Please discard old or waste fishing lines responsibly - in the waste bin back on land. You'll be surprised just how many marine creatures, fish and mammals we find entangled in old fishing line - it is just not fair.

Impala swimming plugs by the South African lure manufacturer, Williamson Lures, have been around for a number of years and I for one have been a little hesitant to use them on the boats, rather opting to pay more for the well known Rapala lures.

We were recently sent a batch of the new design Impala's to test.  I must add that I was impressed with their finish and, although they look identical to the Rapala, they are slightly heavier and their colour range is different.  They are certainly more robust, being manufactured from a hard resin based material - hopefully the hooks won't break out the back of these as they do with Rapala's.

The first opportunity we had to test them was a few weeks ago as the Tuna had just started to arrive.  The best way to test the success of a lure is to swim it amongst proven lures, which is what we did - 1 Impala along with 3 Rapala's of the same size and similar colouration (OK, a little unfair in numbers but I know Rapala's catch fish).

The one big problem with swimming plugs is that if they cross over another lure and get tangled, they spin like crazy and create an all mighty mess of the lines and any other within reach.  It is important that the lures run absolutely straight, especially those inside the spread.   From the box the Impala lure ran straight, without any initial tuning required.

So blow me down if the first lure to get eaten is not the Impala swimming in the middle of the spread - colour code H 131 (pearl white with fluorescent orange stripes over the back).  The lure caught fish throughout the day and certainly stayed up with the Rapala's.  However, the strangest thing did happen with this lure, the Blue Sharks loved it - not only one but three - and only the Impala. 

Since the initial test day I have had the courage to use some of the other Impala's and find them to be good swimmers and produce as many fish as any other swimming plug.  I cannot say this is the ultimate lure but it is as good as Rapala and Halco.   The plus factor is the robust construction although I have had to replace the hooks with 5X for the Yellowfin - but that is a unique situation.

Catches include Albacore (Longfin) Tuna, Yellowfin Tuna and Yellowtail (plus Blue Sharks and a Mako)

Although the test has been conducted over a short period of time, some colours did not work well, namely the Pearl with Blue stripes and the Pearl with Red stripes.  In all fairness they are colours I would not normally use, so perhaps I haven't given them a true test.  I am sure they will produce fish in other areas as is often the case.

CONCLUSION: A good lure which can stand up with the rest.  The price advantage makes this lure a must when choosing swimming plugs.  I have not tested the smaller sizes but I am sure they will work equally well.  Impala has now earned a place on our boats.

STOP PRESS

The Red & White Impala I mentioned earlier in the report accounted for a 62kg Yellowfin Tuna yesterday.   This Impala was positioned in the centre of the spread and shortest to the boat.   3 Swimming plugs were in the spread, 2 Rapala's and the one Impala - only the Impala got a strike.  

Click pictures to enlarge

While speaking to the guys at Williamson Lures regarding new lure developments for the coming season, I mentioned how difficult it was for us to obtain a decent Cedar Plug.   One thing I must say about Williamson Lures is that they produce almost any saltwater lure you can think of, they give it a lot of thought and then produce it well.  "Not a problem, we'll send you some Cedar plugs to try out"  and two weeks later they arrived.

Now anyone who has used a genuine Cedar plug for Tuna will not divulge too much of their new found secret.   Yes, they regularly catch fish when other lures fail, and when you see it swim you'll understand why.  We have been importing Cedar Plugs from the USA for our own use on the charter boats but they have been extremely costly and not readily available.  A while ago we tested beautifully painted 'cedar plug' imitations made of hard resin, from another lure maker but unfortunately the action was not quite the same and few fish were taken on them. 

Williamson Lures cedar plugs are the genuine article.   Made from a hard imported Cedar wood and lathe turned to ensure they are symmetrical and do not spin - a very important factor in trolled lures.  We have only used the plain wood (unpainted) plugs in the past and have enjoyed great success with Albacore (Longfin) and Yellowfin Tuna, and now we have the opportunity to try out the painted version as well as the plain wood - bullet and side-flow jet head versions.

The plugs we received incorporate a wide range of inviting colours along with the original plain wood version, and by all accounts all should produce a lot of fish.     We shall see .....

And we saw....  Well it's not often one comes across such an effective lure.  Seeing as it's not our Tuna season at present I decided to try out these plugs on the Yellowtail at Cape Point.  If you can tempt a Yellowtail into eating a lure, tempting a Tuna becomes a walk in the park.  We were battling for Yellowtail strikes on deep diving plugs, spinners and surface squids, lures which the fish usually have little hesitation in eating, so why not try something very different - the Cedar plugs.

A Cedar Plug is a surface lure and should be positioned where you would run such lures. The first thing you will notice when fishing a Cedar plug, is the incredible swimming action they have in the water.   Very different to that of squid type surface plastics which generally run straight with an occasional wiggle.   These Cedar plugs have a life-like swimming action - head down, tail wiggle and slight side to side action.   I have run 3 Cedars next to each other with no tangles.

The Cedar Plug has a hole through the centre for the trace line, so you simply slide the plug onto your line and tie on a hook.   Although they are designed to take a standard shank needle-eye hook, which is very hard to find, I found a 4/0 treble hook does the trick.   I did experiment with a swinging hook at the back but found the retention rate with a stiff hook rig to be better.

Now brown colours are not my favorite in surface lures for Yellowtail, I prefer green/yellow's and red/orange's, in that order.  Knowing the plain wood works well on Tuna I tried it for the Yellowtail, along with a blue/green/yellow plug.   To say the strike rate on the plain wood bullet head was phenomenal would not be doing it justice.   Of the 20 odd fish caught on the day, 16 were on the plain wood Cedar plug.  It worked so well that, even with all other lures already in position at correct trolling speeds, the fish were picking off this plug as soon as it reached its spread position.   I guess what really summed up the incredible success of this lure was a comment  by the charter client, shaking his head in disbelief - "on a piece of wood !".  

If you don't already have these Williamson Cedar Plugs you have to get them, especially the plain wood bullet head.   Their action is like no other lure and that's what makes them so effective in the spread. 

click to enlarge