Got some simms headwater boots and added wearbars.Work real good but had to add some jellin comfort inner soles.Mak products that are of great quality.Happy with these products.Now looking into some simms waders,not decided what ones to buy.Afterhours plugs and customer service are second to none.

Fished a GSB1321M last season, built so it weighs a little under 12 oz finished. Can't say enough good things about it.

Tried TA clips and found that the V shape caused knot failure when using a knot that put two loops around the clip (trilene knot).

Liked these Wearbar studs when used in hard rubber soled boots.

Did great with small Musso darter-clones (albeit on sub 20lb fish). I think Don (AfterHours) has a version coming out soon that will be worth a look.

Berkley Vanish Fluoro leader material is garbage.

Used a Simms wading staff that seemed great, but didn't hold up to saltwater.

[QUOTE=numbskull;915273]
Tried TA clips and found that the V shape caused knot failure when using a knot that put two loops around the clip (trilene knot).

QUOTE]

I'm surprised to see this. I run TA clips and only use Trilene knots, I can't remember any knots failing on me...but I was probably tying them wrong ,thats why they didnt break.

Vanish is pure crap x 2
Posted from my iPhone/Mobile device

Underwater Kinetics UK 3AA eLED CPO 10001 10022 10005 10024

No red light, this is more like a spot light. With 110 lumens having it as a night vision light wouldn't be very worthwhile. Its great at spotting buoys with its narrow beam.

For the surf I use the Princeton Tec Attitude led with the red lens for night vision. but I may go with something that has a button this year rather than a twist bezel.

2011 Review

New custom 4 tube Commando Bag. Freakin AMAZING! Velcro is super strong, light weight, and quick draining. Large front pocket for riggies, rubbers, bug spray, camera etc. Huge inside pocket for leaders, leader spools. Plenty of bucktail holders that can fit up to 2 bucktails per slot, with additional storage behind the bucktail holders. By far the best investment I've made.

Mojo 10'6" 3/4-4oz. Loved to play with light lures with this rod very sensitive with plenty of backbone.

3 tube Rod Vault- to protect my investments

2012

New VS250:humpty:

Cabelas Guideboots w/wearbars

10'6" Legend 2-6oz after I trade in my Mojo

10' Century as part of the rod build w/ Saltheart

#300 Grip Studs for my bootfoot waders

Anvil Atlas Fly vise for making my own bucktails, siwash and flags

I think that's it...

Greg and Striper774--

Thanks for the reports on boots.

Greg, didja like the stock studs? Not sure what Beans does, but the stock screws that Cabelas calls studs are not helpful.

Gonna look into the Ghosts. Thanks

OK so you guys may laugh at me but I use Energizer 3 LED Headlight
by Energizer . Less than $15 on Amazon. Has 2 white and 1 red LEDs.
I have worn it at the Canal, in the surf in SoCo, BI and on my boat in rain, wind, etc. It has never failed me. Uses 3 AAA bats and they last a long time. Not sure if it's waterproof as in "underwater" but I sure have gotten it plenty wet and never had a problem in 2 years of use.

me too, around my neck.... pelican penight in my bag as a back-up.

maybe we are just cheap.

I got a Commando 2 tube plugbag at the end of the season. It is absolutely the BEST bag of anything I have and most likely will own. I like it so much I may order a cube for next season. I can tell I won't be able to kill this bag, he makes them to last forever like my SaltigaZ.

Last years major purchases were a Stella10K and a 10w fly outfit. Came to love the Left Hook Pilgrims too. Upcoming for this year is hopefully a 12-14ft Spey rod or 11ft switch rod.

No laughing here.

I don't blame you, Chef had the Energizer headlamp too I believe and he loves it. One night we were out, he dropped it on the ground and pooof... donzzz-O. The light bit the dust. Luckily he had a backup.

The reason why I bought this light was for its power. This light isn't something you would use to dig through your plug bag at night or you'll go blind. I can put this light on a rock 100+yards away and light it up.

I use the Same one.....I think its perfect for fishing.

Target had them for $9.99

And no issues seeing in my Plug Bag.....the white light is blinding its so bright.

You do have to change the batteries every year or it does start to dim

I have one of those Energizers, I think I bought it at Wally world. The little, not littlest Mag lights are pretty waterproof and cheap. I use it as a spare in my pocket, it's been underwater more than once.

2011 bought stella 18000sw up for sale make me an offer, finally upgraded my gps after 10yrs to a furuno navnet 12MFD 3D, love it and don't need glasses anymore!! My bro purchased 8tube MAK bag, Dave even delivered it to hometown because of conflicting schedules and so far no problemos, good lookin out. 2012 so far nada, just some good health and good times peace!!!

Was a low spend year in 2011. Fuel, oil, sabikis, fluro, and hooks. Spent on plugmaking stuff and all I do is fish live macks all season....

I did get one of the glow in the dark floating fish grippers, and it works well, but the angle seems like it could be improved. Also added an Avet MXL MC lefty at the end of the season. Worked well on cod. Upgraded drags for my Abu Records after burning them out on big October fish.

Don't need anything, and should be getting rid of stuff I don't use....

Should be looking at Tom's Commando bags before Cutty trip.... economy just sucks right now.

I believe that it is a RayoVac and not an Energizer that many of us have been using for years. They work great if you don't swim. Though, I have submerged mine and it still works. The only issue I have is with the straps losing their elasticity after years of use. I have not bothered to send them back under warranty. Great product and the price is right.

I own the same light, it's awesome, bright and cheap. It's underwater proof too! For the money tough to beat.

It outlasted both my 50 dollar Princeton tec quad head lamps
Posted from my iPhone/Mobile device

The ones I have are definitely energizer, I bought my pops one for fishing too. They take a beating except when you fall 5 feet and smack your head and the light goes flying into rocks. Besides that there great :)
Posted from my iPhone/Mobile device

Ive been using the cheep energizers for a few years now. I "upgraded" to a princeton tec but i still have the energizers. They are more dependable. The red light is awesome on them, my gripe is i need to smack them around to get them to work just about every time.

New for 2011 was wearbars and ultralites, loved em. The boots wont last through next year but im sure the wearbars will be fine. Best fishing investment i have made.

Shimano Volteaus rod, cheap and pretty damn good. Its heavy enough for gloucester cod fishing, well almost enough, works great for bait not so much for 16 oz jigs. Also good for 2 oz jigs for fluke.

Lime green mombo minnows :)

2012, Century stealth via Salthearts building class and maybe a VS 275 if the right deal comes around. I wish ZB made a reel with a quicker retrieve rate like a 275.

LL beans wader pants, for those times where i just dont need waders they will be perfect. I will probably need to replace my rapid river waders this year as well, they are gobbed to hell with aqua seal and other patches but are so damn comfortable i dont want to get rid of them.

Yea .. You can wear it down the canal instead of your waders .. :rotf2:

2011-Bought a ZeeBass ZX25 w/bail, have to say it has the best drag of any reel I've ever had, but I've fished Penn's for 27 years. Miss the on/off antireverse. May go to manual pick up this year to see if the distance improves, I think the bail is in the way
Northbar bottle darters- gave them a serious try this year, did well with a few large on them.
2012? Hmmm- new waders that I'll need because of the BS felt ban.:fury:
Get my new 9wt and switchrod blanks wrapped, get a new 7wt reel for the switch.
Maybe get a new conventional reel.

I LOVE this headlamp. I buy them 3 at a time at home depot. 2 in my trunk, 2 in the boat, a couple in the house. For the money this lamp does everything you need it to. Swam with it for years. eventually the salt rots it out but there not expensive to replace.

Got the 3 tube commando bag and a bunch of plugs.
Waiting to hear on a comparison of rods - mojo, century and cts.

What switch rods are you looking at Tony? I'm on the verge of ordering one myself.

2011:
1. black diamond storm head lamp. 100% waterproof. no issues with it.
2. Afterhours jointed plugs. Did well with the skinny 2 oz. one.

2012:
1. got some helly hansen voss pants. lightweight polyurethane pants for fishing the rocks when i'm not planning on swimming
2. more afterhours jointed.

probably won't be fishing until august since kid #3 is coming in march.

Really don't know yet. Was looking for a dual purpose steelhead/striper rod, don't know if one really can do both. Going to talk to a bunch of guys at Marlboro or Bears Den show and hopefully try some out.

I love the canal, but this year its back to the beach more often. I have a bunch of spots where a WS is ideal and cant wait to get wet.