Legend Outdoors with Cory Yarmuth

Redwing Introduces a Center Pin!

Thursday, February 16th, 2012

Well, it’s official! One of the top companies in the float fishing industry has come out with their own centerpin reel. Redwing tackle is known for their great selection of floats, hooks, and leader materials, and now they have their own Centerpin reel.

For those unfamiliar with a Centerpin, the concept is simple. This is a reel that is designed for float fisherman fishing rivers and streams. To properly present your bait to a fish you want to have the perfect drift and float control. The centerpin reel looks a lot like a fly reel on steroids, but it is a finely tuned machine with such fine bearings in it that it will spin freely to allow your line to pay out for that perfect uninterrupted drift.

When a fish takes your offering you have a direct connection to the bait for a good hookset and then you have the option of using your hand on the spool as a drag or turning a switch to set the instant drag on the reel.

I have been in touch with Barry at Redwing and he is offering a special contest to those who use the Redwing floats.

Here are some of the details:

This is an excellent chance at winning your own Pin for the cost of a couple of floats.
All you need to do is buy a Redwing Phantom float from your local dealer and then take the card that holds the package together, put your name and address on it and send it in to Redwing Tackle at
55 Mills Road #8
Ajax, Ontario
Canada, L1S 2H2

Barry will be doing a drawing every couple of months. When he does a drawing all the names that don’t get picked are then tossed and a new batch will start. This is an excellent opportunity to get a great reel.

You can go to www.redwingtackle.com to see more products.

Hope this helps out for someone!

You can send in as many as you want, In fact so far there have been people sending in up to 14 separate cards! Just make sure that the cards are from Redwing floats. The way the contest works is there will be a deadline every two months. At that date a name will be drawn and then all the other names will be tossed out to start a fresh drawing for the next time.
The drawing dates are:
First Draw entries accepted Jan 15 to March 14
Second draw entries accepted March 15 to May 14
Third draw entries accepted May 15 to July 14
Fourth draw entries accepted July 15 to Sept 14
Fifth Draw entries accepted Sept 15 to Nov 14

Some specs on the reel:
4.5″ outer spool
3.5″ hub
ABEC rated Bearings
Aircraft grade aluminum and Stainless steel parts
On-the-Fly drag adjustment
Instant On drag control
Convertible from left to right hand

Share on Facebook

Tags: centerpin, Cory Yarmuth, Phantom, redwing | Posted in Stories | No Comments »

Muck Boots: The Artic Pro Lives Up to its Name

Friday, January 27th, 2012

The Arctic Pro Camo Professional Extreme-Conditions Sport Boot

Specifications:
The **NEW** Arctic Pro Camo 16″ boot features all of the standard Muck Boot™ features plus a fleece lining, stretch-fit topline binding to snug the leg to keep warmth in and cold out and and 8mm CR flex-foam bootie with four-way stretch nylon. This boot is 100% waterproof, lightweight and flexible. The Arctic Pro has a Bob-tracker molded outsole that is rugged, aggressive and durable for maximum protection and stability. It is double reinforced on the instep, heel and achilles areas. There is a 2mm thermal foan underlay add to the instep area for additional warmth, an EVA molded midsole with a contoured footbed, reinforced toe and wrap-up bumper for added protection

Recently I was fortunate enough to be given a pair of these boots by the Outdoor Blogger network to test out. Of course the Chicago winter decided to put a sudden hold on any type of testing of these boots as we had well above average temperatures, which did not allow me to put these to the test like they should be.

Upon receipt of the boots I could tell that they were made with the sportsman in mind. They had a great camo pattern as well as a good sole on them that would assist with any type of walking or climbing that may need to be done.

Their fit was right on with the sizing and there is plenty of room for layering of socks on your feet. The fit of the boot almost shaped right to my foot and lower leg. Because they are constructed of a flex-foam and a stretch nylon they are incredibly flexible and light.

We finally were hit with some winter weather and the lakes froze solid around my area. I was able to test the boots on a local lake on a rather cold and snowy day. The lake had a good 6” of snow on it and the temperatures were close to single digits.

The boots were light and comfortable and made the walk much easier than my heavier and bulky pac boots that are typically worn for such conditions. The soles provided a positive grip on the snow and ice and because of the flexibility of the uppers they were quite comfortable to walk in. The uppers also protected my legs from the biting wind and cold.

Being out on the ice is certainly a good test of any boot and this test was no exception. The trouble with ice is it tends to transmit thru any type of material until it reaches your body. I found that the boots insulated my feet well, however early in the morning my toes did get slightly cold due to the excessive kneeling that I was doing that would put my toes directly on the ice. Once I sat in the shanty and put my feet up off the ice I was very comfortable.

Overall I have only scratched the surface of the use that these boots will be put through. I know for sure that these boots will accompany me on many more ice outings as well as into the deer stand in the cold weather. Their great camo pattern will work well for next year’s deer season.
I would highly recommend these boots to anyone looking for a good multi-purpose waterproof boot that is also insulated down to –60deg F. It is hard to find boots that have this type of rating, and especially ones that are waterproof up to your knee.

If I had to buy a pair of boots that I could use for deer hunting, ice fishing, and even snow shoveling these are the way to go. They are light, comfortable and warm. With a price tag of around $160 and the occasional sale they are certainly affordable for a boot that is as multi-purpose as these are. Most of your major retailers carry these boots and you can find them easily. Just look for the Muck Boots and you certainly won’t go wrong.

Disclaimer:
As with all reviews by Cory Yarmuth with Legend Outdoors, the preceding review is my honest opinion, I received the product free of charge and have agreed to provide my honest opinion and review in exchange. Legend Outdoors is not sponsored by or associated with Muck and is accepting no other compensation, monetary or otherwise, in exchange for this review. As of the date of publication, no relationship with Muck other than described above has been pursued or established.

Cory Yarmuth
Legend Outdoors

Share on Facebook

Tags: Arctic Boots, Cold Weather Boots, Cory Yarmuth, Ice Fishing, Muck boots | Posted in Gear Reviews | No Comments »

Episode Two: What Do I Put on The Back of My truck?

Monday, January 23rd, 2012

As a second installment to the Trick My Truck series I wanted to discuss a topic that has been brought up by a few people who read my last entry.
What kind of top should I get?

I spoke with Lee Mikos, Vice President of Tri-County Truck Accessories and he was a wealth of knowledge on the subject. We are just going to scratch the surface here to allow you a little insight into the cap world.

In the world of truck tops there are typically two different options. Now they go by several different names but for our case we are going to label them as Truck Caps and Flat Lids.

Truck caps are often called, camper tops, toppers, or Shells. They are typically cab high (same height as the cab of the truck) or you can get them that step-up near the rear to offer more headspace on the inside.

The caps can come in aluminum or fiberglass and they offer a roomy and dry storage area to the rear of the truck. They can come with or without windows on the sides and they have to option of having an open front section to allow access into the truck through a sliding window.

Caps allow you to secure your belongings inside a lockable area that will remain dry. There are multiple options that can be added to a cap. Carpeted headliner, lights, clothes hangers, side doors, and the list goes on and on. The options are there to cater to your needs.

When we get into the world of truck Lids the entire list of options opens up and there is a wide variety of lids to meet your needs. You can get solid lids, sectional lids, roll up lids, and retractable style.

These lids are constructed of Fiberglass, aluminum, vinyl, and even hard plastic. What they all have in common is that they offer a “Bed high” cover for the truck bed.

The lid can be lockable in some cases and in others it is just held on with simple snaps or hook-n-loop fasteners. These lids offer you the ability to carry large items without any height restrictions, however because the item is now outside of the lid there is always the chance of the problem with the weather.

Lids limit what you can carry and keep out of the weather. They don’t work well for carrying your gun dog in his kennel or in the case of needing a place to camp out for the night.

It is very difficult to compare caps to lids on a one-on-one basis, as there are so many options and variations of each. They vary in costs, options, ease of use and style. The best way to determine what is best for you is to visit Lee or Bill at Tri-County Truck Accessories and they can help you through the process.

By visiting the showroom you will be able to see the products first hand and get an idea of what the item would look like on your vehicle.

It’s not easy spending money on accessories for your truck and this is why it is recommended that you take your time, research your options and have a good idea of what you are wanting to do with the rear of your truck. Having your needs in mind will help you decide what cover is best for you and your application.
Whether you go with a cap or a lid you won’t be sorry that you did as the convenience of having a covered a dry truck bed is worth every penny when you need to carry your gear for your next outing.

Cory Yarmuth
Legend Outdoors

Share on Facebook

Tags: Cory Yarmuth, Tri-County, Truck Lids, Truck Tops | Posted in Just rambling, Tips and Techniques | No Comments »

Last Day Of December Fun

Monday, January 9th, 2012

After a day off I had taken a couple clients out on the creeks after some steelhead. The fish didn’t want to cooperate so on Friday the 30th I decided it was time to head out on the boat in search of some browns and lakers. We fished in some of the worst conditions you could dream up. Rain, near freezing temperatures, and changing wind conditions creating confused seas. I was joined by Ed Schmitt again and we braved the weather, the wind, and put some great fish in the boat. We caught well over a two man limit of brown trout (only kept 5 for a meal) and landed a few nice lakers as well.
Enjoy the photos from this Friday

Outside the Weather was Frightfull

Oh how the ride was delightful

Let it rain, let it rain, let it rain!

Ed shows off his Laker catching skills!

and he strikes again

I decided to join in the fun.

We didn’t take any pictures of the browns, but they were a good eating variety.
The boat is sitting in the garage drying out and I am still trying to gain the feeling back in my fingers and face. Who else could say they had the chance to end 2011 fishing Lake Michigan from a boat and have a sucessfull outing to boot? The crazy duo of Ed and Cory, that’s who! We just chaulk this one up to having a passion for something and that passion is for fishing. Rain, sleet, snow or wind will not keep us from the water. Crazy? maybe. Dedicated? Yes.

Cory Yarmuth
Legend-Outdoors

Share on Facebook

Tags: Cory Yarmuth, Ed Schmidt, Four Season Angler | Posted in Fishing Reports, Just rambling | No Comments »

The Bite Is hot! hot! hot!

Monday, January 9th, 2012

Would you believe it was January 8th out?
With 22deg early morning temperatures we arrived at the launch to find that there was no ice to be seen except for the ice near the water on the ramp. The ice was just enough to cause problems if you backed in too far, but doing this kind of fishing we come prepared. A bucket of salt in the truck was at the ready and the 4-wheel drive was engaged.

It is January 8th 2012 and in the last two weeks I have had my boat at this launch 4 times now. This is almost unheard of! The brown trout bite is on and my friend Ed, myself and Ed’s friend Craig were going to take full advantage of it.

The exciting part of this day was the fact that Craig had only fished Lake Michigan one time prior without any success. It was up to Ed and I to put him onto some fish and let him experience what the big water has to offer.

We set up a trolling pattern with cranks on the boards and spoons on the downriggers. It wasn’t long until the starboard downrigger went off and I told Craig to grab the rod and hold-on! The fish screamed out drag and Craig giggled like a school boy. This was no small brown, but it was a bulldog of a laker that gave him a great fight.

The fight is on and Ed is ready with the net

This fish put on a fight that put the burn in Craig’s arms. Not having done this before he worked that fish like a pro and after what seemed like a 20 minute battle a giant laker was put into the net.

Not bad for his first Lake Michigan fish

After releasing the fish and resetting lines Craig was still shaking with excitement. The smile on his face was all it took for me to realize that we had succeeded in our mission to have a great day! The fishing could have stopped there and we would have been happy. However, we certainly didn’t stop there. Craig went on to catch not only the biggest laker of the day, but the biggest brown, the smallest brown, and the most fish. I tell you this without any jealousy as both Ed and I were just as excited for him as if we had caught the fish ourselves.

Here is Craig with one of the Bigger browns

I got into the action and put another laker in the boat that smiled for a picture or two and was then released to fight another day.

We finished the day off by catching about 15 browns and two lakers. We had several doubles and even a triple or two. There were several fish that didn’t even make it to the back of the boat because of all the chaos. There were 11 fish that we kept for the grill and the rest were sent on their way.

It really doesn’t get any better than this! Fishing Lake Michigan on the open water on January 8th and catching loads of hard fighting fish. Thanks again to my crew and I suppose I better spending some time cleaning up the boat from all the fish that made it onto the deck.

Oh and for those looking for details here you go: These were our hot set-ups.
Pro-King spoon in green/white, 50′ stretch 27′ down on the rigger
Chart/White no-name spoon 50′ stretch 30′ down on the rigger
Spro McRip with 1oz inline 75′ back on a board
Berkley Frenzy with a 1 1/2 weight 50′ back on a board

Share on Facebook

Tags: Cory Yarmuth, Ed Schmidt, The Four Season Angler | Posted in Fishing Reports | No Comments »