Sunglasses, which ones are right for me?
That’s a question that I’m sure each and everyone of has asked more than once. With all the choices it can all be very confusing so I will attempt to break it down some, at least from my personal experiences.
Before I go any further let me say that in my opinion, there is no one perfect pair for everyone. We all have different facial features and different needs so you need to find ones that fit your face as well as your application and of course if they don’t make you look like a dork, that’s another plus, HA!
From my personal experiences first and foremost, you must try them on in person. I live in a small town with very limited choices so it made it pretty difficult to find the right pair for me. Lets just say that the BassnMan has a larger than average melon. I also don’t have much of a nose bridge so it is very difficult to find a pair that I am happy with.
I needed ones that were wider than average as well as having larger lenses and they had to have longer nose pieces so the lenses would be further off of my face so they didn’t ride on my cheeks.
I have more than once ordered them pairs thinking they would fit my face right but was sadly mistaken when they arrived. Yes, I was able to return them but it was kind of a pain in the back side.
OK, now onto the actual post.
Brands: Lets see, you’ve got Oakley, Ray Ban, Maui Jim, Solar Bast, Costa Del Mar, Wiley-X and countless more brands, both inexpensive as well as expensive. Speaking from personal experience, buy the best you can afford, you won’t regret it. I know the more expensive ones tend to have better quality optics which are better for your eyes and are usually offer prescription lenses so that’s a plus for people that need them. You can also purchase the ones that just go over your prescription glasses like the Cocoon brand.
Frames, Metal or Plastic: Back in the day metal frames were heavier that plastic ones. Now days the metal is considerably lighter so weight is no longer an issue. One thing to note is that during the summer metal frames tend to get hot quick and tend to hold heat longer, that’s why I prefer the plastic frames.
Lens: There is more than one aspect to consider concerning lenses so I’ll try and break down the basics.
Glass vs polycarbonate. For clarity it’s difficult to beat glass lenses and if I could afford 2 pairs of quality shades then I would own one of each pair. The glass ones for driving and casual wear and poly carbonate for fishing. I personally went with the Poly Carbonate ones. The main reason I made this choice is because more than once I have been hung up on some sort of structure, a shallow rock or tree limb and while attempting to free my jig, it abruptly came free and flying back at me like a bullet. Two times I have been hit right on the lens. If I had glass lenses chances are they would have shattered from the impact.
Polarized or not: For fishermen this question is a no-brainer, Get Polarized, I can promise you that you won’t regret it. Their ability to cut through the glare and being able to see through the water better makes them a valuable asset. About the only down side I have experiences is when at the gas pump. I noticed on some gas pumps you cant see the numbers when wearing polarized shades.
Lens colors: Here again there are several hues to choose from. I’m just going to go over the basic 3 color even though there are others to choose from.
First we have gray or smoke. Gray lenses usually come in light or dark and will reduce the light intensity without changing the color of objects. Therefore they will provide the most natural color vision. Statistics show that gray is far and away the most popular color lens in America. Gray lenses are best for bright clear days.
Next we have brown lenses. They enhance contrast by blocking more of the blue light than gray lenses do. Brown lenses tend to provide a warmer appearance to all colors and have been known to make greens look greener. These work well in medium to bright light and are considered good all around lenses.
Finally I’ll discuss amber which block almost all blue light and provide superior contrast. Remember the Blue Blocker sunglasses? They have amber lenses as do shooter’s sunglasses. While amber does enhance contrast, they tend to distort colors and may not be the right choice for activities that require accurate color recognition. They work well in flat to medium light as well as shallow water applications.
I have a pair of goggles that have an amber lens. I especially like them when I’m going across the water at high speeds in low light conditions because they make objects, tree stumps and rocks, really stand out.
From the sounds of things a person actually needs several different pairs of sunglasses. For me, I went with a pair that has interchangeable lenses so I’m able to change out different lenses as conditions dictate. Purchasing extra lenses is considerably more cost effective than buying the entire setup.
Hopefully I didn’t confuse you even more and gave you some things to consider. To summarize, shop around, try them on, consider your specific application and buy the best you can afford.
Thanks for visiting my site. Be sure to tell all of your fishing buddies and come back soon
Until Next Time, Good Luck and Tight Lines To Ya!
Sponsorships, are they worth it?
First off I want to take a minute to give a big thank you to my sponsors for all of their help. Bob at Magna Charger, George at Belltech, Bill at Baer, Tony at Volant, Steve at Trucksecuirty.com, TJ and Ron at TTI Companies the makers of X-Point and Daiichi hooks, Rick at Maxima line and of course my major sponsor Bass’es Choice. THANK YOU VERY MUCH for believing in me, having faith in me and giving me the opportunity to promote your products. The honor is greatly appreciated and I promise I will not let you down.
Now onto the subject of this article. I’ve recently been asked quite a few times, how does one go about acquiring sponsors? How can I get sponsors and so forth. I thought I’d take the time to write a little something to assist others in there quest to obtaining sponsorship.
The first thing I tell people is that getting sponsors and keeping them is a job. It’s not just, give me stuff, thank you, see ya later bye. There are usually contracts with obligations that you must abide by as well as rules you must follow. It takes commitment and dedication because you will have to give up some of your free time to promote their products. You must be willing to advertise for them and be ethical, as well as a good roll model because the bottom line is, they are trusting you with their name.
I know I have worked the Fred Hall Show, which is a major west coast boating show held in Long Beach CA, for several years now in different sponsor’s booths for 2 to 3 days at time. You must be both knowledgeable and personable because you will meet all kinds of people who are attempting to gain knowledge on why they should purchase your product instead of another company’s product. In this, as well as other situations you must be a good communicator as well as be able to read people.
If you agree to the above then it’s on to the next step. Find out who the marketing or public relations person is within the company. This is usually as easy as calling the operator for the company your interested in and asking them. After finding out who they are give them a call, lay out your basic proposal verbally and ask them if it would be OK if you sent them a formal proposal, which I will discuss a little later, for them to review.
Remember, this initial conversation with them is usually the most important conversation you will have. This is when that old saying about making a good first impression really comes into play. If you come across with a bad first impression chances are even if they say they will review your proposal they won’t. Be friendly, be cordial, be professional and be personable.
OK, so you found the person, you feel you made a good first impression, now forward we go to putting together the formal proposal. Here again, be professional. What you’re attempting to do is you convince them that by giving you some kind of assistance you will increase their sales as well as be a good spokesman for them. Never come across like, “Give me stuff” Make sure your proposal is professional as well as interjecting a bit of personality in it.
Remember, they get hundreds if not thousands of requests daily so you need to stand out from the crowd. Put yourself in their shoes and ask yourself, why should I give this guy my product? What’s in it for me? How can I benefit?
With any sponsors you have to sell yourself and it really helps if you offer them something they don’t already have, an avenue for which they can introduce their products to a whole new audience. Follow up with phone calls inquiring if they had a chance to review your proposal? The big trick to this part is to be a little persistent without being pushy.
When you talk to them remember a few of the personal things they might have mentioned about themselves, make notes if need be and the next time you talk mention it. Example, if they say something to the effect that they have not been able to review it because they have a sick child and have not been able to have allot of extra time then ask when would be a good time for you to call back. When you call back or write them use the official greeting, “Mr. Smith”, its more professional, of course if their last name is Jones then don’t call them Smith, then somewhere in the conversation ask how their child is doing, be concerned about them as people and not as just a free ride because allot of them have the ability to see right through the fake people, remember, they deal with people all the time.
This next step is a very important one. Let them make the decision as to what kind of sponsorship to give you. Be it a full sponsorship, free stuff, or a partial one, meaning you get the product at a reduced price, leave it up to them. The way I handle this is when they ask you what you are expecting from them I tell them any assistance they are willing to provide you with will be fine.
Be ready for rejection because chances are you will get more no’s than you will yes’s. However, no matter what the outcome, ALWAYS, ALWAYS remain positive and professional! You would be surprised just how “Tight” the major manufactures are, if word gets out that your pissy with an attitude problem then you might as well write off the possibility of anyone sponsoring you. I have seen it happen to more than one person in the bass fishing circuit.
So, now you have obtained the sponsorship, what next. Be sure to follow through with your commitments and contractual agreements because once you pick up some major sponsors, like I said above the word can get out that you did not honor your obligations to them you can forget about the possibilities of getting anymore.
Another note worthy item is remember that contract you signed? Did you take the time to read the fine print? Did you over look the part where it mentioned that you would be financially liable if you defaulted on the contract? Yes, you are bound by law to pay full retail value for said items. A lot of times when you get a full sponsorship they ask for a credit card number and you pay the shipping of the item so guess what? They have your number on file and they will charge the card. You then get your statement and next thing you know you’re over drawn. Of course all of this can be avoided as long as you follow through on your word.
A great thing about getting a major sponsor is once again the word gets around that you’re a valuable asset and then other sponsors start to approach you asking if they can sponsor you. I currently have several companies that have approached me and I’m contemplating accepting their offers. I have also turned down more than one sponsor because I did not believe in their product or there was a conflict with a current sponsor. That’s another point worth making. You should really believe in and use their products before accepting a sponsorship from any company and be sure to once again read the fine print of the contract you signed, there just might be something in there.
Anyways, always be sure to thank your sponsors when at awards ceremonies, this will attract more sponsors because you can never tell “Who” is sitting in the crowd. I’ve seen times when “Angler A” was sponsored by “Company A” and a represenitive of Company A just happen to be at an event and Angler A neglected to mention company A as a sponsor during the awards ceremony. Of course company a made a note of this and made a point to be at several more tournaments where Angler A was and after a few more times of neglecting to mention his sponsorship with Company A he was let go.
I could go on and on about the do’s and don’ts on this subject but I think I’ve covered the basics involved. In closing let me say that getting sponsors is a great way to not only help cut back on costs of items you would want and need, but In my opinion, it makes one feel good inside knowing that you have reached that level of expertise in the field, that companies have faith enough in you to give you the honor of representing them.
So, my personal answer to the question are they worth it? Yes they are, though it may not be worth it to everyone. I hope I was able to give you some insite.
Thanks for visiting my site. Be sure to tell all of your fishing buddies and come back soon!
Until Next Time, Good Luck and Tight Lines To Ya!
Fishing with kids
You build lasting moments when fishing with kids. Some of my fondest memories are of me fishing with my dad. Just being outdoors with him, enjoying nature and catching fish. Even though he was very busy working 2 jobs to support our family he would always make time to take me fishing.
There are a few things to always remember when fishing with kids:
First and foremost, as a general rule kids have a pretty short attention span; If the fish aren’t biting or if the they are not casting and reeling, kids can become bored rather quickly.
Don’t plan on doing “Hard Core” fishing when there are kids involved. This is one of the best ways to get them turned off to fishing.
Make a fun day out of it, fish for some trout or bluegill, I’ll share some tips a little later.
You need to be willing to move if the fish are not biting in one spot. Don’t spend too much time at an unproductive spot. Even if you may know that there are fish there and he will eventually bite as soon as you figure out exactly what will trigger the basic “kill instinct” that all bass have.
When fishing with kids be sure to answer any and all questions they ask about fishing no matter how “Basic” they may seem to you. Chances are it is new to them. Kids are like sponges that willingly suck up as much information that they can especially about subjects they enjoy or are interested in.
Bring plenty of snacks as well as lunch. There is something about being outdoors that gives kids the munchies. Fruits, chips, crackers, beef jerky, sandwiches or fried chicken are always good choices. Just about anything will work. Remember to keep all foods “Finger” type foods for ease.
I remember dad used to bring those little cans of Vienna Sausages and as a kid I thought they were pretty tasty but now as an adult I wonder, “What was I thinking?” ha! Besides that, if your a “Label Reader” like I have recently become, their not very healthy.
Bring plenty of liquids, everything from water, to Gatorade to sodas or orange juice. Being outdoors anyone can get dehydrated. Make sure, even if you’re having the fishing day of your life, that Jr., as well as yourself, take the time to re-hydrate. It only takes a few seconds and it will be time well spent.
Bring a camera, tape measure and a scale to weigh their catch. You’ll want to be take pictures, as well as weigh and measure the fish, especially if you’re practicing catch and release. This way the memories will last a lifetime. You can also create photo gifts, calendars and books over at Photoworks.com for lasting keepsakes and gifts.
Explain the importance of catch and release of the big bass especially when it’s a natural resource vs. a stocked one, but make sure you at least keep a few fish so Jr. can taste his catch. It fuels the “Cave Man” instienct in all guys, ha!
ALWAYS bring sunscreen for obvious reasons. Pack insect repellant. A hat is always good as well as a thin long sleeved shirt, one that will breath to keep them cool as well as protect them from the suns direct rays.
If you’re fishing with kids always be willing to fish for other, easier to catch, species of fish if the bass just don’t want to cooperate. Below are some basic tips for other species of fish, that in my personal experiences are easier to catch:
Trout Tips:
Use the lightest line possible, Maxima Line Maxi Spool - 4 pound test works well. Personally, I would not use anything higher that 6 pound. The lighter the line the harder it is for fish to see, the more natural your offering will appear.
Do NOT use bright floresent lines. If fishing with salmon eggs as bait completely cover the hook, I prefer to use a size 12 red salmon egg hook.
Go to the hatchery and get some of the trout food, crush it up and mix with the bait, you will be amazed how effective this trick is. Think about it, almost all of the California trout are hatchery raised, unless of course you’re up in the high country fishing for brown or Brooke trout with weedless hooks but that’s a totally different subject. Anyhow, Mr. Trout is swimming along and he smells the hatchery food and something in his mind tells him that its food, even if he is not hungry he just might eat your offering.
Another really effective tip is to use a clear casting bubble about 4-5 feet up your line with a size 12 or 14 single red salmon egg hook, with no weight whatsoever. The bubble will act as your weight so long distance casts are easily achieved.
On the single hook place 1 or 2 salmon eggs, cast it out and the egg will slowly sink, let it set and watch your bubble, if this is not working try a very slow retrieve.
Then there is always the paste or putty type baits, Berkley Powerbait, Sierra Gold, Zekes and a whole bunch of others. Me personally I prefer the Powerbait. As far as color goes they offer way to many colors as far as I’m concerned. I found that basically anything with yellow in it will produce but there are those that like the more “Creative Colors.” Bottom line, the choice is yours, there is no need to buy every color made but a couple different colors is a good option. Besides that, kids enjoy playing with this stuff.
Inflated worms, red worms or baby night crawlers, aka Dillys, will work. Then we always have the crayfish. These little fresh water lobsters can provide entertainment when the fish dont want to cooperate.
Then there is always Velvetta cheese, Marshmallows, corn and even peanut butter in cheese cloth. These items can also double as snacks if the fish dont want them. BTW, dont try this eating trick with any of the other baits I’ve mentioned, ha!
Remember, these are trout and there is no reason to deliver a bone crushing hookset like you would use for bass but a quick slight tug is needed to make sure you “Stick” him
Bluegill Tips:
Again use light line like I mentioned for the trout. Tie on a small Bait Holder Hook in a size 8 or 10, about 1 foot up the line put on one small split shot and about 1-2 foot up the line attach a bobber and put on a piece of night crawler. Kids love the visual thing, watching the bobber go under, unless of course it is far and few between on the bites and all they are watching is the bobber floating along.
Fishing with kids can be an enjoyable and rewarding experience for both you and them. If you catch fish or not during the trip, as long as you made it fun and enjoyable, you both will remember it for years to come.
Kids are our future. Do your best to keep the whole trip as fun and light as possible so they have a good time and learn to love the sport of fishing.
Get them “Hooked on Fishing Not Drugs!”
Until Next Time, Good Luck and Tight Lines to ya!
[tags]fishing with kids, bass fishing, fishing tips[/tags]
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