High-performance products for competitive and tournament anglers

By Patrick Campeau

If you’re the kind of angler who takes fishing seriously and is determined to make the most of your efforts to catch more fish, take the time to read this article.

The wonderful thing about fishing is that you can do it at your own pace. There’s nothing wrong with viewing fishing as a relaxing activity, rather than a competitive pursuit where you absolutely have to land trophy fish. Just being out on the water brings its own share of joy and satisfaction. There’s also a group of anglers who always wish to catch the biggest fish. These competitive anglers usually like to enhance their efforts by using state-of-the-art gear. Here are a few items that are sure to interest them.

Boost

In high-level tournaments, competitors drive powerful boats. Bass boats and walleye boats are often equipped with high-speed Mercury Pro XS or Verado engines. The goal of being the fastest possible on the water is simple: competitors want to be the first to reach their spot to ensure that an opponent doesn’t catch the fish they’ve already located before they do. In addition, they want to minimize travel time between each promising spot. It’s important to understand that every minute counts and that every moment our lure isn’t in the water reduces our chances of winning. That’s why we’re now seeing more and more powerful engines like the Pro XS 250 and 300, Verado 350, 400, and 425—and it can even go up to a 600-horsepower V12.

In addition to the engine’s power, the owner will do everything in his power to improve performance. He will try out several propellers to find the one that offers the best performance. He may install an adjustable Jack Plate-style outboard motor mount as well as other performance accessories.

The world’s largest outboard manufacturer, Mercury Marine has come up with the ingenious idea of developing the Boost feature. This exciting upgrade increases the mid-range performance of your Mercury outboard—from the 175 to 300 hp Pro XS, 250 to 350 hp Verado, and Mercury Racing 150R—without requiring any changes to accessories or hardware. With an easy-to-install software update, Boost can improve acceleration from zero to top speed by 5% to 21%. www.mercurymarine.com/ca

Mercury’s Boost feature improves acceleration by 5% to 21% without changing the material or propeller making it ideal for a more dynamic ride

To take a quick look

Garmin, the world’s leading manufacturer of marine electronics and one of the most innovative companies in the industry, has just launched the Spy Pole system. It is a revolutionary motorized pole designed to let enthusiasts see everything and never miss a thing. This little marvel lets you wirelessly control your LiveScope transducer—via a foot pedal or gesture-controlled remote—which generates revolutionary real-time scans so you can see underwater as if through a video camera. It displays high-definition images of fish, structures, and your lure in action live on your screen. The Spy Pole is also compatible with the new GT360UHD transducer. Once mounted on a Garmin Force or Garmin Force Pro electric motor, or even on the gunnel, it rotates automatically through a full 360° to scan the environment in 2D and 3D. The pole’s automatic rotation eliminates the need for manual handling and makes it easier to detect structures and schools of fish.

“OneVü” technology offers a unique advantage: the ability to view an area the size of a football field in a single pass. The system delivers exceptional ultra-high-definition clarity, and the “True Motion” feature integrates GPS to keep the scans steady even as the boat moves.

Tournament anglers will love the “Spy Lock,” which locks the transducer onto a specific point of interest so they can fish without having to readjust the direction. Users can, if they wish, overlay the LiveScope on the 360-degree image to get a highly detailed live view. Spyscan, meanwhile, rotates the Spy Pole back and forth in any direction to simplify the search for fish and structures. The system is available in 42- or 49-inch lengths depending on your hull configuration. The cables are integrated into the unit for a clean look. The marine world will hold no more secrets and anglers will be able to locate everything that attracts fish.
www.garmin.ca

The new GT360UHD transducer and the Spy Pole allow anglers to see fish, structure and the movement of their lures underwater like never before.

Everything in its place

Just like in a workshop or an office, it’s hard to get things done when everything is in disarray. A big thank you to Scotty for designing the new 451 Mini Gear Caddy which offers a practical storage solution and great versatility in a compact format. This small sturdy accessory is incredibly useful, as you can store your pliers, releases and lures in dedicated compartments and you can even position your fishing rod in it. The 451 lets you keep all your essential tools organized and within easy reach. It can be easily mounted on Scotty bases, the gunwale or slide rails. www.scotty.com

Well-fitting 

There are many advantages in using a baitcasting setup when fishing. In addition to allowing for faster casting than compared to a light-duty setup, its structural design provides greater strength for fighting large fish and landing them. The line’s direct contact with the mechanism allows for a better feel of subtle bites and bottom structures. The Accel heavy-duty rod and reel combo for left- and right-handers offers high-end performance and ergonomics at an affordable price. The reel’s new MC-1 monoblock magnetic drag system with integrated drag knob ensures solid hook sets and fights. Its 32 mm open-work aluminum spool with a slot facilitates quick line spooling. Its system of 5 double-sealed stainless steel ball bearings ensures smooth operation. The whole is supported by a graphite frame and side plate and high-strength solid brass gears, precision-machined. The rod, made of high-modulus IM6 graphite, features a separate EVA foam handle and stainless steel guides with stainless steel inserts. It is available for $115 in a 6.6-foot medium-action or 7-foot medium-heavy action version. www.lews.com

Durability

There’s nothing more disconcerting than seeing your braided line fade which inevitably gives the impression that it’s losing strength and deteriorating. P-Line’s EndurX Braid eliminates this kind of problem that forces us to re-tie our fishing lures. In addition to offering all the advantages of traditional braided lines, namely an extremely high strength-to-diameter ratio, a tight and compact 8-strand braid, virtually no stretch, and a smooth, silky surface that provides excellent casting performance, it also offers unmatched color retention, a lifetime anti-fade guarantee, exceptional durability, maximum sensitivity, and remarkable casting ease. EndurX Braid is available in Aqua blue, Electric green, Midnight black, and Dark green, with test weights of 10, 15, 20, 30, 40, 50, 65, and 80 pounds. www.p-line.com    

Patrick Campeau is a professional fisherman and a three-time provincial champion, inducted into the Canadian Pantheon of Fishing. Find out more about Patrick Campeau at www.pcampeau.com or  www.facebook.com/lapassiondepatrickcampeau