Gone bush

MOZZIES are the bane of all fishos. They always appear at dawn and dusk – prime fishing times! We’re lucky enough in this country to avoid the risk of serious diseases such as malaria, although travelling fishos aren’t so lucky. The best way to avoid mosquitoes and sandflies is to use a good insect repellent. Bushman insect repellent has been around for some time now and has gained a good reputation amongst those serious about avoiding bities. Sure, some of the other brands are good for picnics, but when you’re on the water, you want something strong. The Bushman’s range includes a new 40 per cent DEET Heavy Duty spray can. The higher the DEET, the more mozzies will be afraid of you. The lotion is another alternative and comes in 75 gram tubes, and is 80 per cent DEET. It’s all water resistant, and also comes in a handy repellent/sunscreen mix.

Contact: North Queensland Laboratories on (07) 4054 6020

Lazy fishing

WEIGHING only three grams and 50mm long, this could well be the perfect lure for finicky biters. Designed to be fished slowly, the Lazy Gekkabijin 5S sinks horizontally to eliminate tangling and the erratic action caused by twitching the lure represents a dying baitfish. Should prove deadly on bream.

Contact: Daiwa on (02) 8644 8644

Wearing Lipstix

THIS series of rods were designed specifically for the growing army of female anglers. The Shimano Lipstix series consists of six rods – three pink solid tip rods for the girls, and three lavender coloured rods for the ladies, which feature integrated tips. All rods are of two-piece construction for ease of transport. Starting at RRP $25.

Contact: Shimano on (02) 9526 2144; www.shimanofish.com.au

Ugly jumper

THE new Ugly Stik polarfleece jumpers and jackets are great for when things turn cold on the water. Features include handy deep pockets and high zip up collars to keep the warmth in and the chill out. The polarfleece jumpers and jackets come in black and red with an embroided Ugly Stik logo. RRP $40.

Contact: Pure Fishing on (02) 4351 7740

Easy wader

NATURE calls – and you’re in the middle of the best trout bite in years. You unclip the wader braces and believe you can just pull the front of the waders down far enough – at which point the braces disappear over your shoulders and down the back of your wading jacket. So you have to strip off and start again. Not any more. The new XS-Pro wader is fitted with a full-length front zip. Developed by Riri for the diving industry, these brand-leading precision water-tight zips are pressure tested to 1.7 Bar - that’s deep wading.

The XS-Pro wader utilises the very latest in breathable material technology. Using a durable triple laminate polyester material ensures total reliability and durability. Available in sizes small to XXLarge.

Contact: EJ Todd on (02) 9533 7700; www.ejtodd.com.au

It’s the dart

THE new Morethan Dartin Z 95S is designed to be fished in the top couple of metres of water and at almost any speed for medium size gamefish. When ripped and twitched the Dartin Z produces an erratic "S" action that will entice fast predatory fish into striking violently. If that doesn’t work it can be wound slowly to produce a tight wiggle for less active fish. Measuring 95mm and weighing 18grams, the Dartin Z comes in four colours.

Contact: Daiwa on (02) 8644 8644

Bowl ‘em with spin

THE Spin Shiner’s profile exerts an energetic vibration that radiates throughout the entire water column. Fitted with a hook bumper to keep the treble from tangling and a ball bearing willow leaf blade at the rear, which acts as a flash attractant similar to a spinnerbait, this metal vibration lure gets down quick and casts like a bullet. Available in six colours.

Contact: EJ Todd on (02) 9533 7700; www.ejtodd.com.au

Cool runnings

THE WAECO Mega Pack 50 should prove itself a neat item for the travelling fisho and boatie. Keeping things cool on the road or the water is not just a luxury – it’s essential. The Mega Pack 50 features 3-stage battery protection, a simple operating panel and sleek design. The battery pack features cigarette and hella style sockets, digital battery power and the whole package comes in a carry bag.

Contact: WAECO on 1800 21 21 21; www.waeco.com.au

Winch crusher

BAR Crusher is now manufacturing its boats with anchor wells designed to fit the Stress Free Anchor Winch. This reel-style winch has been added to Bar Crusher’s optional accessories range after extensive testing over the past three years. All Bar Crusher boats leave the factory fitted with the anchor well and winches can be fitted at the time, or rerofitted at the dealership.

Contact: Bar Crusher Boats on (03) 9702 8555; www.barcrusher.com.au

For the winos

MANY people enjoy a good glass of wine after a tough fishing session. Travelling with bottles can end in disaster – red wine stains don’t encourage a friendly welcome home after a trip away. To combat this, Long Flat has come up with this unbreakable red wine bottle. All but the snobbiest of wine aficianados will notice the difference in taste and the convenience far outweighs this anyway. And at about $10 a bottle, you won’t feel guilty drinking it. Varieties include semillon sauvignon blanc and cabernet merlot.

For more info visit the website at www.cheviotbridge.com.au

The need for speed

SHIMANO’S venerable TLD two speed lever drag range has been given a bit of a spruce up for the yellowfin season. The composite frame material is new, and there have been a few cosmetic changes to give these reliable workhorse reels a more modern look. Tolerances have been tightened even further, which is especially beneficial to anglers who might use braided lines on them. Gear ratios for the Shimano 20A and 30A are 4:1 and 1.7:1 (high and low) and 3.5:1 and 1.4:1 for the 50A and 50LRSA. Starting from RRP $399.

Contact: Shimano on (02) 9526 2144; www.shimanofish.com.au

Just got uglier

UGLY Fish sunglasses is now producing a range of bifocal sunnies for those older anglers who find they can’t see all that well anymore. The High Tide Bifocal sunglasses are made from TR-90 frames, which the boys at Ugly Fish reckon is the best material for sunglass construction, being strong, lightweight and flexible.

High Tide sunglasses are available in smoke grey or amber brown enses and a range of different lens powers. The bifocal lens is infused as part of the main polarised lens, making them appear like a normal pair of sunnies. The nylon polarised lens has an anti-scratch coating on both sides as well as anti-reflective coating on the back. These bifocal sunnies also come with a case and lifetime warranty.

Contact: Piranha Eyewear at www.uglyfisheyewear.com

Fishing with the supremes

THE Pflueger Supreme is built with the combination of magnesium body and rotor plus a lightweight ported double anodised aluminium spool. The 8030 size is perfectly suited to trout, bream and bass, while the 8035 and 8040 lend themselves to throwing plastics at snapper.

Other features include nine stainless steel bearings and titanium coated line roller.

Contact: Pure Fishing on (02) 4351 7740; www.purefishing.com.au

Lure Dojo

THE new Dojo Peche Lure Bags designed by Peter Pakula are a neat solution for storing large amounts of game fishing lures. Features include reinforced handles and drain slots at the bottom of each pocket. The lure bag also allows the lures to be hosed down whilst remaining in the bag.

Dojo Peche Lure Bags are available in 10, 12 and 14 inch five pocket bags. RRP from $39.95

Contact: Rapala Freetime on (02) 9773 6522; www.freetime.com.au

Foul weather

THE new Tempest Foul Weather gear is made from Storm-Tex, a 100 per cent nylon fabric designed for very nasty weather. The combination of jacket and pants, according to Pelagic Gear, offers complete waterproof protection. Features include taped sealed seems, mesh lined zipper vents, waterproof pocket and a fold out hood. The pants also feature waterproof cargo pockets as well as Pelagic’s standard reinforced pliers pocket. Jacket and pants are sold separately.

Contact: Pelagic Gear on 0434 520 343; www.pelagicgear.net