Fish Catching Travel
Skeeter Boats
Before I get to the fishing show I want to take a minute to comment on Skeeter Boats. Last year when I wrote the article on how to buy a boat, I forgot what may be one of the most important points of all. How long has the company been in business, do they make a quality product, and most importantly, do they stand behind their boats?
Over the years I had 2 Champions, a Holiday, a Questar, and a couple of others I can not remember, but I have had my share of bass boats. And on 2 of the boats I had a couple of serious hull cracking, and it was handled poorly by the companies who made those boats. My friend Aaron’s current hassle brought home to me how truly important the corporate culture of any boat company you are thinking of sharing your hard earned money with is.
If you read the post the other day you know about Aaron finding that a whole bunch of glass was off the bottom of his Skeeter. One of those things that when you find it, you want to throw up. Folks it was bad. So he took it in, and Skeeter stepped up to the plate. When my Champion’s hull cracked it was – you trailered wrong, you hit something, you maltreated it, and anything else they could say to blame it on me. Suffice to say they did not help me even though I used it like any fisherman would. The other, the company was out of business less than a year after I bought it.
Skeeter is doing the right thing, and they should. But what is reallly important is that they did the right thing. So next time you are looking at boats, remember you read this. Stuff happens, and if it is your fault take it like a man. But if it is their fault, just like Skeeter did, you want your boat company to give you this kind of service. It shows a true appreciation by Skeeter of you as a customer and fisherman. This is the way things are supposed to be, and I give Skeeter a thumbs up for being a stand up company.
The Houston Fishing Show
After a tough day of fishing yesterday of course there was only one thing to do, head to the Houston Fishing Show with Chris. He had a particular Shimano reel he wanted and I wanted a new wade belt. We both accomplished that without any problem.
I specifically wanted a wade harness I saw last year and regretted not buying all year. Made by Coastal Fishing Gear, the Wade Right fishing system is a harness with the rod holder on the back. It allows you to set it right or left so there are no issues with casting plus you have the freedom of movement to bend and lean without worrying about your spare rod falling in the water. And because it is a harness and not a belt, it is much easier to keep things from getting soaked. The front rod holder for changing baits and getting fish off can be placed high enough to keep from dunking your reel. With points of attachments you can put anything on the harness, your tackle box, your phone, pliers, whatever.
I thought it was the best at the show last year and I can not wait to hop over the side. The whole thing is well thought out and anything that will help even a little with keeping things a little drier is a good thing. But as long as I am positively commenting on customer service today, Coastal Fishing Gear is right up there.
I bought a harness for my brother and a deluxe with boxes for me. The price was fair and I was happy. A while later as we were walking through the show the gentleman who sold me the harness came looking for me. He was so worried that he did not put the small box in with my stuff. Now I had not looked, but it was there. Now that is what I am talking about! They could have said oh well, he will let us know, or maybe he won’t notice when he gets home, or whatever excuse we all might make at some time. Instead he tracked me down truly concerned that I did not get that small box. If that is the kind of folks they are, their product will be everything they say it is.
So if you wade check out their site – http://www.coastalfishinggear.com/
The rest of the show was ok. The usual guides, trips, rods, lures you name it. Even Cajun Phil was there. As we were walking through the show we came to the Midcoast Products booth. Last year Chris bought some of their popping corks, so we stopped to look. And folks, you learn something every day, and I learned something that makes so much sense. There was a young fellow, missed his name, but it said Captain on his shirt so I assume he was a guide, working the booth. And I learned something from him that I know will put more fish in the boat.
One of their products is a cork with lead in the bottom that allows you to throw it a mile. But the interesting thing is that you tie the line to the top, and then the tie the dropper to the top also instead of tying it to the bottom of the cork. The young guy explained how he is now doing that with the other corks they make and it works great. If you think about it, when you set the hook you are pulling in a more direct line on the fish, that can only help. I asked about tangles and he said it gets tangled on the cast less using it that way. He was knowledgeable and consequently a good salesman.
So that is how you sell fishing tackle, tell us how to use it, then show us. It is a simple modification of an old standby and some of the best ideas are simple ones. And of course Chris and I bought $30 worth of corks. So I give them props, real information we can all use. So next time you get out a popping cork, give it a try, I know I am.
So now I can not wait to fish the Gulf. I will have my new wading belt on and will be tying that popping cork in a new way. Like I said yesterday, we fisherman are optimists, tomorrow is the day. I can see it now, waist deep, trout smashing that popping cork, my spare rod on my back, oh the joy of it all. Thanks for reading my stuff.
Good Luck and Tight Lines
