- IF4, International Fly Fishing Film Tour, a special Saltwater Cut for us here in Florida.
- Very Cool trick try this it works awesome.
- Dragon Fly paddle boards in South Carolina Show this weekend.
- Real truth about SOPA
- Natural Laws
- Clay Dyer, can’t help but to be inspired by this guy
- Invisible to the Naked eye water proofing you iphone
- Tuna gets over $700,000 at the fish market
- Real Cyclops Shark found
- White Pelican eating a pigeon
Cortland Master Braid Fishing Line Review
Some time ago Sammy got some Cortland Master Braid to me from Cortland to test and review. Being thoroughly satisfied with my Stren Super Braid and my Suffix Performance Braid I was somewhat hesitant. He said, “This is the best braid you have never heard of.”
I had some issues with other lines in the past and had found a couple of braid lines that I liked and had confidence in. The other lines either broke or I would consistantly get wind knots from hell.
Being a “team player” I decided I would spool a reel up with it and give it a shot. So I loaded the High Vis yellow 10 lb. test line (a 2 lb. mono equivalent in diameter) up on my Quantum 40. As I loaded it onto the spool I noticed the texture of the line was a mite bit stiffer than the other lines I used. I was concerned with the casting distance but to my pleasure the relative stiffness of the braid really didn’t have any affect on the distance. One concern down, three more to go.
The other concern was the dreaded wind knot. Sometime ago I had my first experience with braid that resulted in taking every bit of braid off all my lines because of knots. I had just begun to untie a knot that looked more like an osprey’s nest as opposed to just a bird’s nest. Off to my left they came….the water column rose up and a band of marrauding reds swam by within casting distance. That is what should have been casting distance if I didn’t have that darn knot. I was made sport of by those reds that day as they mocked me and some even flipped me off with their fins. Sometime after that I “discovered” the Stren and at Sammy’s urgeing I incorporated the Suffux into my arsenal…my wind knots were relatively a thing of the past. Much to my pleasure the Cortland Master Braid did not manage one single knot. Not one. The package says “Twist Free” I believe it. Now, I must admit, I usually close the bail manually just as the lure or bait hits the water but the conditions ranged from very windy (in excess of 25 mph) to quite cold (40′s).
Two down.
Another concern was would the line break when bringing in a good fish. Now I realize a “Good Fish” is a relative statement. Some time ago on of my Blue Water buddies gave me great ribbing with regards to my “big 26 inch red from my little plastic boat.”
Point well taken. This Courtland did manage to bring in a couple of nice reds about that size and a few sharks a bit larger than that. A couple of times I did see the tailfin slap the braid. It held up. Three down.
Sorry for the pic quality, but if you look closely you can see the yellow Cortland Master braid on the reel. This was right after a three foot shark had tail whipped the line. Not even a mark was left on the line.
The final test is the overall durability of the line. Through those skirmishes the line had not shown any sign of wear… none. Furthermore, Sammy has been using this line since July and sees no wear at all.It looked as it did when I first put it on the spool. Four down.
I was able to get these results from a test that may show clearly what I have been trying to say.
MasterBraid – a picture is worth 75,000 words[1]
As I complete this review the words I had heard before ring in my ears, “This is the best line you have not heard of.” Hopefully, we will change this.
This line passed my tests and I think that it may pass whatever tests you may have for it.
Keep visiting SaltyShores regularly because soon we will be testing their fly lines and also blue water heavy test braid.
Fin Tech “Title Shot” Fishing Jigsheads Review
Del Calhoun
About a month ago (mid December) Dale handed me a couple of jigs and said here give these a try. The jigs he handed me were the “Title Shot” jigs from Finn Tech. At first, I wasn’t expecting too much from them. I mean they’re just jigs. Plus I was happy with the jig heads that I was already using. Took all of three fishing trips for me to become a convert.
The first trip consisted of fishing a flat on the south east side of Tampa Bay, looking for redfish. The day was somewhat cool and windy and the fish were hard to find. I decide to use the 3/8 oz jig with a 3” gulp. I spent most of my time dragging the lure through the grass at the edges of pot holes and sand bars. The jig did a great job of gliding through the grass. I only managed to catch two small reds that day but the hooks were so sharp that they practically hooked them selves.
My second trip was down at Siesta Key “Point of Rocks”. The fish love to hang out in the sandy areas between the rows of rocks and I have lost many a jig head there. I spent a couple of hours working this jig with a DOL cal tail. I didn’t catch any fish that day but, because of the weedless design and jig head shape, I also didn’t lose any jigs.
A couple of days later I was back to my favorite Tampa Bay flat looking for reds again when I hooked into a perfect 26 and 7/8” red. The cool water made this red extra feisty and it gave me a great fight. After the fight when I examined the jig, it was in perfect condition. Not the slightest bend to the hook. Now they have got my attention.
At this point I needed to learn more so I headed over to their web site www.jigfish.com and grabbed up some info.
Available in 1/16 (2/0 hook), 1/8, 3/16 (3/0 hook), 1/4, 3/8, 1/2 (4/0 hook) and 3/4 (5/0 hook) sizes and four HOT bass-n colors.
While at their site I also noticed that they were selling a Title Shot Skip jig. I wasn’t really sure how much a jig could help with skipping under the mangroves but I had to order a couple to find out. I also wanted to order some more of the original Title shot jigs in different colors.
Ordering from their site was easy enough and the jigs were at my house in ____ days
To be continued when the jigs arive………
PURA VIDA !
COSTA RICA, a country that has found a beautiful cultural and natural harmony, is somewhat mystical within that harmony. 
I just feel compelled to mention the friendliness that abounds as though it’s a cultural value.
Now, having said that, on with the fishing trip. Larry Savage, owner and president of Stay In Costa Rica (www.StayInCostaRica.com), arranged for us to stay at the five-star resort and marina community of Los Sueños. This area offered many tempting diversions from our angling rituals and I suspect if more time was allotted, I would have spent time on their championship eco-golf course lined with lush tropical foliage and exotic animal life. We did manage one diversion in between the scheduled fishing days: the river of crocodiles; a “must do” for everyone.
Our fishing venue was the near shore fishery which is well known for its roosterfish, mahi, snapper, big jack crevalle, bonito, mackerel and much more. The typical method of fishing here is trolling large lures or colorful feathers rigged with ballyhoo. Once we came upon the fleet of shrimp boats emptying their by-catch back into the waters, we stayed busy with screaming drags and tight lines.
This trip was another happy experience of the angling lifestyles of Central America’s fishing destinations. There is so much to do; so much to see. Allow at least a week for your visit to Los Sueños.
