Fish Sniffer On Demand Digital Edition Issue 3617 August 4-18 2017 | Page 8

6 August 4 - 18, 2017 FRESHWATER VOL.36 • ISS. 17 Cal’s Hot New Gear! presents ^ Pro guides and avid anglers alike have great things to say about Yo-Zuri Super Braid. Both the 4 strand braid in lighter weights and the 8 strand braid in heavier weights is smooth, castable, fine in diameter and super strong! If you’re looking for high performance braid, Yo-Zuri Super Braid is a top choice! ^ Fluorocarbon line is a necessity in many situations in both freshwater and saltwater. When you choose fluorocarbon leader material, you want a line that offers invisibility to the fish, along with strength and abrasion resistance for when that fish of a lifetime comes knocking. If you’re serious about big fish, Yo-Zuri TopKnot may be the fluoro you’ve been looking for. ^ Grundens base layer clothing uses the latest in wicking technology to keep you warm and dry. These garmets move moisture away from the skin. In extreme environments fabrics like cotton that hold moisture can lead to hypothermia. A bonus benefit of wicking garments like Grundens base layer pants and shirts is that they resist the formation of odor causing bacteria, when your adventures keep you on the water or in the field for days at a time. ^ Here we see Cal Kellogg’s new Costa Del Mar Bloke sunglasses. These are the best on the water glasses Cal has ever used. Blokes utilize an extra large frame that gives maximum protect from the sun. The glass lenses absorb 100% of UV light and also 100% of high energy blue light. They enhance “good” blues, enhance greens, enhance reds and filter out the harsh yellow light that overwhelms your eyes and makes them tired. I Top Notch Gear… n this week’s How To column I’m going to tell you about some hot new gear, but before I unveil the toys I’m go- ing to lay out a few thoughts and facts about gear, media folks and the outdoor industry. Like most outdoor commu- nicators, I don’t pay for much of the gear I use. Most readers and viewers suspect this is the case, and I’m confirming that it is true. Yet speaking for myself, that doesn’t mean it’s a “pay to play” relationship. I won’t endorse products I don’t believe in. If I say I had a positive experience with a certain product, you can believe it. There are simply too many good products on the market for me to waste my time and yours endorsing things that don’t work or aren’t needed. Being fully transparent all the gear we are about to explore was given to me and some of the manufacturers pay for advertising in my magazine, but that’s not the reason I’m endorsing these or any products. I’ve either tried these products and have found that they work well or they are products that I’m excited about using in the future. Fluorocarbon leader material is some of the most reliable you can use. I’ve been using it for three months in heavy weights and I’ve found it to be very tough around rocks, woods and boat hauls. I requested sample spools of TopKnot in 20, 40 and 60 pound test for saltwater fishing. I’ve used the 20 for live bait fishing in the bay and it has performed flawlessly across numerous striper and halibut hookups. I got the 60 specifically for salmon trolling and lingcod fishing, but I haven’t had a chance to try either yet. From what I’ve seen so far, I give TopKnot a thumbs up. It’s tough, reliable fluorocarbon. In terms of braid, I’m using some Yo-Zuri Super Braid right now, based on the recommendation of Captain Manny at MSJ Guide Service. I’d already had my eye on Yo-Zuri braid when I noticed that Manny was using it. Manny earns his money fishing for big river fish like king salmon, stripers and sturgeon, so I knew if he recommended the line, that it was the real deal. “Super Braid is great stuff Cal,” said Manny. “It’s super smooth and very tough. I haven’t had an issue with it. I wasn’t sold on the blue color at first, but having fished it I can tell you that the fish don’t care about the color. It’s easy for me to see and it flat out performs.” I’m running both 4 strand 30 pound Super Braid and 8 strand 65 pound braid. While I’ve yet to catch anything huge on the braid, I’ve battled leopard sharks, halibut and stripers with the 30 pound and it has worked great. I’ve had zero issues with breakage and the smooth surface makes long casting easy for applications like casting to breaking stripers. FISH SNIFFER HOW – TO by Cal Kellogg Yo-Zuri Line I’ve been using various Yo-Zuri lures for a long time and I’ve always found them to be high quality in terms of finish, durability and hardware and almost every Yo-Zuri lure catches fish when used in the proper situation. In addition to lures, Yo-Zuri makes fishing line. While I’ve tried Yo-Zuri line casually a few times over the years, this summer is the first time that I’m really focused on running their lines. From what I’ve read, Yo-Zuri TopKnot CONTINUED ON PAGE 8