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Shimano Report
Shimano Sienna Ice Combos
Ice fishing has come a long way since the days of sitting on a pickle bucket fighting the cold more than fighting fish.
Shimano answers the rod and reel needs of ice anglers with its newly designed Sienna Ice Fishing combos, offered in 9 models and available now from select tackle dealers in the U.S. and Canada.
Whether it’s super lightweight jigs for bluegill and perch, or using big spoons, snap jigs and lipless cranks for walleyes, northern pike, and lake trout, “within the Sienna combo line-up, we have ice anglers covered for just about every situation and the techniques used,” said Adam Diehl with Shimano’s product development team. “We match the rods with our popular Sienna spinning reels – in either 500 or 1000 sizes depending on the rod’s length and power — which now feature a new streamlined grip and reel seat for lighter weight, along with better balance and enhanced sensitivity.”
Ultra-Light power combos include the 24” Sienna 24UL and 28” Sienna 28UL that are ideal for micro fly and panfish jigs, while Shimano designed the Light power 26” Sienna 26L combo is designed for standard size jigs and lighter spoons in the 1/32- to 1/16-ounce range. Medium-Light power combos – for finesse jigs and spoons up to 1/8 ounces, include the 28” Sienna 28ML and 32” Sienna 32ML. All of these rods are matched with Sienna 500 size reels and feature Shimano’s elongated high-visibility tip section for easier bite detection when fishing light lures and jigs.
Combos with Medium power in the Sienna lineup to target larger fish starts with the 28” Sienna 28M paired with a Sienna 500 size reel for use with smaller snap jigs and lipless cranks up to 3/16 ounces. The 36” Sienna 36M, matched with a Sienna 1000 reel, makes it ideal to combo for fishing medium-size snap jigs and lipless cranks up to ¼ ounce.
Big fish like big baits and ice anglers can be ready with the Medium-Heavy power 28” Sienna 28MH paired with a 500-size reel, and the 40” Sienna 40MH matched with a Sienna 1000 size reel. Shimano designed both combos to handle large spoons, snap jigs and lipless cranks up to 3/8 ounces, while the 40MH has the length and power for magnum-sized spoons, bucktails, and lipless cranks up to and over ½ ounce.
Diehl identifies the Medium power Sienna 28M or 36M as ideal ‘deadstick’ combos, “and depending on your fishing situation, the Medium-Light and Medium-Heavy power Sienna combos are the ideal choice if you are in a big fish area.”
For more information on Shimano’s new Sienna Ice fishing combos, all offered for $49.99 (USD), visit your local dealer or the the Shimano website at http://fish.shimano.com.
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VMC Report
VMC Mustache Jig
If you’ve ever Wacky Rigged to catch big bass, you won’t be surprised when you ice monster panfish with VMC’s new Mustache Jigs.
Featuring a pre-rigged egg sac with two tapering appendages, a Mustache Worm looks like a tiny Wacky Worm.
“The ‘mustache’ action is created by jigging the bait slightly up and down, undulating the appendages, which brings the bait to life,” explained James Holst, host of In-Depth Outdoors TV on the Fox Sports North channel.
“The Mustache Worm has proven itself to be one of the best big-fish soft-baits I’ve ever dropped below the ice.”Mustache Jigs are purpose-built to punch through slush, drop fast and fish aggressively in a small package.
Capitalizing on the size-to-weight advantage of tungsten, the jig drops fast to keep a hot-bite on fire. Because tungsten sinks much faster than lead, even a tiny tungsten jig will get back down to biting fish much quicker than a standard lead-head jig.
The Mustache Jig’s intelligent hook design ensures lookers become biters. VMC’s exclusive Power Gap hooks feature a wider round gap than other micro-jigs of equal weight, greatly increasing hook-up percentages.
Additionally, a 90-degree hook eye ensures optimal horizontal position of the Mustache Jig, allowing ice anglers to convert more hits into solid hooksets and lose fewer fish at the hole.
VMC Mustache Jigs are available in six proven fish-catching colors.
Enhanced Ultra Glow pigments provide as long as 15 minutes of charge. The new jigs come in two sizes: 1/16th oz. (size 10 hook) and 1/32nd oz. (size 12 hook).
VMC Mustache Jigs are available at trusted fishing tackle retailers throughout the U.S. and Canada, as well as Rapala.com.
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NetBait Report
NetBait Tackle’s New Dagger Soft Plastics Deliver Better Penetration on Hooksets
The NetBait Dagger was created to provide a flipping and punching bait to the lineup.
NetBait’s Dagger design is centered around an innovative, thin flex-wing design for unique gliding action. The flex-wing is integrated with twelve forward facing angled ribs placed to improve water displacement and add subtle vibration to a natural swimming action that fish love. The flex-wing is mounted on a compact body core to easily accommodate even a 4/0 and 5/0 large Texas-rig flippin’ hook while the thin flex-wing compresses quickly to improve penetration on the hookset.
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Humminbird Report
Humminbird Brings MEGA 360 Imaging To the Ice with Ice Adapter Kit
Humminbirdís exclusive MEGA 360 Imaging sonar has provided anglers with unrivaled detail in every direction around their boat. With the introduction of the new MEGA 360 Imaging Ice Adapter, Humminbird brings that exclusive technology to ice fishermen.
The MEGA 360 Imaging Ice Adapter allows anglers to utilize the MEGA 360 transducer to see a clear and sharp view under the ice, up to 125 feet around the hole. Ice anglers can eliminate the guesswork and quickly find structure and fish without drilling as many holes, track schools of fish as they move, and know which direction the fish are headed.
"Anglers have been successfully using MEGA 360 Imaging on the open water to identify structure and fish to make every minute on the water more effective," said Matt Cook, Humminbird brand manager. "Bringing this technology to the ice will give hard-water anglers the same ability to be more efficient and productive and ultimately help them find and catch more fish."
The MEGA 360 Imaging Ice Adapter includes all accessories needed to convert a MEGA 360 Imaging transducer for use while ice fishing. The adapter is compatible with all MEGA 360 Imaging transducers (Universal, Ultrex, Fortrex and No Mount).
Accessories needed to use your MEGA 360 Transducer on ice:
- HELIX 8, 9, or 10 with MSI+ or MDI+ (G3N/G4N)
- HELIX Ice conversion kit (ICE PTC CHIPR H8910)
- MEGA 360 Imaging unit (No Mount, Universal, Ultrex and Fortrex models)
- MEGA 360 Ice Adapter
- Battery and charger
- Optional: AS GPS HS: GPS Puck with Heading Sensor (Mark and View waypoints on MEGA 360 screen)
The Humminbird MEGA 360 Ice Adapter retails for $99.99 and is now shipping to Humminbird dealers everywhere.
For more information call Humminbird at 800-633-1468 or visit www.humminbird.com.
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Humminbird Introduces Fourth Generation HELIXÆ Series with New Larger Display and Advanced Networking
Since their initial release, anglers at all levels have enjoyed the fish-finding advantages of the Humminbird HELIX series of fish finders.
Now, Humminbird is introducing the fourth generation (G4N) HELIX models, delivering more technology than ever, with a wide range of features and screen sizes suitable for any fishing application.
The new HELIX G4N Series gives anglers the latest in innovative imaging technology, with MEGA Imaging+, and a variety of screen sizes from 8-inch to the new 15.4-inch display, ensuring there is a HELIX G4N to fit any angler's needs. The new HELIX 15 model boasts a giant 15.4î, ultra-bright and crystal-clear display to see all of the details provided by exclusive Humminbird sonar, navigation and networking technologies.
Humminbird Introduces Fourth Generation HELIXÆ Series with New Larger Display and Advanced Networking
These new fish finders come equipped with the best sonar and mapping options on the water, including MEGA Imaging+, and Dual Spectrum CHIRP 2D sonar, and are compatible with Humminbird's exclusive MEGA 360 Imaging. Built-in GPS and Humminbird Basemap provide depth contours and navigational aids for all continental U.S. coastal waters and over 10,000+ U.S. lakes.
Premium chart options from Humminbird include LakeMaster and CoastMaster charts, which provide exclusive compatibility and features to Humminbird users. Additionally, HELIX G4N models are also compatible with Navionics charts, providing Humminbird users the widest selection of charts available, ensuring they are covered with premium chart options no matter where they fish. For anglers looking for an extra edge, all HELIX G4N models will include AutoChart Live, allowing anglers to easily create their own custom maps in real time. Simply turn the feature on and watch as depth contours and even vegetation and bottom hardness layers appear on-screen.
New to the HELIX G4N Series, built-in NMEA 2000 and Wi-Fi come standard. All models have a dedicated NMEA 2000 networking port built-in to support the connection to compatible accessories to display information like engine data, vessel sensors and virtually any NMEA 2000 compatible accessory. Built-in Wi-Fi will support additional features.
Packed with Ethernet networking and Bluetooth functionality, the new HELIX G4N models have been designed to work seamlessly with the One-Boat Network. This exclusive pairing of Humminbird, Minn Kota and Cannon fishing products allows anglers to integrate compatible fish finders, trolling motors, shallow water anchors, downriggers and more, so that anglers can find, stay on, and catch more fish. With One-Boat Network, anglers can control connected Minn Kota i-Pilot Link trolling motors, Talon and Raptor shallow water anchors and Cannon downriggers right from their Humminbird unit. Select HELIX G4N models are also compatible with optional MEGA 360 Imaging transducers and Built-in MEGA Imaging on select Minn Kota trolling motors. Additionally, leverage the Humminbird FishSmart app for wireless software updates and LakeMaster map downloads, as well as convenient connection with Humminbird Technical Service.
The HELIX G4N family consists of five screen sizes (8-inch, 9-inch, 10.1-inch, 12.1-inch and new 15.4-inch). All screen sizes are fully networkable, including Ethernet, Bluetooth, NMEA 2000 and Wi-Fi, and offer models with multiple sonar technology options. All models come with a two-year limited manufacturer's warranty and will include models ranging in price from $699.99 - $2,999.99.
For more information call Humminbird at 800-633-1468 or visit http://www.humminbird.com.