It's true that winter fishing can be tough, and many anglers get out less than they'd like at this time of year. On those days when we're trapped inside by cold, howling winds, or snow, what could beat checking out some cool new fishing gear for the new year?
The Ultimate Offshore Sonar: Furuno Omni CSH10
Big boat anglers headed for bluewater will find the new Furuno next-gen Omni CSH10 360-degree scanning sonar the holy grail of fish-finding. Full-circle scanning has become all the rage in the offshore world of big boats and unlimited budgets, allowing you to spot schools of tunas and masses of mahi in any direction from afar. Now with the CSH10 you get both transmission and reception beam stabilization via motion sensors as a standard feature, correcting for the boat’s motion in the seas; a Target Lock feature allows you to track schools of fish while displaying distance, depth, speed, and direction of the school; and Position Tracking mode can lock in on solid structure. Improved image resolution and detection, meanwhile, gives you a range of up to nearly 3000’. The new system casts its beams at 85kHz and also has a redesigned control unit including a wireless remote, plus faster deploy/retract times. Price: a mere $84,095.
By Zach Ditmars
Whether you’re fishing at the lake, the beach, or right in your backyard, the Solo Stove Ranger is a great option for a compact portable fire pit that you can use to roast your catch. The Ranger has a diameter of 15” and a height of 12.5” and all the components neatly stack up inside the stainless-steel cylinder. It comes standard with a convenient carrying case and can be unpacked and assembled in less than a minute. This fire pit also came with the added Stand accessory which allows you to use the Solo Stove on heat-sensitive surfaces like a deck or grass. We tested the Ranger with the added option of the Hub and Cast Iron Griddle Top which provided a fun outdoor open fire cooking platform.
With small chunks of wood burned to embers, I placed the Hub and Griddle Top on top of the fire pit and allowed it to heat up. After a few minutes the cast iron was ready, and I dropped on a dollop of butter and two rockfish fillets, caught the same day on the Chesapeake Bay. Tossing in some lemon, garlic, and my favorite blackening seasoning, searing the fish five minutes per side it was cooked to perfection and paired up nicely with some sliced potatoes I also fried up on the griddle.
What really sets the Solo Stove apart is its “Signature 360° Airflow,” featuring vents and chambered walls that superheat the air to burn off smoke before it can exit the cylinder. It leaves you with a near-smokeless experience. An integrated pan collects burnt ash, and the removable plate allows for easy disposal. Solo Stoves come in several shapes and sizes and seemingly offers an endless array of cooking accessories for your fire pit. After using the Ranger, it has definitely made the packing list for our upcoming catch-and-cook fishing trips! Price: $199. Time to get cooking.
Feeling Flashy: Shimano Flash Boost
Over a year ago we brought you the news of the Shimano World Pop lures, which incorporated a new feature called “Flash Boost.” This consists of a reflective foil suspended on micro-springs inside of the lure’s body, which shimmers and flashes through a clear section of the lure—including when you pause it. Flash Boost has made its way into a wide variety of Shimano crankbaits, jerkbaits, topwater plugs, and more, and we now have plenty of casts under the belt using them. The verdict? Flash boost works, period. While we haven’t done scientific testing, it certainly does seem clear that the lure with that shimmering foil inside gets smacked more often on a regular basis. The downside? These do cost more than most “regular” lures of a similar size and type. Of course, you get what you pay for—tie those knots carefully. Price: varies by lure.