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What are the benefits of your soap vs Organic Coffee soap?

Did you know that the soap you may be using in the shower is harmful? Harmful ingredients like alcohol, AHA’s, aluminum, animal fats, collagen, DEA, dioxin and fluorocarbons are just a few of the things that make up the soap you use everyday. Make sure your soap is made with healthy organic coffee and other natural ingredients.

Is Coffee Soap Good For You?

It is said that the caffeinated soaps are absorbs through your skin during your morning shower. Therefore, I would recommend Organic Soap. One of the benefits is reducing the risk of skin cancer. A study done on groups of hairless mice shows that, after severe exposure to ultraviolet radiation for twenty days, the mice that had caffeine applied to their bodies had less than half the number of tumors on the skin, as opposed to the mice that didn’t get caffeine doses. The study showed that caffeine actually killed the abnormal cells that can cause skin cancer.

What else should you know about this soap?

Keep a bar close to your kitchen sink. It will remove odors from your hands. Onions, garlic and even the heat from hot peppers or even fish smells will be removed from your hands. If you don’t have coffee soap around use some of the grounds from your morning coffee pot. The soap will help the smells of your garbage disposal disappear as well.

Can Coffee Soap Help with Cellulite?

Caffeine is present in almost all types of diet supplements and cellulite reducing products on the market. The caffeine helps blood flow to the skin and acts like a diuretic. Coffee soap should contain coffee grounds which helps exfoliating and the massaging process. By massaging and rubbing the needed areas this help breaks up the fat cells and decreases the lumps and bumps ever faster.

What else can this soap do?

Using the soap on your face can help get rid of small lines and wrinkles and also if you have rosacea, it helps by constricting the blood vessels thus keeping the flush of the cheeks at ease. If you don’t have some coffee soap on hand you can use your morning coffee grinds. However the soap seems to work much better and helps add moisture to the skin with the Natural Glycerin and Organic Goats Milk, and fresh roasted organic coffee beans.

It all started way back with this guy named Cousin George. For those of you who don’t know him, he had an urban fishing show in the late 80′s and early 90′s and was on the local channel Rogers 10.

Cousin George was the people’s choice kind of guy and was like an underdog who didn’t have all the fancy boats and gear but caught giant fish regardless. Coming from a similar urban background and not having much growing up, Cousin George was hero for us urban youth that loved to fish. I was about 9 or 10 years old when I first saw this guy on TV pulling out a giant pike from the Centre Island Bridge! I was so amazed and couldn’t believe my eyes! He had no boat and had drawn crowds around him. The crowds of people were just as amazed as I was. It was this actual episode that put me on my quest for giant urban pike!

I started out from the same spot Cousin George was fishing. The Centre Island Bridge was my starting point and made my way from there. It seemed as if the more water I fished, the more I seemed to find pike. I quickly realized that almost any castable shoreline in Toronto had pike potential!

When looking for pike in Toronto it pays to be very open minded about the different types of areas that pike can be found in. I have caught them in so many different scenarios in Toronto. For example I have caught pike in flat structureless basins along harbourfront, off of rocky piers in 30 feet of water in Humber Bay Park, in canals along the Island, in the Swan Pond on the Island, underneath Captain Johns Seafood restaurant/boat, off of Leslie Street Spit on deep weed lines, on humps in the main harbour, off of docks in almost every marina in Toronto and where ever else you can possibly imagine!

For this article I will focus on spring. The shallower calm areas tend to be better in the spring. The giant pike seek the calm shallow water where the light can penetrate easily. Basins, man made inlets and canals are great places to start this time of year.

The warmth from the sun actually works as a metabolism booster and can wake these giant sleepers. But sometimes these spring pike can be very frustrating. In the past, on many occasions I would be able to see these giants but had difficulty making these fish commit to a bait. I used to pitch spoons and spinnerbaits at them and most of the time the bait would whiz right past these sluggish giants without even an inch of movement. I cast everything at them until finally I tripped over the bait that would wake these sleeping logs and transform them into violent killers. The bait that has produced time and time again in the spring is a 3/8oz. black bucktail jig tipped with a six inch black and blue lizard. The key when working these baits is to let your bait settle to the bottom! Once settled, it is key to reel around three really fast turns of the reel and then stop it dead and after stopping it give a three stiff pops and continue this pattern. The fish can’t resist this thing kicking up the mud and disturbing the peace. It drives them nuts! The fish will usually smash it when you kill the bait after the speedy turns of the reel or in between the pops of the rod. This works excellent when sight fishing for them or when just randomly casting. If you can see them, try to angle yourself so that the tail of the fish is closest to you and the head is away from you. Cast past the fish and pop the bait over its head, they really love the bait from this angle for some reason. Another trick that I learned was shown to me by Paul Castellano from castadventures.ca. When you see a fish laying like a log on the bottom, cast a jerkbait with a leader (so that it sinks the bait and doesn’t get bit off) and cover it in scent (Bang, Megastrike etc). Then place it in front of one of these fish a few inches from their face and let it sit there for as long as it takes. I didn’t believe it when he told me but seeing is believing, the fish all of sudden wakes up and smashes the motionless bait off the bottom, its so amazing!

As for equipment, I like a 6′6″ medium/heavy spinning rod with 10lbs test fluorocarbon and a high speed spinning reel when fishing with the bucktail and lizard. With a spinning reel I can really crank the handle fast which helps make this burn and pause type presentation irresistible. Any 6″black and blue lizard will do and any 3/8oz. black bucktail will do. As for the jerkbait presentation, the same outfit spinning presentation will do fine but if you want to go heavier I suggest a 6′6″ medium/heavy rod with any baitcast reel with 17lb test. The lure that has been really hammering these fish is the Luckycraft 127mr in the American Shad colour. The detailed scale pattern and natural finish make it so deadly when it is sitting still on the bottom. 5″ Rapala Husky Jerks and Smithwick Rogues work too but this Luckycraft has been a special bait when it comes to this presentation.

Try these few things in a ‘hood (lol) near you and you may be very surprised what you can pull out of the downtown waters. As for the other three seasons that I forgot to talk about, well that’s another story…
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They say Rondeau Bay is Ontario’s best kept secret and I couldn’t agree more! It is an angler’s paradise! Situated on Lake Erie’s North shore between Leamington and Port Glasgow, Ontario, both off shore and in shore fishing are at their best there. Walleye, Rainbow Trout and good sizes of Smallmouth Bass can be had by via Erieau to the main Lake. The sheltered Rondeau Bay gives us approximately eleven square miles of weeded paradise, which is perfect Largemouth Bass territory. The depth ranges from three to eight feet on average making Bass and pan fish fishing excellent in the bay!

My focus that particular weekend was on the Largemouth Bass. I was amazed at the weed growth in Rondeau Bay. Seriously, everywhere I looked there were pockets upon pockets of Largemouth potential. Clear water was apparent, for the most part, so certain tactics were essential to be successful as I found out. Don’t forget your fluorocarbon line! Murky areas were evident too, but still produced for me with normal close proximity pitching.

Certain bodies of water change over the course of a season and some more than others. Rondeau Bay, I think, would change frequently because of winds. There is a section at the North central area that is littered with surface matted weeds. Wind might change its shape here and there, but I am willing to bet it is there to stay. This particular weed matted paradise makes it excellent for top water baits. Frogs, rats, buzz baits, you name it and I know Largemouth could be had in this area. Let me tell you, it was painful to watch all the surface activity knowing my top water baits were sitting on my desk in my office at home! As a matter of fact, buzz baits are a favourite of the local anglers. My family parked our motor home at the Summer Place Marina and Campground situated on Rondeau Bay’s east shoreline. We quickly noticed that come evening; everyone was casting buzz baits and spinner baits until dark. Many were successful and took pride in releasing the Bass to fight another day. It was good to see anglers who care enough to release what they catch.

During my family’s short stay my son Lorenzo and I were able to get out and sample the great Bass fishing. Wind was a factor for us because this bay is definitely a sight fishing bay. Strong winds hindered our visibility greatly at times. When good deep weed edges were located, marking them on the G.P.S helped in keeping us close to them. Thank heavens for the G.P.S because from re-rigging alone the wind would send us off target and many times, way off target!

Dunking pockets with a Lightning Series 9\16 oz. jig with a Yum Craw Chunk trailer produced a good 5lb Largemouth right off the bat. I put it in the live well for pictures back at the motor home which was conveniently located on the shore of a lagoon at the camp. Needless to say, the Bass was released alive and well back where it was caught. I know it sounds crazy, but whenever I catch a good size Bass, and forget my camera, I will take pictures at the cottage or camp and travel back to the exact spot where I caught it and release the Bass in its original setting. I think it’s important because the Bass doesn’t get disoriented and is calm because it knows its surrounding.

Weeds in Rondeau’s gin clear water were fished with Senkos rigged Wacky and Texas. My son fished the Texas and I fished the Wacky. Distance was key here and Spider Wires Invisi-Braid helped in the clear conditions. We were both successful many times over producing Largemouth from 2 to 3lbs consistently until wind, once again, made it difficult to stay on specific structure.

This Rondeau Bay outing was challenging with cold fronts, wind and 63 to 65 degree F. water temperatures. That is cool water for Largemouth Bass, so slowing down our presentation helped immensely. We still managed to have success and couldn’t help but wonder what would have been the outcome if temperature and conditions were perfect! There was so much Bass cover, but we were looking for distinction in the weeds and that took time to find. When the right cover was found we were rewarded for our efforts. Weed line edges were key!

Largemouth, Smallmouth, Walleye, pan fish, what else can an angler ask for in a body of water with easy access. The best part about it is that they can all be caught in good sizes too!

Our weekend stay at the Summer Place Marina and Campground was peaceful and tranquil. The people were remarkably helpful in making our Rondeau Bay visit a memorable one. The fish were abundant and so was the hospitality. Make Rondeau Bay your next angling destination and you will leave smiling after you too have discovered Ontario’s best kept secret!

If you’re anything like me, then there’s nothing you enjoy more than packing up your fly fishing tackle and heading for a pristine stream to try your luck against the wily trout or salmon. To ensure you have the best chance for success, it’s wise to include an extra reel or two, so you can quickly adapt to changing conditions. The spare reel you choose should be as versatile as possible, and if you’re wondering what I use, read on to learn about the Shimano CAE100 baitcaster reel.

Fly Fishing Tackle: Key Features of the Shimano Caenan CAE100 Baitcaster Reel

Straight out of Shimano’s 2011 fishing tackle catalogue, the Caenan CAE100 reel has all the features we’ve come to expect from this industry-leading company. This an all-new design for Shimano, with a super fast 6.5:1 retrieve ratio, and a 6+1 ball bearing drive. You should know that this reel has a right hand retrieve. The Lo-Mass spool system is aluminium, and 6 shielded stainless steel ball bearings. Another feature I’m partial to is the VBS variable brake system that includes a reduced mass hub. There’s also a Super Stopper and an Assist Stopper. The high density EVA power grips ensure good control during the fight. All in all, this is an excellent piece of flyfishing tackle.

Fly Fishing Tackle: More About the Caenan CAE100 Baitcaster

The impressive list of the CAE100′s features continues with the disengaging level wind system, and the Quickfire II clutch bar. It also has a 1/8 turn easy access attached side plate. When you’re standing hip-deep in a fast flowing stream, you need your fly fishing gear to perform flawlessly, and the CAE100 never disappoints. From the drilled handle shank to the strong ceramic line guide, this is a reel that’s sure to become a favourite in short order. The reel foot is recessed, and the cast control knob is made from a durable metal alloy. The CAE100 is rated for use with monofilament, braided, and fluorocarbon line. It’s also approved for use in saltwater environments. The reel weighs about 200 grams, and will hold 180yd of 8lb test line, 155yd of 10lb test, and 110yd of 14lb test.

Fly Fishing Tackle: Final Thoughts on the Shimano Caenan CAE100 Baitcaster Reel

All the features of the Caenan CAE100 reel converge to allow it to be used to stalk a good variety of fish species, and also with many types of lures, including worms, jigs, spinnerbaits, and crankbaits. Another key feature is the 6 shielded stainless steel ball bearings. I also noticed that Shimano’s Lo-Mass spool delivers easy start up inertia, even with super lightweight baits and lures. The reel weighs about 200 grams, so it’s comfortable for extended duration fishing sessions. This is a good-looking and highly functional piece of tackle that I’m certain will give me years of trouble-free service.

I’m pleased to recommend the Shimano Caenan CAE100 baitcaster reel as a superior piece of fly fishing tackle.

There are many things to look for in a fly fishing tackle shop including fast turnaround times and of course bargain offers. And, what’s more, the fly fishing tackle shop must also have the best selection. If you plan on visiting an online store then check out Carlsons that though it is a British shop it can nevertheless still provide you with some very interesting online deals.

The selection at this fly fishing tackle store is truly extensive and you can find every last item you can think of. From the fly tying as well Bivvies to different trout fishing flies this is one shop that has it all. Here, you can also shop for trout flies handheld, rods and reels and a wide assortment of accessories including fly lines and boxes as well as game bags and more.

As for rods you can shop at this shop for Grey rods, Reddington and Vision rods as too Sea rods and the entire range of specialist fly fishing rods. In addition, this store provides you with a wide variety of options in regard to reels that are sometimes made from aluminum or which can also be made from reinforced nylon. The list of accessories available at Carlsons is also exhaustive and hugely impressive.

From sinkants and floatants and conditioner to strike indicators to leader, loops, backing and even fluorocarbon there is plenty to choose from. You can even shop for precision molded fly boxes and the Richard Wheatley Fly box is also readily available here.

A rod case is an essential item of gear and this too can be purchased here. For fewer than twenty dollars you can certainly find a good quality rod case that will help protect your rod and also help you to carry other essential items of tackle in a secure and safe manner.

The right saltwater fly fishing tackle is vital to the success of your endeavors. This means that you have to be well informed about what kind of tackle you should be using because the wrong tackle could mean that you might end up spending all your time with the line in the water but at the end of day you will come up empty-handed. So, learn about things such as the weight of the line, the size and strength of the rod and learn about the right fly fishing reel as well and only then head for the ocean.

Here is a wet fly-fishing tip that many fly fishermen overlook when nymph fishing lakes and deep pools of rivers and streams using a sinking tip fly line or a sinking fly line. In this example we are fishing a #6 black bunny leech. Because of the way it is tied, like most good wet flies these days, it requires a precise stop and start action to really be effective. The fly must stripped and paused, or what I call the “stop and go” method of nymph fly fishing. For example, cast out your fly and line, and use the fly line sink rate and the count down method (1001,1002…etc) to let the fly sink into the strike zone. Then make one pull in (or strip in) and stop. This allows the material on the fly to open while the fly sinks for two or three seconds then strip again closing the fly, pause, and strip again. This will cause the fly to rise, fall, open, close, rise, fall, and look alive as you strip in the fly line. To really get the proper action from the bunny leech or any wet fly, you must point the rod and rod tip right at the fly line where it goes into the water while you are stripping in the fly line, otherwise, you don’t get the desired stop and start action. Visualize this, if your fly rod is parallel to the water during the strip, the rod will flex down, and during the pause the rod will flex back up, resulting in the fly just moving along at a study pace without any stop or start action. Again, point the rod down and right at the fly line where it goes into the water.

When using larger wet fly or nymph patterns, make longer strips with a longer pause, and when using small fly patterns, try to make a short strip in and a short pause between strips. Try different combinations of strips and pauses until you find a combination that works for the fish and water conditions that are present where you are fishing. Remember that the strip and pause must represent the type of fly that you are using. For example a sculpin fly will require a longer, quick start and longer pause, than a small nymph that slowly travels only a few inches at a time. This method of wet fly fishing works with the muddler minnow, wooly buggers, leeches, streamers and all types of large and small nymphs.

This method of nymph and wet fly fishing will produce violent strikes, and works on all game fish so be prepared to “up size” your tippet leader material. Refer to my web site for the fly fishing tip: “Fluorocarbon leader and the fly fishing knots to make it work”

Good luck, good fishing and please take care of our wonderful lands.

Cold fronts disappearing, green grass returning, flowers blooming, and groundhogs dodging their own shadow are all sure signs that Spring is near! Warm days, cool nights, maybe even a St. Patrick’s Day pinch or rumors of chocolate bunnies. These bring back so many memories of childhood, growing up in a rural farming community in north-central Florida.

There was one more sign that would mark the start of a new season without a doubt. Trucks, pulling boats, lined up at the boat ramp on the east shore of Lake George FL at the butt-crack of dawn, beginning the first of many quests of the year for that trophy largemouth Bass. Highly elusive and instinctual, it’s by far the most coveted freshwater fish that has ever graced the “trophy wall” of any angler.

Bass fishing in this area my whole life, I was fortunate enough (because of favorable climate conditions) to fish for this species all year long. Notably, the action would significantly increase as the water temperature made it’s turn upward. Along with that change in water temperature came an increase in vegetation, the start of the bedding season, and rightfully so, an increase in fishing pressure.

The southwestern shore of the lake would always experience the rise in water temperature first. This was due to extended exposure to the sun. As the sun rises in the east and sets in the west, this area of the lake remained exposed from sunrise through the hottest parts of the day. Lake George is also 9 miles wide at it’s narrowest point, separating Marion and Volusia Counties. Lakes of smaller volume will have the same result, but in larger bodies of water the change will be more drastic and remain that way for an extended period of time.

It was on this southwestern shore that bass would begin preparing “beds” for laying their eggs. Now, by beds I mean a small pocket in the sandy bottom usually located in less than 3 feet of water. The female and male bass will take turns fanning with their tails to create this shallow indention in the lake bottom. After both prepare the bed it is now left to the female to maintain it and ultimately lay her eggs in it. There will only be one “sow” bass and up to 4 or 5 “buck” bass occupying one particular bed. Of course the males compete for fertilizing rights, as the female stays close to protect her prize nest.

“Okay. Enough with the biology lesson,” you say? Well, to understand this fish you must know why it does what it does. You find this out and “where” this fish are at this time of year becomes pretty easy to determine. Even then, only certain presentations and bait will be the most effective in landing one of these fish. Now, on to locating these critters!

I recommend scouting an area like this thoroughly before you plan your “fishing trip.” A smaller, light vessel makes it much easier to navigate the shallows. I recommend a flat-bottom aluminum boat, Carolina Skiff, or skip jack. One with a poling/spotting platform is also quite handy. Poling around the shallows will take a while but it ensures that you don’t spook fish and possibly ruin their bedding areas. If in grassy, highly vegetated areas, or covered in lily pads, look for wide, open pockets within these areas. Then keep an eye out for 2-3 feet circles of white sand with a pocket in the middle of it. A good pair of polarized sunglasses does the trick for sighting these areas through the glare of the water’s surface. Active beds can be identified by their freshly “fanned” appearance and when approached stealthily, you can usually see the female bass on the bed. Pay attention to this as it is important to only fish active beds. Fish that are spooked off the bed will return later when the threat decreases. After finding active beds mark them with a small buoy about 6 feet away from the bed so you don’t disturb it. This will make it easier to find these areas when you come back with your rod and reel!

Now let’s talk about bait and tackle for these fish. There are hundreds of artificials, live baits, and other tackle that frequent a bass anglers tackle box. The first instinct of the traditional bass angler is to tie on a rubber worm and dance it in front of the big-mouthed monster! When in fact, the last thing on the female bass’ mind is feeding. She is protecting her eggs from the dangers of underwater life. The most effective bait to catch her is known as the bullhead minnow, or pimephales vigilax. The bullhead is a natural enemy of the Largemouth Bass. It’s primary food source is fish eggs. They absolutely love the bass beds and in turn, the bass utterly despise the bullhead! It’s the perfect bait for the job!

Remember earlier when I spoke of the “sow” and “buck” bass? Well, time for one more biology lesson! The female will be bigger than the male bass 90% of the time. She will also be the most lethargic. As mentioned before, her feeding has slowed greatly and her energy has been conserved for breeding purposes. The male bass on the other hand, are quite frisky, a traditional Spring characteristic! They are usually the first fish caught off the bed and the strike will be violent and explosive! They usually range in size from 2-6 lbs. The female is the one with the girth and weight that would look awesome above your mantle! Be patient and never leave the bed until you have caught at least two fish.

A medium action rod no shorter than 6 feet in length, a spinning or bait-casting reel equipped with 14lb test (min.) fluorocarbon low visibility line is optimal for best performance. The bullhead minnow should be rigged free line, on a 1/0 live bait hook, hooked under the dorsal fin. Make sure not to handle the bait in excess as this shortens the life span thus decreasing activity. You’ll want to present the bait with a fragile, low splash cast directly behind the bed and reel up until you feel it drop into the pocket. Now wait…sometimes it takes a long time. The cast, your approach, or boat noise might have spooked the fish and you’ll have to give them time to come back. As said before, the male will usually hit first like he’s on a mission! The female bass, not into feeding at this point, approaches from a different angle. She will pick the bait up with her mouth, crush it to kill it, swim off the bed and drop it. This process takes just a few seconds and is very easily missed. The trick is to keep just a little slack in your line and watch your line closely. You don’t want to rush your hook-set, but when you see the line move, count to three, lay into her, and hold on for the ride!

These methods have been used by bass guides for more than 30 years and have proven themselves as a high-return freshwater fishing tactic. Remember that the bass guides themselves have devoted long hours in perfecting their own means within this method and it comes with large amounts of field research and determination. There are people who pay big money to have someone hook up a bullhead minnow and set them up on big bass hot-spot. So to all of you bass guides, I’m sorry! The cat’s out of the bag! Now to you readers, get out there and catch the bass of a lifetime! To you dads out there, take your kid fishing. All of my experience can attributed to my father, who knew the importance of taking his son fishing. Some of the best moments in my life were spent with worm guts on my fingers, and laughing with my dad and uncles as we pulled in the fish.

I hope that this was helpful to all of you fishermen and I hope to see you out on the water! Keep fishing!

“Give a boy a fish, you feed him for a day. Teach a boy to fish, you feed him for a lifetime.”

1. Keep Your Engine Looking New

You should see the stares I get when I pull out of the water. Oh no, it’s not the engine or the boat that people stare at, it’s me wiping down the engine.

By doing this to your engine with a dry cloth while it’s still wet you can eliminate embarrassing exhaust and water marks before they dry up and become hard to remove. Not only does it save you time cleaning it at home with chemicals, which could harm your engines outer shell, it also helps keep it looking brand new.

Whether you have a small, medium, large or a high performance engine on your boat why not keep it looking new!

2. Prevent Rust

Tackle now a days doesn’t come cheap so why let rust ruin your investment. The trick to stopping rust from forming is letting the lure or hook dry on its own before storing it back into its rightful place. Rust spreads from one hook to the other if stored damp and when its time for your next outing, well you know!

When changing up tackle I keep a dry little plastic container in my tackle storage compartment in the boat. I drop the tackle in the container so that it has plenty of time to dry. At the end of the day I sort through them all making sure that they are all dry before putting them back in their rightful place.

It may sound tedious to some, but when you consider a good quality hook costs a dollar and up then why would you put damp tackle in with the dry tackle letting rust spread like the plague!

3. Catch More Than One Bass

When you notice a Bass quickly swimming off with your bait chances are there is more than one! I strongly believe that when competing for food Bass will take the bait and swim away with it in one quick motion when schooled together! Keep working the same area….what can it hurt! I have been rewarded time and time again!

4. Go Deep During Cold Fronts

During Tournaments I have been confronted many times by cold fronts and believe you me it can be frustrating! One thing that I have learned through the years is that when cold fronts come in I go deep!

The reason we do better in deeper water during cold fronts, in my opinion, is that the Bass down deep aren’t as susceptible to the sudden climate change as the shallow Bass are. The only thing dictating what depth to fish is the wind. When a strong wind is a part of the front then I go even deeper simply because deeper water will ‘turn’ later than shallow water.

We don’t have a crystal ball to see the Bass fishing future, but at the very least we can try something that has worked in past outings!

5. Clear Water Blues

Clear water calls for different; well you might say unorthodox methods of catching weary Bass. Hey, if you can see them in the clear water amongst the weeds then they can surely see you!

Now remember, you see them so, the good thing is you know darn well they are there! So what I do is cast or flip my bait, combined with a fluorocarbon leader, a good far distance from the boat and let it hit the water with the loudest splash I can muster. Stealth, in this case, is irrelevant. Think about it…if the Bass are in there and not spooked by natural noises such as Cray fish, wounded bait fish, dropped minnows from fighting gulls or just a frog, they will come and see what made the ruckus. Better yet, if the bait just happens to land in the Bass’s line of view, it will smack it thinking that it’s just Mother Nature in the vicinity and not a Bass Boat!

Impressions

The team at SOG did right with the Trident TF-1 TiNi. Though it looks like an ordinary knife, this folding knife is quite impressive. SOG includes features that outdoorsmen, especially anglers, will surely find handy such as the TiNi coated blade, SOG Assisted Technology (S.A.T.), and the noticeable and unique Groove. The Trident weighs in very nicely and has a good size handle for both small and large hands. In addition the knife has a locking feature that keeps the blade from accidentally coming open, and another mechanism to keep the sharp blade from closing when flipped open for use.

Groove: This innovative feature is what sets the Trident apart from others. The patent pending Groove system is built into the handle and makes use of the closed blade and a slot in the handle, cutting just about any type of line such parachute cord, rope, and fishing line including braided and super lines.

The Groove was first developed after Navy SEALs thought open blades were too dangerous around fragile equipment and other fellow members. After puncturing a military inflatable boat and damaging other equipment when cutting ropes with an open blade, SOG then designed this effective safe system. Now the Groove sheath is not only used on the Trident but many other SOG knives as well.

S.A.T: SOG Assisted Technology (S.A.T.) was designed to help one open the knife easily and quickly, no matter if the person uses his/her right or left hand. The patented mechanism works with a constant force that opens the blade and a variable force that wants to close it. That means when someone opens the Trident the force to open is greater than closing which will spring open the knife virtually on its own.

Field Tests:

I once read a survey somewhere about what one thing you would like to have with you if you’re stranded in the wilderness, and someone answered a durable pocket knife because it’s a tool they can rely on to cut, scrap, dig, and many more things that pertains to one’s survival. Though I hope I would never end up in a situation like that, I have to agree with that statement. A knife is important, and even more important is a knife that’s high performing and extremely reliable. We tested the SOG Trident while fishing and camping at Acadia National Park, on local lakes, and on the Pacific Ocean while targeting salmon, albacore tuna, and rockfish.

The Blade: Aside from useful features the blade is what makes or breaks a knife. Without a quality blade any knife would be a useless tool. The Trident folding knife has an outstanding blade thats ground out of high-grade AUS8 stainless steel flat stock. We used the Trident on the water, fresh and salt, and while camping carving marshmallow sticks, gutting fish, and cutting other miscellaneous items, the blade never gave in and is sharp cutting without difficulty. The Trident blade remained solid and sound throughout our tests and never failed on us once. The stainless steel blade on the Trident model is all the same but the TF-1 test unit has a black Titanium Nickel coating on it. There is a slight downside to a coating because over time its sure to become scratched even though TiNi is a very tough material. Even if the coating can be damaged after prolong use and abuse, this is the model that anglers should use because the TiNi coating not only adds surface hardness but also increases the blades resistance to corrosion.

Ergonomics:

The Trident folding knife holds nicely in your hands. The glass-reinforced Zytel handle is long enough for both large and small hands, and patterned with non-slip for a sure grip. In addition SOG molded the handle with proper curves and positioned the ridges on the handle and on top of the blade for a better hold, even when your hands are slimed by the fish.

Application:

To an angler a pocket knife is very important and can serve many purposes. One very obvious application is cutting fishing line. The blade is sharp and will cut fishing line in an instant. We tried cutting both slick lines such as mono and fluorocarbon and also braided line. With the blade flipped in the open position it easily sliced the braided line with either the serrated or fine edge section of the SOG Trident blade. With monofilament fishing line the blade doesn’t grab onto the line like it did with braided, so in order to quickly cut slippery line you must fold the line over the blade or carefully apply a quick slash – this goes for all knives. The Groove system does the same thing but allows you to cut with the knife in the closed and locked position. We found the Groove very handy and we were able to apply this feature on cutting line in a hurry, and without the fear of stabbing fellow anglers or damaging other nearby equipment. Aside from cutting fishing line with the Groove, anglers can use the SOG Trident to cut rope. In an emergency you will want a blade with a sharp edge that can quickly get you away from danger such as rope wrapped around the prop and youre about to be washed ashore or even rope wrapped around a fellow angler. Opened, the SOG Trident cuts rope very well above and underwater as we tried both of these scenarios. The Groove system can be applied to cutting only those items that can fit in the slot, so most rope is out of the question and best cut with the Trident in an open position.

Conclusion:

Having the right blade can mean life or death for some, especially to an outdoorsman whom relies on a knife thats used for survival purposes. A quality blade, solid construction, and useful features are key specifications one should consider when buying a pocket knife. The SOG Trident TF-1 has these characteristics and more. It is truly a high performing folding knife that one can trust to have at hand. The Trident has effective features like the Groove system allowing anglers to cut fishing line without opening the blade and the SOG Assisted Technology (S.A.T.) that swiftly opens the blade no matter which hand you use. The blade is ground out of a tough stainless steel and the TF-1 model is even more durable with its Titanium Nickel coating. The SOG Trident is a blade that inspires confidence to help you get the job done right.

If you want to know how to fish for trout or you have a basic understanding of trout fishing and are looking for some tips to experience more success, this article is for you. In it I will draw upon my two decades of experience fishing for trout to outline a few tips that will help anyone achieve more success when engaging in the wonderful activity known as trout fishing.

If you want to know how to fish for trout the first thing that you need to be aware of is that the size of the rod, reel, and fishing line that your reel is spooled with is of the utmost importance. This means that you want to use an ultralight rod and reel. Ultralight rods and reels are designed specially for using light fishing line and small baits, which is the next aspect of learning how to fish for trout. For a majority of trout fishing scenarios you want to use fishing line that is no heavier than six pound test. Some people prefer monofilament, some fluorocarbon, but the point is that when fishing for trout your fishing line needs to be as light as possible.

Next, we want to discuss the size of your hooks and/or lures. These need to be as small as possible. Lures should be in the 3/16 to1/2 ounce range and hooks should always be small. For treble hooks size #12 or even #18 are perfect and for single shank or gang hooks size #8, #10 or even #12 are in order. The bottom line is that small hooks are much less visible to the trout that you are attempting to catch and thus work much better.

Finally you need to be mindful of when you head out to fish for trout. What do I mean by being mindful of when you are fishing? I simply mean that when you fish is as important as the type of bait or lure that you use when it comes for fishing for trout. If you want to knowin any kind of an efficient and effective manner you need to learn the simple rules that pertain to the weather and moon and they ways in which the weather and moon impact fish behavior. By leaning about the weather and moon and planning your trout fishing trips accordingly, you will be amazed at how many more trout you will catch.

The bottom line is that the aforementioned tips and tricks will help virtually anyone achieve more trout fishing success. Add them to your repertoire sooner, rather than later and find out for your self just how effective these tips are.