As summer turns into fall we anglers are getting psyched for hot bites and fast action, whether we plan to cast for autumn speckled trout in the lower Chesapeake or savage striped bass in the upper Bay. Naturally, that means we need fishing gear--lots and lots of gear. Here are a few of the cool new goodies we found this fall which anglers of all stripes will be interested in.
Penn Battle IV Travel Combo
If you’re sick and tired of bag-checking a bazooka every time you head for distant fishing grounds, you want a relatively heavy rod you can pack in to remote angling locations, or you drive a Smart Car and can’t fit any of your rods inside, the Penn Battle IV Travel Spinning Combo should do the trick. This three-piece rod breaks down into a travel case that also fits the reel. Medium and medium-heavy, fast-action, seven-foot LOA rods are available with 4000 or 6000 size reels, which makes this one of the beefiest travel rigs around. Price: $239/$259. Visit Penn to check it out and for gosh sakes get rid of that Smart Car asap.
Rux 70L
Thanks to all that unorganized gear the back of your pickup looks like a bomb went off… and then it started raining? Sounds like you need to check out the Rux. These heavy-duty TPU-coated nylon (PVC/PFAS-free) stowage compartments are so unique they defy easy description, but think of them as collapsible square duffle bags that are weatherproof and expand into a crate-like form. The stackable Rux 70L (70 liters of volume) is the base of the system and has rails along the edges which accept clip-in organizers like bags and pockets. All of the pieces and parts are shockingly light, shockingly well-built, and carry a lifetime warranty(!). We tested the Rux during a three-day angling adventure and found it ideal for stowing a backpack full of clothes, jackets, a camera bag, and a laptop bag—all stuff we wanted to keep dry during a long haul in the back of a pickup—then when we arrived we collapsed the Rux and slid it under the back seat until it was time to pack up and drive home. Price: $298 for the 70L/$393 for the Essential Kit with a 70L, 25L bag, and 3L pocket. Visit Rux to get your gear in order.
Piscifun Carbon R1
Just how much weight can you save in a rod by making both the blank and the handle out of carbon fiber? Piscifun says it amounts to a 28-percent weight reduction in the Carbon R1, a rod we’ve been testing out since this summer. It is indeed uber-light in hand, and we thought the 6’10” medium-weight, extra-fast action model makes for an excellent Chesapeake Bay jigging stick. The IM8 carbon blank is as sensitive as they come, and the carbon handle seems to transmit subtle vibrations better than neoprene grips. The reel seat is carbon fiber too, and guides are high-end Fujis with Alconite inserts. Spinning models in the Carbon R1 series range from 6’6” to 7’3” and casting rods from 6’10” to 7’4” are also available. Price: $199. Check out the R1 when you’re ready to claim some carbon credits, and... Exclusive FishTalk Bonus: use promo code FM18 when you order the Carbon R1 and you’ll get a special FishTalk reader discount!
