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Gadgets & Gizmos
by Capt. Steve Chaconas

Build a shelf and fishing manufacturers will fill them with every color shape and size imaginable. Trouble is…do they catch fish or fishermen?

Tournament anglers are always looking for a way to keep score. The convenient, accurate and easy-to-use ACCUCULL keeps them honest. Whether a competitor or just competitive, keeping score while fishing can be fun. Weighing precisely to 1/100th of a pound, measuring tape and scorecard with color-coded tags immediately tell the tale of the tape at a glance without batteries or pen and paper! Accu-cull can be mounted on the livewell lid or anywhere. When ounces count in the heat of competition, non-tangle, color-coded tags make this a mistake-proof tagging system. The Accu-cull set consists of digital scale, weight register and color coded tags. Accucull.com

Rapidly becoming the first choice for anyone spending time in the outdoors, from base layer to primary heat of the day cover-up; Sage’s Keys Crew is a high tech long sleeve tee. Loaded with sci-fi features, disguised as a stylish, comfortable and naturally venting shirt for boating, fishing or golfing, the Keys Crew protects against odor, the sun’s harmful rays (UPF 30+) and is fast-wicking 100% polyester. Streamlined fit of pre-shaped sleeves reduces wind resistance and casting fatigue. For added sun protection, cuffs extend over hands with a thumb loop to keep it in place! Available in Fog Bank, Offshore Blue and Equator. sageflyfish.com

Fishing mainstay, Wrangler Angler Shorts are equipped for taking whatever fish and fishing can dish out! Ripstop fabric makes them tough! Side elastic waistband makes them comfortable. Features keep these shorts walking tall! Roomy side tool pockets, secure closures on back pockets, solid brass zipper, and kill switch loop doubling as a hanger for line clippers…don’t leave these pants short! Angler Short’s 9.5 inch inseam and 100% cotton light weight ripstop in a double pleated front panel, combine Wrangler toughness with Wrangler style! Wranglerangler.com

Looking for comfort and fashion, Redington’s Copper River pant is an all-occasion winner with a leg up on other outdoors clothing. Functional on the water and fashionable as casual wear, these pants feature zippered back pockets keeping things in place and mesh style front pockets allow drainage. They’re tough with durable 100% Ripstop Nylon fabric as the backbone of this fast-wicking and quick-drying pant. Smart-looking and intelligent, fabric treatments make it antibacterial and anti-pilling, including UPF 30+ sun protection. Redington tops off Copper River with a DWR (durable, water-resistant) finish. The waist button is riveted metal and comes with side waist buttons to snug up a bit. Redington.com

When venturing into the outdoors, many guys carry everything except the kitchen sink. To secure outdoors camping, boating and fishing gear, the Perfect Bungee Flex Web from Just Ducky Products has several applications. Loop ends, Fixed Ends, Tie Downs, linked with super-strong polyurethane construction with nylon ends, won’t stretch or gouge. The Perfect Bungee safely extends up to twice its original length, comes back to its original form and is guaranteed for life. Available in a variety of lengths and colors, outdoors stuff will be safely strapped for the trip to favorite outdoors destinations. The FLEX WEB allows the Perfect Bungee to be attached with a small circular hub to create a “web” to hold anything in place on a boat, truck or off road ATV! Available at nationwide retailers including Cabela’s, Bass Pro, West Marine, and justduckyproducts.com.

For nighttime activities, lights show the way, but allow bugs to locate human targets. Rugged outdoor ThermaCELL lantern, weighing less than a pound, is 98% effective in repelling mosquitoes while providing ambient light with eight LEDs. No more swatting, lotions or sprays, or expensive bug tents. No open flames! The ThermaCELL Outdoor Lantern provides 4.5 meters of protection with a reproduction of the natural insecticide in chrysanthemum flowers. The easy-grip handle is finger friendly and is easy to carry or hang. Comes with one butane cartridge, three repellent mats. Suggested retail price $29.99 at retailers such as Wal-Mart. Refills sold separately. Pick up four AA batteries, NOT “included”. Hand-held device available for campers, fisherman, and golfers. www.thermacell.com.

Pick up a pair of flip flops (just in time for the political season) from TEVA. Don’t call them thongs or it might be embarrassing. The sandal maker has a variety of the popular footwear in many styles and fashions. Teva.com

But, as you pull out the plastic to pay for your new stuff, remember, three axioms that come to mind…fishing lures don’t catch fish…fishermen catch fish…fishing lures catch fishermen. With every new season, comes a new “gadget or gizmo” and an angler eager to own one. As my wife says, “fish until you drop!”

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