The Gear Hound

ATV Emergency Riding Kit

ATV trips can be great fun until trouble surfaces. If you haven’t anticipated problems, things can get worse in a hurry.. When life on the trail goes south, you’ll need more than just a first aid kit.  Gather these items and keep them in your ATV rackbag so you’ll be prepared for whatever the trail throws your way:

Towrope
Drinking water and a collapsible water container
Map and Compass (especially if you bring a GPS)
Extra GPS batteries
Energy bars
Space blanket
First aid kit
Rain gear
Bow saw
Fire starter kit
Tire repair kit
Small electric compressor
Leatherman
Two-way radio
Plastic zip ties
Duct tape

Got a “bad day on an ATV” story? Hit the comments link and let us know.

 

Shine A Better Light: How to upgrade your Mini Maglites

I don’t know how many Mini Maglites you have around your house, but the last time I really looked, I came up with five. I’m sure there are others rolling around my truck and in my waterfowl bags. 

I like my Mini Mags, but lately they have fallen down a few rungs in the ladder as new L.E.D lights have made their way into my gear closet. My older Mini Mags have been relegated to drawers for emergency power outages.

But now there’s hope for your old Minis, in the form of the Nite Ize Upgrade kit. The kit comes with a 3-bulb replacement that not only extends battery life up to 4 times, but gives a dramatically brighter and whiter light than the old single bulb. 

The kit also comes with a simple on-off push button rear cap. Cost is merely $9.

Get one at http://www.pocketlights.com/nite_ize_combo_upgrade_kit.asp  and start shining those Mini Mags again.

Blackhawk Crucible: The world’s sharpest knife

I get real tired of using knives that break or lose their edge and don’t cut cleanly after just a few tasks. My expectations in a hunting knife may be unrealistic, but I want something that can pry, cut, and slice anything that gets in my way while maintaining a wicked edge. I’m willing to sharpen it; I just don’t want to do it all the time.

If you want a knife that’s sharp enough to make you afraid to open and close it--with a blade that stays exceptionally sharp for the longest period I’ve found--get a Blackhawk Crucible Tactical Knife (the name gives me chills). This bad boy was designed for combat fighting, and is used by the Delta Force and the Navy Seals. 

This sucker will hack through a thick piece of rope up in no time. The serrated edge will cut through a deer’s ribcage as if it were cardboard, and will still slice a tomato into fine pieces. It’s the sharpest commercial knife I’ve ever owned. The Crucible lists for $200 and is worth every penny. Go to http://navyseals.com/store

Fishing Bling: The Million Dollar Lure

What would you do with a million dollars? I might buy a couple of boats, a mile of shore on my favorite stream, and maybe even a custom-machined  reel. But you must also ask yourself, “What would Paris Hilton or 50 Cent do?” I am reaching into the intellectual stratosphere here, but bear with me.  My guess is if you’re a pop culture icon and you’re going fishing, you’ll need a little bling.  And if bling is what you desire, then you must hit this link http://www.macdaddysfishinglures.com/million_dollar_lure.shtml. 

That’s right, the boys at MacDaddy’s have created the ultimate fishing lure: the Million Dollar Lure.  No, you don’t win a million dollars if you catch a fish with it. You have to spend a million dollars for their gold-platinum-silver-with-diamonds-and-rubies lure. 

I can assure you this is no joke. In fact, there is a disclaimer on the web site: “Fishermen beware. If you choose to fish with a MacDaddy lure or fly, there is a possibility that a large fish will get so excited that it won’t give it back, and you may lose it. Unfortunately, we can accept no responsibility for your loss. But, you will love the fish story you have to tell your friends!”

For those of you on a budget, you can choose a spoon between $40 and $10,000. If you actually have any warped interest in buying one of these things, don’t come back to my blog ... ever.

Shimano Fish Scale Does Not Lie

While one of my buddies was picking through the mounds of miscellaneous stuff around my office, he picked up a Shimano 20-pound aluminum scale and asked, “Is this thing really accurate?” 

I had no idea, so we grabbed another item that was lying around, a Milwaukee drill, and weighed it on my postal scale. It read 3 pounds, 15 ounces. Then we calibrated the Shimano and weighed the drill with that. The Shimano needle stopped at 4 pounds. That’s pretty darn close. Impressive. $18 at http://tackledirect.com/shimano-spring-scales.html

Leather Boots vs. Nylon and Cordura: What’s Best for Boots?

I’ll admit that I have several boot prejudices. First, I prefer leather boots over Cordura, or even Cordura-leather mixes. Just think about how long your last pair of Cordura boots lasted. I’ll bet that if you wore them more than 100 days in the field, they started to show it.

I do enjoy the light weight of nylon, but I have found that they just will not hold up compared to bovine hide. Nylon also usually comes with some form of licensed camouflage. Camo is fine on your body, but it seems pointless to put a swatch of concealment on your feet that will probably never be seen by game, or is so small that it’s almost impossible to tell what brand it is. That little patch of green and brown also increases the retail price of your boots by about 15 to 20 percent. So if you like nylon boots for the weight, I understand. But if your intent is to camouflage your feet, I think you’re getting fleeced.

The Scott A2 Gets 4 out of 5 Stars: This Balanced Action Fly Rod Does it All

Small stream fishing is the proving ground for a balanced action rod. One of my favorites is the Scott A2 9-foot, 5-weight, 4-piece pack rod. It loads with only 15 feet of line in the air, and has that rare “perfect” feel that allows you to go from creek to river and still control a good trout without losing it on light tippet.

Appearance counts, too, and the A2’s fit and finish are downright striking. But what impressed me most was its price—$250.(http://www.worleybuggerflyco.com/flyrods/Scott_A2.html).

After using the rod for several days on the Blackfoot River and some nearby meadow streams in Montana, I found it comparable to rods in the $400 category.

 

Fly Rod Guide: Fast Action vs. Medium Action

There is a common misperception that a fast action fly rod is always more preferable than a medium, full-flex action. A fast rod does come in handy when you need to cast over 40 feet of line, fight wind, or throw lead. But most anglers choose fast action because they envision themselves making perfect 90-foot pinpoint casts to the far side of the river with unparalleled grace and control. Even if you manage to pull off a cast like that, it’s unlikely that you’ll be able to control the drift and then set the hook with so much line out.

Anglers have the most trouble with fast rods on small water. The stiff action doesn’t allow the line to load the rod, and you end up pushing the cast.  The result is less accuracy, and unless you’re exceptionally skilled, much less control. On streams, presentation is paramount. You usually only get one chance before a hole is spooked.

To balance a fast rod for tight water, try moving up one or two line weights. That will slow the rod down and improve its short casting control.

I once asked a guide on the Blackfoot River the average length of casts his clients made from his boat. The answer was 20 to 30 feet. Come back on Wednesday and I’ll fill you in on a new killer medium action rod.