Warm and Dry
The cold water of the striper surf is no match for the Simms Surf Pullover, a waterproof, breathable top with a neoprene collar and waistband. The cuffs cinch tight to keep arms dry and the sleeves have reflective panels for night fishing. The oversized handwarmer will keep fingers ready to tie knots, while a large storage pocket stows gear and a dry pocket protects valuables. Available in orange (shown) or blue, the pullover sells for $200. Simms, (866) 585-3570; www.simmsfishing.com.
Winning Spinner
The line of Medalist spinning reels from Pflueger comprises six salt water-ready models with lightweight aluminum bodies and anodized aluminum spools. Nine fully-sealed ball bearings, stainless-steel main shafts, titanium line rollers and machined-aluminum handles with comfort-grip knobs round out the rugged construction. The largest model in the series, the 6060 ($80), weighs 20 ounces, has a 4.6:1 gear ratio and holds 230 yards of 17-pound-test line. Pflueger Fishing Tackle, (800) 334-9105; www.pfluegerfishing.com.
Head Case
The Chug Head from D.O.A. Lures turns nearly any soft-plastic grubtail, shad-tail or jerkbait into a cup-faced chugging bait. Slip the soft-plastic head onto the front of the bait and rig with a worm hook.
A quick, topwater retrieve makes a Chug Head-equipped bait walk like a wounded baitfish, or turn the Chug Head over to “diver mode” to send the bait deep. Five slow-sinking Chug Heads come with one soft-plastic body and sell for $4. D.O.A. Lures; (877) 362-5873; www.doalures.com.
Steady Sight
Canon’s 10x42L IS WP binoculars ($1,600) combine a sturdy, waterproof design with precision image-stabilized optics. Image Stabilization Technology uses a vari-angle prism that compensates for most pitch and yaw variations at the touch of a button. The binoculars have a large, 4.2-mm exit pupil and a 65-degree apparent field of view for low-light performance, and the optical system uses the company’s Super Spectra multi-coating for sharpness and color reproduction. Canon U.S.A.; (800) 385-2155; www.usa.canon.com.
