Spinners, spoons, poppers, jigs; no we’re not listing the latest in hip-hop slang that you’ll have to get your kids to translate. We’re talking bait and lures, one of the biggest battles raging in many a fishing household. Are bait or lures better for your favorite fishing hole? Well, we’re going to have to play Switzerland in this conflict, and for good reason: both natural bait and artificial lures have their respective pros and cons depending on your fishing spot and targeted fish. So, what do you need to know before picking the right tools for your next fishing foray?
Bait or Lures: Variations, Pros and Cons
Live Bait
Live bait is mostly utilized in freshwater fishing, including a number of small critters, such as worms, minnows, crickets, grasshoppers, beetles, snails, fish roe and leeches. Though the squeamish may have some trouble with this practice, live bait has been used for eons, preferred by many for its natural color, odor and texture. There is no beating the allure of all-natural bait when it comes to sheer, instinctual attraction for many fish.
Live bait is not without its downsides, however. For one, it’s often much more work to ensure that your bait is kept alive and kicking. Besides storage, acquiring local bait can sometimes be a tall order. Sure, you could just pick up bait from anywhere, but local bait is often much more effective since it’s familiar to the fish that you’re trying to reel in.
Artificial Lures
To the live bait fans, we say the most sincere form of flattery is imitation, and that is precisely the aim of artificial lures. Providing a level of variety and options for any fishing hole, artificial lures have live bait beat when it comes to flexibility. Though you’d be hard-pressed to find a lure that can perfectly imitate live bait, many modern lures do a pretty darn good job. Crankbaits, plugs, flies, jigs, spinners, spoons, poppers and more can all add up to an arsenal of options regardless of where you’re casting your reel.
On the downside, again, at best, these lures are simply imitations of the real prey of the fish you’re trying to catch. Not to mention the learning curve of mastering the right tool for the job. Are you looking to catch fish at the surface, subsurface or bottom levels? Should I go high or low tech? What colors or movement will work best? There are often a stifling amount of questions that could deter beginners from making a decision.
Though choosing between live bait and artificial lures is not always an easy decision to make, always remember that fishing is supposed to be fun. Don’t sweat the small stuff when planning your first fishing fun. As always, this boating and fishing community that we’re all a part of is more than happy to share a few friendly tips, so don’t be afraid to ask for some advice when picking up your gear. You may have to sit through a big fish story or two, but you may just come back from your trip with a few stories to tell of your own.
Aluminum; the first thing that comes to mind may be a classic can of soup, but for many boaters, aluminum plays a big part in many aspects of their sea-faring lifestyle. Though you may assume that other compounds would make for better building materials on the water, you may have underestimated the durability of this trusted metal. Though we are, by no means, discounting the benefits of fiberglass in boat building, we’d like to explore just why aluminum is our choice metal for so many of our boat lifts and accessories.
Three Major Benefits of Aluminum
Weight: To give some perspective on just how lightweight aluminum is compared to other metals of comparative strength, it is just ⅓ the weight of steel. Due to this weight advantage, aluminum parts and products can be made thicker for added strength that would otherwise be significantly weighed down.
Proven Track Record: Aluminum is used by a few folks you may have heard of: NASA, the U.S. Army and the U.S. Air Force, just to name three. From Humvees to F-16 fighter jets, if it’s proven in battle, it’s good enough to keep your boat safe.
Strength: Certain aluminum alloys can match and even beat the strength of some steel, the strongest of which can handle 72,000+ pounds per square inch. Anti-rust and anticorrosive properties are two other benefits of aluminum that make it perfect for boat lifts and accessories in fresh and saltwater scenarios.
For the above reasons and more, aluminum is the tough and tenacious material that we choose to use in so many of our very own products. Take, for instance, our aluminum elevator lifts. You need to know that your lift won’t begin deteriorating while you plan your next boating adventure, or be damaged by frequent usage. Trusted in space, in war and yes, even in saltwater, aluminum will not let you down when choosing your Hi-Tide boat lift.
Water, especially water with high salinity, can be a big headache to many a metal surface if not properly protected. Unfortunately, many first timers and novice boaters do not know how to prevent corrosion on their vessel, often leading to costly repairs. Others fail to see the warning signs or truly understand how corrosion begins. We take a look at this ugly and potentially costly problem in order to discover the best methods of prevention.
Two Common Types of Corrosion
Stray Current Corrosion: Coming from internally or externally, this type of rapidly corroding reaction occurs when poorly insulated wiring causes electrical currents to run through the metal of your boat to reach a ground. A galvanic isolator is a viable solution for this fashion of corrosion, though it is also important to ensure that all of your wiring is properly insulated and secure as well.
Galvanic Corrosion: If two, electrochemically different metals are submerged in an electrolyte-heavy liquid, you’re bound to find corrosion. This is most prevalent in boating when looking at parts that use both aluminum and stainless steel. Since stainless steel is more active than aluminum, you may find that your aluminum parts show signs of corrosion more quickly than the steel. To help prevent this issue, many boaters use sacrificial anodes, designed to attract this corrosion away from the important and pricey parts that would otherwise be sacrificed. Look out for paint blistering and chipping away, as well as a whitening effect on your metals.
Though there are other forms of corrosion that pose a danger to your vessel, these are the two that can be the most dangerous and destructive. Ask a boating professional for further tips on what to look for when inspecting your boat, as well as how to prevent corrosion after enjoying your time on the water. A little preparation can go a long way towards saving you big money on your boat.
You have a great new boat, decked out in top-of-the-line options and are ready to hit the water — or so you think. Many boaters, even experienced ones, can sometimes forget that one little thing that they need to properly secure their vessel. That is why we offer a full list of accessories that can add up to a big difference for you when storing your boat. We’ll examine three of the top boating accessories, just in case you’re missing that one last finishing touch to keep your vessel safely stored and ready for your next trip on the water.
With a plethora of options to choose from when docking your boat, you may want to do a bit of homework before shopping. At Hi-Tide, you can expect to find every odd and end to fit your boat’s exact needs, including brackets, bunking, winder covers, flare guides and cradle stabilizers that are perfect for your vessel’s specific needs. We’re especially proud of our electronics offerings, which include our patented Riches Switch, as well as flexshaft limit switches, remote controls and more, all of which are designed, built and tested in house.
Whether your needs are large or small, floating docks are an incredibly easy solution for boaters looking for a dock that is versatile and dependable, rising and lowering with water levels. For this reason, floating docks easily rank among our top boating accessories, with standard 18-inch pontoons, high-density polyethylene build and welded aluminum sub-frame. If dependability is what you’re looking for, you’ve found it in our floating docks.
Featuring the most streamlined, yet still secure, boat lift design on the market, davits are equal parts sleek and reliable. Our davits are outfitted with Hi-Tide Gear Drive® winches to ensure that performance is no question when taking on your next boating adventure. If you ever do have issues, our one-year comprehensive, two-year motor and five-year gearbox warranties have you covered.
Though there are many accessory options to choose from, a Hi-Tide expert would be happy to discuss what works best for your boat, yacht or boat house today.
Boating is beloved by many for the escape and solitude it provides. Nothing beats hitting the water for a bit of tranquility and time away from the hustle and bustle of cell phones, social media and emails. However, tech is also poised to make boating a whole lot easier, interactive and downright interesting in 2016. Let’s examine a few tech trends to look for in the boating industry this year.
Boating Tech Trends in 2016
Improved Websites: Not just in the boating industry, but everywhere, the use of cell phones to surf the web has companies to take another look at their websites. Due to people visiting websites on everything from a gigantic, widescreen computer monitor to a smartphone that fits in a back pocket, websites are being forced to consider conforming to whichever format the user chooses. To do so, look out for revamped boating websites that are responsive, meaning they automatically reformat to best fit the screen at use ( a design that our very own website utilizes).
Interactive Videos: If you haven’t seen a 360-degree video posted online yet, we highly recommend you give one a look. This tech allows users to watch a video, but also view it at any angle they choose. It’s something similar to wearing a virtual reality headset and is a great way to provide an inside look of boats or yachts in full motion. The possibility of virtual tours has us excited to see where they take this tech in 2016.
Wearable Technology: Speaking of virtual reality, VR headsets are new, improved and ready to take over the tech world this year. Imagine being able to tour a legendary fishing spot from the comfort of your own home before booking your trip. Smartwatches may also have a promising future in boating, allowing for more easily accessible weather warnings, GPS locating and more.
Mobile Apps: Apps are still a huge opportunity for boating brands to tackle in 2016, taking full advantage of the vast majority of people that utilize cell phones throughout the day. Look out for new apps to assist you in all aspects of planning a day of boating, from weather to fishing tips to finding your next boat.
Beacons: Along with VR, beacon technology is a new and exciting possibility for boating companies to interact with you. With this tech, companies at a boat show or marina could directly send you details about the boat or product kiosk you’re walking by, directly to your smartphone.
Though we may not have flying cars and robot maids, the future is here in the boating industry. Everything from beacons to apps, virtual reality to responsive websites are making our lifestyle even easier to enjoy. Though we still enjoy simply hitting the water with a fishing rod and a friend, we’re excited to see what advancements in boating tech do to the pastime that we know and love.
