Penn Battle II Spinning Fishing Reel – Don’t Leave Port Without It!

Today I’m doing a review on the popular Penn Battle II spinning fishing reel. This reel is loaded with new updated features that make it one of the best saltwater reels around.

The battle II comes in eight different sized models they are 1000, 2000, 2500, 3000, 4000, 5000, 6000 and 8000.

This reel works wonders for catching those elusive saltwater gamefish with its durability and high range spinning capabilities. Nothing beats Penn with its durability and speed. To start off I will list some of the pros and cons of this spinning reel.

Pros

• Five Sealed Stainless Ball Bearings
• Instant Anti-Reverse Bearings
• Durable
• Super-line Spooling
• No Backing Needed
• Eight Versions
• Line Capacity Rings
• HT-100 Carbon Fiber Drag Washers
• The body is All Metal
• Heavy-duty Aluminum Bail Wire

Cons

• Heavier Than The Original
• Over Greased

This reel also won best saltwater reel at iCast in 2014. If that doesn’t tell you it’s a saltwater reel sensation I don’t know what will! OK, I explained some of the pros and cons of the Penn Battle II spinning fishing reel now let’s get into the nitty-gritty of the details.

There Are Eight Models of The Penn Battle II to Choose From!

The Penn Battle II has eight different models to choose from they are 1000 to 8000. All 8 models come in the same colors Black/Gold/Smoke. The Specifications and Prices for each model size are as follows:

• Mono Capacity YD/LB = 275/2 135/4 105/6
• Braid Capacity YD/LB = 160/6 130/8 110/10
• Number Of Bearings = 6
• Maximum Drag = 9 lbs
• Gear Ratio = 5.2:1
• Retrieve Rate = 22″
• Weight = 8.1 lbs

Penn Battle II 1000 - $76.90

Model Size 2000

• Mono Capacity YD/LB = 240/4 180/6 125/8
• Braid Capacity YD/LB = 210/8 180/10 165/15
• Number Of Bearings = 6
• Maximum Drag = 10 lbs
• Gear Ratio = 6.2:1
• Retrieve Rate = 30″
• Weight = 9.8 lbs

Penn Battle II 2000 - $72.90

Model Size 2500

• Mono Capacity YD/LB = 255/6 175/8 140/10
• Braid Capacity YD/LB = 240/10 220/15 160/20
• Number Of Bearings = 6
• Maximum Drag = 12 lbs
• Gear Ratio = 6.2:1
• Retrieve Rate = 33″
• Weight = 10.3 lbs

Penn Battle II 2500 - $74.33

Model Size 3000

• Mono Capacity YD/LB = 200/8 165/10 120/12
• Braid Capacity YD/LB = 250/15 180/20 130/30
• Number Of Bearings = 6
• Maximum Drag = 15 lbs
• Gear Ratio = 6.2:1
• Retrieve Rate = 35″
• Weight = 12.3″

Penn Battle II 3000 - $73.57

Model Size 4000

• Mono Capacity YD/LB = 270/8 220/10 165/12
• Braid Capacity YD/LB = 360/15 260/20 185/30
• Number Of Bearings = 6
• Maximum Drag = 15 lbs
• Gear Ratio = 6.2:1
• Retrieve Rate = 37″
• Weight = 12.8 lbs

Penn Battle II 4000 - $84.50

Model Size 5000

• Mono Capacity YD/LB = 225/12 200/15 135/20
• Braid Capacity YD/LB = 420/20 300/30 240/40
• Number Of Bearings = 6
• Maximum Drag = 25lbs
• Gear Ratio = 5.6:1
• Retrieve Rate = 36″
• Weight = 19.8 lbs

Penn Battle II 5000 - $112.22

Model Size 6000

• Mono Capacity YD/LB = 335/15 230/20 210/25
• Braid Capacity YD/LB = 490/30 390/40 335/50
• Number Of Bearings = 6
• Maximum Drag = 25 lbs
• Gear Ratio = 5.6:1
• Retrieve Rate = 41″
• Weight = 22.1 lbs

Penn Battle II 6000 - $89.90

Model Size 8000

• Mono Capacity YD/LB = 340/20 310/25 230/30
• Braid Capacity YD/LB = 475/50 390/65 345/80
• Number Of Bearings = 6
• Maximum Drag = 30 lbs
• Gear Ratio = 5.3:1
• Retrieve Rate = 44″
• Weight = 30.2 lbs

Penn Battle II 8000 - $128.71

The number of model sizes are amazing! You can get the smaller sizes for inshore saltwater fishing of fish species like the striped bass and bluefish. The smaller versions would work for freshwater fishing as well.

The bigger models like the  4000, 5000, 6000 and 8000 you would go after your bigger saltwater fish like your sailfish, swordfish and your occasional shark. Yes, I said shark I read that someone pulled in a 125-pound shark with the 6000 model with no problems! Now, that’s what I call a strong reel. With all these model’s it will be hard to decide which one to get.

To Recap

This reel has it all with its full metal body including the side-plates, rotor, and aluminum bail wire this is as durable as it gets in a saltwater reel. Encased stainless steel ball bearings no saltwater is going to penetrate these bearings!

Smooth powerful drag with its trademarked HT-100 carbon fiber drag system. This reel cranks smoothly with its 5 ball bearings and 1 anti-reverse bearing. No backing needed on its superline spool. The spool is braid ready and has three line capacity rings at 1/3, 2/3 and full so you can glance over at your reel quickly and know how many lines you have left.

All models come in black/Gold/Smoke colors. They all come with front drag and right or left reel position. I recommend you pick up one of these Penn Battle II spinning fishing reels. I know you won’t regret it.

If you have any questions or comments feel free to leave them below. You can also reach me directly cory@tackleboxtalk.com. Thanks for reading and Happy Fishing!

Piscifun Fishing Line Winder – Spooling Made Easy!

You have found it! The one and only Piscifun Fishing Line Winder. Piscifun is a brand you can trust.

It is one of the best fishing line winders for spooling braid and mono line on the market today. I can’t say enough good things about this product.

In this article, I’m going to explain all the useful features of this line spooler. It works excellent for both spooling spinning reels and baitcasting reels alike.

This is a must-have fishing line spooling machine, and it is a machine that every angler needs who want a quick and easier way to spool their fishing line. So without further ado, let’s get into the pros and cons of this fishing line winder.

Pros

• Easy To Use
• No Need For Help Spooling
• Extra Spool Spacers
• Wind Both Baitcasting and Spinning Reels
• Keeps Your Line From Tangling when Winding
• Lightweight
• Portable

Cons

• Instructions Are Vague
• Use For Spools 2.5″ or Less

The Piscifun Fishing Line Winder Ease Of Use

The days of using a pencil or pen to wind your fishing line onto the spool are over! No need to borrow your buddy or your wife to help spool. This product works great for winding both spinning reels or baitcasting reels. Easy change over from each as well. 

For baitcasting reels, you tighten the wheel fastener on the tip, and when you are spooling spinning reels, you need to loosen the wheel fastener which lets the spool spin with the rotor. Very easy anyone can do it.

One of the best parts of owning one of these fishing line winders is you never have to rely on someone else holding the rod and reel while you spool the line. It also makes tying fishing hooks and lures easier — no more line spinning around and around getting tangled in everything that it comes in contact with. Man, I hate when that happens!

Spooling a Baitcasting Reel

Spooling either baitcasting reels or spinning reels is easy. Heres how to spool a baitcasting reel. You want to tighten the top screw down so that the rotor which is the part of line spooler that holds the fishing line on doesn’t spin.

Next, you want to adjust your tensioner, so it fits your spool of line. With the tensioner, you can increase or reduce the tension on the spindle. Clockwise increases the pressure and counterclockwise decreases the tension. This is quickly done no need for pliers all you need is your thumb and index finger.

Putting The Fishing Spool On

Put your spool on the rotor and adjust the tension so that the spool fits in nice and tight. It comes with .59 diameter and .39 diameter spool spacers for different spool sizes. This comes in handy if you have one reel that you fish smaller sized fish with like crappies and a reel you fish bigger sized fish like northern or musky.

Make sure you insert these spool spacers into your spool before attaching it to the rotor. If you don’t do this, you will run into problems with the spool wobbling and falling out of the clamps.

Once that’s done you are ready to start winding the fishing line on to the reel. So you take the baitcasting reel and mount it to the Piscifun fishing line winder just like you would attach it to your fishing rod.

Then you tie the backing line to the fishing spool line and start winding like you are retrieving a fish holding the line lightly with thumb and index finger. Make sure you have the tension nice and tight otherwise you might get bunching up of the line.

Spooling a Spinning Reel

Now I’m going to explain how to use the line winder to spool a spinning reel. For the spinning reel, you need to tighten the spool down just like you do with the baitcasting method. But when spooling a spinning reel, you want the rotor to be loose and spin around.

Next, you want to tie the backing line to the spool line and slowly start reeling until the spool is filled ⅛” below the spool edge. Once your spool is full, you cut the connecting lines take the spinning rod off of the fishing line winder attach it to your spinning rod, and you are ready to start fishing.

Ready To Go Fishing?

I know I’m ready. If you don’t have fishing line spooler in your fishing arsenal, I would recommend you go out and get yourself one. The Piscifun fishing line winder is the best of the best you can find. Easy setup and use.

The instructions are a little vague, and you are limited to spooling up to 2.5″ fishing spool but other than that it works great. It’s not like your going to be using it to spool deep sea fishing reels with it like when your fishing for bluefin tuna. We are not on the show wicked tuna here lol!

You no longer need a separate pair of hands to help you wind a simple spool of line to your reel. With the use of the extra spacers, you don’t have to worry about the fishing spool wobbling and to fall off when winding. You can kill two birds with one stone with this fishing line winder by spooling both baitcasting and spinning reels with it.

Get Your Piscifun Spooler Here

If you have a comment or question feel free to leave them in the comments section below.

Minn Kota Talon Shallow Water Anchor | Anchor’s Away!

Product: Minn Kota Talon 
Price: $2,099.99
Cheapest Place to Buy: Amazon.com
Product Dimensions: 57 x 8 x 6 inches ; 60.5 pounds
Guarantee: Limited Warranty
My Rating: 9.8 out of 10

If you’re thinking about purchasing a shallow water anchor, then you need to check out the Minn Kota Talon Shallow Water Anchor. This anchor has it all from a user-friendly interface to offering of 4 different depth versions.

In this article, I will give you thirteen reasons why the Minn Kota Talon is by far the best shallow water anchor system you can buy to date. So let us jump right into those eleven reasons.

The first reason you want to purchase the Talon shallow water anchor is that of its electro-mechanical design. This design is quieter and more user-friendly than other shallow water anchors on the market. The Talon comes with a mounting bracket that’s adjustable up and down so that it fits any transom. It also has 30 degrees of pivot and easy removal.

With the Talons vertical deployment the anchors stay out of your way when you are rummaging around on the boat trying to hook that trophy fish.

The Talons go straight down so you won’t get your lines tangled in them. Having the light is great at night when it’s hard to see when the fish swims to the stern of your boat.

You have six different ways you can control the anchors.

1. Footswitch
2. Wireless Remote
3. i-Pilot or iPilot Link Remote
4. Minn Kota Smartphone App
5. Directly from Your Hummingbird Unit
6. Directly on the Talon Control Panel Itself

The new design has a sleek and sexy look to it. And it’s more arrow dynamic than the competitions anchors. The Minn Kota Talon also come in a variety of color choices to match your boat. The colors are:

• Black/Black
• Blue/Black
• Red/Black
• Silver/Black
• Silver/White
• White/White

If you can’t match your boat color with them, I don’t know what to tell you. I guess you will have to get some spray paint and do your own paint job on them. 🙂

The Minn Kota Talon shallow water anchor has a led depth indicator to tell you how deep the water is at any given time. The indicator comes in handy if you don’t have a fish finder on board. Check the depth of the water on the talon’s control panel and fish accordingly.

A deployment notification system sounds an alarm if you try to take off with the talons deployed in the water. I don’t know how many times I have forgotten to take up the anchor before I have taken off. All I can say is that it is not good for the boat or the anchor!

Easily launch your boat. Just back your boat and trailer into the water. Launch the boat off of the trailer and press the remote button to deploy the talons. Then park your truck. This keeps the boat from floating all over the place and drifting out to sea before you are ready to get in and go.

Hop into the boat press the remote button to bring the talons up and your off and fishing! There’s nothing to it.

There are work lights built right into the anchors. Light up the boat transom with the blue and white work lights. Each of the lights has three brightness intensity settings to help light up whatever you are doing on the boat.

The light is perfect for night time fishing or if you have to tie knots in your line when it is a dark day. You can never have enough lights on your boat. The lights also help so that other boaters can see you at night on the lake.

The push button selectable anchoring modes let you adjust your anchoring positions for any weather conditions. The separate anchoring modes are:

• Soft Bottom – If it’s muddy or silty
• Standard – For normal anchoring
• Rough Water – For heavy winds and choppy water conditions

A lower profile allows you to fit into more places like your garage or under low bridge decks.

With the Minn Kota Talon shallow water anchor, you have easy stowaway of the anchor system with a tap of the foot.

Last but not least. The Talon anchor system has four different lengths for a variety of depths to choose from.

• 8 Foot
• 10 Foot
• 12 Foot
• 15 Foot

The fifteen-foot version is 50% deeper than the deepest anchor of any shallow water anchors on the market today. The anchor talons are indestructible. They have a strong and flexible anchor spike that carries a lifetime guarantee. The talons are also engineered to resist the effects of saltwater corrosion.

Your boat stays anchored down even in rough weather with the built-in floating suspension. The anchor won’t be affected when the boat is rocking back and forth and up and down. Nothing worse than having your anchor rip out of it’s hold on the bottom when you are trying to fish your perfect fishing location!

So there you have it thirteen reasons you should get yourself the Minn Kota Talon shallow water anchor. With it’s

• Electro-Mechanical Design
• Vertical Deployment
• Six Ways to Control
• Sleek new design and many color choices
• Led Depth Indicator – Wave Absorption – Deployment Notification System
• Ease of Launching
• Built-in Work Lights
• Push Button Selections
• Lower Profile
• Four Different Talon Lengths

You can’t go wrong and deciding to pick up the best shallow water anchor system that has been made so far. I recommend Minn Kota as a stable and trustworthy company that stands behind their products, and they have awesome customer service.

Go out and get yourself the Minn Kota Talon shallow water anchor for your boat. You and your fellow anglers will thank you for it.

If you have any questions or comments feel free to leave them in the comments section below. You can also email me direct cory@tackleboxtalk.com. Thank you for reading and Happy Fishing!

KastKing Speed Demon Pro | Let Your Demon Loose!

Product: KastKing Speed Demon Pro
Price: $89.98
Cheapest Place To Buy: Amazon.com
Shipping Weight: 13.9 Pounds
Warranty: 1-year Warranty
My Rating: 9.7 out of 10

Today I’m doing a review on the KastKing Speed Demon Pro reel. This baitcasting reel has it all and at the right price to boot! The Speed Demon is one of the fastest baitcasting reels with a 9.3:1 gear ratio. Hard to find this type of gear ratio for this price on the market today.

With its steel ball bearings, golf like grips and a magnetic brake this reel is great for freshwater and or saltwater fishing at a price that won’t put a hole in your budget.

Let’s take a look at some of the features that the Speed Demon Pro comes with.

Loaded With Upgraded Features

• 9.3:1 Gear Ratio
• 6 Ounce
• Carbon Body
• Double Shielded Stainless Steel Ball Bearings
• Triple Carbon Disc Drag
• Trilateral Magnetic Brake System
• Split Main Shaft
• CNC Aluminum Spool
• Left Or Right Casting

The Lightweight Carbon Body

The new KastKing Speed Demon Pro has a lightweight body only 6.5 ounces and is made of carbon fiber. Although the frame is light, the carbon fiber allows for a durable, sturdy product. The side plates, handle and star drag are all designed to lower the weight of the frame and the comfortability of use that lasts for hours. The design of the structure helps it to perform well for both saltwater and freshwater fishing.

The spool on the Speed Demon Pro is made out of a beautiful looking aluminum that is perfectly machined. The anodized aluminum helps with keeping the spool rust free for a smoother cast.

 

High Speed

The fast speed of the KastKing Speed Demon Pro is impressive because of it’s 9.3:1 gear ratio. The gears are made of Manganese Brass that is cut using a Japanese Hamai machine for a quicker line pickup and recovery.

The faster you can bait cast the more opportunity you have to catch that trophy fish you have been trying to find for years. It’s not called Speed Demon Pro because it’s slow.

Comfy Handles

The handle grips on this reel are so comfortable you won’t believe it. The awesome feeling of the gulf style grips enhances the overall feel of the Speed Demon Pro. These grips are a cool looking reddish orange color and comfortable enough to cast all day long and into the night if you’re a night angler.

The reel can be purchased as a left-handed reel or a right-handed reel. If you’re right-handed then you want to buy the right-handed reel and if you are left-handed then you want to purchase the left-handed reel.

Excellent Brake System

The Speed Demon reel comes with a trilateral magnetic brake system. And has a total of 9 magnets that are adjustable for whatever condition you find yourself in or whatever bait you’re using at the time. The braking system eliminates backlashes and overruns when aligned properly. The settings will not change until you change lures and adjust the level of braking that is put to the spool.

Make sure to read the owners manual about the adjustment of the braking system. Because if you don’t adjust the brake right for the type of bait you have on you are going to run into backlash problems. But if you know how to make the proper adjustments on the braking system, you will have no problems.

Stainless Steel Ball Bearings And Disc Drag

The KastKing Speed Demon Pro comes with 13 stainless steel ball bearings. These are double shielded delivering smooth retrieves and easy casting. Even at accelerated speeds, they are quiet and smooth. The state of the art triple carbon disc drag offers 13.2 pounds of drag for the most powerful of fish.

Now I don’t know about you, but the ball bearing system is one of the first things I look for when buying a fishing reel. If the ball bearing system sucks then your casting and retrieving of fish is going to suffer. You don’t want a reel that has a bad ball bearing system.

Split Main Shaft

The main shaft is split allowing for faster speed. The split shaft also lets you cast farther with reduced noise and holds the spool lightly in its grips.

This is an upgrade from the solid main shafts which are heavier which makes it harder to cast long distances. The solid shaft design is much louder as well so not to spook the fish when you are casting.

Pros

• Lightweight at only 6.5 ounces
• Triple Carbon Disc Drag helps bring in the biggest of fish
• Split Main Shaft for a smooth long distant cast
• Double Shielded Stainless Steel Ball Bearings for a steady retrieve.
• CNC Machined Aluminum Spool
• Fast Casting Speed
• Golf Like Grips

Cons

• Backlash if you don’t adjust the brake system properly
• A small learning curve on the brake adjustment

In Conclusion

I recommend you pick one of these KastKing Speed Demon Pro reels up. I love the look of this reel, and all the upgraded features that have been added is terrific. The price is affordable at only $20 more than the previous version but keeping it under $100. Works great for fishing freshwater and saltwater.

I would recommend learning a little about baitcasting before you go out and use it. Baitcasting reels can be entirely different than spinning reels. I also like the split main shaft that they added to this reel provides for a better casting experience compared to the old version of the Speed Demon.

KastKing is an exceptional company with a load of great products. It’s kind of a no-brainer to pick up this reel for your next fishing outing. I know you will love it.

If you have any questions or comments feel free to leave them below. Thanks for reading and Happy Fishing!

Plano Guided Series Tackle Box | Huge Storage Compartment

Product: Plano Guided Series 7771 Tackle System
Price: $52.99
Cheapest Place to Buy: Amazon.com
Product Dimensions: 22 x 13 x 13 inches ; 13 Pounds
Warranty: Limited Lifetime Warranty

Every angler needs a tackle box to carry all their lures and whatnots in. The Plano Guide Series tackle box is a good sized tackle box with plenty of compartments for all your fishing tackle in.

A Place for Everything and Everything in its Place.

I’ve tried putting all my fishing gear in a 5-gallon bucket, but oh man that is a pain in the butt — tangled fishing line wrapped around hooks and lures. And it’s just a nightmare trying to find anything in that mess. So eventually you need to break down and get yourself an excellent sturdy tackle box.

The Plano Guided Series tackle box is a  plastic molded tackle box that has two top accessible storage compartments, and four Prolatch Stowaway utility pull out trays. The top compartments are for bulk storage and can be seen clearly with the DuraView lens on top of the tackle box. The DuraView Lens top folds down over the front of the tackle box.

What’s Inside?

• Plenty of compartments on the top storage tray for your plastic worms, hooks, and crankbaits, etc. Also comes with dividers so you can compartmentalize the way you like.
• On the right side of the tackle box, there is a rack compartment for your spinnerbaits.
• Under the first compartment, you get the bulk storage area for some of the more significant items of tackle you have like boxes of jigs, fishing line, sinkers, and pliers.
• Two 3500 Boxes
• Four 3771 Trays
• One 3504 Worm/spinnerbait box

The dividers come in straight and angled and need to cut apart because they are held together with tabs. Little grooves in the trays to slide the dividers into. You could make a hundred or more little compartments within the trays. This is for some high tech organizing which can make the bait finding process very efficient.

All four of the 3771 trays are removable for easy access to your artificial lures. It’s a convenient tray system, to say the least.

The 3504 worm/spinnerbait box pulls out from the right side of the Plano Guide Series tackle box and is about 5 to 6” high and has four removable divider racks which slide out on the top.

Pros

• See through to the top compartment with the DuraView Lens
• Plenty of Bulk Storage
• Four pullout artificial bait trays
• Many dividers to divide your lures up with
• Limited Lifetime Warranty
• Deep removable Spinnerbait box
• Compact

Cons

• Not recommended to carry for long distances
• DuraView lens lid is fragile

Conclusion Of The Plano Guide Series Tackle Box

My conclusion for this tackle box is that it has plenty of bulk storage space but with enough pullout trays and dividers so that you can arrange your tackle the way you see fit. It’s a sturdy box made of hardened plastic mold which should last you for years to come.

I also like the compact design of this tackle box. You can fit it nicely out of the way under a boat seat if need be.

The clear top DuraView lens is handy. All you have to do is glance through the lens and see what you have or don’t have in the top tray. This way when you are headed out the door, you don’t have to stop, put the tackle box down and open the lid to make sure you have what you need. That is one of the pet peeves that I have in other tackle boxes.

I recommend picking up one of these Plano Guided Series tackle boxes before your next fishing outing.

If you have any comments or questions feel free to leave them in the comments section below. Thank you for reading and happy fishing!

Landworks Auger | A Dual Purpose Auger For Tough Drilling

Product:Landworks Auger
Price:$289.99 
Available at: Amazon.com
Product Dimensions:41 x 20 x 10.2 inches 
Product Weight:34.5 lbs  
My Rating: 9.8 out of 10

    

        Buy Now
                        AT AMAZON
    
    

You are looking for an auger that can drill through ice and earth? You have both options in the Landworks Auger.

This auger has been in many top lists for being one of the best augers for drilling holes in ice and drilling holes in the earth. Why not get the best of both worlds in one auger.

You can take it out ice fishing with you in the winter and then in the summer; you can use the same auger to drill post holes, planting seedling trees and bulbs.

The Powerhead

The Powerhead on the Landworks auger comes with a 2ah 48 volt lithium ion battery and charger. With a battery-powered auger, you don’t have to worry about smog and noise.

This makes it very eco-friendly and safe. This auger is equipped with an overload protector, so the powerhead doesn’t overheat. The handles are spaced apart to improve balance while you are drilling your holes.

The powerhead also comes with a brushless motor and is designed with a 3 Planetary gear mechanism, so it transmits higher with better efficiency. The max speed is 320 RPMs. The horsepower is 2.01 HP with 60 nm of torque and maximum wattage of 1400W.

Drill 30 Holes With Single Charge!

You can get up to 30 holes drilled on a single charge with the 2AH battery. You can drill up to 60 holes if you purchase the 4AH ion battery. This unit comes with the 2AH, but the 4AH can be purchased separately.

The hand grips are made of ergonomic silicone to reduce stress on your wrists and arms. Has an easy to reach safety button in case you trip and fall when using the auger. There’s also a reverse torque control button that’s easily accessible so that you can take the auger out of the hole with the slush or dirt debris so that you don’t have to do any hand shoveling or scooping.

You can drill in the dark with the LED high-intensity light that is incorporated into the powerhead.

Two Different Types of Blades

The Landworks auger you can either get the earth blades for boring in soil or you can get the ice blades for drilling ice fishing holes.

Earth Auger Blades

The earth blades come in sizes:

• 4” x 30.”
• 6” x 30.”
• 8” x 30.”

These blades are useful for:

• Weed and root removal
• Fertilizing shrubs and trees to deep water aeration
• Drilling post holes
• Planting bulbs and  seedling trees
• Pest control

Ice Auger Blades

The ice auger blades come in two sizes:

• 8” x 39.”
• 10” x 39.”

And of course, the ice auger blades are used to drill holes for ice fishing.

Universal Thread

The powerhead and the auger blades have what is called a universal threaded bolt connection. The blades fit easily with this connection. The blade is secured with a locking mechanism on a threaded ½” socket cap bolt. There will be no play in this auger blade bit.

Pros

• Dual Purpose
• Ergonomic Silicone Hand Grips
• 2 AH 48V Ion Battery
• Universal Threading System
• Easy Access Stop Button
• Reverse Torque Control Button
• Led High-Intensity Light

Cons

• Need to Purchase Separate Blades for earth or ice drilling

Great All Around Auger

I recommend this auger especially if you are using it for both worlds. It’s lightweight at only 22 pounds that includes the auger blade. Landworks is a strong brand with many great reviews on a whole line of their products. Be it summer or winter you can drill drill drill with the Landworks auger. The applications are almost endless. Well worth the money spent on this auger.

Landmarks products are of high quality, and the customer support is superb. They produce many other great outdoor products as well, and they stand behind them all.

If you have any questions, feel free to leave them in the comments section below.

Northern Pike Ice Fishing Tips | 5 Tips To Bring Home The Pike

So you are looking to fish the big northern pike? I have a few northern pike ice fishing tips you will want to consider before heading out to catch this monster of a fish through the ice.

Pike are fun to fish especially in the winter, and they will put up quite the struggle which is fun and exhausting at the same time. At least you will get some winter exercising in and a delicious meal to boot after you catch the pike.

I have compiled a list of 5 tips you will want to consider when fishing for northern pike. Now, this is not an exhaustive list, but it will get you in the right direction if you’re new to northern pike ice fishing.

 

Get Out The Ice For Pike

Ice fishing for northern pike is one of my favorite species of fish to go after. The big ones are smart and not easy to catch. But when you can wrestle one out of the hole and onto the ice above you get a sense of accomplishment and domination! You don’t need many of these monsters to fill your dinner plate.

I don’t know if it is just me, but I think pike tastes better in the winter. Pike in the summer is not as fresh tasting which has to do with the warm temps. As a matter of fact, I think most fish tastes better when catching it under the ice.

I’m Free For Supper…

I hope these northern pike ice fishing tips help you catch a lunker this ice fishing season. If you catch enough, please give me a holler. I will be glad to come over and help you eat them up lol. I will even bring the electric fillet knife. Get out there and start pike fishing today.

If you have any questions or comments feel free to leave them below. I’m always happy to answer any question you may have. You can also email me direct cory@tackleboxtalk.com Happy Fishing, and I hope you catch that trophy you have been searching for!

Dyna Glo Vertical Offset Smoker | Flavor Is The Name Of The Game

Product: Dyna-Glo Vertical Offset Smoker
Price: $192.82
Cheapest Place To Buy: Amazon.com​
Product Dimensions & Weight: 47.03" x 34.53" x 20.2"; 57 Pounds
Warranty: 1-year Materials and Workmanship
My Rating: 9.1 out of 10

Don’t you just love the taste of smoked fish or meat? I know I do and you can smoke fish and meat yourself at home if you have the right smoker to do it with.

Today I’m reviewing the Dyna Glo vertical offset smoker. This smoker is heated with charcoal from a side compartment which is the offset of the smoker.

Dyna Glo is a trusted brand of smoker that’s known for its durability with its well-built structure.

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 Heavy Duty Construction

The Dyna Glo has a heavy gauge steel wood chip box that is porcelain enameled for extra strength and keeps the steel from rusting. The body is made of heavy-duty steel and has a high-temperature powder coat finish.

The powder coat keeps the metal durable so that it will last a long time. All that heat puts a heavy strain on the metal so a good high temp powder coat is essential for long life.

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Packed With Features

• This charcoal smoker comes with double steel doors. One side you put your meat or fish the other side you put your charcoal and flavored wood chips of your choice. It comes with chrome plated steel wire adjustable cooking grates.

• You can smoke up to 150 pounds of fish or meat with its 15,000 BTU’s cast iron burner. It lights quickly with its electronic pulse ignition system.

• The double doors work well when you need to add wood chips to the burning process. You don’t have to open up the smoker door to add chips you open up the door that holds the charcoal and wood chips. This minimizes loss of heat from the meat or fish you are smoking.

• The indirect heating process keeps the bottom racks of meat or fish from overcooking which usually happens when you smoke with direct heat.
• Two heavy lifting handles
• Adjustable flue on the steel smoke stack
• Condensation and grease management system helps keeps the Dyna Glo vertical offset smoker from rusting prematurely.
• 784 Square inches of smoking area.

Dyna Glo Vertical Offset Charcoal Smoker Specifications and Dimensions

The smoker has a one year warranty. Its heated with charcoal and is made of steel construction. The smoker is 47.03” high by 34.53” wide and 20.2” deep and weighs 57lbs; that’s very light for a smoker of this size and is a good thing if you need to move it around from place to place or carry it up and down the steps on your deck.

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Pros

• Indirect Heat Source
• 15,000 BTU cast iron burner
• 784 Square inches of smoking area
• Smoke up to 150 pounds of meat or fish
• Durable heavy gauge steel construction
• One year warranty
• An electronic pulse ignition system for quick lighting
• Affordable price

Cons

• Smoke loss because of connected compartments
• Slight heat loss because of connected compartments
• Expert assembly recommended
• Small drip pan

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Remedy For The Cons

There are a few downfalls the main ones would be the assembly of the product could be quite tricky but they do sell special instructions that can be added on with your purchase of the Dyna Glo vertical offset smoker.

The smoke and heat loss that you get is minimal. What you can do to help fix that problem is put cinder blocks underneath where the connected compartments meet. This will help give the smoker some support to keep it aligned so the smoke and heat doesn’t escape there.

The other little issue the smoker has is that it comes with a small drip pan. You can remedy this by replacing it with one of those throwaway aluminum pans that you can buy at any grocery store and place it on the bottom shelf of the smoker under where the meat sits.

Conclusion

All in all, this is a great smoker that I would recommend it for smoking your own fish and meat at home. Its a good smoker for the price and will last you for years to come with it’s cast iron construction.

What I really like about this product is the indirect heat source which lets you cook the meat or fish slowly and your bottom tray of meat will cook at the same rate that the top tray of meat will. You can even put in a tray of veggies to smoke. My mouth is starting to water just thinking about it!

You also have plenty of room to cook a lot of meat in this thing; 784 square inches of space and up to 150 pounds of meat or fish can be slow cooked in this smoker. Now that’s an amazing amount of food if you ask me!

If you need some ideas on recipes for the brines you can prepare your fish or meat with I have an article on that. Click here for three brine recipes. These recipes are great for fish, especially trout.

So if you are up to the task of smoking your own meat I would recommend getting the Dyna Glo Vertical to offset smoker. I can taste it now!

If you have any questions or comments please leave them below or you can email me directly cory@tackleboxtalk.com​

How To Smoke Trout In a Smoker? | A Sure Fire Guide

If you like grilled, baked and deep-fried trout you are going to love the taste of smoked trout. In this article, I will show you the best methods on how to smoke trout in a smoker. No one can resist that smoky flavor that dried, smoked trout gives to your taste buds.

You can smoke fish if you have a smokehouse which takes a long time. That is how they did it initially and it’s still done by meat shops these days.

But, if your an individual and don’t have days to cure your smoked trout there are smokers will do the trick in less time and taste just as good as a smokehouse taste would.

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Preparing The Trout

First of all, you will need to prepare your trout for smoking. You will want to find a brine recipe, and there are many to choose from online if you do a simple search on Google. I did that for you already. Smoking fish brine will help keep the fish from drying out and give it a delicious smoked taste that you will love!  

Brine Recipes For Smoking Trout

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Recipe #1

• Four or five trout fillets
• ¾ Cup Brown Sugar
• 4 Cups Water
• 1 Cup Soy Sauce
• ¾ Cup minced Galic
• ¼ Cup Sea Salt

Mix the ingredients in a large bowl and let cool in the refrigerator for an hour or two. After the ingredients have cooled pour them over the trout fillets making sure they are completely covered. Now pour the fillets and mixture into a resealable bag or a covered Tupperware bowl. Recommended marinating fillets overnight in the refrigerator. The longer you marinate, the better taste you will get out of it.

After the trout fillets have marinated, you will want to remove them from the brine and dry them with a paper towel. You can dump the brine out.

Recipe #2

• Six to ten trout fillets
• 1 Cup Salt
• 4 Cups Brown Sugar

Mix the two ingredients. Now in a plastic or glass container arrange one layer of trout fillets on the bottom. Then spread the mixed ingredients over the fillets cover completely after that put another layer of fillets on top of the first layer and then put more of the dry brine on top of those fillets. Put the cover on the container and let marinate in the refrigerator for at least 14 hours up to 5 days.

Move the trout fillets around in the brine every few hours flipping them over and making sure they are entirely covered in the brine and that they are not sticking to each other. The brine will be liquidy at this point because of the water in the fish coming out.

You will know the trout fillets are cured when the fillets become stiff. Next, you will want to make sure the fish are clean of the brine. Use a fan to dry the trout before smoking.

Recipe #3

• Five to Seven Pounds of Trout
• ½ Cup Sugar
• ½ Cup Brown Sugar
• ½ Gallon Water
• 3 Tablespoons Lemon Juice
• 2 Tablespoons Chili Powder
• 2 Tablespoons Garlic Powder
• ½ Cup Salt

Mix all ingredients making the brine. Put trout fillets in a flat glass baking dish and cover with the brine. Refrigerate the fish and brine together for about eight hours. Next, remove from glass baking dish and rinse off with cold water. Pat dry and put them on the smoker rack for an hour skin down for fillets.

That’s just three brine recipes for smoking trout. There are thousands out there, and it would take me years to compile them all. So if these three don’t suit your fancy search for ‘smoked trout recipe’s’ and you will find a ton.

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The Smoking Process

The trout is marinated, great. Now it’s time to get down to the business of smoking the trout. There is a myriad of flavors you can smoke your trout with. That’s the great thing about smoking it yourself you can experiment and find what flavors that you like over ones you don’t without putting a hole in your pocket. Smoked trout in the grocery stores can be rather spendy.

Turn on your smoker on and heat it. You will want the temperature of the smoker to get to 150 degrees Fahrenheit. There are many smokers on the market so it might be a little different depending on the smoker you are using. Make sure to read the owners manual of the smoker that you have.

Next, you want to pick whatever smoke flavored wood chips you want to use to smoke your trout fillets. Soak your wood chips in a large bowl for about 30 minutes. Doing this helps the chips to produce more smoke for the smoking process.

Different chips will give you varying degrees of smoke flavor. If you want the strong smoke flavor, you can go with hickory wood chips. If you like a milder smoky flavor, you can go with apple chips. There are many wood chip variety so look on the package if you’re not sure of the strength of smoke flavor they give out.

 

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Putting The Fillets On The Smoker 

Now you want to put the trout fillets on the rack. You want to place them skin down and about a quarter apart from one another. Next, you want to add the wood chips that have been soaking into the smoker.

All smokers are different so read the instructions on how to do this with your particular smoker. More wood chips can be added throughout the smoking process depending on how much smokey flavor you are looking for.

It usually takes two and a half to 3 hours to smoke the trout. After about 2 hours I would check with a meat thermometer. The trout is done when the internal temperature reaches 165 degrees Fahrenheit.

The fish will have a dark color to it when it’s done. A dark color is normal. I recommend not smoking your fish longer then 4 hours this will dry the fish out. The most important thing is to make sure the fish is fully cooked at an internal temperature of 165 degrees Fahrenheit. I can’t stress that enough.

 

Bon Appetite

Now that you know how to smoke trout in a smoker you are ready to eat it. Eating the trout is the best part of the whole process other than catching the trout. After you take it from the smoker, let it stand for about 20 minutes before serving.

Leftovers can be put in a sealable storage container for up to one week in the refrigerator, or you can also freeze the smoked trout if you wish to keep it longer.

If you have any questions or comments, please leave them below. If you want to email me directly cory@tackleboxtalk.com

Eskimo Lockout Ice Fishing Bibs | A Warm Review

Product: Eskimo Lockout Ice Fishing Bibs
Price: $152.99
Cheapest Place To Buy: Amazon.com
Product Dimensions:  10.2 x 7.1 x 1.6 inches
Shipping Weight: 4 Pounds
My Rating: 9.8 out of 10

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Looking for a pair of nice warm and cozy bibs to wear this ice fishing season?

I have done some research on the Eskimo Lockout ice fishing bibs that you might want to take a look at. I promise it won’t hurt and I will explain why I think these are a great pair of bibs to get yourself into this ice fishing season.

What Features does The Eskimo Lockout Ice Fishing Bibs Have?

The Eskimo Lockout bibs come in a variety of sizes from small all the way up to 5 extra large. The length of the legs can be shortened by six inches which is great if you are height challenged and need to adjust. They also come with padded knees. These bibs are ideal for when you are kneeling on the ice struggling with the monster fish you just caught!

The liner of these bibs are made of Sureflote Flotation-Assist in case you fall through the ice you will stay afloat and won’t sink. These bibs will also keep the moisture out while staying breathable with its Hydrapore® 5000 laminate that’s built right into the outer shell of the bibs.

The outer shells constructed out of 600 denier fabric. This material is tough as nails. Denier fabric is a canvas-like material that’s used on many of the ice shelters you see. So if it’s good enough for the ice shelter, it’s good enough for your body.

The zippers all around the suit are easy to get to so you won’t be twisting and bending over backward to get that ice fishing tool you need.

Your Body Heat Will Stay In The Bibs!

You won’t be having any displacement of body heat because the interior lining is 210T and its insulated with 60g of Thermadex® insulation. These combined will trap your body heat in and keep your legs and chest nice and warm. No more frozen bodies parts when wearing these bibs!

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Built For Comfort and Mobility!

The Eskimo Lockout bibs are built for comfort and mobility. The padding is in all the right places. They are lightweight but warm at the same time so they won’t weigh you down when you are walking through the snow. There is a velcro hem at the base of the legs so that mud and water don’t ride up the leg when walking around.

Pros

• Has Hydrapore® 5000 for breathability
• 60g of Thermadex® insulation to keep you warm
• Made of 600 Denier fabric some of the most robust fabric around
• Velcro Hem around the angles to keep the legs from dragging in the slush
• You can adjust the length by six inches
• Plenty of Pockets for fishing tools
• Zippers placed in easy to reach areas
• Sureflote Flotation-Assist to keep you afloat

Cons

• Couldn’t find any downfalls to these bibs. If you own a pair of these bibs, let us know in the comments what you think of them.

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I Highly Recommend These Bibs

What’s not to recommend on these bibs? The size choices are numerous from small to 5 x-large anyone would be able to find a size.

These bibs can be shortened by six inches, now that’s a plus. I also like that it made of floatable material and its tough 600 denier fabric that keeps the wind out. And the Hydrapore® 5000 laminate that keeps you dry and the air moving through the bibs.

The interior lining is 210T and its 60g of Thermadex® insulation which keeps you warm and toasty even when the elements outside are harsh. I would recommend you pick yourself up a pair of these Eskimo Lockout ice fishing bibs whenever you get the chance. Eskimo is a company has been around awhile, and you can trust them for quality and comfort.

If you have any questions feel free to leave them in the comments section below. You can also email me directly cory@tackleboxtalk.com I would be glad to answer any questions. Thanks for reading and Happy fishing!